Houston Roughnecks vs DC Defenders Odds, Spread, Picks – XFL Week 6
- DC puts its perfect record on the line as 3-point favorites in the Roughnecks vs Defenders odds on Monday
- These are the XFL’s top-two teams in both points for and points against
- See the complete Roughnecks vs Defenders odds here, plus betting splits, key trends and picks
You probably thought you were going to have to wait until September to sweat football again on Monday night. Well, guess again. Thanks to the XFL, minor league football is trying to make Mondays great again for one week only. Week 6 on the XFL schedule concludes on Monday night this week, with the biggest matchup of the year. Undefeated DC puts its 5-0 record on the line versus 4-1 Houston. Online sportsbooks expect the Defenders perfect season to continue, as they pegged them as the home chalk in the Roughnecks vs Defenders odds.
Just a reminder, if you’re new to wagering on minor league football make sure you check out our how to bet the XFL guide before getting started with your Roughnecks vs Defenders picks.
Roughnecks vs Defenders Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston Roughnecks | +3 (-110) | +135 | O 42 (-110) |
| DC Defenders | -3 (-110) | -155 | U 42 (-110) |
DC is currently laying 3 points in the Roughnecks vs Defenders odds, in a contest that features a total of 42. Kick-off is scheduled for 7 pm ET at Audi Field in Washington, DC, with ESPN2 providing the broadcast coverage.
Odds as of March 26th at DraftKings Sportsbook.
Roughnecks vs Defenders Betting Splits
Bettors are also banking on the Defenders remaining undefeated. As of Sunday night, 75% of both the spread tickets and ATS handle are on DC. The Defenders have covered all five of their outings so far, most recently beating St. Louis on the road 28-20 as a short favorite.
Houston meanwhile, has been nearly as strong against the spread posting a 4-1 mark. They were undefeated both straight up and ATS heading into Seattle last week, but came up short against the Sea Dragons 21-14.
Coach Woodson: "Dude I can't wait for Monday night football, the Roughnecks really are my favorite team"
Coach Becht: “OMG SAME! Chill out…you got me smiling thinking about how AMAZING they are! https://t.co/Ffd8bATNls
— Houston Roughnecks (@XFLRoughnecks) March 26, 2023
Total wise, the line currently sits at 42. Bettors clearly don’t think that number is high enough, as 76% of the over/under tickets are on the over, as is 84% of all money wagered on the total. DC games are 4-1 to the over this season, with each of the Defenders last three contests exceeding the total.
The Roughnecks have seen only two of their five outings clear the total, while the under is 3-1 in their last four games per the XFL stats.
Roughnecks vs Defenders Betting Trends
These are the top-two teams in the XFL Championship odds, and in virtually every key category on both sides of the ball. Houston leads the league in points for and against, with DC right on their heels. Offensively, they take two very different approaches.
The Roughnecks deploy a pass heavy approach, entering Week 6 as the league’s top passing team. Quarterback Brandon Silvers ranks second in the XFL in passing yards, and second in TD throws. DC on the other hand, loves to establish the run. Abram Smith, the top pick in the XFL draft, leads the league in rushing yards and is fresh off a 3 TD performance.
Abram Smith’s stats tonight…
• 218 rushing yards
• 9.5 yards per carry
• 3 TDs#Defenders | @abramsmith_28 pic.twitter.com/tW5cMGTryA— XFL Stats (@XFL_Stats) March 19, 2023
QB D’Eriq King is used as the team’s primary ball carrier in close, and leads the XFL with five rushing TDs, one more than Smith. King and fellow DC quarterback Jordan Ta’amu are both dual threats, just as capable of beating you with their legs as with their arms.
Defensively, Houston and DC rank 1-2 in sacks, with each team tied for second in takeaways with 12. The difference is while the Roughnecks have enjoyed a very easy schedule so far, the Defenders have been battling against the XFL’s top teams aside from Houston.
Roughnecks vs Defenders Predictions
DC has beaten the BattleHawks, quarterbacked by the league’s top QB AJ McCarron twice, as well as 4-2 Seattle and a Vegas team that features an above average offense. Houston’s resume is far less impressive. They fell to the best team they’ve faced (Seattle) and have beaten up on winless Orlando twice. Their only two other games have come against San Antonio and Arlington, who are the league’s two worst offensive teams.
XFL Championship Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| DC Defenders | +125 |
| Houston Roughnecks | +205 |
| St. Louis BattleHawks | +600 |
| Seattle Sea Dragons | +750 |
| Arlington Renegades | +750 |
| San Antonio Brahmas | +2500 |
| Vegas Vipers | +5000 |
| Orlando Guardians | +15000 |
The Roughnecks have padded their stats by playing inferior competition and Monday night will be a wake-up call for them. To make matters worse, Houston is also dealing with injuries. Jontre Kirklin, who leads the team in touchdown catches, is down after suffering a season ending injury last week. That leaves Silvers minus a weapon on Monday, which is not a recipe for success against this elite DC defense.
On the other side of the ball, the Roughnecks showed some vulnerability last week versus the Sea Dragons, and we should expect DC’s potent run game to carry them to success.
Pick: DC Defenders -3 (-110)
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As SBD's resident Swiss Army Knife, Chris covers virtually every sport including NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NCAAF and the Olympics. A true grinder, he'd rather pick off small edges in the player props market than swing for the fences with a 5-leg parlay.
