{"id":23692,"date":"2023-02-24T17:18:45","date_gmt":"2023-02-24T22:18:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/?p=23692"},"modified":"2023-02-24T17:21:58","modified_gmt":"2023-02-24T22:21:58","slug":"xfl-week-2-preview-picks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/xfl\/xfl-week-2-preview-picks\/","title":{"rendered":"XFL WEEK 2 PREVIEW & PICKS<\/strong>"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

BY ADAM GREENE<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our XFL 3.0 debut went off pretty much without a hitch and, compared to last year\u2019s USFL opening week display, the football wasn\u2019t that bad. It could have a lot to do with what looks like, on the outside, a superior player pool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the players in this league are vying for attention and a shot at the NFL, one head coach might have already worked his way back into an assistant conversation as Houston Roughnecks head man Wade Phillips absolutely put on a clinic in his XFL head coaching debut. That defense looked  a lot like his defenses that helped the Denver Broncos win a Super Bowl and the Los Angeles Rams get to one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Benefiting from that is my defensive player of the week \u2014 Trent Harris, who piled up four sacks in Week 1. On offense, I\u2019m giving that award to Roughnecks quarterback Brandon Silvers, though he needs to protect the ball better. It was not exactly the best day for quarterbacking in professional football history by a longshot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since we have a condensed league and a condensed season, we\u2019re putting combining the weekly Power Rankings with the picks. We\u2019re all learning as we go here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

XFL WEEK 1 POWER RANKINGS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. HOUSTON ROUGHNECKS (1-0)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This roster looked like the worst in the league in the preseason and played the best in the opener. Who knew that having a great former NFL coach running your team, Wade Phillips, could make such a difference?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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(AP Photo\/Matt Patterson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

2. ST. LOUIS BATTLEHAWKS (1-0)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

St. Louis won the most exciting game, not only with a last second touchdown thrown, but one that harkened back to the city\u2019s Super Bowl history with the St. Louis Rams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. WASHINGTON DC DEFENDERS (1-0)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

They won, so you have to rank them here, but I was not impressed with what I saw in DC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. ARLINGTON RENEGADES (1-0)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I could write the same thing for Arlington, but, if anything, they looked worse in victory than the team they beat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. LAS VEGAS VIPERS (0-1)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two stupid interceptions kept the Vipers out of the No. 2 spot. They should make up for it this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. SEATTLE SEA DRAGONS (0-1)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

They might look like a mess all season if Week 1 is any indication, but Seattle will at least be fun to watch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. ORLANDO GAURDIANS (0-1)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To build up a quarterback, you don\u2019t need to pull him so quickly. The Guardians should be better than this, but they can\u2019t hit the panic button this fast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. SAN ANTONIO BRAHMAS (0-1)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The question we have to ask ourselves after how bad this team looked in Week 1, will they be worse than the USFL Michigan Panthers? Is it possible?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re still figuring this whole thing out, but we have lines, odds and totals<\/a> with which to do it. So let\u2019s take a look.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THURSDAY<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ST. LOUIS BATTLEHAWKS AT SEATTLE SEA DRAGONS (-3, O\/U: 36.5)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Battlehawks (1-0) opened up their 2023 XFL campaign with a come from behind 18-15 victory over the San Antonio Brahmas last Sunday. AJ McCarron finished his day 18 of 26 for 190 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. He was sacked five times. Brian Hill led the team with six carries for 55 yards and Austin Proehl hauled in four catches for 49 yards and caught the game winning touchdown in the same stadium in which his dad, Ricky, propelled the then St. Louis Rams to their first Super Bowl (and Super Bowl championship) during the 1999-2000 NFL season. Ben DeLuca led the team with eight tackles, Nate Meadors picked off a pass and Ejijah Hamilton recorded two sacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seattle (0-1) maybe got the best highlight play of the opening weekend with quarterback Ben DiNucci\u2019s underhand touchdown flip to Josh Gordon in the end zone, but it wasn\u2019t enough as the Sea Dragons fell 22-18 to the DC Defenders. DiNucci ended his afternoon 35 of 54 for 282 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He was sacked twice and fumbled once. Brendon Knox rushed 11 times for 31 yards. Gordon caught six passes for 74 yards and a TD. Alijah Holder and Antwaun Jackson had four tackles apiece. Seattle did not record a sack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AJ McCarron\u2019s NFL (and big game experience) showed up when it mattered in Week One. While no one in the XFL put up great rushing numbers, St. Louis was able to find some success there and the fact that the Sea Dragons can produce no real pressure should be a real problem. Battlehawks 23, Sea Dragons 18<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SATURDAY<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

