Roughnecks Now Favored to Win XFL Championship After Defenders Lose in Week 3
- The DC Defenders were the XFL Championship favorites entering Week 3 but were blown out 39-9
- The Houston Roughnecks, the last unbeaten team, are now favored to win the title at +200
- Which team is the best bet to win the 2020 XFL Championship at this point?
The 2020 XFL season took a big twist in Week 3 as the DC Defenders, who had dominated the league in Weeks 1 and 2, were blown out in Week 3, losing 39-9 to the previously winless Los Angeles Wildcats. That result has moved the Roughnecks into the role as favorites to win the XFL championship.
After the changing of the guard, which team is the best bet for the XFL Championship odds ahead of Week 4?
2020 XFL Championship Odds
| Team | Record | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Houston Roughnecks | 3-0 | +200 |
| DC Defenders | 2-1 | +300 |
| St Louis BattleHawks | 2-1 | +350 |
| Dallas Renegades | 2-1 | +550 |
| Los Angeles Wildcats | 1-2 | +800 |
| New York Guardians | 0-3 | +1200 |
| Seattle Dragons | 1-2 | +1600 |
| Tampa Bay Vipers | 0-3 | +1600 |
Odds taken Feb. 25th
Defenders Get Thumped 39-9
The Defenders were outstanding through two weeks of action, winning their first two games by a combined score of 58-19. They were expected to handle business on Sunday, visiting a Los Angeles Wildcats team was 0-2 and outscored 62-35.
The story of Sunday’s game was turnovers. The Defenders coughed it up five times, including four interceptions by Cardale Jones. The offense was a pathetic two-of-13 on third downs while the passing game produced just 90 yards. They actually rushed for 200 yards, which makes the final score a bit more peculiar.
Roughnecks Earn Hard-Fought Win Over Vipers
The Vipers entered the year with a regular-season win total of 7.5 but the under has already hit for them. They started 0-2 and were expected to get blown out on Saturday, but they actually played their best game of the year and pushed the Roughnecks to the edge, ultimately falling 34-27.
The Vipers had scored just 12 points in their first two games. While the offense showed up in Week 3, the defense was gashed for 34 points and 417 yards. They needed stops at the end of the game to give their offense another shot but they couldn’t get the job done.
Houston’s offense has looked great so far and quarterback P.J. Walker will be in the league MVP conversation. He finished the day 24-of-36 for 307 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions and also added another 34 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown.
Which Team Is the Best Bet?
We’re still very early in the XFL season and we’re just starting to see the teams round into form. Remember, they didn’t have a preseason or much of a training camp, so they’re building chemistry on the fly.
At this point, I’d rather go by the process of elimination to narrow the field. The New York Guardians are probably the worst team in the XFL and should be forgotten as far as futures are concerned. The Vipers are bad, too, and I’m not interested in betting them. Seattle is another basement-dweller with a 1-2 record and -16 point differential. Cross them off.
At this point, I wouldn’t mind taking a flier on the St. Louis BattleHawks. They are 2-1 with a +22 point difference and look like a fairly complete team in my eyes. Very quietly, Jordan Ta’amu has played very steady football at quarterback and the running game has been effective, averaging 157.7 yards per game.
Their only loss on the year is a highly competitive 28-24 setback to Houston on the road. They’re just behind the first wave of favorites, so I see some value with them. They should get better as the season progresses and be a real threat to win the 2020 XFL Championship.
Pick: St. Louis BattleHawks (+600)
For over 15 years, Dave has been working in mainstream media and sports betting. He hosted a station on Sirius Satellite Radio for four years, and is currently a senior writer for AskMen. He's interviewed hundreds of hundreds of high-profile sports stars like Shaquille O'Neal and Floyd Mayweather.
