The second iteration of the XFL has reached the end of its first season, and with last weekend’s semifinal games in the books, the league championship is all that remains. The South Division champion Arlington Renegades will face the North Division champion D.C. Defenders at The Alamodome a week from Saturday, in a quite unlikely final. The Renegades went just 4-6 in the regular season but somehow finished second in a mostly dreadful South Division. They went to Houston and beat the first-place Roughnecks, 26-11, after Houston had thrashed them twice during the regular season. D.C. rolled through the regular season in 9-1 fashion and took Seattle to the woodshed in the North Division Championship. Let’s break down this matchup as you consider whether or not to include the XFL in your sports betting.
XFL Championship Preview
Arlington Renegades vs D.C. Defenders
When: Saturday, May 13, 2023, 8:00 pm ET
Where: Alamodome, San Antonio
TV: ABC / ESPN+ / ESPN Deportes
Radio: No National Broadcast
Live Stream: Sling TV
XFL Odds: Arlington +6 / O/U 41 // Arlington +275 / D.C. -310
Why should you bet on the Renegades?
The Renegades found a rhythm on offense that they have not had all year in the first half against Houston in the South Division championship. Quarterback Luis Perez threw three touchdowns in the first half, including a 59-yard bomb to JaVonta Payton. In the second half, the offense fell back to earth, but it was able to sustain drives and chew clock, keeping the Roughnecks largely at bay. A fourth-quarter interception by Cole McDonald shut the door on any comeback chances Houston might have had.
If you like the Renegades, then you like their defense. It has a way of stonewalling opposing runners and slowing down the passing game. They cover fairly well, limiting quarterback throwing lanes. They are not as good at rushing the passer as they are at clogging up the running game, and they will need to apply pressure to keep the Defenders from torching them down the field. They did play the Defenders well in their one regular-season matchup, mounting a fourth-quarter comeback to force the game to overtime, where the Defenders prevailed by two.
Bet on the Renegades!
Why should you put your money on the Defenders?
D.C. used a second-half surge to put away the Seattle Sea Dragons in the North Division Championship, turning a 9-9 halftime tie into a 37-21 laugher. Quarterbacks D’Eriq King and Jordan Ta’amu both contributed, carrying the ball right through Seattle and also torching them through the air. Tailback Cam’Ron Harris, who was selling cars just a few weeks ago, scored two touchdowns.
The problem that D.C. presents for the Renegades is the sheer number of weapons. When the Renegades came back to force overtime in the regular season, the Defenders simply got a two-point conversion by Ta’amu to get the win. I don’t see the Defenders routing the Renegades, but D.C. looked like a team on a mission in the second half against Seattle.
Bet on the Defenders!
Final Score and Prediction
I like the Defenders to win, but can they beat Arlington by a touchdown? With King in the offense, I think they can. I predict a final score of D.C. 27, Arlington 16.
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