St. Louis BattleHawks vs DC Defenders Odds, Picks & Predictions
By Robert Duff in XFL
Updated: March 29, 2020 at 4:13 pm EDTPublished:
- The St. Louis BattleHawks are five-point road favorites in Sunday’s 4:00 pm EST XFL game against the DC Defenders
- The winner will be in first place in the East Division. Will it be the 2-2 Defenders or the 3-1 BattleHawks?
- All of the odds, picks, predictions and best betting lines are broken down below
Early on in the XFL season, the DC Defenders looked to be beasts of the East but lately, it’s the St. Louis BattleHawks who are flexing their muscles.
The 3-1 BattleHawks come to DC’s Audi Field on Sunday at 4:00 pm EST riding a two-game winning streak. The 2-2 Defenders limp home after successive road losses.
When the final gun sounds on this game, the winner will hold first place in the XFL’s East Division.
The sportsbook has established St. Louis as five-point road favorites in this game.
St. Louis BattleHawks vs DC Defenders Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | -5 (-115) | -210 | O 38.5 (-110) |
| DC | +5 (-105) | +170 | U 38.5 (-110) |
Odds taken Mar. 6
The Defenders will look to rediscover their mojo back on their home field. DC opened the season with a pair of solid home victories.
BattleHawks Moving on Up
St. Louis was a three-point pick to win this game in the opening odds. The loss of faith in the Defenders among the betting public is evident by how much the spread has continued to move in favor of the BattleHawks.
After Week 2, DC was the +180 chalk to win the 2020 XFL Championship. Since then, the Defenders haven’t won a game.
These defenders are ready for DC. 😤#ForTheLoveOfFootball x #ClearedToEngage pic.twitter.com/ttK0UkuscG
— St. Louis Battlehawks (@XFLBattlehawks) March 5, 2020
Today, it’s the BattleHawks who are given the best odds to win the title among East Division teams. St. Louis is at +300 as the second betting choice.
Despite their current tailspin, the Defenders remain third in the XFL Championship future book betting line at +425.
Ta’Amu an XFL Surprise
If the BattleHawks are the Cinderella story of the XFL, the St. Louis quarterback Jordan Ta’amu is the one trying on the glass slipper. The former Ole Miss QB wasn’t expected to win the starting job.
We already know QB1 is a star … but now he is your XFL star of the week! ⭐️
Congrats, @JTaamu10! 💪#ForTheLoveOfFootball x #ClearedToEngage
— St. Louis Battlehawks (@XFLBattlehawks) March 4, 2020
Ta’amu is second in the XFL in passing yardage (876). He’s also fifth in the league in rushing (186 yards). He was named XFL Star of the Week following last week’s victory over Seattle.
BattleHawks Born to Run
St. Louis owns the second-best run game in the XFL team stats. The BattleHawks are averaging 151.5 yards per game on the ground. Former Washington Redskin Matt Jones (244 yards) is second the league in rushing.
Last week Kenny Robinson said the Battlehawks are going to win the title and bring it back to St. Louis.
Matt Jones kind of echoed that statement today while Coach Hayes gave more of a coach answer. @XFLBattleHawks @ksdknews pic.twitter.com/pXY8GaUSK2
— Ahmad Hicks (@AhmadHicksTV) March 4, 2020
There was some concern this week about the health of the St. Louis runners. Starters Jones (knee) and Christine Michel (illness) were both held out of practice earlier in the week. But both backs were full participants in practice on Thursday.
DC is seventh in the XFL at stopping the run. The Defenders allow 122.5 rushing yards per game.
Defenders a Tale of Two Sites
DC was impressive during the first two weeks of the season. The Defenders won a pair of home games by a combined score of 58-19. As the season has progressed, the two teams the DC beat those first two games – the Seattle Dragons and New York Guardians – are a combined 3-5 and two of the worst teams in the league.
DC #Defenders have been deconstructed the last 2 games…
0-2
Outscored 64-9!!! 😬
Cardale Jones: 22 of 48/ 175yds/ 5 INTs 😟Brutal facts 🤯#XFL2020 pic.twitter.com/BCeexvN2E1
— XFL ENDZONE (@XFL_Endzone) March 2, 2020
DC’s numbers through the first two games were impressive. QB Cardale Jones passed for 511 yards, which led the league. Wide receiver Rashad Ross was second in the XFL with 147 yards in receptions.
In the past two games, Jones has passed for just 163 yards. He’s failed to complete a single TD pass and has been picked off five times. His passer rating over the two games is an abysmal 25.8.
BattleHawks Battle On
The St. Louis defense allowed four TDs in a 28-24 loss at 4-0 Houston during Week 2. In the BattleHawks’ other three games, they’ve allowed a combined three TDs.
BattleHawks vs Defenders Stats
| 3-1 | Straight Up | 2-2 |
| 3-1 | Against the Spread | 2-2 |
| 2-2 | Over/Under | 1-3 |
| 357.3 (2) | Total Offense | 391.3 (4) |
| 151.5 (2) | Rushing Offense | 105.5 (4) |
| 205.8 (5) | Passing Offense | 163.5 (6) |
| 266.3 (2) | Total Defense | 314.5 (4) |
| 93.2 (2) | Rushing Defense | 122.5 (7) |
| 173.0 (2) | Passing Defense | 192.0 (3) |
| 0 (T4) | Takeaways | 0 (T4) |
| 22.7 (2) | Points Per Game | 16.7 (5) |
| 15.5 (1) | Points Per Game Allowed | 20.7 (5) |
The Defenders have averaged 4.5 points while allowing 32 points in back-to-back losses to previously-winless teams. DC is 2-0 straight up and against the spread at home but hasn’t faced a team as potent as St. Louis.
Pick: St. Louis BattleHawks -5 (-115)
Sports Writer
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
