Tag: Los Angeles Wildcats

DC Defenders vs. Los Angeles Wildcats odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Sunday’s DC Defenders at Los Angeles Wildcats sports betting odds and lines, with XFL Week 3 betting picks, tips and bets.

The DC Defenders (2-0) visit the winless Los Angeles Wildcats (0-2) Sunday of Week 3 in the XFL. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. E.T. on FS1. Below, we breakdown the Defenders-Wildcats Week 3 matchup, with XFL betting picks and tips.

Defenders vs. Wildcats: Week 3 preview, betting trends and notes

  • In their Week 2 win, the Defenders allowed just 137 net yards on defense and gave up only five total first downs.
  • Defenders QB Cardale Jones continued his hot streak in Week 2, throwing for 264 yards and two touchdowns against the New York Guardians.
  • The Wildcats offense took a step in the right direction in Week 2 as QB Josh Johnson threw for 185 yards and two TDs against the Dallas Renegades.

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Defenders vs. Wildcats: Key injuries

Defenders

  • DE Tavaris Barnes (thigh) questionable
  • WR Malachi Dupre (shoulder) questionable
  • LB A.J. Tarpley (hand) probable
  • DT Kalani Vakameialo (ankle) probable
  • LB Scooby Wright (knee) probable

Wildcats

  • LB Willie Mays (neck) out
  • QB Chad Kanoff (shoulder) out
  • C Kahlil McKenzie (ankle) out
  • DB Harlan Miller (thigh) out
  • TE Brandon Barnes (knee) probable
  • WR Saeed Blacknall (thigh) probable
  • DB Jaylen Dunlap (thigh) questionable
  • RB Elijah Hood (ankle) probable
  • QB Josh Johnson (thigh) questionable
  • WR Tre McBride (thigh) questionable
  • DB Jerome Couplin (ankle) probable
  • RB DuJuan Harris (ankle) probable
  • LB Will Smith (shoulder) probable
  • DB Jack Tocho (hip) probable

Defenders vs. Wildcats: Odds, betting lines and prediction

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated 3:30 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Defenders 28, Wildcats 17

Moneyline (?)

The Defenders (-358) are big road favorites, but it’s a too much chalk to risk. Every $3.58 wagered on the Defenders ML only profits $1 if they win. The Wildcats (+275) at least offer a 2.75-to-1 payoff, but I don’t see them pulling off the upset. Heading into the third week of the XFL season, the Defenders are the favorite to win the championship. They have one of the better quarterbacks in the league in Jones, along with a top-ranked defense. Vs. a Wildcats team that is still struggling to stop anyone on defense, look for the Defenders to improve to 3-0.

Against the Spread (?)

The DEFENDERS (-8.5, -110) are the play here – even as more-than-a-touchdown favorite. With a dominant defense, the Defenders can shut down just about any level of quarterback the XFL has to offer. Add on the fact that the Wildcats have a lengthy injury report heading into this game, and it’s tough to envision many ways they can keep up. Turnovers will obviously play a role, but look for the Defenders to cover this 8.5-point spread.

Over/Under (?)

OVER 44 (-110) is worth backing. After a few weeks of bigger point spreads, oddsmakers have lowered the spreads dramatically in Week 3. However, the Defenders offense should feast against the worst defense in the XFL, and that should allow the Over to hit in Los Angeles.

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DC Defenders, Houston Rougnecks have become XFL betting favorites

The DC Defenders and Houston Roughecks have emerged as betting favorites in the XFL East and West, respectively.

The Action Network has put out updated odds for XFL teams after two weeks of the season.

DC Defenders

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

The DC Defenders are off to a 2-0 start under Pep Hamilton. They have a plus-four mark when it comes to touchdowns scored and allowed. The Defenders are the lone undefeated team in the East. They are listed at 2-1 on the betting line.

