By Zach Thompson, DraftKings Network
The UFL regular season comes to a close this weekend, with the playoffs just around the corner and the United Bowl just around the corner on June 13 to decide this year’s UFL Championship. The final playoff spot is still up for grabs this week and playoff seeding is also still uncertain. Let’s run down what to expect in Week 9 with the help of some of the odds from DraftKings Sportsbook. Bookmark this UFL betting splits page and check back throughout the season for DraftKings Network’s ongoing coverage.
The Week 10 scheduled kicks off on Friday night once again with a matchup at the Battledome between the St. Louis Battlehawks and the Dallas Renegades. On Saturday, the Houston Gamblers visit the Birmingham Stallions in their final game of the season, before Sunday’s doubleheader brings the regular season to a close. The Orlando Storm visit the DC Defenders in a rematch of last week’s big showdown, and the season comes to a close with the Louisville Kings taking on the Columbus Aviators on Sunday night. Let’s take a closer look at each contest with the help of some odds from DraftKings Sportsbook.
Dallas Renegades at St. Louis Battlehawks (-3.5)
The Renegades were the favorites to win the title early in the season, but they have lost six straight since their 3-0 start and have already been eliminated from the postseason before the last week even begins. They’ll finish their season with a trip to take on St. Louis, who secured a playoff spot with another strong defensive showing last week against the Gamblers.
Austin Reed still leads the UFL with 18 touchdown passes, but he has also thrown nine interceptions in nine games and only converted one of 10 third downs to a first down last week in their loss to Louisville.
The Renegades don’t have much to play for in this contest except just avoiding the ignominy of losing seven straight to finish the season, but the Battlehawks are still playing for playoff seeding. They start the week in second place but can match the Storm with seven wins by picking up a win on Friday.
St. Louis had four sacks, two takeaways and allowed under 300 total yards to the Gamblers in Houston last week, while Luis Perez threw for 232 yards and a touchdown, and Kylin James had a rushing score for the Battlehawks’ offense.
Getting a game at home in the Battledome will be a priority for the Battlehawks, so they should be motivated to get a win on Friday. They also have a chance to avenge their 31-15 loss to the Renegades in Week 2 in Dallas. The two teams have gone in opposite directions since then, and St. Louis is surging at the right time, especially on defense.
With all the struggles the Renegades have on offense, it’s a brutal way to finish the season, going on the road to face the Battlehawks, who lead the UFL in sacks and have allowed the fewest yards per game and the second-fewest points per game this season.
Best Bet: Battlehawks -3.5 (-112)
Houston Gamblers at Birmingham Stallions (-3)
While the Gamblers have been near the bottom of the standings all season, the Stallions looked ready to surge into the playoff race until suffering a brutal blow to their playoff hopes last week at home against the Aviators.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson had helped turn the offense around and get the team rolling, but he threw a pick-six to DJ Miller Jr. that cost his team the game and the inside track for a playoff spot. The Stallions now need to get this win at home and hope the Storm and Aviators win on Sunday for them to get in as the fourth team into the postseason.
The Stallions will be in a favorable matchup to get the win they need against the Gamblers, who are 3-6 on the season and rank near the bottom of the league in most passing categories. They have scored a league-low 18.1 points per game, and their defense has also struggled, giving up 24.7 points per game, the second-most points per game in the league.
Even though they took a bad loss last week, I believe enough in Dorian Thompson-Robinson to take them to get the win at home against Houston this week, even though that will no longer secure them a spot in the postseason.
Best Bet: Stallions -3 (-112)
Orlando Storm at DC Defenders (+1.5)
The Storm had already clinched the playoffs, but they got a huge statement win last Friday night against the Defenders and moved into sole possession of first place in the UFL standings at 7-2.
In the first season of the franchise, they’ve now become the co-favorites with the Battlehawks at +200 to win the UFL Championship. Coach Anthony Becht has run a very efficient offense with Jack Plummer leading the league with 1,985 passing yards and ranking second with 15 passing scores. His 275-yard, three-touchdown showing at home last week made a strong argument in his case for MVP.
