The DC Defenders (6-1) visit the Seattle Sea Dragons (5-2) Sunday in Week 8 XFL action at Lumen Field in Seattle. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN2/ESPN+). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Defenders vs. Sea Dragons odds, and make our expert XFL picks, predictions and bets.
The Defenders suffered their 1st loss of the season in Week 7. It’s not so much that DC lost, but who it was against. The Orlando Guardians entered Week 7 winless, but posted a 37-36 win over the Defenders as a 9.5-point underdog.
The Sea Dragons have rattled off 5 straight wins after an 0-2 SU/ATS start, including a 22-18 setback in the nation’s capital in Week 1. The Over has cashed in 5 of the last 7 games overall for Seattle.
Seattle QB Ben DiNucci leads the XFL with 1,771 passing yards with 12 TD and 9 INT, completing 64.2% of his pass attempts. WR Jahcour Pearson is his favorite target, reeling in 45 receptions for 479 yards and 1 TD on 62 targets through 7 games. WR Josh Gordon has 23 grabs for 340 yards and 4 TD, too.
The Sea Dragons made headlines this week, adding former Denver Broncos Pro Bowl RB Phillip Lindsay, a 2-time 1,000-yard rusher in the NFL.
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Defenders at Sea Dragons odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:40 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Defenders +105 (bet $100 to win $105) | Sea Dragons -125 (bet $125 to win $100)
- Against the spread: Defenders +1.5 (-110) | Sea Dragons -1.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 46.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Defenders at Sea Dragons key injuries
Defenders
- TE Trae Berry (knee) probable
- WR Jequez Ezzard (hamstring) probable
- S Anthoula Kelly (hamstring) out
- TE Ethan Wolf (ankle) probable
Sea Dragons
- LB Jordan Evans (hamstring) out
- LB Sharif Finch (hamstring) questionable
- OL Liam Jimmons (knee) out
- DE Daniel Joseph (groin) out
- WR Jahcour Pearson (foot) probable
- CB Bryce Thompson (hip) questionable
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Defenders at Sea Dragons picks and predictions
Prediction
Sea Dragons 29, Defenders 25
Moneyline
The SEA DRAGONS (-125) roll in on a 5-game win streak, and can avenge a Week 1 loss over the Defenders (+105), making things quite interesting in the final 2 weekends of XFL play in the North Division.
Seattle has been getting tremendous play from DiNucci, the former Dallas Cowboys backup. Even if Pearson is out, or limited, he still has the likes of Gordon and WR Blake Jackson to more than make up for things.
Against the spread
The SEA DRAGONS -1.5 (-110) are a little cheaper, if you just want to lay the points. Seattle has covered 4 of the last 5 games overall, while DC saw its 6-0 ATS run snapped in the most unlikely of fashion last week, falling 37-36 at winless Orlando as a 9.5-point favorite.
Over/Under
The OVER 46.5 (-110) might be the best play on the board.
The pass-happy Sea Dragons have rolled up 23.7 points per game (PPG) across the last 3 outings. They also cashed the Over in Week 1 at DC, albeit in a lower-scoring game with 40 total points.
The Defenders have scored 28 or more points in 5 straight outings, cashing the Over in each. DC has also allowed 20 or more points in 3 in a row, and 4 of the last 5 overall. Look for a track meet at Lumen Field.
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