These two teams are heading into opposite directions in Week 4, as the Dragons look to bounce back with a huge road victory.
Game: Seattle Dragons at St. Louis Battlehawks
Date and Time: Saturday February 29, 2020, 5:00 PM
Location: The Dome at America’s Center, St. Louis, MI
Spread: Battlehawks -11, TOTAL 38.5
TV Channel: FOX
Seattle Dragons at St. Louis Battlehawks Preview
If the Seattle Dragons could just take care of the football, they might be able to put some points on the board more often. They’ve given the ball away in each of their 3 games, totaling 5 on the season, including throwing 4 interceptions. Those numbers are a recipe for disaster if the Dragons want to mount any momentum going forward, as they have to take care of the ball against the better teams in the league.
The Dragons enter this game with a 1-2 record, and they lost their Week 3 matchup with the Dallas Renegades, 24-12. They struggle to put together scoring drives with consistent success, and their offense only puts up 14.0 points per game. They are lead by quarterback Brandon Silvers, who has put up a respectable 6 touchdowns this season, but has brought down the team with 4 interceptions. If Silvers can cut down on the turnovers, the Dragons should have more success going forward.
The leading rusher for the Dragons is Kenneth Farrow, as he rushed the ball 23 times for a total of 100 yards. Against the Battlehawks, a team that just dominated the Guardians by 20 points, establishing the run early will be a key development for the Dragons if they hope to keep their explosive opposition off of the field for long periods of time.
The St. Louis Battlehawks enter this game with a 2-1 record, and are coming off a 29-9 domination of the New York Guardians on their home field. The Battlehawks have competed with the best teams in the league, as they’ve given the Dallas Renegades their only loss, and lost to the 3-0 Roughnecks by only 4 points.
This team is lead by Jordan Ta’Amu at quarterback, and he guides an explosive offensive attack. Ta’Amu has completed 76% of his passes to this point, an impressive statistic that shows he can move the ball down the field at will. He’s compiled 612 yards in his 3 games, with a 4/2 TD-INT ratio. The quarterback has a multitude of weapons to choose from, as De’Mornay Pierson-El and Alonzo Russell both have over 100 yards and a TD this season.
While the passing attack is impressive, the Battlehawks sport one of the best running games in the league. They boast a two-headed attack of former NFL players, Matt Jones and Christine Michael, that have both had success in the big leagues. It’s no wonder their success has translated to the XFL. St. Louis rushes for an astounding 157.7 yards per game, as their main goal is to wear down their opposition before eventually running them right over. If they can establish the run against the Dragons early, it should open up passing lanes for Ta’Amu, leading to a high-scoring outburst.
Seattle Dragons at St. Louis Battlehawks Key Stats
- The Battlehawks average 22.7 points per game
- The Dragons allow 21.3 points per game
- The teams are a combined 3-16 on the new Extra Point attempt
Seattle Dragons at St. Louis Battlehawks Betting Lines
- The O/U for the game is 38.5
- The Battlehawks are 11 point home favorites
- The Battlehawks are -455 on the ML, Dragons +350
Seattle Dragons at St. Louis Battlehawks Prediction
The oddsmakers have acknowledged that both of these teams are trending in opposite directions by setting the spread at 11 points. While this is a huge line, it’s validated by the fact that the Battlehawks are 4 points away from a 3-0 record, and have proven to be among the league’s best. The Dragons are among the bottom-feeders of the league, but again, it’s only been 3 games, and many things can change going forward.
While things can change, I don’t think they will in this game. The Battlehawks offense is too good, and the combination of Jones and Michael at running back is going to be too much for the Dragons defense. Combine this with the tendency of Silvers to turn the ball over, the home crowd at the Battlehawks back, and the talent disparity throughout the field, the Battlehawks are on their way to a convincing victory.