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XFL Week 2 Recap: Dallas Renegades earn first franchise win

Making his XFL debut, Landry Jones led the Dallas Renegades with help from Cameron Artis-Payne to their first win of the season.

The Dallas Renegades rallied in the fourth quarter of their Week 2 game against the Los Angeles Wildcats, claiming the first victory (and scoring their first touchdowns) of the 2020 XFL season. While the new league is working to find its footing, their North Texas representative is making similar progress.

Running back Cameron Artis-Payne scored twice, taking 14 carries for 99 yards and adding 32 receiving yards on five receptions as the player of the game.

The matchup featured a pair of quarterbacks making debuts for their respective teams: Los Angeles QB Josh Johnson and QB Landry Jones for the Renegades. For Jones, it was his first game action in nearly three years. He was noticeably rusty, but also flashed moments that showed why he was the first player to join the XFL, and why the league had to block the Pittsburgh Steelers from signing Jones after Ben Roethlisberger was injured early in the 2019 NFL season.

His Renegades debut was much anticipated, reuniting him with his Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops. A knee injury suffered on his first pass attempt in his first practice in early January forced the Renegades to start (ex-San Diego Fleet QB) Philip Nelson last week in their 15-9 loss in Week 1.

Similarly, a thigh injury sidelined Johnson for the first game of Los Angeles’ season. The epitome of a journeyman QB, Johnson has been a member of 13 NFL teams in 12 seasons, yet has started only eight NFL games (1-7) over that time. He was most recently with the Detriot Lions, and appeared in four games for Washington in 2018.

It was a slow start, with the game’s first points not coming until only 2:54 remained in the first half. Turnovers plagued both teams, changing possession five times, three coming on back-to-back-to-back drives stretching from the the end of the first quarter through the start of the second.

The first occurred via Jones interception on the Renegades’ second drive of the game. He nearly threw one on the first Dallas drive, but Wildcats CB Harlan Miller didn’t miss this one, stepping in the passing lane for the easy takeaway.

Los Angeles then drove all the way to the Dallas eight yard line before RB Elijah Wood was stripped by former Saints second round pick Hau’oli Kikaha. The play was initially whistled dead due to offensive holding, but Dallas still able to gain possession thanks to the XFL’s unique rule wrinkles. Video review confirmed there was a fumble with a “clear and immediate recovery”.

The fumble party continued however, as the Renegades gave it right back to Los Angeles via Sean Price fumble.

It wasn’t a half to remember, as the teams could only trade field goals before entering halftime. Clearly rusty, Jones settled mostly for short passes underneath the coverage, and showcased his (lack of) athleticism.

Jones threw his second interception on the Renegades’ first drive of the second half. It was similarly ugly, with Jones not picking up the defender lurking underneath.

A field-flipping pass interference penalty committed by 2018 Cowboys practice squad member Treston Decoud immediately set up Los Angeles, but their own bungle dashed their scoring chances. A sloppy handoff from the Renegades three yard line led to the second fumble from within their opponent’s 10-yard line. LB Greer Martini recovered the ball for Dallas.

From there, the game really started. Jones immediately got out from the shadow of the Renegades’ end zone with a 39-yard shot to WR Joshua Crockett.

The play kicked off what had then been the Renegades’ best drive (12-plays, 69-yards), but they were forced to settle for yet another another Austin MacGinnis field goal (45-yards). Trailing for the first time, Johnson was able to get his Wildcats to respond, re-taking the lead with the first touchdown of the game, connecting with WR Nelson Spruce in the back of the end zone.

That score was just the first of five fourth-quarter touchdowns, however. After a key 3rd and 16 conversion by Donald Parham, Artis-Payne got the Renegades back in front on a 21-yard scamper, scoring the first touchdown in franchise history. Former Cowboys RB Lance Dunbar helped spring Artis-Payne for a key block that helped him reach the end zone.

