Are you missing out on placing bets on football? Don’t worry! The UFL kicks off in just three days. Now is a perfect time to get down on some bets while you take in all the action. The good thing about Week 1 is that the books don’t have a good grasp on which teams will succeed and which won’t. However, we can make an educated guess based on experience. Let’s take a look at the 2026 UFL Week 1 preview, complete with picks and best bets! Don’t forget to get down on some UFL futures before the season starts, too!
2026 UFL Week 1 Preview, Picks, and Best Bets
Birmingham Stallions (-4.5) @ Louisville Kings
The Birmingham Stallions hit the road for the debut game of the 2026 UFL season to kick off our UFL week 1 picks. The Stallions are very well known in this league. They won two straight Championships in the USFL before the merger, and proceeded to win a third in the UFL.
However, they took a step back last year. It still seems there may be some favoritism towards them, though. They are the odds-on favorite to win it all this year. This isn’t the same team as last year. In fact, spring football coach Skip Holtz is no longer their coach. Instead, they have a first-time head coach, A.J. McCarron. Not only is he a first-time head coach. He’s never coached at all.
They’ll roll out quarterback Matt Corral, who has shown flashes in spring football. They also have a plethora of weapons on offense, including Anthony McFarland, Deon Cain, Laviska Shenault, and Marlon Williams. All of this will come down to how McCarron can prepare for a game and coach a football team.
The Kings also bring in a coach without a lot of experience in Chris Redman. He doesn’t have much coaching experience either. They also have a questionable offense. The quarterback position will likely go to Jason Bean to start. However, they do have a solid running back in Benny Snell. They also have Isaiah Winstead, Jonathan Adams, and Lucky Jackson.
The Stallions have a better overall roster. However, I have trouble trusting a first-time head coach. If Skip Holtz were still the head coach, I’d take the Stallions as a 4.5-point favorite in a heartbeat. This isn’t a Holtz-led team.
UFL Week 1 Picks: Kings +4.5
DC Defenders (-3.5) @ St. Louis Battlehawks
The next game kicks off on Saturday at 11 AM Central time. It features the defending champions DC Defenders, who hit the road to take on rival St. Louis Battlehawks. Normally, the Battlehawks have a huge home-field advantage. However, the DC Defenders have been able to overcome that home-field advantage before
The Defenders have the same coaching staff returning as they had last year that won the championship. They also returned over 20 of their team from last year. Including quarterback Jordan Ta’amu and running backs Deon Jackson and Abram Smith. They also have wide receivers Ty Scott, Braylon Sanders, Cornell Powell, and Keke Coutee.
The Battlehawks no longer have Anthony Becht as their head coach. They at least promoted their wide receivers coach, St. Louis Rams’ legend, Ricky Proehl. Brandon Silvers will lead the team at quarterback. Their returning starting running back Jarveon Howard will get the bulk of the carries. They also have wide receivers Hakeem Butler, Jahcour Pearson, Frank Darby, and Blake Jackson. All of these guy shave had success in spring football.
The Battlehawks may be able to remain competitive. However, this DC team should be more put together and more complete right out of the gate.
UFL Week 1 Picks: Defenders -3.5
Houston Gamblers @ Dallas Renegades (-4.5)
The third game of UFL Week 1 on our bets list is the Houston Gamblers at the Dallas Renegades. It kicks off on Saturday at 3 PM Central. The Renegades move from Arlington to Dallas, and Bob Stoops is no longer the coach. They did bring in Rick Neuheisel, who has plenty of coaching experience.
He’ll roll out Luis Perez as his starting quarterback. Perez has been in spring football for a long time. His success has been hit and miss. However, he has plenty of experience and won’t have any Week 1 jitters. They’ll also have the same running back in Dae Dae Hunter, who had a lot of success after taking over last year. At receiver, they’ll have Tyler Vaughns, Deontay Burnett, and Greg Ward. All have had success in the spring leagues.
They’ll host the Houston Gamblers. Houston brings back another coach with experience with Kevin Sumlin. They’ll roll out Nolan Henderson, the former Delaware Blue Hen, in Week 1 at quarterback. However, keep an eye on Taulia Tagavailoa, who was recently acquired. Beyond him, the roster does have some questions elswhere though. Starting running back is a question mark. They do have Jontre Kirklin at wide receiver.
With more questions than answers, I think this team will start slow.
UFL Week 1 Picks: Renegades (-4.5)
Columbus Aviators @ Orlando Storm (-1.5)
The final game takes place on Sunday at 7 PM Central and features the Columbus Aviators against the Orlando Storm.
The Aviators brought in first-time head coach Ted Ginn Jr. While he may be an Ohio legend, this feels like a Hines Ward-type of hire. He’ll be working with quarterback Jalan McClendon, who is a gun slinger. They have Toa Taua at running back, along with Zaquandre White and John Lovett. It’ll be interesting to see who steps up at wide receiver.
The Storm now have former Battlehawks head coach Anthony Becht as their head coach. He brings plenty of spring football coaching experience. He’ll have NFL-experienced quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson to work with. DTR’s job will be easier with last year’s leading rusher, Jashuan Corbin, in the backfield. He also has standout Chris Rowland and former NFL wide receiver KJ Hamler to throw to. This Storm team looks ready to roll, and Becht always performs well during the regular season.
UFL Week 1 Picks: Storm (-1.5)
