The XFL and the USFL have merged, and the season is about a week from kickoff. If you followed either of the spring leagues, you know that this merger may make betting the futures market a little trickier. However, we have you covered. In this article, we break down all eight UFL teams’ betting odds and which ones you should wager.
There are many questions to be answered with this merger. Will the USFL or XFL teams dominate one another? Will one of the conferences have a much better passing advantage or a defensive advantage? Let’s take a quick look at all eight teams and their odds to win it all.
2024 UFL Futures Market
Birmingham Stallions
Betting Odds: +300
In two years of the USFL, the Stallions opened as the favorites. Both years, they won the championship. Now they open up as the favorites for the UFL Futures Market. Are you going to fade them in their third year? They return the same coaching staff and a lot of the same players. Head coach Skip Holtz has been able to get maximum production out of his unit.
That unit is led by quarterback J’Mar Smith. He was injured last year but had a great Year 1 in 2022. He has a lot of talent to throw to in Spring football guys like Vic Bolden Jr and Marlon Williams.
They also have one of the top tight ends in former Green Bay Packer, Jace Sternberger. They will miss Bo Scarbrough, who retired just a few weeks ago, but they still have talented running back C.J. Marable.
The talent isn’t just on the offensive side. This is a really good defense. They’re led by one of the highest motors in the league, linebacker Scooby Wright. The Shark Dog! He flies all over the field and makes this defense really, really good.
They’ll continue to be one of the best teams in the league, and I think they’re a lock for the playoffs. Then it’s just a matter of winning a couple of games and hoisting their third championship.
UFL Betting Recommendation: I’d make the Stallions my biggest UFL futures market bet. They should be one of the top teams in the league, and they are the best bet.
J’Mar Smith delivers! He finds Victor Bolden to put the Stallions back in front.
(📺: @FOXSports, via @USFLStallions)pic.twitter.com/uJQIshembE
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) May 1, 2022
St. Louis Battlehawks
Betting Odds: +350
The Battlehawks in the Battledome! The Battlehawk fans showed up in huge numbers last year as football returned to St. Louis in the XFL’s first season. Led by NFL journeyman A.J. McCarron at quarterback, the inexperienced coaching staff led one of the better teams. They handled most every team throughout the season aside from the D.C. Defenders.
McCarron returns after helping out the Bengals this past NFL season. The Battlehawks have one of the best receiver rooms in spring football. 2023 standout Jahcour Pearson is currently injured.
However, they still have Hakeem Butler, Darrius Shepherd, and Marcell Ateman. This team is full of both tall receivers and speedsters. It doesn’t hurt that they’re led by the most experienced quarterback in the league.
The running backs may have some question marks. However, it may not matter, as the Battlehawks have one of the best trenches on both sides of the ball. Last year, I opened the season up by saying they had one of the best offensive and defensive lines, and it showed on the field. That looks to be the case again this year.
They also have two linebackers, Willie Harvey and Mike Rose, who used to cause chaos at Iowa State. Add in Freedom Akinmoladun out of Nebraska on the defensive line, and this is a very, very good defense.
The biggest advantage? If the Battlehawks can make the Championship game, they’ll be playing at home in the dome in front of their huge crowd.
UFL Betting Recommendation: This is another solid UFL futures market bet. They’re one of the better teams and playing a championship game at home is a huge advantage. They’re my second-best bet.
AJ MCCARRON TO HAKEEM BUTLER 🔥
THE BATTLEHAWKS (+160) TAKE THE LEAD!pic.twitter.com/0tokFFobIQ
— Covers (@Covers) February 24, 2023
D.C. Defenders
Betting Odds: +380
One of the teams that played in the XFL Championship game last year, the D.C. Defenders coaching staff, is back. Reggie Barlow returns and will have his quarterback, Jordan Ta’amu. Ta’amu is an up-and-down type of quarterback who can throw the ball a lot but also causes some turnovers and takes too many sacks.
He will be helped by former NFL wide receiver Keke Coutee in the wide receiver room. They don’t have a lot of depth in the receiver room, but with Coutee there, it may not matter. They also lost last year’s breakout running back, Abram Smith. It will be interesting to see if Pooka Williams and company can still run the ball as well.
It’s not all bad as the Defenders have the best defensive coordinator in Gregg Williams. Last year this defense played very well. They’ve added pieces like Davin Bellamy from the former Breakers team. Other guys that found success last year like Reggie Northrup and DJ Swearinger have returned.
This is a talented team, however, their lack of depth at running back and wide receiver concerns me. I just don’t see them being as dominant as they were last year, especially on the road. The Battlehawks should be able to take advantage of them this year.
UFL Betting Recommendation: Of the three UFL Futures market bets I’m giving out, I will not be using one on the Defenders. There are too many question marks for me to feel comfortable this year.