Dallas would add another six points on a three-yard Parham reception, the lone touchdown Jones would throw in the game. However, their 19-9 lead quickly evaporated, as Johnson followed a 62-yard Wildcat kick return with a 44-yard bomb to Spruce. Los Angeles then converted the first three point attempt in XFL history, suddenly making it a one-point game, 19-18 with 4:37 left.

The Renegades were able to hold them off through, thanks to Artis-Payne’s second touchdown, and the defense eventually forcing Los Angeles off the field late in the game. The offense woke up just in time, helping the Renegades win 25-18, evening their record at 1-1. Bud Lite Seltzer for everyone.

Odds and Ends

The Wildcats were playing just days after seemingly drastic changes were made to their defense. Los Angeles abruptly traded DL Anthony Johnson to the DC Defenders for DB Bradley Sylve just two days ago. The Wildcats quickly parted ways with their former team captain after he reportedly expressed displeasure over the firing of the Los Angeles defensive coordinator, after they lost 37-17 to the Houston Roughnecks in Week 1.

Seemingly very opinionated and eager to share. Johnson recorded 1.5 sacks in his Defenders debut, and also let his stance be known in the punching-vs-reclining seat debate:

NFL stars Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon attended the game, supporting their friends in the XFL and taking part in the festivities.

Other Week 2 Results

DC Defenders 27 – New York Guardians 0

Seattle Dragons 17 – Tampa Bay Vipers 9

Houston Roughnecks 21 – St. Louis Battlehawks 12

Week 3 Schedule

Saturday, February 22nd

Houston Roughnecks (1-0) @ Tampa Bay Vipers (0-2) | 2pm ET, ABC

Dallas Renegades (1-1) @ Seattle Dragons (1-1) | 5pm ET, FOX

Sunday, February 23rd

New York Guardians (1-1) @ St. Louis Battlehawks (1-0) | 3pm ET, ESPN

DC Defenders (2-0) @ Los Angeles Wildcats (0-2) | 6pm ET, FS1

Titans in the XFL: 3 standouts from Week 2

Here’s a look at just three players who made a stop in at Nashville who showed up on the stats sheet on Saturday and Sunday.

Week 2 of the XFL’s second debut is in the books.

This week’s action was highlighted with performances from former Tennessee Titans players, some of which saw more more time in the NFL than others.

Here’s a look at just three players who made a stop in at Nashville who showed up on the stats sheet on Saturday and Sunday.

1. DB LaDarius Wiley, Los Angeles Wildcats

Wiley’s presence wasn’t felt in quite the way it was back in Week 1, but he was a standout player on the defense, quietly cracking his way into the team’s leader board.

He tallied four tackles on Los Angeles’ 25-18 loss to the Dallas Renegades.

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Bob Stoops avoids 0-2 start as Renegades rush past Wildcats

The Dallas Renegades’ offense got in gear in the second half and downed the Los Angeles Wildcats.

It wasn’t pretty. In fact, it was pretty ugly. The Dallas Renegades’ offense found itself in the second half Sunday and they downed the Los Angeles Wildcats, 25-18.

The victory was the first for Dallas and dropped LA to 0-2. Renegades coach Bob Stoops was never 0-2 in his 18 years at Oklahoma. He was 1-2 with the Sooners in 2005 and ’16. The Renegades will look to avoid that happen in the XFL when they visit Seattle in Week 3.

Dallas outgained LA, 444-256. A big chunk of the yardage came from Cameron Artis-Payne, who rushed for 99 yards on 14 carries and scored a pair of touchdowns. The second TD run was a 17-yarder that gave Dallas a 25-18 lead with 3:31 left, the final score in the contest.

Landry Jones showed some rust in the first half but rebound after the break and finished 28-of-40 for 305 yards with a TD pass and two picks. Jones becomes the first XFL QB to crack the 300-yard mark.

Thirty-four of the game’s points came in the fourth quarter.

