The XFL is finally back... again.
Making its triumphant return after a sputtering start cut short in 2020 (due to the COVID-19 pandemic), the XFL is six weeks deep and treating football diehards to some wild comebacks, lopsided beatdowns, and new rules that the NFL may (or may not) want to pay attention to.
DC and Houston had solidified themselves as the teams to beat early on but back-to-back Roughnecks losses — including one to DC in Week 6 — have allowed the undefeated Defenders to take control of the No. 1 spot.
With six weeks of action in the rearview, here are the latest odds to win the 2023 XFL Championship.
2023 XFL Championship odds
| Team | Odds to win XFL Championship |
|---|---|
| DC Defenders | +120 |
| Houston Roughnecks | +225 |
| St. Louis Battlehawks | +500 |
| Seattle Sea Dragons | +650 |
| Arlington Renegades | +1,200 |
| San Antonio Brahmas | +1,500 |
| Vegas Vipers | +10,000 |
| Orlando Guardians | +15,000 |
Odds courtesy of DraftKings as of March 29, 2023.
XFL Championship odds analysis
March 29, 2023: The most anticipated matchup of the 2023 XFL season went down on Monday, with the now 6-0 DC Defenders (+120) staying undefeated in a 37-26 victory over the Houston Roughnecks (+225), who've now suffered back-to-back losses after starting 4-0.
The rest of the odds board remains exactly the same, with the St. Louis Battlehawks (+500) and Seattle Sea Dragons (+650) taking up the No. 3 and No. 4 spots after wins in Week 6.
Previous XFL betting action
March 22, 2023: Previously in the No. 1 spot on the odds board, the Houston Roughnecks (now +205) suffered a stunning 21-14 loss to the Seattle Sea Dragons, pushing them back down to No. 2 ahead of Week 6.
The DC Defenders and their undefeated 5-0 record move back into the top spot after a 28-20 win over St. Louis, with odds going from +170 a week ago to +125.
Despite the big win, Seattle's odds haven't climbed much, moving from +800 this time last week to +750. St. L and Arlington are sitting in fourth at +750 apiece.
March 13, 2023: The Houston Roughnecks and DC Defenders have separated themselves as the top squads and you don't have to look beyond their Week 4 victories for evidence. Houston dominated Orlando 44-16, while DC dispatched the Vegas Vipers 32-18.
Yes, those are the two worst teams in the XFL but as the odds reflect (Houston from +250 to +160, DC from +225 to +170), these are the teams to beat and they appear to be on a collision course.
Otherwise, the odds board has remained relatively the same, with St. Louis, Seattle, and Arlington still occupying the 3-5 spots on the board. The BattleHawks (+550) remain in third after taking down Arlington 24-11 in Week 4.
March 6, 2023: Except for the fifth and sixth spots swapping, the entirety of the XFL futures odds board has remained the same following Week 3.
The DC Defenders and Houston Roughnecks solidified their status as the top squads with wins over St. Louis and San Antonio, respectively. That shortened DC's odds from +300 to +225 and Houston's from +330 to +250.
Further down, St. Louis remains in third despite its odds dropping from +380 to +500 following the loss to DC.
The Vegas Vipers and Orlando Guardians remain winless and sit at the bottom of the board with odds of 20/1 or worse.
February 27, 2023: The DC Defenders overtook the Houston Roughnecks for the No. 1 spot on the odds board after an 18-6 victory over the Vegas Vipers on Saturday — with odds improving to +300 from +475 last week.
Despite losing that No. 1 spot, Houston moved to 2-0 with a 23-14 win over the Arlington Renegades to finish off the weekend, also improving its odds from +400 to +330.
The St. Louis BattleHawks remain in third (from +450 to +380) after a 20-18 Week 2 victory over Seattle. Rounding out the top half is Arlington, who falls from +400 to +550 with the loss to Houston.
The bottom feeders remain mostly the same entering Week 3, with winless Vegas and Orlando available at 10/1 and 15/1, respectively.
February 23, 2023: The Houston Roughnecks have made the biggest jump after just one week of action, going from +750 to +400 following a 33-12 win over Orlando — the most lopsided game on opening weekend.
Houston is tied atop the board with the Arlington Renegades, who jumped up from +500 after a tight 22-20 win against the Vegas Vipers.
