Scoring got off to a slow start in the second season of the UFL. It picked up after a while and was up and down in the last two weeks of the season, after the playoff berths were secured. The playoffs brought fireworks in two blowout victories. The Panthers beat the Stallions 44-29, and the Defenders lit up the Battlehawks 36-18. So, those games combined for 73 and 54 points. Will the fireworks continue in the UFL Championship Game? Here are our top UFL picks for the Championship game between the Defenders and Panthers.
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UFL Championship Picks: Defenders vs. Panthers
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
D.C. Defenders vs. Michigan Panthers UFL Championship Game Total Pick
The Defenders comfortably won the XFL Championship Game, but their games have frequently been close affairs this season. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), D.C. has scored 261 points and allowed 242. They’ve averaged 23.7 points per game, with a median of 21, and allowed 22 per game, with a median of 24.
Their games against playoff-caliber opponents were also close. In five games against playoff teams, D.C. scored 103 points (20.5 per game, with a median fo 18) and allowed 95 (19 per game, with a median of 15). Their scoring and points allowed in those games might point toward an under for this game.
Yet, D.C.’s games indoors were shootouts. The Defenders scored 109 points (27.25 per game, with a median of 29.5) and allowed 95 points (23.75 per game, with a median of 21) in four games indoors.
Meanwhile, the Panthers have been an offensive juggernaut. They’ve scored a UFL-high 289 points (26.3 per game, with a median fo 26). Michigan’s defense wasn’t elite, though. They surrendered 227 points (20.6 per game, with a median of 21).
The Panthers have brought out the fireworks in games against playoff teams. In five games against opponents that made the postseason, Michigan averaged 28.6 points per game, with a median of 27. In those contests, they surrendered 24.4 per game, with a median of 26.
Michigan plays its home games indoors. As a result, six of their games this year were inside. They averaged 23.7 points per game in those games, with a median of 26.5. They allowed 19.7 points per game, with a median of 20.
Everything doesn’t perfectly align for the Defenders and Panthers to go over 50.5 points. Still, the over is the more appealing bet considering the game’s spread is slight, the weather won’t be a concern in the dome and both teams have talented, dual-threat quarterbacks. Jordan Ta’amu had the most passing yards (2,358) and passing touchdowns (18) this year, and Bryce Perkins captured the UFL MVP, with 1,580 passing yards, 10 passing touchdowns, two interceptions, 308 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns in eight games. Ta’amu wasn’t a slouch on the ground, either. He ran for 191 yards and two touchdowns. The UFL Championship has fun shootout potential, and the over is the side I’m taking.
Pick: Over 50.5 (-110)
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.