The DC Defenders (4-0) travel to meet the St. Louis Battlehawks (3-1) Saturday in a Week 5 matchup at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (FX/ESPN+). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Defenders vs. Battlehawks odds, and make our expert XFL picks, predictions and bets.
The Defenders are the XFL’s last unbeaten team after Houston lost earlier this week against Seattle. DC is coming off its most lopsided victory of the season, topping the Vegas Vipers by a 32-18 score last time out. The Over has cashed in 3 of 4 games for DC this season, too.
The Battlehawks packed the Dome last week in a record XFL crowd of 38,310 fans for the home opener. St. Louis didn’t disappoint its throng of fans, picking up an emphatic 24-11 win, as QB A.J. McCarron passed for 214 yards.
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Defenders at Battlehawks odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:50 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Defenders -130 (bet $130 to win $100) | Battlehawks +105 (bet $100 to win $105)
- Against the spread (ATS): Defenders -2 (-108) | Battlehawks +2 (-112)
- Over/Under (O/U): 42.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Defenders at Battlehawks key injuries
Defenders
- TE Ethan Wolf (ankle) questionable
Battlehawks
- CB Tim Harris (hamstring) probable
- OL Jaryd Jones-Smith (suspension) out
- DT Elom Lumor (groin) probable
- WR Steven Mitchell (quadriceps) probable
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Defenders at Battlehawks picks and predictions
Prediction
Battlehawks 24, Defenders 22
Moneyline
The BATTLEHAWKS (+105) are a good bet to hand the Defenders (-130) their first setback of the season.
Playing in St. Louis is probably the most intimidating environment in the XFL, and the Battlehawks will continue to benefit from the noise in home games similar to the NFL home-field advantage. It was a wild scene last week against the Renegades.
Against the spread
If you like the Battlehawks +2 (-112), you should just play it straight up at plus-money. Unless you feel that the Defenders -2 (-108) are only going to win by 1, there is no reason to play the underdog with the points rather than just playing them straight up.
PASS.
Over/Under
The OVER 42.5 (-110) is the lean. It has cashed in 3 of 4 games for St. Louis so far, including the first meeting at Audi Field in Washington D.C., which resulted in 62 total points.
The Defenders have cashed the Over in 3 of 4 games to date, too, while the Over/Under is 2-2 for the Battlehawks.
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