The preseason favorite, St. Louis, is trailing just behind at +450 after eeking out an 18-15 win against San Antonio, while the Seattle Sea Dragons (who were the second preseason favorite at +450) dropped down to +650 after an opening week loss to DC.
The Guardians, who were tied for the longest odds in the preseason, are still at the bottom — but now are 15/1 after that Houston humbling.
January 31, 2023: There's not much separation at the top, with oddsmakers only narrowly favoring the St. Louis BattleHawks over the Sea Dragons.
Longtime NFL tight end Anthony Becht is at the helm of the BattleHawks, and his quarterback is former Alabama Crimson Tide star AJ McCarron. He bounced around the NFL for parts of five seasons before tearing his ACL during the 2021 preseason. McCarron thrived with Alabama before that, finishing his four campaigns with 77 touchdown passes and just 15 interceptions.
Brian Hill will provide backfield support for McCarron. His best NFL season isn't far in the rearview, as the running back posted 465 rushing yards at 4.7 yards per carry for the Atlanta Falcons in 2020.
Meanwhile, Ben DiNucci will be under center to lead the Sea Dragons, with football lifer Jim Haslett manning the sideline. DiNucci was briefly thrust into the spotlight in 2020 while making a start for the Dallas Cowboys in place of the injured Dak Prescott. He struggled in that appearance, but DiNucci produced quality showings throughout the 2022 preseason, finishing with 181 passing yards and two touchdowns over limited work.
Kevin Shaa is among DiNucci's receivers, and he's not far removed from averaging 18.4 yards per reception with six touchdown catches for Liberty in 2021. Even more impressively, fellow Sea Dragons wideout Juwan Green hauled in an Albany program-record 83 catches for 1,386 yards and an FCS-leading 17 touchdowns in 2019.
XFL divisions
| North Division | South Division |
|---|---|
| DC Defenders | Arlington Renegades |
| St. Louis BattleHawks | Houston Roughnecks |
| Seattle Sea Dragons | Orlando Guardians |
| Vegas Vipers | San Antonio Brahmas |
XFL schedule and playoff format
The league's schedule is 10 weeks long, with the regular season ending on April 23. The playoffs begin the following week, and then the brief postseason consistents of two rounds. The semifinals take place on April 28-29 to determine which squads face off in the championship on May 13 at 3:00 p.m. ET.
Which states have legal XFL betting?
The 34 states below have legalized single-game wagering to some degree, whether that be at retail locations or online mobile betting on betting sites. In addition, more states are still in the process of considering legal sports betting.
If you're in a state that allows mobile/online betting, make sure you know which ones are the best football betting sites. The best betting sites offer sharp odds, quick payouts and are safe and secure when it comes to depositing and withdrawing your money.
| Legal State | Retail | Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | Yes | Yes |
| Arkansas | Yes | No |
| Colorado | Yes | Yes |
| Connecticut | Yes | Yes |
| Delaware | Yes | No |
| DC | Yes | Yes |
| Illinois | Yes | Yes |
| Indiana | Yes | Yes |
| Iowa | Yes | Yes |
| Kansas | Yes | Yes |
| Louisiana | Yes | Yes |
| Maine | Yes | Yes |
| Massachusetts | Yes | No |
| Maryland | Yes | Yes |
| Michigan | Yes | Yes |
| Mississippi | Yes | No |
| Montana | Yes | No |
| Nevada | Yes | Yes |
| New Hampshire | Yes | Yes |
| New Jersey | Yes | Yes |
| New Mexico | Yes | No |
| New York | Yes | Yes |
| North Carolina | Yes | No |
| North Dakota | Yes | No |
| Ohio | Yes | Yes |
| Oregon | Yes | Yes |
| Pennsylvania | Yes | Yes |
| Rhode Island | Yes | Yes |
| South Dakota | Yes | No |
| Tennessee | No | Yes |
| Virginia | Yes | Yes |
| Washington | Yes | Yes |
| West Virginia | Yes | Yes |
| Wisconsin | Yes | No |
| Wyoming | No | Yes |
Legal states as of February 23, 2023.
XFL Championship Odds FAQs
The DC Defenders are the current betting favorites at +120.
There are eight teams competing in the XFL, four in the North Division and four in the South Division.
The XFL Championship will take place on May 13, 2023, and the season starts February 18.
No, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is not playing in the XFL — he is one of the league's owners.