Jordan Ta’amu throws an interception to DB Bryce Thompson and the Sea Dragons have new life in the forth #FreeTheSnake pic.twitter.com/YEWzZm1Ew9
— LanePFN (@LanePFN) February 20, 2023
Arlington Renegades
Betting Odds: +475
The surprise XFL Champions from last year, the Arlington Renegades. After an odd trade that sent Luis Perez to the Renegades for a linebacker that had only played three downs, they made their way to the ‘ship. However, it wasn’t just the play of Perez that helped the. Head coach Bob Stoops is very experienced, and the Renegades had a strong defense.
The running back room of Leddie Brown, De’Veon Smith, and Devin Darrington should be solid. Their wide receiver room includes Deontay Burnett, Lujuan Winningham, Caleb Vander Esch, and others who can find success in spring football.
However, their biggest advantage is tight end stand out Sal Canella. He had a great year in the USFL in 2022. He followed that with good year last year in the XFL.
The defense for this team is strong at all levels. Will Clarke starts it with the front line. Vic Beasley and Tuzar Skipper back him up at the second level. Tenny Adewusi is in the defensive backfield along with other playmakers.
There’s one other player I can’t help but mention. The Renegades do have the best punter in the league in former Raider, Marquette King.
UFL Betting Recommendation: This team was up and down all last year, including after Luis Perez came in. Yes, they finished strong, but I’m not 100% sold. I think they struggled down the stretch.
Houston Roughnecks
Betting Odds: +650
The Houston Roughnecks are actually the Houston Gamblers. I’m not sure why the name change, unless it was a social media and fan-based decision. However, I don’t know if it matters because I have a lot of doubts on this team led by C.J Johnson. Those question marks start with unproven starting quarterback Jarrett Guarantano.
I would say they have one of the best running backs in the league in Mark Thompson. However, this week, he sprained his knee and will be out for at least a couple of weeks.
I could spend a lot of time breaking down this team. However, I think there are question marks all over. All skill positions on the offense will need to prove themselves.
The defense is what this team has to offer. Toby Johnson is an anchor on the defensive line. The former Georgia standout has great fundamentals and should help push offensive lines around. Reuben Foster, a former 49er, was the best XFL linebacker last year when healthy. Safety Manny Bunch is also a very good player who will help this defense out.
UFL Betting Recommendation: There are too many questions on this team for me to use a UFL futures market bet on them. I’m staying away as I think their odds should be closer to the Panthers.
Memphis Showboats
Betting Odds: +800
The Showboats are one of the most interesting underdogs for the UFL future markets. They seemed to have taken some of the best players from the cut USFL teams and added them to their team.
That starts with quarterback Case Cookus and running back Darius Victor. Victor is a bowling ball of a back and Cookus has two years of spring football experience now.
Cookus will be slinging the ball to Jonathan Adams, formerly of the Breakers. He’s one of the better spring football receivers we’ve seen. He’ll also have Rashard Davis and Vinny Papale Jr. At the tight end position, Sage Surratt took a while to start having some good games last year, but the former Wake Forest Demon Deacon is a very talented, field-stretching tight end.
The defense also has some USFL standouts from cut teams. That includes linebacker Vontae Diggs, who played last on the Breakers and has some experience in the CFL for the Elks.
He’s the heart of this defense and plays at a very high level. Defensive back Jarey Elder has also been in the spring leagues and performed well.
Head coach John Defilipo, the former Breaker coach, has assembled an interesting squad here in Memphis. I honestly don’t know why their odds are higher than teams like the Renegades and the Roughnecks. That could be good for bettors, though.
UFL Betting Recommendation: This is my favorite underdog bet. Cookus has been able to find success in the spring league and
It doesn’t get much better than that!
Case Cookus puts it right over the defender’s outstretched arms to Jordan Suell for the @USFLStars touchdown.
📺: @USA_Network pic.twitter.com/c2rLbOZ1n0
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) June 18, 2022
The Others
Michigan Panthers Betting Odds: +1300
San Antonio Brahmas Betting Odds: +1400
These two have the worst odds for a reason. It is spring football, and there could be unsung heroes—guys who could hit the field, unknown outside their college days, and show they have that “dog” in them. However, looking at the rosters, I’m not confident placing my money on them.
The Panthers are going to be led by either quarterback Davis Cheek, Danny Etling, or E.J. Perry. Perry had a really good career at Brown, but I still think he needs some development at the professional football level.
The Panthers did pick up some of the former Stars’ receivers who had success in Devin Gray and Jordan Suell. However, there are just too many question marks for this team.
The Brahmas are similar. They’ll be led by Quintin “Stormin” Dormady, who showed last year he can sling the ball. I also like his pass catchers, Jontre Kirklin, and Cody Lattimer. They should be above the Panthers, but I still don’t feel good about their chances of lifting the trophy.
On the other hand, they are coached by the son of a bum, Wade Phillips, and AJ Smith can run a good offense. If you’re looking to bet one more, take the biggest dog.
It is spring football, after all. Who knows what the UFL Futures Market will look like mid-season? Get some value now at +1400 and maybe they win a couple of games on Phillips’ defense and Smith’s offense.