WASHINGTON DC DEFENDERS AT LAS VEGAS VIPERS (-3.5, O\/U: 36)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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DC (1-0) needed a fourth quarter comeback but downed the Seattle Sea Dragons 22-18 in their XFL opener last Sunday. They did it in spite of poor quarterback play from Jordan Ta\u2019amu, who finished 8 of 19 for 86 yards, no touchdowns and a pick. He did rush for a score. Ryquell Armstead had eight carries for 30 yards. Lucky Jackson was the only Defenders wide out to record more than one reception. He ended with four for 25 yards. DeJuan Neal ended his day with eight tackles. The defense recorded five sacks and Michael Joseph nabbed two interceptions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two disastrous pick sixes from quarterback Luis Perez doomed the Vipers (0-1) in their season opener as they lost 22-20 to the Arlington Renegades. Other than his two, stupid, game altering plays, Perez was solid. He was 22 of 36 for 249 yards, three touchdowns and the aforementioned two interceptions. He was sacked three times. Vegas got nothing from its running backs, but Jeff Badet caught six passes for 81 yards and two touchdowns. Cinque Sweeting had three for 64 and a score and former Green Bay Packer Geronimo Allison hauled in four passes for 41 yards. Deontay Anderson led the team with five tackles. LaRon Stokes had 1.5 sacks and CJ Avery picked off a pass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you take away the dumb turnovers, Las Vegas wins in a walk. Washington has pretty much no offense to speak of. In light of that, I\u2019m thinking Perez bounces back and so does Vegas. Vipers 24, Defenders 13<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SUNDAY<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SAN ANTONIO BRAHMAS AT ORLANDO GUARDIANS (+3, O\/U: 39)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Brahmas (0-1) couldn\u2019t hold on in the fourth quarter of their 2023 XFL debut, falling 18-15 to the St. Louis Battlehawks after surrendering 15 points over the final frame. Jack Coan went 25 of 36 for 207 yards, one touchdown and an interception in the loss. He was sacked twice. Kalen Ballage put forth the best rushing performance of the day, carrying the ball 24 times for 84 yards. Jalen Tolliver hauled in three passes for 49 yards and Fred Brown had four receptions for 36 yards and a touchdown. Drew Lewis finished with five tackles. Mike Scott and Matthew Gotel each had two sacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Orlando (0-1) was absolutely decimated by the Houston Roughnecks last Saturday, getting blown out 33-12. Former Denver Broncos first round pick Paxton Lynch now has the inglorious distinction of being benched in four different professional football leagues (NFL, CFL, USFL and XFL and I still wouldn\u2019t give up on him if I\u2019m the Guardians and I\u2019d put away the quick hook). Lynch was 14 of 20 for 125 yards, one touchdown that should have been a pick and a pick that was definitely a pick. Quinten Domady came in for Lynch and was just as bad, going 12 of 18 for142 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Both men were sacked a combined seven times. Jah-Maine Martin rushed nine times for 41 yards. Andrew Jamiel caught three passes for 80 yards and a TD. Cody Latimer had five receptions for 68 yards and a score.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With both these offenses struggling last week, I have to go with the one that at least seemed to pass the eye test. Just barely. Give Lynch another shot and ride with him a while, Orlando. What do you have to lose? Guardians 26, Brahmas 18<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ARLINGTON RENEGADES AT HOUSTON ROUGHNECKS (-5, O\/U: 40.5)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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