The XFL championship game is set, as the Arlington Renegades will take on the D.C. Defenders in San Antonio for the first title in this league since 2001. The Defenders come into this title game as a six-point favorite, but the Renegades pulled an upset as an underdog in the semifinals, and will look to do the same here as well. In order to do that, their offense will need to keep up with the most potent offense in the XFL.
Check out XFL betting lines, game analysis, and the free pick for the 2023 XFL Championship.
Early XFL Championship Odds a Week Before Game: Arlington Renegades vs. D.C. Defenders | MyBookie XFL Betting Preview
Odds: Renegades -4.5 -116, Defenders -6 -116 / Renegades +184, Defenders -270 / O/U 46.5
When: May 13, 2023 at 8:30 pm ET
Where: Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas
TV / Streaming: ABC
Arlington Renegades 4-6 | South
Head coach: Bob Stoops
Division place: 2nd XFL South
Playoff finish: Won Division Finals (at Houston Roughnecks) 26–11
The Arlington Renegades closed as 7.5-point underdogs against the Houston Roughnecks in the South Division championship game, and beat them outright. Arlington was brilliant on both sides of the ball, getting Houston quarterback Cole McDonald out of his rhythm all game long. But it was the offense of the Renegades that really surprised, as they put together their best offensive game of the 2023 XFL season.
Arlington had scored just five offensive touchdowns all season prior to their playoff debut last week. But they scored several first-half touchdowns to jump out in front of the Roughnecks and that allowed their defense to salt the game away in the second half. The Arlington defense was one of the best in the XFL this season, making up for the issues of their offense, but they will need to figure out how to stop a Defenders team that has been on fire offensively for most of this season.
D.C. Defenders 9-1 | North
Head coach: Reggie Barlow
Division place: 1st XFL North
Playoff finish: Won Division Finals (vs. Seattle Sea Dragons) 37–21
The D.C. Defenders blew out the Seattle Sea Dragons at home in the North Division championship game in their last time out. D.C. managed to shut down Seattle quarterback Ben DiNucci, who entered as the league’s leading passer after the regular season, but DiNucci struggled against the Defenders defense. Meanwhile, the offense of the Defenders continued rolling along.
D.C. had a huge second half offensively against the Sea Dragons, pushing themselves over the 28-point mark for the ninth straight game. Jordan Ta’amu was banged up late in that game, forcing D’Eriq King into action. But Ta’amu should be ready to roll again given that there are two full weeks between the semifinals and the championship game.
Keys to the XFL Championship Game
The biggest key to this game is going to be the defense of the Arlington Renegades against the offense of the D.C. Defenders. The Defenders had their way with the Renegades offensively during their lone meeting in the regular season. However, the Renegades’ defense stepped up in a big way in their postseason debut, and if they can do so again, this game could get interesting in a hurry.
Also important in this game will be the play of Renegades quarterback Luis Perez, whose redemption arc during this XFL season could culminate in a championship. Perez was cast off by the Vegas Vipers, who finished with the second-worst record in the league this season, before being picked up by the Renegades. If Perez can play the way he did against the Roughnecks in the semifinal round, Arlington could take down a Defenders team that has gone 10-1 between the regular season and playoffs.
Odds: Renegades -4.5 -116, Defenders -6 -116 / Renegades +184, Defenders -270 / O/U 46.5
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