News and Noteworthy Rules on Betting the XFL

When people say they are bummed out and going through withdrawal because there is no more football, you can tell them that isn’t exactly true. With the return of the XFL and some interesting rule deviations, we can all at least give this league a shot. In fact, Week 1 is this weekend and the lines just came out, so football and gambling are alive even after the Super Bowl.

Odds to Win the XFL Championship

Dallas Renegades +300
D.C. Renegades +350
Tampa Bay Vipers +350
Houston Roughnecks +550
Los Angeles Wildcats +700
New York Guardians +800
St. Louis BattleHawks +900
Seattle Dragons +1200

Five Major Rules to Know

1. You can throw a forward pass TWICE on the same play. The hangup is the first throw must be completed — and the second pass initiated — behind the original line of scrimmage.

2. Replay will be used but will follow the college football model.

3. If the game goes to overtime, there is no coin toss and no tie.

4. In overtime, each team will get five one-play possessions from the five-yard line. Each successful conversion is worth two points. The defense cannot score. If the game is still tied after the fifth round, it switches to single-round attempts until there’s a Sportsbook.

5. Conversions after a touchdown can result in one, two or three points. If you choose to take the ball at the two-yard line and score, that is worth one point. If you take the ball at the five-yard line, that is worth two points, and if you try from the 10-yard line, that will be worth three points. There’s no kicking at all and if the defense creates a turnover and returns the ball for a score, it will be awarded the same number of points the offense was trying to score on its attempt.

Teams, Head Coaches and Team News/Players

Dallas Renegades

Head coach: Bob Stoops

Stoops is a legend in college football with 10 Big 12 titles and a national championship to his credit at Oklahoma. Offensive guru Hal Mumme will have former Oklahoma Sooners and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Landry Jones at the helm for the Renegades. Jones was recruited by Stoops and had 123 touchdowns and only 52 picks as a Sooner. Jones, named after legendary Cowboys coach Tom Landry, is probably the most experienced QB in this league. He played three years with the Steelers, with career totals of eight touchdown passes and seven interceptions. Jones may miss the start of the season and his backup is Syracuse’s Eric Dungey, who finished his career with many Orange QB records.

D.C. Defenders

Head coach: Pep Hamilton

The Defenders have ex-Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Cardale Jones as their starter. Jones, who is six-foot-six, started only 11 games in Columbus and played on the Buffalo Bills in 2016.

Houston Roughnecks

Head coach: June Jones

Jones is an offensive guy who has had big-time offensive teams in college with Hawaii and in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons.

Los Angeles Wildcats

Head coach: Winston Moss

The Wildcats have big-name coordinators on both sides of the ball. Norm Chow of USC and Tennessee Titans fame is the offensive coordinator and ex-New York Giants linebacker Pepper Johnson leads the defense.

New York Guardians

Head coach: Kevin Gilbride

Gilbride’s defensive backs coach Chris Dishman played for him when he was coaching the Houston Oilers. The Guardians quarterback is Matt McGloin, who put up solid numbers in college at Penn State.

St. Louis BattleHawks

Head coach: Jonathan Hayes

St. Louis has Chuck Long as offensive coordinator. Long had a fantastic career as the Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback and had some productive seasons in the NFL. Receivers coach Az-Zahir Hakim was a member of the St. Louis Rams “Greatest Show on Turf” teams from the early 2000s.

Seattle Dragons

Head coach: Jim Zorn

Zorn used to sling the ball for the Seattle Seahawks and now will attempt to produce a Sportsbook in the XFL. The Dragons will be led by former Texas A&M running back Trey Williams. Williams had 18 total touchdowns while he was playing at College Sportsbook.

Tampa Bay Vipers

Head coach: Marc Trestman

Jerry Glanville is the Vipers defensive coordinator. This will mark seven decades of coaching football for Glanville. Vipers quarterback Quinton Flowers put up big numbers while at South Florida. In 43 total games, Flowers had 71 passing TDs and 41 rushing TDs, while only throwing 23 interceptions. He is the all-time South Florida touchdown leader.