The Tampa Bay Vipers will take on the New York Guardians in the first Sunday game of the XFL season. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. ET at MetLife Stadium. Below, we breakdown the Vipers-Guardians Week 1 matchup, with XFL betting picks and tips.
Vipers at Guardians: Week 1 preview, betting trends and notes
- The Vipers are led by head coach Marc Trestman, who brings along a coaching staff mostly comprised of former CFL coaches.
- The Guardians are coached by former Giants’ offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride. Their starting quarterback will be Matt McGloin, formerly from Penn State and the Oakland Raiders.
Get some action on this XFL matchup or other games by betting at BetMGM. New customer offer: RISK-FREE First Bet (up to $500!) paid in free bets; visit BetMGM for terms and conditions. Bet now!
Vipers at Guardians: Key injuries
Vipers
- TE DeAndre Goolsby (neck) out
- DL Jason Neill (groin) out
- CB Rannell Gall (thigh) questionable
Guardians
- TE Keenan Brown (illness) out
- WR Joe Horn (ankle) probable
- CB DeJuan Neal (thigh) probable
- DE Jarrell Owens (illness) probable
Vipers at Guardians: Odds, betting lines and prediction
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:30 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Vipers 27, Guardians 23
Moneyline (?)
The VIPERS (-189) are big road favorites over the Guardians (+155) Sunday afternoon. With a more proven starting quarterback in Aaron Murray under center, look for the Vipers’ offense to put up points in their first XFL game.
Against the Spread (?)
The VIPERS (-3.5, -115) are favored by more than a field goal over the Guardians despite being on the road. Tampa Bay has one of the better skill position groups in the XFL, with former AAF standouts Seantavius Jones and Nick Truesdell. Given Trestman’s success in the CFL, look for his offense to have instant success in the XFL and cover the spread in New York.
Over/Under (?)
The total for this Week 1 contest is 52.5 points, which feels a little high for the first game of the season. While the XFL rules are certainly set up for a lot of points to be scored, the offenses will need a few weeks to get on the same page. Both of these teams have a lot of talent on defense as well, so expect the UNDER 52.5 (-110) to hit.
Want action on this game? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.
Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter.
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship, and there is no influence on news coverage.
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=24815]