 

Wildcats’ Nelson Spruce catches 2 TD passes after catching praise from Todd Gurley

Nelson Spruce had two TD catches in front of his former Rams teammate Todd Gurley.

The Los Angeles Wildcats fell to 0-2, losing to the Dallas Renegades, 25-18, in LA’s home opener Sunday.

Spruce has some LA history. After going undrafted in the 2016 NFL Draft, Spruce signed as an undrafted free agent with the Los Angeles Ram.  The rookie made a big impression in his first preseason game, catching six passes for 51 yards and a touchdown to help the Rams defeat the Dallas Cowboys 28-24 in the team’s first game back in Los Angeles after relocating from St. Louis. However, Spruce suffered a knee injury on the game-winning play and was out for the remainder of the preseason. 

Spruce had a fan at the game against Dallas: LA Rams RB Todd Gurley.

He signed with the Bears, Chiefs and Chargers but did not stick in the NFL. Spruce then signed with the San Diego Fleet of the AAF. He finished fifth in the defunct league with 426 receiving yards and second in receptions with 38.

In two XFL games, Spruce has 17 catches for 192 yards.

7 bold predictions for Week 2 of the XFL season

The XFL got off to a nice start what looms in Week 2 of the league’s season.

The XFL made it through its first week and only one coach, DC Pepper Johnson of the LA Wildcats, won’t make it to the second game. The league kicked off to a promising start. Now, the challenge is to keep it up and keep the interest.

The Wildcats won’t allow 37 points

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Winston Moss isn’t messing around. Something happened with Pepper Johnson and Moss, the Wildcats’ head coach, dismissed the multiple-time Super Bowl winner. Could it have been the 37 points allowed to the Houston Roughnecks? Team captain Anthony Johnson also declared his free agency. Not safe to have the last name of Johnson with the Wildcats. The second opponent is the Dallas Renegades, who are 0-1, too. Bob Stoops’ Renegades are looking for their first TD after notching three field goals against the St. Louis Battlehawks. Swapping Landry Jones for Philip Nelson should make a huge difference for the Dallas offense.

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XFL Futures Betting: 2020 Championship odds, picks and best bets

Analyzing the 2020 XFL Championship futures odds after the league’s first week of play.

The odds for the 2020 XFL Championship have been shaken up rather significantly following a successful opening weekend for the new league. Now that fans and bettors have a stronger understanding of the rules and game style – and of which teams have the best understanding of those rules – we reassess the 2020 XFL Championship odds, with futures picks and our best bets.

2020 XFL Championship Odds

Odds via BetMGM, last updated February 11, at 2 p.m. ET.

TEAM PRESEASON ODDS UPDATED ODDS
New York Guardians +350 +350
DC Defenders +750 +350
Houston Roughnecks +750 +500
Dallas Renegades +250 +600
Tampa Bay Vipers +550 +600
St. Louis Battlehawks +1000 +700
Los Angeles Wildcats +450 +1000
Seattle Dragons +1200 +1600

The Guardians stay at +350 as the Renegades plummet down the board. New York pummeled Tampa Bay 23-3 at home in Week 1, as ex-NFL QB Matt McGloin completed 15 of 29 passes for 182 yards and a touchdown. The defense recorded two interceptions and a fumble recovery.

2020 XFL Championship Odds: Risers

Feb 8, 2020; Washington, DC, USA; DC Defenders quarterback Cardale Jones (12) runs with the ball past Seattle Dragons defensive tackle Will Sutton (93) in the second quarter during a XFL football game at Audi Field. (Photo Credit: Geoff Burke – USA TODAY Sports)

DC Defenders

The Defenders soared into a share of top spot with their 31-19 win over the lowly Dragons in Saturday afternoon’s league-opening game in DC. QB Cardale Jones was the difference with 235 passing yards and two touchdowns, while adding another 28 yards on the ground.

