The first two weeks of betting XFL odds have featured plenty of close finishes. Through two games, the Houston Roughnecks, D.C Defenders and St. Louis Battlehawks all boast unblemished records. Sportsbooks released XFL Week 3 odds, which we’ll look at below.
The Week 3 slate begins Saturday and is headlined by a battle between the Battlehawks and Defenders, as well as the Roughnecks hosting the promising San Antonio Brahmas in an intrastate clash. Bet on any of the games by clicking on XFL Week 3 odds below (odds as of Feb. 28).
XFL Week 3 Odds
Seattle Sea Dragons at Vegas Vipers
Saturday, March 4, 7 p.m. ET
Cashman Field, Las Vegas, Nevada
The Sea Dragons suffered a second heartbreaking loss in as many weeks Thursday night, falling victim to the Battlehawks’ AJ McCarron’s second straight successful comeback to drop a 20-18 decision. The Vipers also came out on the losing end, falling to the Defenders 18-6 on a rain-soaked field.
Ben DiNucci once again looked reasonably proficient running June Jones’ offense, receiver Jahcour Pearson continued to profile as a formidable No. 2 and Morgan Ellison looked like legitimate lead-back material. However, the Sea Dragons defense wasn’t able to hold the line late against McCarron despite recording three sacks and holding him under 200 passing yards. While the Vipers have been far from impressive on offense, Seattle will need better late-game defensive effort to ward off a third straight crushing defeat.
Brett Hundley unsurprisingly took over starting duties from Luis Perez in Week 2 and looked effective overall in terms of final numbers. The former Green Bay Packer completed 11 of 18 passes for 98 yards while adding 24 rushing yards on five attempts. But, he wasn’t able to connect with either of his top wideouts, Martavis Bryant and Geronimo Allison. While that naturally should change in short order, the Sea Dragons secondary has played well overall in the first two games.
Despite the 0-2 record, oddsmakers clearly seemed to factor in Seattle’s overall solid body of work in those contests. They made the Sea Dragons three-point road favorites to start the week.
St. Louis Battlehawks at DC Defenders
Sunday, March 5, 1 p.m. ET
Audi Field, Washington, DC
The Battlehawks were the Cardiac Kids of the XFL for the second time in as many weeks, pulling out a 20-18 win over the Sea Dragons on the road Thursday night. The Defenders handled the host Vipers in impressive fashion, winning a wet defensive slugfest by an 18-6 score.
While rookie Battlehawks head coach Anthony Becht will happily take the two last-minute wins to start his new career, relying on fourth-quarter comebacks will eventually backfire. That could well be the case if the same game script plays out in Week 3 against a Defenders defense that recorded two sacks and a forced fumble on Hundley, and which limited Vegas to 177 total yards and 3.8 yards per play.
DC head coach Reggie Barlow has his own issues on offense to worry about. Jordan Ta’amu didn’t show much improvement as a passer in Week 2. While the Ole Miss product was highly effective on the ground with 68 rushing yards on 12 attempts, he threw for only 93 yards while completing under 50% of his throws for the second straight game. However, running back Abram Smith showed significant improvement, gaining 71 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries after mustering just 28 on the same number of touches in Week 1.
In what could well be the closest game of the week, the Defenders have been installed as early two-point home favorites.
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Orlando Guardians at Arlington Renegades
Sunday, March 5, 4 p.m. ET
Choctaw Stadium, Arlington, Texas
The Guardians fought hard at times but still ended up on the wrong end of the slate’s most lopsided score in Week 2, as they took a 30-12 loss to the Brahmas. The Renegades followed with their own loss a few hours later, falling to the in-state rival Roughnecks on the road by a 23-14 score.
True to his word, Guardians head coach Terrell Buckley gave Deondre Francois some time under center along with Paxton Lynch in Week 2. Lynch was the slightly more productive passer. But, that’s not saying much considering his meager tally of 79 yards through the air. Francois produced just 22 total yards on six completions and four rush attempts, but he did throw one TD. Running back Jah-Maine Martin may ultimately be Buckley’s most reliable weapon. He gained 46 yards on nine carries, had a rushing touchdown wiped out by penalty and recorded two receptions.
The Renegades could potentially begin a quarterback rotation of their own in Week 3. Drew Plitt was only able to offer modest production for the second straight week. The much more experienced Kyle Sloter waits in the wings. Arlington has a solid array of notable names on the offensive side. Therefore, a switch against a vulnerable team like Orlando could pay big and immediate dividends.
With the sluggish state of the Guardians’ offense and the defense wearing down late in the first two games, the Renegades are unsurprisingly the largest favorites of the week at up to 8.5 points as of Monday afternoon.
San Antonio Brahmas at Houston Roughnecks
Sunday, March 5, 8 p.m. ET
TDECU Stadium, Houston, Texas
The Brahmas took out the frustration of a season-opening heartbreaker of a loss to the Battlehawks with a 30-12 walloping of the Guardians in Week 2. The Roughnecks remained unbeaten with an impressive 23-14 victory over the Renegades on Sunday night.
San Antonio’s Jack Coan seemed to take another step forward Sunday. He had a clean 165-yard, 3-touchdown performance through the air he supplemented with 23 rushing yards. The Notre Dame product did it while surprisingly getting little from his Kalen Ballage-Jacques Patrick backfield tandem. But, he’ll be challenged versus a Roughnecks defense that’s already racked up 12 sacks in the first two games.
Houston does indeed look like the league’s most complete team through the first pair of contests. Brandon Silvers has also done a very impressive job helming the offense. In running backs Max Borghi and Nick Holley, who each tallied a TD in Week 2, offensive coordinator AJ Smith has two highly versatile backs that seem like perfect fits for his creative offense. Each could be well-positioned for productive showings in Week 3 against a San Antonio defense that showed some vulnerability to the run against Orlando.
Irrespective of San Antonio’s strong Week 2 play, the Roughnecks are still being given plenty of respect in the form of 4.5-point home favorite status.
Best of luck betting XFL Week 3 odds.
