As the 2020 XFL season kicks off this weekend, we bring you everything you need to know about the sport and its betting markets.
For those with the post-Super Bowl blues, there’s nothing better to look forward to than the start of the 2020 XFL season. The league that survived for just one season in 2001 is back, but this time bigger and better!
The XFL consists of a 10-week regular season, followed by two playoff rounds that determine the champion. Eight teams will take part:
- Dallas Renegades (Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas)
- D.C. Defenders (Audi Field in Washington, D.C.)
- Houston Roughnecks (TDECU Stadium)
- Los Angeles Wildcats (Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California)
- New York Guardians (MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.)
- St. Louis BattleHawks (The Dome at America’s Center)
- Seattle Dragons (CenturyLink Field)
- Tampa Bay Vipers (Raymond James Stadium)
Teams will play a 10-game schedule with 5 home games and 5 road games, with no bye weeks. Week 1 kicks off Saturday when the Seattle Dragons visit the D.C. Defenders at 2pm EST. Every single game is scheduled to broadcast on national television.
The first eight weeks will be composed of Saturday and Sunday double-headers, with Week 9 and Week 10 incorporation a Thursday night and Saturday afternoon game, in addition to two Sunday games. This will set up action-packed playoffs on April 19 and April 20, where one team in the East and one team in the West will be proceed to the XFL Championship Game on Sunday, April 26.
How is the XFL different from the NFL?
The XFL is marketing itself as a much faster version of the NFL, with a stated intention to play games in under 3 hours. To help with this, a continuous clock is used that won’t stop for incomplete passes or plays that go out of bounds except inside the final two minutes of each half. More extreme rule changes include:
- No extra points after touchdowns
- Multiple forward passes
- Overtime soccer penalty-kick style shootout
There will be a number of familiar faces for any NFL fans watching, including former Redskins quarterback Josh Johnson, Carolina Panthers’ Kony Ealy and former Redskins head coach Jim Zorn.
XFL Betting Markets
Throughout the season, Fox Bet will have extensive betting coverage due to their television partnership with the sport. DraftKings currently have the most available to XFL bettors. However, betting markets certainly won’t be limited to these two sportsbooks and will likely be available via the majority of legal sportsbooks in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Going by the Championship Winner odds at DraftKings Sportsbook, the Dallas Renegades are expected to win the XFL West and the New York Guardians are expected to win the XFL East.
With a focus on Week 1, DraftKings have released the early spread splits of the weekend’s games.
The highest percentage of bets at the weekend are on the New York Guardians to cover at 2.5 point underdogs against Tampa Bay Vipers. Bigger bettors seem to be on the DC Defenders to cover as 7-point favorites against Seattle, with a massive 84% of the handle being wagered on them.
We’re sure that the 2020 XFL season will get off to a flying start and we look forward to bringing you the latest news and betting previews and predictions as it progresses!