Houston Roughnecks

The Roughnecks climbed into the third on the odds board with their 37-17 victory over the Wildcats Saturday. Little-known QB P.J. Walker racked up four touchdowns against just one interception while completing 23 of 39 pass attempts for 272 yards.

St. Louis Battlehawks

The Battlehawks opened the year with the second-worst odds in the XFL, but they were the only road team to win as they toppled the heavily-favored Renegades. Matt Jones led the backfield with 85 yards on 21 attempts, while Christine Michael managed to gain zero yards on seven carries.

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2020 XFL Championship Odds: Fallers

Feb 9, 2020; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Renegades wide receiver Jazz Ferguson (1) catches a pass in front of St. Louis Battlehawks cornerback Robert Nelson (28) during the second quarter in an XFL football game at Globe Life Park. (Photo Credit: Jerome Miron – USA TODAY Sports)

Dallas Renegades

The Renegades should get somewhat of a pass for their season-opening loss, as starting QB Landry Jones was ruled out for Week 1. Backup Philip Nelson was efficient (33-for-42) in his place, but he finished with 209 yards and no touchdowns against one INT.

Los Angeles Wildcats

The Wildcats took the biggest fall down the board following their 20-point loss to the Roughnecks. They opened the season with the third-best odds, but are now considered longshots to climb out of a 0-1 hole. WR Nelson Spruce was a bright spot, as he caught 11 of 15 targets for 103 yards.

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Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Ex-Jets coach fired from XFL job after just one game

Former Jets defensive line coach Pepper Johnson was fired by the XFL’s Wildcats after just one game.

A former Jets coach has been shown the door in the XFL.

According to Pick Wise’s Alex Alarcon, the Los Angeles Wildcats have fired Pepper Johnson, their defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, after just one game. The Wildcats have yet to name his replacement.

The Wildcats allowed 37 points, 315 total net yards and 5.6 yards per play in their 37-17 loss to the Houston Roughnecks in Week 1 of the XFL season.

Johnson spent time with the Jets as a player and a coach before he joined the rebooted XFL. He was a linebacker for the Jets for two seasons in 1997 and 1998. He then served as the Jets defensive line coach in 2015 and 2016 when Todd Bowles was New York’s head coach.

The 55-year-old Johnson was a player in the NFL for 13 seasons with four different teams, including the Giants, Browns, Lions and Jets. He was a two-time Super Bowl champ with Big Blue and made the Pro Bowl twice during his career.

After retiring from the league, Johnson got into coaching with the Patriots. He was with New England from 2000-2013, mainly working with the defensive line and linebackers. He then joined the Bills in 2014 as their defensive line coach before going to the Jets in 2015. Johnson was out of coaching for three years until the Memphis Express of the now-defunct AAF hired him as their defensive line coach in December 2018. That league folded midway through its inaugural season in 2019.

Johnson was hired by the Wildcats in June.

XFL’s Wildcats fire ex-Giant Pepper Johnson after just one game

The XFL’s Los Angeles Wildcats have fired former New York Giant Pepper Johnson after just one game.

Pepper Johnson’s XFL career as a top assistant coach may have already come to an end.

After the team’s initial game this past weekend, the Los Angeles Wildcats have decided to part ways with Johnson just one game into the season.

Johnson’s termination as the team’s defensive coordinator and linebackers coach comes after a 37-17 defeat at the hands of the Houston Roughnecks in Week 1.

This wasn’t the first time Johnson had an abrupt ending to a coaching tenure, as he was coaching the Memphis Express in the Alliance for American Football before the league shut down suddenly last year.

Johnson spent 15 years in the NFL as an assistant coach, 13 of those years working for Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots prior to joining the Buffalo Bills and then spending two seasons with the New York Jets.

Johnson began his NFL career as a draft pick of the New York Giants back in 1986 and spent seven seasons there, winning two Super Bowls with the team before playing elsewhere.

It’s unclear if Johnson will pursue other coaching gigs in the XFL or if he will try to look for work again in the NFL.

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