Betting news, trends, odds and predictions from various handicappers and websites for Saturday 2/15/20
XFL Week 2 Best Bets
February 15, 2020
By Brian Bitler
XFL Week 1 Betting Results
Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS
Home/Away: 3-1 SU, 3-1 ATS
Favorites/Underdogs: 2-2 SU, 2-2 ATS
Over/Under: 1-3
XFL opened up to a very successful viewership in its first week on TV with over 3.3 million viewers. I gotta say I watched almost all of the action and I was impressed for the most part. The different rules that the XFL has specifically the way they take you in on all the instant replays and what goes on in the booth along with the different extra point attempts after a touchdown.
XFL Week 2 Betting Opening Odds
New York at DC (-5.5, Total 48.5)
Tampa Bay (-2.5, Total 46.5) at Seattle
Dallas (-4.5, Total 47) at Los Angeles
Houston (-8.5, Total 51.5) at Houston
Through the first week of XFL action, I was on my way to a 3-1 weekend but Dallas just did not show up in its opener and I finished 2-2. The Renegades were down their starting quarterback Landry Jones and even though it did not move the line, I would’ve faded Dallas if I had known Jones was not playing.
In any case, the futures have changed for almost all teams heading into Week 2 of the XFL, as the DC Defenders and Houston Roughnecks are the new favorites at 7/2 odds.
Future Odds to Win 2020 XFL Championship
per Las Vegas Westgate SuperBook
D.C. Defenders 7/2
Houston Roughnecks 7/2
New York Guardians 9/2
Dallas Renegades 5/1
Tampa Bay Vipers 6/1
St. Louis Battlehawks 7/1
Los Angeles Wildcats 12/1
Seattle Dragons 20/1
We've got four games loaded for Week 2 and below are my "Best Bets" and analysis.
XFL Week 2 Best Bets
Games for Saturday Feb. 15
New York at DC (ABC, 2:00 p.m. ET)
First game on the card for Saturday might be my favorite game all weekend and the line that really jumps off the page to me. Both New York and DC looked very good in Week 1, but New York is one of the favorites to win it all and they are getting 6.5 points this week on the road.
Normally this would send up red flags to me, but this New York team looked well coached and hungry on both sides of the ball. Matt McGloin looks like a good ball control quarterback and I think you will see more from him this week and a better rushing output from Darius Victor.
This early in the season I am biting on this value. We will go with the Guardians plus the points here.
Best Bet - New York +6.5
Tampa Bay at Seattle (FOX, 5:00 p.m. ET)
Tampa Bay travels all the way up to Seattle after their horrendous start to the season by losing at New York as a three-point favorite. I watched that entire game and I just do not see laying any points with this Tampa team no matter who they are playing.
Seattle is the worst team in the XFL, but I feel like the refs will do everything in their control to keep this game within reach. I think this game is very low-scoring and comes down to a field goal for either side give me the points and Seattle.
Best Bet - Seattle +3
Games for Sunday Feb. 16
Dallas at Los Angeles (ABC, 3:00 p.m. ET)
Game 1 for Sunday has the Dallas Renegades, the premier team in the XFL traveling to face the Los Angeles Wildcats. Now QB Landry Jones is still questionable and I do not see him playing in this game, but the line just like last week says he is going to start. Either way if its Landry or Philip Nelson at quarterback, I see this LA Wildcats team showing up in a big way.
Wildcats' quarterback Chad Kanoff had some flashes in week one by throwing for 214 yards and a touchdown. I am all over this home 'dog in L.A.
Best Bet - Los Angeles +4
St. Louis at Houston (FS1, 6:00 p.m. ET)
A game that on paper looks like the biggest mismatch, but if we learned anything from Week 1 its that you can not count out the BattleHawks in any game this season.
BattleHawks' quarterback Jordan Ta’amu is under rated and really sees the field well, while Matt Jones ran the ball with a purpose (85 yards) and I will gladly take all these points with this hungry road underdog.
I see Houston winning but this game staying easily 'under' then number. Take St.Louis and the points here.
