The Seattle Dragons (0-0) and D.C. Defenders (0-0) begin their 2020 campaigns in the relaunched XFL Saturday at 2 p.m. ET, squaring off at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. We analyze the Dragons-Defenders Week 1 odds and lines, with XFL betting advice and tips around this matchup, the first game of the league’s opening weekend.
Dragons at Defenders: XFL Week 1 preview, betting trends and notes
- The Dragons are led by coach Jim Zorn, who was once the head coach of the Washington Redskins. While an experienced coach, his quarterback Brandon Silvers doesn’t offer much in the way of confidence.
- D.C. is led by a coach-quarterback tandem with NFL experience. Pep Hamilton worked as an assistant for five NFL teams, most recently with the Cleveland Browns, while quarterback Cardale Jones is a big-arm QB who was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the fourth round of the 2016 draft.
- DT Will Sutton and WR Keenan Reynolds are the most recognizable names on Seattle’s roster, which is short on ex-NFL talent.
- The Defenders are loaded with former NFL players. S Matt Elam, QB Tyree Jackson, LB Scooby Wright and RB Donnel Pumphrey lead the charge behind Jones.
- The Defenders have the fourth-best odds (+600) to win the XFL 2020 Championship. The Dragons have the longest odds at +1100.
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Dragons at Defenders: Key injuries
Dragons
- OT Isaiah Battle (ankle) out
- TE Cam Clear (undisclosed) out
- S Tyson Graham (hand) out
- WR Kasen Williams (quad) out
- WR Alonzo Moore (hip) questionable
Defenders
- WR DeAndre Thompkins (foot) out
- LB Scooby Wright (knee) out
- S Shamarko Thomas (thigh) questionable
- DE Tavaris Barnes (arm) probable
- S Matt Elam (thigh) probable
- G Dorian Johnson (shoulder) probable
- DB Bradley Sylve (thigh) probable
Dragons at Defenders: Odds, betting lines and prediction
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:45 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Defenders 27, Dragons 15
Moneyline (?)
Betting the moneyline in the first XFL game ever is risky, given the unknowns about both teams and the league as a whole. Yes, the Defenders have more NFL-caliber players on their roster, but that’s not the only determining factor in a good team.
The Defenders’ moneyline is -358, which comes with very little reward for the risk you’d have to make to win any significant amount of money. You could put down a small wager on the Dragons (+280) to hedge your bet if you’re betting on the spread, too, but I’d probably PASS on both.
Against the Spread (?)
On paper – which is all we have to go off of right now – the Defenders look like a much better team. We have no idea what we’re going to get from Silvers at QB for the Dragons, and even though Jones is a question mark, too, we at least saw him against top competition at Ohio State and briefly in the NFL.
All told, the Defenders are 7.5-point favorites, which is the second-largest spread of the weekend. D.C.’s defense has enough NFL-caliber talent that it should be able to keep the Dragons in check. Plus, having a proven player like Pumphrey at RB will help D.C.’s offense.
Take the DEFENDERS -7.5 (-121).
Over/Under (?)
With the revamped rules in the XFL, there should be more scoring. There are different point-after-touchdown options, and with a shorter play clock, the pace should be higher. That doesn’t mean the offenses will be productive, though.
With an Over/Under of 49.5, I’d be inclined to take the UNDER 49.5 (-110), just because the Dragons don’t have much proven talent on offense and there are still questions about Jones as the Defenders’ QB.
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