UFL Week 1 Picks & Predictions: Battlehawks vs. Roughnecks (Friday)
The second year of the United Football League kicks off on Friday night with a matchup between the St. Louis Battlehawks and Houston Roughnecks. Last year, the Battlehawks won the XFL Conference, going 7-3 during the regular season before losing to the San Antonio Brahmas in the playoff matchup.
Meanwhile, the Roughnecks were the worst team in the UFL last year. They finished last in the USFL Conference with a 1-9 record. Their only victory came in Week 4 against the Arlington Renegades, winning 17-9. However, the team has high hopes for 2025.
While these two teams had drastically different 2024 seasons, it's time to move forward to this year. Let's look at my two favorite bets from Friday night's matchup between the Battlehawks and Roughnecks.
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UFL Week 1 Picks & Predictions: Battlehawks vs. Roughnecks
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook
Bet #1 - Under 37.5 Points (-110)
The Battlehawks had one of the top offenses in the UFL last year, led by former Alabama star A.J. McCarron. However, McCarron isn't back with St. Louis for the 2025 season, as Max Duggan, Manny Wilkins, and Chevan Cordeiro are the three quarterbacks on the roster. While that unit is solid, especially given what Duggan did in college at TCU, the Battlehawks' offense will not be the same without McCarron under center.
Therefore, fans should expect their offense to be slow out of the gate. Meanwhile, the Roughnecks waited until yesterday to announce Anthony Brown as their starting quarterback. Head coach CJ Johnson said the team will have a package or two for Nolan Henderson but believes Brown gives them the best chance to move the ball. That's far from the best vote of confidence in Houston's offense.
Last year, the Battlehawks averaged 26 points per game, with McCarron playing most of the season. Meanwhile, the Roughnecks averaged 15.8 points per game, the lowest in the UFL, including three points per game fewer than the next closest team. Both teams are breaking in new starting quarterbacks. Therefore, expect an ugly and low-scoring matchup on Friday night.
Bet #2 - Roughnecks +6 (-110)
Usually, low-scoring games don't end in blowouts. Therefore, backing the Roughnecks plus the six points makes sense. Last year, they were the worst team in the UFL, ranking last in several categories. Yet, Houston's average margin of defeat was only 7.5 points. Six of their nine losses were by seven or fewer points last season. Furthermore, the Roughnecks faced the Battlehawks once last year, losing by 14 points.
Therefore, bettors should feel confident backing them, plus the six points. Houston lost to St. Louis by 14 points last year on the road with McCarron under center. Thus, they have a solid chance of covering the six-point spread at home without the McCarron on the opposite sideline. Meanwhile, the Battlehawks implied team total is 21.75 points. By comparison, they averaged 26 points per game in 2024.
The betting market expects St. Louis' offense to struggle in Week 1 compared to last season. That isn't surprising, given the change at quarterback for the Battlehawks. Despite being one of the better teams in the UFL, St. Louis didn't blow teams out of the water last year. Four of their seven wins were by seven or fewer points, including two by five or less.
Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.