XFL Week 5 Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions (2023)
Week 4 of the 2023 XFL season is in the books. Last week’s games weren’t the most competitive, as all four contests were decided by nine or more points, including two by 14 or more. Unfortunately, that happens when you have two matchups between an undefeated squad and a winless team.
However, Week 5 should be more entertaining than last week. The Orlando Guardians and Vegas Vipers face off in a matchup between two 0-4 teams. One will finally end their losing streak on Saturday.
Regardless of the matchups, there is always money to make, so let’s look at some potential XFL bets you should make this week.
Best XFL Bets for Week 5
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Houston Roughnecks vs. Seattle Sea Dragons: Roughnecks -3 (-110)
Last week the Roughnecks had a statement win over the Guardians. While they beat up the worst team in the XFL, Houston won 44-16. The spread was nine points, yet the team had no trouble more than tripling it. Furthermore, the Roughnecks could have taken the fourth quarter off and still won by 16 points. More importantly, Houston has been the best team in the XFL this year, winning by an average of 16.8 points per game. Therefore, it’s no surprise that the Roughnecks are the favorites to win the championship at +160.
After their 0-2 start, the Sea Dragons have won two straight. However, their wins came against the winless Vipers in Week 3 and the one-win San Antonio Brahmas last week. Their two wins came by a combined 13 points, while their two losses were by only six. Unfortunately for Seattle, the Roughnecks will be their toughest opponent of the year. Houston has been the top offense in the XFL this season, scoring 16 offensive touchdowns, including 11 in the passing game. Meanwhile, the Sea Dragons have 10 touchdowns this season.
Week 5 kicks off with this appealing matchup on Thursday night. However, the spread is too small. Houston has won every game by at least nine points this year, while Seattle’s two wins have come against two teams with one combined victory. This matchup should be the Roughnecks’ most difficult of the year. Yet, expect them to come away with at least a four-point win.
D.C. Defenders vs. St. Louis Battlehawks: Defenders -2 (-110)
While the Roughnecks have been the best team in the XFL this year, the Defenders are right behind them. The Defenders are 4-0 this season, including a 14-point win over the Vipers last week. Furthermore, D.C. has won by an average of nine points per game this season. The Defenders have been the most dominant team on the ground, scoring seven rushing touchdowns through the first four weeks. By comparison, the rest of the league has 15 rushing touchdowns combined this season, including six teams with two or fewer.
Meanwhile, the Battlehawks have a 3-1 record this season. The Battlehawks’ only loss was in Week 3 to the Defenders, 34-28. St. Louis won their other three by an average of six points per game. However, two of those victories were by three or fewer points. Unlike the Defenders, the Battlehawks have one of the better passing attacks in the XFL. They are second in passing touchdowns this season with nine, while quarterback A.J. McCarron is third in the XFL with 850 passing yards.
St. Louis could give D.C. their first loss of the season on Saturday. This matchup will be a close contest. However, the Defenders can control the clock and run their opponents out of the building. While I don’t have the most confidence in this pick, I’m taking the Defenders minus the points.
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Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.