Now that the Super Bowl has come and gone, football bettors looking for a fix should turn their attention to the XFL. The eight-team series returns to action this weekend with four games. Bettors looking for an Orlando Guardians-Houston Roughnecks prediction should hit this XFL bet for Week 1 — we’re backing the underdogs on the series’ opening night.
Best Orlando Guardians-Houston Roughnecks XFL Bets | Week 1
Orlando Guardians (+3.5) vs. Houston Roughnecks | Feb. 18, 8:30 p.m. ET
The betting public hasn’t taken to the Orlando Guardians. They now own the worst odds of winning the XFL title at 19-2, and they’ll start the season as the biggest underdog on the slate. However, their season-opening game against the Houston Roughnecks is more winnable than the public understands.
The Guardians don’t have the best coaching staff, but they do have players who can form an elite XFL offense. Quarterbacks Paxton Lynch, a former NFL first-round pick, and Deondre Francois, a one-time Florida State star, will allow them to run a dual-threat attack. Athletic wide receivers in Charleston Rambo, the team’s first draft selection, and Stephen Guidry should reel in contested catches and generate yards after the catch. Offensive coordinator Robert Ford, once an NFL wide receivers coach, can get the most out of them.
Orlando’s offense has a tough task ahead of them against Wade Phillips’ defense, but outscoring his offense shouldn’t be difficult. The Roughnecks brought in A.J. Smith, the team’s former wide receivers coach, as their offensive coordinator. Smith served under June Jones in 2020 and helped Houston’s offense dominate the XFL. However, he’ll go from P.J. Walker under center to Brandon Silvers, a much less athletic quarterback. Silvers’ best receivers include Deontay Burnett, Jontre Kirklin and Travell Harris, all of whom are undersized.
The Roughnecks have also made some concerning roster moves. They shipped off running back Adrian Killins, their first draft selection, for defensive lineman Glen Logan, who went in the ninth round of the open draft. The team’s third draft selection, wide receiver Cedric Byrd, is listed as the team’s second option at H-back on the depth chart. The apparent underperformance of Houston’s early choices at skill positions should concern bettors thinking about backing them.
The odds for Saturday night’s Orlando Guardians-Houston Roughnecks game should sit closer to a coinflip than they currently do. Houston’s offense may sputter with an unathletic quarterback throwing to undersized receivers. Bettors should head to FanDuel Sportsbook to back the Guardians at +160. New users at FanDuel can get a no-sweat first bet worth up to $1,000!
Best XFL Bet Guardians-Roughnecks: Guardians Moneyline (+160 for 0.25 Unit) at FanDuel
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