By Zach Thompson, DraftKings Network
Week 2 of the UFL included plenty of drama, with walk-off kicks, the biggest upset of the season, and the defending champs getting back on track. Week 3 kicks off this Friday, April 10, so let’s run down what to, 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 action this week starts with the Orlando Storm in Louisville to take on the Kings at 8:00 p.m. ET, Friday night on FOX. On Saturday at noon on ESPN, the Houston Gamblers visit the DC Defenders, and the week wraps up with an ABC doubleheader on Sunday afternoon. In the first game, the undefeated Dallas Renegades host the Columbus Aviators, and in the final game of the week, the St. Louis Battlehawks host the Birmingham Stallions. Let’s take a closer look at each contest.
Orlando Storm at Louisville Kings (+3)
The 2-0 Storm will face the 0-2 Kings for the second week in a row. The two new teams for this season have both generated plenty of excitement in Orlando and Louisville, and the Storm won last Saturday’s matchup, 19-9.
Both offenses were held in check early, exchanging field goals for a 9-6 score just before halftime. Jack Plummer connected with KJ Hamler for a 41-yard touchdown on a broken play just before halftime and threw another score to Elijhah Badger to put the win away.
The Storm can be the first team in the UFL to 3-0 with a win on Friday night, and even though they’ll have to go on the road to Lynn Family Stadium, their offense should continue to find enough big plays to get them another win.
The Storm’s run defense held the Kings to just 26 rushing yards on 13 carries in Week 2, while Chandler Rogers and Jason Bean each struggled under center.
Best Bet: Storm -3 (-105)
Houston Gamblers at DC Defenders (-7)
Both teams come into this Saturday afternoon’s matchup after big wins in Week 2. Houston knocked off the Birmingham Stallions in one of the biggest surprises of the season so far. Jalen White had a big week on the ground, finishing with 82 rushing yards and a touchdown. The hero at the end of the day, though, was kicker John Hoyland, who played his college football at Wyoming. Hoyland went a perfect five-for-five on his field goal attempts, including a 50-yard walk-off as time expired.
It was a huge turnaround for the Gamblers, who got crushed by the Dallas Renegades in Week 1, 36-17. That loss was on the road, and they’ll be on the road again for this matchup as they take on DC at Audi Field.
It will be the Defenders’ home opener after they played on the road in St. Louis and Columbus to start the season. They took a tough, 16-10 loss in Week 1 at the Battledome, but they bounced back with a vengeance last week in Columbus.
On Friday night of Week 2, the Defenders hung 44 points on the Aviators in their first home game as a franchise, spoiling the party with the highest score for any team in a game so far this season.
DC scored on eight of its 11 possessions, led by running back Deon Jackson. Jackson took 11 carries for 97 rushing yards and three touchdowns, while QB Jordan Ta’amu completed 8-of-11 for 99 passing yards, a touchdown pass and an interception. The game was close early, but the Defenders’ defense forced four turnovers and helped the team to the big win.
Houston’s huge upset at home was exciting, but they’ll have a very tough task defeating the defending champs in their home opener Saturday afternoon.
Best Bet: Defenders -7 (-105)
Dallas Renegades at Columbus Aviators (+6.5)
The Renegades have been the most dominant team in the early going and have emerged as the favorites for the UFL Championship at +200 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Dallas won 36-17 over Houston in Week 1 and then knocked off the Battlehawks 31-15 on Tuesday in the final game of Week 2. Both those gamers were at home, but in Week 3, they’ll go on the road to face the 0-2 Aviators. Columbus struggled with turnovers in their two losses, and Dallas’s swarming defense will continue to put pressure on it Sunday afternoon.
The Renegades have been led by QB Austin Reed, who threw four touchdowns in Tuesday’s win, three of which went to his top receiver, Tyler Vaughns. Reed has a league-leading seven touchdown passes through the first two games and has totaled a league-high 616 passing yards at the helm of the Renegades offense.
Vaughns finished with 11 catches for 146 yards and three scores. His four touchdowns on the season already match his total from last year, and his 290 receiving yards lead the league by over 100 yards.
The Renegades defense will also pose a huge challenge to the Aviators’ offense, which was mistake-prone in their first home game against DC last week.
Best Bet: Renegades -6.5 (-110)
Birmingham Stallions at St. Louis Battlehawks
In many ways, the UFL saves the best for last this week. While there are clear favorites in the other three games, this matchup between a pair of 1-1 teams is critical for both squads, who are looking to bounce back from losses last week.
The Stallions were upset by the Gamblers, while the Battlehawks lost to the Renegades. St. Louis is home for this game, though, which gives them a huge home-field advantage at the Dome at America’s Center. St. Louis won its previous home game this season, knocking off the Defenders in a strong Week 1 showing.
The Stallions also won in Week 1, but it wasn’t in very convincing fashion on the road in Louisville. After being upset by the Gamblers, they’ll be on the road. For a third straight week, but they will have the advantage of extra rest compared to the Battlehawks, who are on a short week after playing Tuesday night in Dallas.
The Battlehawks showed enough with a late rally against that they would be my slight lean in this matchup. The Stallions were just seconds from being 2-0 before the late field goal stunned them, but coach AJ McCarron still doesn’t seem to have the offense firing on all cylinders, and going into the Battledome is always a tough test. It should be one of the closest contests of the weekend, but I’m leaning towards the home team in this matchup.
Best Bet: Battlehawks Moneyline (+130)
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