After what feels like a lifetime of waiting, the XFL will finally host its first Championship Final on Saturday, May 13th. The game will see the Northern Champions, the DC Defenders, take on the Southern Champions, the Arlington Renegades, in the Alamodome in San Francisco.
The XFL has had quite a turbulent few years, and no one thought it would make it this far when Vince McMahon announced it was relaunched in 2020. After ten weeks of highs, lows, and great football, one team will finally get their hands on the XFL Championship trophy this weekend. Let’s take a look at how the sportsbooks think this one will play out and provide some of our own analysis along the way.
Saturday’s game between the Renegades and the Defenders looks set to be a tight affair. The Defenders are currently favorites to win, with DraftKings pricing them at -255, but this is only narrow, with the Renegades priced at +215.
The two teams met as recently as game week 9, with the Defenders sneaking out a 28-26 victory. Reggie Barlow’s team has formed a habit of grabbing narrow wins, with their last three matches in the standard season being won by a combined four points. While this does feel tight, it shows a determination to win that could get them over the line on Saturday. They will also feel confident after their strong 31-21 playoff victory over the Seattle Sea Dragons. They come into the game with a 10-1 record this season.
Defenders quarterback Jordan Ta’amu has been pivotal for the side this campaign, and his efforts were rewarded with the XFL Offensive Player of the Year award. It’s not just their offense that has been strong, with seven of their Defenders making the 2023 All-XFL team.
Most pundits fancy the Defenders to win on Saturday, but you can’t rule out the Renegades. If The Texas-based side finished the season with a 4-6 record before defeating the Houston Rednecks 26-11 at the TDCEU Stadium to secure a spot in the final. Victory on Saturday could see them win the league with a 6-6 record, which, in itself, would be an achievement, and in some ways, given the unconventional history of the league, almost feels fitting.
You can expect this one to be a tight game, especially given the fact that the two teams played each so recently. We’re backing the Defenders to sneak out a narrow win. They have shown they are capable of this and have been much more consistent throughout the campaign. These are the current odds with DraftKings.
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Eight teams compete in the XFL, four in the South Division and four in the North Division. They are the following:
South Division
North Division
The DC Defenders are currently the favorites to win the 2023 XFL Championship game. The team comes into the game fresh off a 37-21 playoff victory and has only lost one game so far this season. The Renegades, in contrast, have lost six games this season, including a 28-26 defeat in week 9 to the Defenders.
If you're looking to place a bet on the 2023 XFL championship, here are some options available for you.
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DraftKings has a range of betting options for the 2023 XFL Championship game. Its spread-betting options are among the best you will find, and it also features several fantasy options for those that enjoy fantasy sports. DraftKings is also great for promos and betting features, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled before the big game.
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BetMGM boasts one of the most impressive sportsbooks on the market, so it should be no surprise that it has a selection of odds for the XFL Championship game. You will find competitive line-betting odds and a selection of over/under and spread-betting options for the final.
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Unibet is an excellent all-around sportsbook that excels in the American football market. It has competitive odds for Saturday’s big games and also has several features that players can use to boost their potential winnings. You can also find a selection of prop bets and parlay markets. Unibet is also one of the best operators for in-play betting, so be sure to monitor this during the game.
Those familiar with betting on the Super Bowl will find extremely similar betting markets available for the XFL Championship. Of course, the XFL is not as popular as the NFL, and you will not find quite as many options. The following are the most popular types of bets:
Basketball fan? Check out our betting strategies and how to make the most out of your NBA bets.
The current odds of winning the XFL Championship are:
We have found these odds to be consistent across all major sportsbooks, with the Defenders being the favorite with all of the sportsbooks we have listed above.
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The XFL Championship game takes place on Saturday, May 13th. The big game will be held in the Alamodome, San Antonio. The game will kick off at 8 pm Eastern Time and 7 pm Central Time.
The XFL uses a different league format than the NFL. There are eight teams in the league, and the league is split into Northern and Southern divisions with four teams each. Each team plays ten games, they play each of the other three teams in their division home and away, and then they face each team from the other division once.
The top two teams from each division then play each other in a one-off play-off game at the stadium of the highest-scoring team. The winners from each team then play each other in the final.
Several former NFL players will compete for the XFL Championship this Saturday, while many other players involved have been NFL draft picks at one point or another and have competed in top levels of college football.
DJ Swearinger - DC Defenders: DJ Swearinger is a strong safety that was initially drafted by the Houston Texans in the 2013 Draft. Since then, he has appeared for several franchises, including the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Washington Redskins. He is one of the most accomplished players in Saturday’s final and hopes to play a pivotal role in a Defenders victory.
Cre'Von LeBlanc - Arlington Renegades: After a successful college career at Floria Atlantic, Cre'Von LeBlanc signed with the New England Patriots as a rookie free agent in 2016. Despite not finding great success there, he would sign for the Philadelphia Eagles off waivers in 2018, and would stay there for two years. Ultimately, his prospects were cut short after several injuries left him off the team. Following that, he struggled to find a team until he settled at the Arlington Renegades, where he has been a key player this season.
Marquette King - Arlington Renegades: Marquette King is a punter for the Renegades who spent six seasons playing in the NFL. After missing his first year due to injury, King debuted for the Oakland Raiders in 2013. He would go on to spend the next five years of his career there, leading the NFL in punting yards in 2014.
Yes. DraftKings is one of the XFL’s official betting partners, and it offers an array of fantasy and prediction contests for the division throughout the season.
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The above offers are available in the following states at present: AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, MD, MA, MI, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, and WY. 21+ Full T&Cs apply.
You cannot watch the XFL Championship game through your selected sportsbook. However, the game will be streamed live on the ESPN+ app. Those watching on TV will be able to watch the game on ABC.
No-one. The 2023 XFL Championship game will mark the first time that the league has been completed in its current format in full. The league was originally started by WWE owner Vince McMahon in 2001 and was seen as a huge commercial failure. The original final was called the Million Dollar Game and saw Los Angeles Xtreme defeat the San Francisco Demons.
Vince McMahon started the league again in 2020, but the season was canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. After several years in limbo, the league was saved, and Saturday’s game will mark the end of its first full season since the relaunch.
Long-time followers of the XFL project will be delighted to see it finally host its first-ever Championship Game on Saturday. The league has seemed cursed since its inception in 2001, and Saturday will feel like a huge moment for those who have backed the project.
From an on-field perspective, Saturday’s game ends ten weeks of great football action, and one of either the DC Defenders or the Arlington Renegades will be crowned the first XFL Champions since Los Angeles Xtreme in 2001.
Smart money on the game is backing the DC Defenders to land their tenth win of the season and secure the trophy, but the Arlington Renegades have shown real grit to reach the final, and you can expect them to put on a strong fight in San Antonio.
Liam Hoofe
Liam is an experienced iGaming and sports betting journalist based in Cardiff. He has worked in the sports betting industry since 2017 and has provided content for some of the biggest casino and betting brands in the UK. He has also covered football and other sports for both regional and national newspapers.
Find Liam on Twitter: @LiamHoofe
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