UFL Week 3 Picks & Predictions: Battlehawks vs. Defenders (Sunday)

The Battlehawks and Defenders are two of the three remaining undefeated teams through Week 2, and the winner of this contest will sit atop the XFL Division. D.C. has a slight rest advantage after playing on Saturday in Week 2, with St. Louis playing in the final contest of Week 2 on Sunday night. However, the Battlehawks have the home-field advantage, and it’s a genuine advantage since the fans show up at The Dome at America’s Center to cheer on the home team. One of these teams is a more dominant, undefeated squad through two games, but will they continue to look like the class of the UFL this week?

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UFL Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions: Week 3 (Sunday)

(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)

St. Louis Battlehawks vs. D.C. Defenders

The Battlehawks have been the best team in the UFL through two weeks. They’ve scored a UFL-high 57 points and allowed a UFL-low 15 points in a pair of blowout victories. Conversely, the Defenders have scored 35 points and allowed 23. After an 18-11 victory at home against the Brahmas in Week 1, the Defenders held on for a 17-12 win at home against the lousy Showboats.

The Battlehawks have won their contests 31-6 and 26-9, and only their Week 2 game was at home. They’ll host the Defenders for their first road tilt, which will pose a challenge for the visitors in a hostile road environment. St. Louis won all five of their home games in the regular season last year before losing at home to the Brahmas in the playoffs. Last year, St. Louis beat the Defenders in both matchups, stomping them 45-12 and winning 26-21 in Week 5 at D.C. and Week 8 at home, respectively.

St. Louis has been more impressive this year than last, thanks to their well-rounded offense and stout defense. Manny Wilkins has the second-highest passing grade by Pro Football Focus (PFF), while Ta’amu is fifth. Wilkins has completed a blistering 76.3% of his 38 pass attempts for 351 yards at 9.2 yards per attempt with two big-time throws and no turnover-worthy plays. Ta’amu hasn’t been sharp, completing a pitiful 46.0% of his passes with a still putrid 50.0% adjusted completion rate. He’s averaged only 5.8 yards per pass attempt with two passing touchdowns, one interception, two big-time throws and one turnover-worthy play.

St. Louis’s offensive advantage doesn’t end at the quarterback position. Instead, the Battlehawks have UFL highs for rushing yards (437) and rushing touchdowns (seven) compared to only 199 and zero for the Defenders. D.C.’s bread is supposed to be buttered on the ground, but they have the second-fewest rushing yards this season.

St. Louis also has a better defense than D.C. The Battlehawks have permitted the fewest offensive yards (393) in the league, and the Defenders have yielded the second-fewest (435). D.C. does have an advantage in sacks (eight versus seven) and turnovers (five compared to three). Still, the Battlehawks have a better scoring defense with two fewer turnovers forced. Ultimately, St. Louis is the better team across the board, and the massive advantage at quarterback and on the ground should allow the Battlehawks to take a lead, force Ta’amu into obvious dropback passing situations, tee off on him and cover the 7.0-point spread.

Pick: Battlehawks -7 (-105)

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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.