XFL Week 3: DC Defenders at Los Angeles Wildcats: Preview, Prediction, and Pick

The Defenders look like they’re the best team in the XFL. Can they keep it up in Week 3 against the 0-2 Wildcats?

Game: DC Defenders at Los Angeles Wildcats

Date: Sunday February 23, 2020

Location: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL

Spread: Defenders -8, TOTAL 444

TV Channel: FS1

DC Defenders at Los Angeles Wildcats Preview

The DC Defenders are flying high. They sit at 2-0, and are coming off a dominating 27-0 performance at home against the New York Guardians. If there was any doubt whether or not the Defenders were legit, those concerns were put to bed last week.

The Defenders have a well-rounded team. They are led at QB by Cardale Jones, former Ohio State alum who went on to win a national championship there. Flanking him is a name many NFL fans may be familiar with him, as Eli Rogers is one of his receivers. Last week, Rogers was mourning the passing of his mother, and chose to play anyway. He finished with 5 catches in an admirable performance.

Jones had much more help. He nearly had two receivers finish with over 100 yards on the day, Rashad Ross finished with 95, and DeAndre Thompson finished with 92 of his own. There is no shortage of firepower on the Defender sideline, and to make matters even scarier for their opponents? The Defenders have had a defensive TD in both games this season. Domination to this point.

The Los Angeles Wildcats are 0-2 but are hoping the return of Josh Johnson, former NFL QB, will change their fortunes from here on out. The Wildcats are coming off a hard-fought 25-18 loss to the Dallas Renegades a week prior, in a game that went back and forth until a Renegade touchdown put the game away at the end.

John Johnson finished 18/34 in his return for 196 yards and 2 TDs. It wasn’t the performance he had hoped for, as his team came up on the short end of the stick, but it’s a performance to build off going forward. With the Defenders on tap, he’s going to need to play much better than he did against their ball-hawking defense.

The Wildcats didn’t have much of a running game a week ago. Former UNC running back Elijah Hood struggled to find holes, finishing with just 10 attempts for 31 yards. They’re going to need a stronger rushing attack to control the clock and keep the ball away from Cardale Jones and co’.

DC Defenders at Los Angeles Wildcats Stats

  • The Defenders have a +4 TD ratio
  • The Wildcats have a -4 TD ratio
  • The Wildcats allow 31 PPG on defense

DC Defenders at Los Angeles Wildcats Betting Lines

  • The O/U for the game is 44
  • The Defenders are 8 point road favorites
  • The Defenders are -350 on the ML, Wildcats +265

DC Defenders at Los Angeles Wildcats Prediction

This game should be interesting. Both teams have talented Quarterbacks, and with Johnson having another week under his belt, I expect him to play even better than he did a week earlier.

That being said, the Defenders have proven to be too good to this point. They have a +39 point differential through 2 weeks, the highest in the XFL, and they’ve shown that they can score on both sides of the field. They’re a scary matchup for any team to this point.

Although I don’t believe the Defenders will blow the Wildcats out, I believe they will win by double-digits. Cardale Jones has too much poise in the pocket, too many weapons on the outside, and a defense that supports him throughout the game. Take the Defenders with the points in this game.

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