The UFL pushed it real good last week as half the games, including the Game of the Year between the Stallions and Battlehawks, ended with the spread as a push.
We also finally saw the Arlington Renegades get their 1st win of the season in a big way in a 47-23 win over Memphis, the highest-scoring game in the UFL this season. Arlington covered the total (45.5) by itself.
What might we expect in Week 8 of the UFL’s 2024 season? Incredibly, all 4 teams with a winning record are facing the teams with a losing record, including a trio of 1-6 teams.
In fact, all 3 of those games with the 1-6 teams are rematches from Week 5 where the 1-1-win teams all lost by double digits. So, we expect some blowouts as the difference between the haves and have nots is very large right now.
We picked our favorite spreads and totals for Week 8 below. Let’s examine the most recent UFL betting odds provided by top-rated sportsbooks.
Top UFL Pick: Battlehawks -8 (-115) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
D.C. Defenders vs. St. Louis Battlehawks
Sunday, May 19, 2024 – 12:00 PM ET at The Dome at America’s Center
This would have been an elite matchup in the XFL last season, but the Defenders (3-4) continue to struggle, losing 22-9 to the Panthers last week. The Battlehawks (5-2) lost for the 1st time since Week 1, but it was a tight game in Birmingham against the best team in the league. Nothing wrong with that.
The Battlehawks are an 8-point home favorite with a total of 44.5 points. We are again looking at that spread for another Week 5 rematch that was a blowout.
Week 5 Recap: Battlehawks 45, Defenders 12
The bad news for D.C. is that this St. Louis team already forced them into their worst performance over the last 2 seasons in Week 5. A.J. McCarron had a solid game with 213 yards and 2 touchdowns, but the big story was the St. Louis defense.
D.C. quarterback Jordan Ta’amu threw 3 interceptions and was held to 101 passing yards. The Battlehawks pounced on the short routes and weren’t giving up any big plays.
The teams were a combined 4-for-24 on 3rd down, and it’s not like St. Louis was fantastic at moving the ball despite the 45 points. But the 4 turnovers from the Defenders helped with field position.
It actually was a 20-12 game going into the 4th quarter, but the Battlehawks put it away with big plays. McCarron threw an 80-yard touchdown pass to Hakeem Butler.
What Might Change?
The Defenders stand to keep it closer than 45-12 if they can avoid going minus-3 in the turnover battle again. However, the Defenders played poorly again on offense in last week’s 22-9 loss to the Michigan Panthers.
But it does deserve an asterisk since things were better before Ta’amu was injured and left the game. He was 10-of-14 for 127 yards and a touchdown in one of his better performances this season even if it was short lived.
It does not sound good that Ta’amu will be available for this week’s game. Backup Jalan McClendon struggled to move the offense in his absence. Despite the loss last week, St. Louis still has a pass defense that has been playing very well this season.
The Pick
With a dire quarterback situation for the struggling Defenders, we can’t help but think the superior St. Louis team will thrive on both sides of the ball and bounce back well from last week’s loss. McCarron against a potential backup quarterback alone is reason enough to think the Battlehawks cover at home, but don’t forget the Battlehawks have a better defense too.
The Defenders have been outscored by 51 points this year, the 3rd-worst margin in the UFL. Look for St. Louis to add to that.
UFL Pick: Battlehawks -8 (-115) at BetOnline
Arlington Renegades vs. San Antonio Brahmas
Sunday, May 19, 2024 – 04:00 PM ET at The Alamodome
Can the Renegades (1-6) stack win after finally getting off the snide? They face a solid Brahmas (5-2) team on the road this week that held on against the Roughnecks in a 15-12 win last week.
The Renegades are a 4-point road underdog with a total of 46 points. We are looking at that total this time.
Week 5 Recap: Brahmas 25, Renegades 15
To Arlington’s credit, it was a 15-15 game going into the 4th quarter before the Brahmas clamped down on defense and won the final quarter 10-0 to win the game.
Arlington quarterback Luis Perez was not intercepted on any of his 36 pass attempts, and he completed 26 passes for 269 yards and a touchdown. He got a paltry 59 yards from his running game, but he was able to move his offense in that game. They just did not finish enough drives in the end zone.
That was actually the game where San Antonio survived 3 interceptions from quarterback Quinten Dormady. But his running game showed up with 173 yards, and his defense had his back as the Brahmas only allowed 3 points off those 3 interceptions he threw.
Renegades Finally Coming off a Win
You could see it coming for weeks with how close Arlington was in several losses this year. Just stay the course and a win should come. Thankfully, the Memphis Showboats are a poor enough opponent to get a win over.
But Arlington quarterback Luis Perez did not disappoint. He had arguably his best game of the season with 27-of-32 passing for 296 yards and 3 touchdowns. He also got help from his running game with 101 yards from De’Veon Smith.
The Renegades piled up 415 yards and 47 points to get their 1st win of the season. They won’t all be that easy, but it might give them confidence going into this matchup with a very solid San Antonio defense that is No. 2 in points allowed and close to the No. 1 ranking. Birmingham has only allowed 1 fewer point than the Brahmas this year.
Call that the Wade Phillips effect as he knows how to coach defense.
The Pick
It was 25-15 last time when Dormady, who was benched last week, threw 3 picks. Dormady continues to struggle but seems to be holding onto his job for now. The Renegades will likely find the San Antonio defense way tougher than the worst defense in the league (Memphis) they played last week.
Let’s trust the defenses in this one and go with the under for your UFL picks.
UFL Pick: Under 46 (-113) at BetOnline
Houston Roughnecks vs. Birmingham Stallions
Saturday, May 18, 2024 – 08:00 PM ET at Protective Stadium
The Stallions (7-0) passed their toughest test all season by beating St. Louis 30-26 last week. An undefeated season is on the line as well as that 3rd-straight ring. The Houston Roughnecks (1-6) have their hands full in this one.
Birmingham is a 16.5-point favorite, the largest spread of the season, with a total of 43 points at top-rated sportsbooks. We are looking at that spread for this rematch from Week 5.
Week 5 Recap: Stallions 32, Roughnecks 9
Things did not go well the last time for Houston at home in Week 5 in this matchup. That was really the coming out party for Birmingham quarterback Adrian Martinez as he threw for 155 yards and a touchdown, but he also ran 9 times for 138 yards, including a 34-yard gain. He basically did anything he wanted in that game.
Meanwhile, Houston had just 14 carries for 36 yards as the Stallions made them one dimensional. Quarterback Reid Sinnett is not good enough to pierce the No. 1 scoring defense in the league. He threw the ball 38 times in Week 5 and only led a single touchdown drive.
The Roughnecks were held scoreless in the 2nd half.
Why Things May Not Be Any Different This Time
Birmingham has not lost a step since Week 5. If anything, they are even more dangerous with Martinez getting comfortable at quarterback. He was again outstanding as a dual threat against a tough St. Louis defense, completing 21-of-33 passes for 230 yards, 3 touchdown passes, no picks, and he led his team in rushing with 60 yards. He should be a favorite for Offensive Player of the Year.
Meanwhile, Houston remains the worst-scoring offense in the UFL with just 13.7 points per game. The Roughnecks are the only team that has yet to crack 100 points this season (96).
The Pick
You have the best team in the league against the worst offensive team in the league with the worst running game, a quarterback who can’t carry the load, and the defense is nothing to write home about.
It was 32-9 in Houston in Week 5. It could be a similar outcome this week. We’ll back the Stallions at home to cover for your UFL picks coming off that huge win last week over St. Louis.
UFL Pick: Stallions -16.5 (-110) at BetOnline
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
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