The XFL season is now in full swing, and it’s obvious that the fans are loving it, and I am too. What I like about the XFL is that it’s giving guys who flamed out in the NFL a second chance, and there are talks of an expansion starting next year. Let’s see how this week is going to play out with my picks for this weekend’s games.
Houston Roughnecks (2-0) @ Tampa Bay Vipers (0-2)
Have you noticed that the XFL’s undefeated teams are playing the XFL’s winless teams? The Roughnecks continued to look impressive after a narrow victory against the BattleHawks. PJ Walker is looking like an early favorite for the league’s MVP. In my opinion it comes down to him and Cardale Jones. Now there’s the Vipers. Once again, the Vipers had more yards, better third down %, and almost 20 more plays, yet they only put up nine points. Aaron Murray got injured in this game, and as a result, former Oklahoma State standout Taylor Cornelius had to finish the game, throwing for 154 yards and two interceptions. The Vipers need to be able to finish drives if they’re going to stand a chance in this league, and I don’t think they stand a chance against the Roughnecks.
Prediction: Roughnecks
Dallas Renegades (1-1) @ Seattle Dragons (1-1)
The Renegades got their first win thanks to Landry Jones, who threw for 306 yards, and a good performance from Cameron Artis-Payne. As long as Jones plays well, the Renegades could be a playoff team. The Renegades are taking a road trip to the Northwest to take on the Seattle Dragons. The Dragons got in the win column last week against the Vipers, despite the struggling Silvers. Seriously, dude only completed seven passes. Still, I think this game could be close because these offenses aren’t exactly consistent, and I’m picking Dallas.
Prediction: Renegades
New York Guardians (1-1) @ St. Louis BattleHawks(1-1)
Oof. Not a good day to be New York. Not only did they get completely shutout, but QB Matt McGloin badmouthed the game plan at halftime, resulting in getting benched for Marquise Williams. I’m not sure of McGloin’s future in the XFL after throwing his team under the bus like that, but I’m sure his days are numbered. The Guardians take a road trip to St. Louis to take on the BattleHawks. For the first time in more than four years, there will be a pro football game in the city of St. Louis, and I’m sure the stadium is going to be packed. They hung in there with Houston, putting up 390 total yards and narrowly losing, 28-24. The BattleHawks have potential, and I think they have another strong performance this weekend. I’ll be picking the BattleHawks to win in their home debut.
Prediction: BattleHawks
Washington D.C. Defenders (2-0) @ Los Angeles Wildcats (0-2)
The beer snake is one of the reasons why I like the Defenders. The DC community has welcomed them with open arms, more than most of the other fanbases. Speaking of the Defenders, DC had another historic performance, putting up the first shutout in league history, beating New York 27-0. The Defenders are looking like the real deal, and could be a force to be reckoned with. On the other side of the coin, the Wildcats are in trouble. Despite a decent performance from Josh Johnson, the Wildcats lost in a close game, 25-18. The Wildcats are going to continue struggling as the Defenders crush them in their first road game.
Prediction: Defenders
Breaking It Down With DKown 