Best Bet - St. Louis +8
XFL Injury Report
Week 2
Sat. Feb. 15: New York Guardians at DC Defenders, 2 pm ET (ABC)
Team Player Pos. Injury Practice Status Game Status
NY Garrett Brumfield OL Head Did not participate Out
NY Ian Silberman OL Thigh Did not participate Out
NY Dravon Askew-Henry DB Shoulder Full participation Probable
NY Cavon Walker DT Ankle Full participation Probable
DC Kalani Vakameilalo DT Ankle Did not participate Questionable
DC Khari Lee TE Foot Limited participation Probable
DC AJ Tarpley LB Hand Limited participation Questionable
DC Malcolm Bunche G Shoulder Full participation Probable
DC Simmie Cobbs WR Flank Full participation Probable
DC Malachi Dupre WR Thigh Full participation Probable
DC Desmond Lawrence CB Shoulder Full participation Probable
DC Shamarko Thomas S Thigh Full participation Probable
DC DeAndre Thompkins WR Foot Full participation Probable
DC Scooby Wright LB Knee Full participation Probable
Sat. Feb. 15: Tampa Bay Vipers at Seattle Dragons, 5 pm ET (FOX)
Team Name Pos. Injury Pratice Status Game Status
TB Aaron Murray QB Foot Did not participate Out
TB CeCe Jefferson DT -- Did not participate --
TB Chase Litton QB -- Did not participate --
TB DeAndre Goolsby TE Neck Limited participation Questionable
TB Jason Neill DL Groin Limited participation Probable
TB Bobby Richardson DL Knee Limited participation Questionable
TB Jerald Foster G Shoulder Full participation Probable
TB Rannell Hall CB Thigh Full participation Probable
TB Jordan McCray C Knee Full participation Probable
TB Ricky Walker DT Thigh Full particpation --
SEA Isaiah Battle TE Ankle Did not participate Out
SEA Cam Clear TE -- Did not participate Out
SEA Dillon Day C Calf Did not participate Doubtful
SEA Anthony Moten DT Ankle Did not participate Questionable
SEA Cyril Richardson G Ankle Did not participate --
SEA Kasen Williams WR Quad Did not participate Out
SEA Ben Johnson TE Back Limited participation Questionable
SEA Mohammed Seisay CB Groin Limited participation Questionable
SEA Brandon Silvers QB Ankle Full participation Probable
Sun. Feb. 16: Dallas Renegades at LA Wildcats, 3 pm ET (ABC)
Team Player Pos. Injury Practice Status Game Status
DAL Winston Craig DL Thigh Did not participate Doubtful
DAL Treston DeCoud DB Illness Did not participate Questionable
DAL Landry Jones QB Knee Full participation Probable
LA Saeed Blacknall WR Thigh Did not participate Doubtful
LA Jaylen Dunlap DB Thigh Did not participate --
LA Dujuan Harris RB Ankle Did not participate Out
LA Chad Kanoff QB Shoulder/Head Did not participate Out
LA Josh Johnson QB Thigh Limited participation Questionable
LA Tre McBride WR Thigh -- Questionable
LA Kahlil McKenzie C Ankle Limited participation Doubtful
LA Harlan Miller CB Ankle Limited participation Doubtful
LA Jerome Couplin S Ankle Full participation Probable
LA Trevon Sanders DT Hand Full participation Probable
LA Jack Tocho CB Hip Full participation Probable
LA Tre Williams LB Hand Full participation Probable
Sun. Feb. 16: St. Louis BattleHawks at Houston Roughnecks, 6 pm ET (FS1)
Team Player Pos. Injury Practice Status Game Status
STL Will Clarke DL Calf Did not participate Out
STL Keith Ford RB Knee Did not participate Out
STL Brandon Reilly WR Back Did not participate Out
STL David Rivers DB Head Did not participate Out
STL Dewayne Hendrix DL Ankle Full participation Questionable
STL Matt Jones RB Knee Full participation Questionable
HOU De'Angelo Henderson RB Shoulder Did not participate Out
HOU Caushaud Lyons DL Knee Did not participate Doubtful
HOU Sam Mobley WR Hip Full participation Probable
HOU Andre Williams RB Wrist Full participation Probable
DALLAS RENEGADES AT LOS ANGELES WILDCATS (+4, 48)
Sunday’s first game is another intriguing matchup, as both the Renegades and Wildcats are coming off a season-opening loss, but both were also missing their respective starting quarterback for those contests.
For Dallas that is former Steelers quarterback Landry Jones, who missed last week still recovering from a knee injury. Jones came into the season regarded as the best quarterback in the league and his connection with former Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops made the Renegades early favorites to win the first title of XFL 2.0.
Jones and Co. will have a chance to succeed against a Wildcats defense that allowed Houston’s P.J. Walker to put up 265 passing yards and four passing touchdowns.
On the other side, Josh Johnson, who missed Week 1 with a thigh injury, makes his first start for the Wildcats. Johnson has the most NFL experience of any XFL signal caller and will lean on wideout Nelson Spruce, who broke out in Week 1 with 11 catches for 101 yards.
While the Renegades had trouble containing St. Louis quarterback Jordan Ta’amu, they still managed to sack him four times and only lost 15-9 with their backup quarterback. The Renegades were one of my favorite teams heading into the season and we’ll give them the benefit of the doubt with Jones back under center for this one.
