Andrade vs. Blanchfield Picks
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February 17, 2023It’s probably not a good strategy to throw down a lot of bets on a league and teams we know so little about. On Saturday the XFL returns – again – to the sports landscape with eight teams and four games over each of the next 10 weekends. While the knowledge is limited since no team has played a game, bettors are on equal footing with oddsmakers and sportsbooks when it comes to handicapping the squads. And that can work in your favor since it likely won’t happen again, at least until the next startup starts up. If you’re willing to put in some time to research players and coaches there could be a reward. And why not make a few bets while you’re at it to increase the payload on XFL parlay bets.
We can’t tell you if the Arlington Rengades will cover the 3-point spread in their encounter with the Vegas Vipers on Saturday in the third first game of the returning league. Nor can we say with certainty the Orlando Guardians and Houston Roughnecks will go OVER the posted total of 35.5 in the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader. What we can do is make you a more informed bettor when making XFL betting picks. Let’s break down a few wagering options to include on a winning XFL parlay at BetRivers sportsbook.
Week 1 XFL Parlay Picks
Looking at the spreads and totals for Week 1 tells us that oddsmakers are taking a wait-and-see approach. No spread is more than a field goal with visiting teams Vegas and Orlando spotted 3-points in their games. And the total for all four games is below 37, though that’s not a surprise since it’s expected offenses will be the last area to catch up with a newly assembled cast of players at each location. And a quick glance at the rosters tells us points may be hard to come by in the opener.
One thing to consider when wagering this week is the coaching staffs. Several teams have first-time head coaches at any level roaming the sidelines while others have more experience. Former NFL boss Wade Phillips runs the show in Houston and 2000 NFL Coach of the Year Jim Haslett is with the Seattle Sea Dragons. He won the award in his first year with the New Orleans Saints and also has experience in minor professional football leading the UFL’s Florida Tuskers in 2009.
Vegas Vipers at Arlington Renegades
Unlike the 2022 USFL, which played all its games in one location, the XFL has markets with Arlington being a good one. The entire league is based there giving the Renegades another advantage. Bob Stoops is the only returning coach from the 2020 iteration that was shut down five weeks into that season and he surrounded himself with knowledgeable assistants he trusts from days in Norman in Jon Hayes and Chuck Long. The club dipped into the USFL landing Kyle Sloter, who completed better than 70 percent of his passes during a successful 2022 season. I like what Stoops has and going against an inexperienced coach in Rod Woodson I’ll back the Renegades minus the points.
XFL Parlay Pick: Arlington -3
Seattle Sea Dragons at DC Defenders
Seattle could be the most intriguing club just because Josh Gordon is on the roster. During his brief time in the NFL Gordon showed what kind of talent he is, unfortunately he couldn’t get out of his own way. If he sticks to playing football Gordon will shine in this league and former Dallas Cowboy Ben DiNucci will be the best QB. The two will benefit from OC June Jones running the offense. We saw teams in Hawai’i put up big numbers when Jones was coaching on the island. And Jones had Houston off to a 5-0 start before the 2020 XFL season shuttered. The club is thin at running back, but Jones’s offense doesn’t really require anyone to run the ball. Defense might be an issue against Jordan Ta’amu and the DC offense, but I expect Seattle to have a lot of success on Sunday and during the season. This is a good double-dip game with the line down to a pick’em and the total at 36.
XFL Parlay Pick: Seattle PK / OVER 36
Check out the latest XFL betting odds at BetRivers.