More football can never be considered a bad thing — especially when the XFL looks to implement a variety of intriguing regulations intended to boost offensive production. The XFL is set on catering to fantasy football and betting markets with a wide range of ideas focused on building fan engagement. Currently, we have the typical betting options — outside of game totals (cowards) — posted. Utilizing PFF’s past datasets for AAF and College football we highlight potential XFL betting value as we head into Week 1 of the inaugural season. With a lot of data and information still yet to be discovered, this is a situation to tread lightly on as things shake out the first couple weeks of the season.
Championship Odds
Houston Roughnecks, +850
June Jones in his return to Texas. Although bigger names get a lot of the XFL coaching hype, we give a slight lean to Jones as the best XFL coach given past schematic preference and performance, both in the NFL and CFL. In regards to the roster, an early pick of Connor Cook may not pan out, but the Roughnecks still assembled the second best roster based on college WAA in the XFL. A lot of that is related to their talent at wide receiver. Sammie Coates failed to live up to expectations as a third-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers but still has high-end ability entering his prime years. Behind him, both Kahlil Lewis and Cam Phillips provided consistent production in college. With a league-wide emphasis on pass-catching, the deepest receiving unit in the league shouldn’t have championship odds at the third highest price. Phillip Walker has won the starting quarterback spot over the aforementioned Cook. With limited preseason snaps in the NFL, Walker has a full body of work present from his college days at Temple. His senior season, he posted an above-average passing grade with 61% of his total yards coming through the air. His 11.1 aDot ranked 16th in the FBS in 2016, making his pairing with June Jones a match made in air raid heaven. They have cornerstone pieces in place in coverage with Trae Elston and Deatrick Nichols. To win this bet, they will need to round into the best offense in the XFL. Given Jones' prior offensive schematic experience blending perfectly into the XFL ruleset, this is more likely than the current +850 price projects.
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