Plummer’s main target has been Chris Rowland, who had a big revenge game against the Defenders last week, racking up 117 receiving yards and a touchdown on eight catches. Rowland has 483 receiving yards on a league-high 49 catches this season and leads the league in All-Purpose Yards by over 100 yards.
With the win last week, the Plummer, Rowland, and the Storm clinched a home playoff game and can wrap up the No. 1 seed with a win this week. If they lose and the Battlehawks win, St. Louis will move into the top spot, but Orlando would still host a playoff game as the No. 2 seed.
The reigning champion Defenders will also be back in the postseason this year, but they are struggling coming into the last week of the regular season, having dropped three straight.
The Defenders lost star QB Jordan Ta’amu in Week 8 and turned to Spencer Sanders last week. Sanders threw for 160 yards while completing 10 of 21 pass attempts. He also led the team with 75 rushing yards. The team could give Sanders another start this week, or they could turn to mid-season acquisition Jason Bean, who started the first four games of the year for the Louisville Kings before being traded.
In the backfield, Deon Jackson set a new single-season UFL record with his seventh touchdown of the season, but the Defenders will need Sanders or Bean to step up at QB if they want to advance in the playoffs and qualify for the United Bowl, which will be held at their stadium.
The Defenders could still potentially host a first-round playoff game as well if they win and the Battlehawks lose, creating a three-way tie at 6-4, but it seems more likely that they’ll be headed on the road for the first round, either to St. Louis or back to Orlando.
The Defenders need this win at home, but coach Anthony Becht has the Storm playing so well on both sides of the ball that I think they’ll beat DC for a second straight week and go into the playoffs on a high note. The Defenders’ offense didn’t look nearly as potent without Ta’Amu last week.
Best Bet: Storm -1.5 (-110)
Louisville Kings at Columbus Aviators (+2.5)
If either the Gamblers or Storm wins their matchup, the Kings will already be in the playoffs before this game kicks off on Sunday night. However, if the Stallions and Defenders both win at home, the Kings will have to go on the road to Columbus and get a win to secure the final playoff spot.
The Kings traded Bean after Week 4 and went to unproven QB Chandler Rogers under center. Rogers has led the team to three straight big wins and at 5-4, they control their own fate since all they have to do is win to get into the postseason.
Rogers threw for 266 yards and two scores against the Renegades last week and added 21 yards and a third touchdown on the ground. Rogers has been efficient enough and avoided big mistakes since he stepped in as the starter, and the team has relied on James Robinson and Ian Wheeler running the ball. Robinson and Wheeler are both in the top eight in the league for rushing yards this season.
The Kings will have to knock off the 3-6 Aviators, who played spoiler last week against the Stallions, which is what put the Kings in such a good spot. The Aviators did need a game-winning interception to finish their furious late comeback after trailing 20-8 in the first half.
The Aviators’ offense looked much improved in its first week with Jalen Morton under center. Morton totaled 309 yards and four touchdowns to get the win, and the UFL veteran will try to prove he deserves a shot as a starter next year with a big finish to the season on Sunday.
The Aviators’ defense will provide a stiff test for the Kings, after holding DTR and the Stallions in check last week. Even at 3-6, Columbus is no pushover, especially at home.
However, even though the Aviators won’t go quietly, I’m on board with Rogers and coach Chris Redman, who made the bold move to go to Rogers midseason. In his first head coaching job, he has a chance to get his team into the playoffs with a win
The Battlehawks’ offense struggled in their second week under Luis Perez. He still showed good connections with Steven McBride (116 yards) and Tyler Neville (43 yards and a touchdown), but he threw two interceptions and went just 1-for-6 in the red zone and 2-for-11 on third down.
St. Louis had been undefeated at home this season before last week’s loss, but they did still outgain the Gamblers 353 yards to just 200 yards. Special teams and turnovers made the difference last week, and if the Battlehawks clean those areas up, their offense should be strong enough to get them the road win they need to seal a playoff spot.
Best Bet: Kings Moneyline (-142)
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