We're at Week 8 in the UFL, and there's a certain demarcation line between the contenders and pretenders.
Currently, St Louis Battlehawks, DC Defenders, and Orlando Storm sit tied atop the standings with identical 5-2 records, and those are the only teams with winning records in the U.
That fourth and final playoff spot will be a battle between 3-4 teams: Birmingham Stallions, Louisville Kings, and Dallas Renegades.
With just three weeks to play, these matchups mean something in Week 8. Read on for our Week 8 UFL predictions and UFL picks.
Season: 13-9
UFL picks for Week 8
| Game | Pick | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Storm vs. Renegades | Renegades -2 | -110 |
| Defenders vs. Kings | Defenders -6 | -110 |
| Gamblers vs. Battlehawks | Battlehawks -7.5 | -105 |
| Aviators vs. Stallions | Stallions -2.5 | -110 |
Picks made on 5-14.
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United Football League predictions and odds for Week 8
All odds courtesy of bet365.
Orlando Storm vs Dallas Renegades
Friday, 8:00 p.m. ET, FOX
| Storm | Renegades | |
|---|---|---|
| +2 (-110) | Spread | -2 (-110) |
| +110 | Moneyline | -130 |
| Over 45.5 (-110) | Total | 45.5 (-110) |
The Dallas Renegades freefall continues. A team that started the year 3-0 has dropped four straight, as they host the Orlando Storm. A Storm win would clinch a playoff spot.
It's a good spot for QB Jake Plummer to get right. He hit Elijhah Badger with a pair of TD tosses over 30+ yards, but threw for just 86 yards outside of those two throws.
The defense could use a good tune-up, too. Orlando surrendered 415 yards of offense to Houston, 367 to Birmingham, and 295 to St Louis in consecutive weeks.
It's do-or-die for Dallas, and Austin Reed needs to stop throwing picks (7 in the last four weeks) to get his team into the playoffs.
In a last stand, Dallas should cover.
Pick: Renegades -2 (-110 at bet365)
DC Defenders vs Louisville Kings
Saturday, 12:00 p.m. ET, FOX
| Defenders | Kings | |
|---|---|---|
| -6 (-110) | Spread | +6 (-110) |
| -260 | Moneyline | +210 |
| 45.5 (-110) | Total | 45.5 (-110) |
Was it a blip on the radar or a bigger cause for concern?
Either way, the DC Defenders blowing a second-half lead and losing at home to the 2-win Louisville Kings should wake them up and have them fired up for the rematch in Week 8.
Jordan Ta'amu threw for nearly 300 yards in the first half, but guided the offense to zero points in the second half (the second straight week) while throwing two interceptions.
Louisville threw itself into the playoff picture with that win, but can it sustain it?
Chandler Rogers was dynamite after getting drilled by Derick Roberson, and he kept Tarik Black, Isaiah Winstead, and Lucky Jackson all well fed in the passing game.
I just don't think Louisville catches lightning in a bottle in back-to-back weeks.
Pick: Defenders -6 (-110 at bet365)
Houston Gamblers vs St. Louis Battlehawks
Saturday, 3:00 p.m. ET, ABC
| Gamblers | Battlehawks | |
|---|---|---|
| +7.5 (-110) | Spread | -7.5 (-110) |
| (+290) | Moneyline | (-370) |
| 44.5 (-110) | Total | 44.5 (-110) |
The St Louis Battlehawks are running a three-game winning streak heading into Week 8 against the Houston Gamblers, and they're going to be tough.
The Battlehawks are second in the league in scoring and third in points allowed. They're also tied for the league lead in sacks with 21, so they can pressure and defend.
Houston lost a close one to Orlando in Week 7 and needs a win just to see the playoff chase.
A back-to-back against the Battlehawks is probably the worst schedule they can have, and it's going to end them.
Pick: Battlehawks -7.5 (-110 at bet365)
Columbus Aviators vs Birmingham Stallions
Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET, FOX
| Aviators | Stallions | |
|---|---|---|
| +2.5 (-110) | Spread | -2.5 (-110) |
| (+135) | Moneyline | (-160) |
| 46 (-110) | Total | 46 (-110) |
The Birmingham Stallions look for three wins in a row, while the Columbus Aviators, at 2-5, battle for their playoff life in Week 8.
Their advantage here is the league's top rushing offense (138 yards per game), going against a soft Stallions run defense.
But Birmingham has something cooking with Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who has thrown for 743 yards and five touchdowns, winning two of three starts.
DTR should be handing off a ton to Anthony McFarland and Snoop Conner, too, as the Aviators own the league's worst run defense.
Pick: Stallions -2.5 (-110 at bet365)
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
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