Breaking down Week 1 XFL point spread movement

The XFL launches on Saturday, February 8th, opening a ten-week schedule that will conclude with two playoff rounds. Each team will face each team once, and then each team will face three their three divisional teams a second time, with no bye week available. The playoffs will feature the top two teams in each division facing off, and then the two winners meeting in the XFL Championship game on April 26th.

Week 1 is upon us, and we’ve got early point spread information at DraftKings Sportsbook. We’ve seen some movement in three games, and with injury reports arriving, that might change a little more. We’re dealing with a brand new league and players who have only been working out for roughly six weeks. Handicapping these games will not be a simple task, but given the lack of historical data, oddsmakers have much less of an advantage than they might otherwise.

The biggest movement is the matchup between the LA Wildcats and Houston Roughnecks. Houston has increased from a 3.5-point opening favorite to a 5.5-point favorite. Wildcats starting quarterback Josh Johnson is dealing with a thigh injury that has kept him out of practice this week. If he does not play, Charles Kanoff would start, and he is viewed as a downgrade. Johnson has actual in-game NFL experience, while Kanoff has never played in a regular season NFL game.

We get one road favorite this first weekend, with the Tampa Bay Vipers 2.5-point favorites over the New York Guardians. The Guardians will send out Matt McGloin, Justin Stockton, and Mekale McKay as their QB/RB/WR combo, but don’t have much going behind that group. Kevin Gilbride is a solid offensive mind, but the Vipers might have the edge there with successful CFL coach Marc Trestman developing their offensive philosophy.

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