Pick: Renegades -4
ST. LOUIS BATTLEHAWKS AT HOUSTON ROUGHNECKS (-8, 50)
The XFL closes Week 2 with a battle of Week 1 winners as St. Louis visits Houston, where the Roughnecks are getting plenty of respect laying 8-points at home. That makes them the biggest favorites of Week 2 and for good reason.
Houston and QB P.J. Walker in particular, looked like the most impressive team in Week 1 beating down the Wildcats 37-17 behind Walker’s four touchdowns. While the BattleHawks had the biggest upset of the opening winning outright in Dallas 15-9 as 9-point underdogs.
L.A. was touted as having a strong defense heading into the season and Walker shredded them. While the St. Louis defense looked impressive against Dallas, it was facing a backup quarterback, so it’s hard to take much from that game.
Not going to overthink this one. Walker looked like the best player in the league in Week 1, and good quarterback play is so important in these smaller leagues. We’re not fading Walker here.
Pick: Houston -8
XFL Week 2 Best Bets
Brian Bitler
XFL Week 1 Betting Results
Home/Away: 3-1 SU, 3-1 ATS
Favorites/Underdogs: 2-2 SU, 2-2 ATS
Over/Under: 1-3
XFL opened up to a very successful viewership in its first week on TV with over 3.3 million viewers. I gotta say I watched almost all of the action and I was impressed for the most part. The different rules that the XFL has specifically the way they take you in on all the instant replays and what goes on in the booth along with the different extra point attempts after a touchdown.
XFL Week 2 Betting Opening Odds
New York at DC (-5.5, Total 48.5)
Tampa Bay (-2.5, Total 46.5) at Seattle
Dallas (-4.5, Total 47) at Los Angeles
Houston (-8.5, Total 51.5) at Houston
Through the first week of XFL action, I was on my way to a 3-1 weekend but Dallas just did not show up in its opener and I finished 2-2. The Renegades were down their starting quarterback Landry Jones and even though it did not move the line, I would’ve faded Dallas if I had known Jones was not playing.
In any case, the futures have changed for almost all teams heading into Week 2 of the XFL, as the DC Defenders and Houston Roughnecks are the new favorites at 7/2 odds.
Future Odds to Win 2020 XFL Championship
D.C. Defenders 7/2
Houston Roughnecks 7/2
New York Guardians 9/2
Dallas Renegades 5/1
Tampa Bay Vipers 6/1
St. Louis Battlehawks 7/1
Los Angeles Wildcats 12/1
Seattle Dragons 20/1
We've got four games loaded for Week 2 and below are my "Best Bets" and analysis.
Games for Saturday Feb. 15
New York at DC (ABC, 2:00 p.m. ET)
First game on the card for Saturday might be my favorite game all weekend and the line that really jumps off the page to me. Both New York and DC looked very good in Week 1, but New York is one of the favorites to win it all and they are getting 6.5 points this week on the road.
Normally this would send up red flags to me, but this New York team looked well coached and hungry on both sides of the ball. Matt McGloin looks like a good ball control quarterback and I think you will see more from him this week and a better rushing output from Darius Victor.
This early in the season I am biting on this value. We will go with the Guardians plus the points here.
Best Bet - New York +6.5
Tampa Bay at Seattle (FOX, 5:00 p.m. ET)
Tampa Bay travels all the way up to Seattle after their horrendous start to the season by losing at New York as a three-point favorite. I watched that entire game and I just do not see laying any points with this Tampa team no matter who they are playing.
Seattle is the worst team in the XFL, but I feel like the refs will do everything in their control to keep this game within reach. I think this game is very low-scoring and comes down to a field goal for either side give me the points and Seattle.
Best Bet - Seattle +3
Games for Sunday Feb. 16
Dallas at Los Angeles (ABC, 3:00 p.m. ET)
Game 1 for Sunday has the Dallas Renegades, the premier team in the XFL traveling to face the Los Angeles Wildcats. Now QB Landry Jones is still questionable and I do not see him playing in this game, but the line just like last week says he is going to start. Either way if its Landry or Philip Nelson at quarterback, I see this LA Wildcats team showing up in a big way.
Wildcats' quarterback Chad Kanoff had some flashes in week one by throwing for 214 yards and a touchdown. I am all over this home 'dog in L.A.
Best Bet - Los Angeles +4
St. Louis at Houston (FS1, 6:00 p.m. ET)
A game that on paper looks like the biggest mismatch, but if we learned anything from Week 1 its that you can not count out the BattleHawks in any game this season.
BattleHawks' quarterback Jordan Ta’amu is under rated and really sees the field well, while Matt Jones ran the ball with a purpose (85 yards) and I will gladly take all these points with this hungry road underdog.
I see Houston winning but this game staying easily 'under' then number. Take St.Louis and the points here.
Best Bet - St. Louis +8