Expert prediction
XFL: Sea Dragons vs Defenders Odds, and Picks (Apr 30)
Pick rationale
Analysis & key factors
- Seattle surged past the Vipers last week, winning 28-9
- The Defenders took down the Brahmas, 29-28, on the road.
- These two teams last met on April 9, in a game that the Defenders won 34-33.
The Sea Dragons (7-3) and the Defenders (9-1) face off in a key XFL playoff game. The Defenders hold a league-best record of 9-1, while Seattle has gone 7-1 in their last 8 games. The winner here may win it all.
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How to Watch
- Where: Audi Field, Washington, DC
- When: Sunday, April 30, 2023, at 3 p.m ET
- How to Watch: ESPN
Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Spread |
| Sea Dragons | ||
| Defenders |
Game Preview
Seattle completed a massively important victory over the Vipers last week, claiming the North division’s 2nd playoff spot. They’ve now gone 7-1 since starting the season out 0-2, with the lone loss coming by 1 point to the 9-1 Defenders, who they’ll face in this game. The Sea Dragons will once again rely on QB Ben DiNucci and their talented WR group, as well as a defense that has continued to improve over the season.
The Defenders finished the regular season 9-1, closing it out with one more road win over the Brahmas. Shockingly, DC’s only loss of the season came against the 1-9 Guardians, while they won against the XFL’s other three top teams. Each of their last 4 games have been extremely close, with 3 being determined by 1-point margins, and the 4th being decided in overtime. They’ll try to avoid another close call in this one.
Picks
The winner of this game will likely become the favorite to win it all in the finals. It’s hard to bet against the Defenders, after they posted a tremendous 9-1 record during the regular season. That being said, both of these teams are 7-1 since Week 3, and their 1-point game when facing each other head-to-head indicates that either team could come out on top. Seattle has a long trip to DC, but I see them pulling off a stunner.
Moneyline:
Spread:
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