Renegades vs Defenders Prediction, Game Preview, Live Stream, Odds and Picks
Arlington Looks to Clinch XFL Playoff Spot
With two weeks left in the regular season, the XFL playoffs are nearly set. The Arlington Renegades (4-4) snapped a two-game losing streak last week with an 18-16 win over the Orlando Guardians. They will travel to take on the D.C. Defenders (7-1) in Week 9.
According to XFL lines, this matchup features the largest point spread of the week with the Defenders favored by 8½ points. The Renegades will clinch a playoff spot with a win. Will Arlington pull off the upset?
Renegades Hope to Slow Top Rushing Attack
Arlington acquired quarterback Luis Perez via trade with the Vegas Vipers about two weeks ago. Perez finally got his chance to start in Week 8 and it paid off. He gave the Renegades solid play with 190 passing yards and no turnovers. If Perez continues to avoid turnovers, Arlington could become an exceptional XFL pick thanks to its elite defense.
luis perez so nice when he’s in rhythm. beautiful throw. beautiful catch from tyler vaughns. pic.twitter.com/WmWUm4x0Kc
— Kyron Samuels (@kyronsamuels) April 8, 2023
The Renegades lead the league in allowed rushing yards per game and rank third in allowed passing yards per game. Arlington needs a big performance from its front seven to beat the Defenders, who feature the XFL’s top-ground attack with 1,268 rushing yards. The Vegas Vipers hold the second-best mark at 771 yards. The D.C. run game is in a league of its own.
Heading into Week 9, the sportsbook has the Renegades with the second-highest odds to win the title (+1000). With a win, Arlington’s odds will surely drop with a playoff spot clinched.
Can D.C. Offense be Stopped?
The Defenders’ offense continues to look unstoppable. It has averaged 33.5 points since Week 3. D.C. has featured the XFL’s top rushing attack for the entire season. Quarterback Jordan Ta’amu’s improvement has been one of the biggest stories in XFL news over the last month. His jump has taken the offense to the next level with terrific balance.
In Week 8, the run game has one of its worst outings of the season at 2.5 yards per carry. It was no problem as Ta’amu threw for 247 yards and four touchdowns, leading to the 34-33 win over the Seattle Sea Dragons. The Defenders remain the title favorite (+110), per XFL odds.
The Renegades’ defense will be an excellent test to gauge how good this offense really is. Arlington leads the league in allowed yards per game and ranks second in allowed points per game.
Renegades vs Defenders Head-to-Head
The Renegades and Defenders have met once, which D.C. won 31-19 in the 2020 season.
Renegades vs Defenders Game Information
- Game: Renegades vs Defenders
- Date/Time: Sunday, April 16 Noon ET
- Location: Audi Field, Washington, D.C.
- Renegades vs Defenders Live Stream: fubo.TV
Renegades vs Defenders Game Weather Conditions
The weather will not be a concern on Sunday as the forecast is calling for temperatures in the low 80s with cloudy conditions and a 22% chance of rain.
Renegades vs Defenders Betting Lines
Renegades vs Defenders Picks and Prediction
Predicted Score: Defenders 27, Renegades 21
Worth Betting ATS?
Online gambling’s high point spread may cause some to avoid this game. However, on paper, this is an exciting matchup. The XFL’s top offense faces perhaps the league’s best defense. If Arlington can win the turnover battle, this will be close. The Renegades forced five turnovers in Week 8, and the Defenders committed two turnovers in their last game. Take the underdog to cover.
Worth Betting on the Totals?
The over has been a near-lock with any game involving D.C. In fact, the Defenders have gone over in six consecutive games. While their offense has regularly scored over 30 points, the defense also ranks in the bottom half with 23.2 allowed points per game. Arlington’s offense made some improvements last week with Perez at the helm. Look for the over to hit.
The Arlington Renegades are listed at +320 in our Vegas XFL lines. This means that if you wager $100 on Arlington Renegades, you have a chance to win $320. The DC Defenders are -400, offering a chance to win $25 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives Arlington Renegades a 23.81% chance to win, with DC Defenders at 80.00%.
