If you’re looking for Week 9 XFL Houston Roughnecks vs. Vegas Vipers odds, picks, and predictions for this exciting Saturday matchup, then you’ve come to the right place. We’ve analyzed each team’s highest-probability game scripts to assess the most likely outcomes, including which players are in line to thrive more than anticipated or fall short of expectations.
Roughnecks vs. Vipers Week 8 Odds and Betting Lines
The following odds and betting lines for the Roughnecks vs. Vipers are as of Thursday, April 13, and come from DraftKings Sportsbook. Clearly, they’re subject to change. That said, barring an unforeseen injury to a significant starter, we should assume that these lines will remain largely intact.
- Point Spread: Roughnecks (-6.5)
- Moneyline: Roughnecks (-250), Vipers (+210)
- Over/Under: 43.5Â (-110)
Roughnecks vs. Vipers Picks and Predictions
Two weeks of the XFL regular season remain. This past weekend, two teams became the first to clinch playoff spots, while a second team joined the Vegas Vipers as officially eliminated. That leaves four teams battling it out for two spots.
Speaking of Vegas, the switch to Jalan McClendon at quarterback continues to reap benefits. McClendon shined in a tough road matchup last weekend versus the previously mentioned Battlehawks. His proficiency on the ground makes him one of the league’s top dual-threat quarterbacks. Not bad for a midseason replacement.
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And he’s doing it without the services of customary No. 1 WR Jeff Badet. In Badet’s absence, Matthew Sexton and Geronimo Allison have been forced to step up, and the ground game has looked much more spry, thanks to a resurgent Rod Smith and sidekick John Lovett.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The Vipers are playing with house money, and back-to-back strong efforts against the struggling Brahmas and McCarron-less Battlehawks aren’t the same as conquering the playoff-bound Roughnecks.
Yes, Houston is officially in. After a 4-0 start versus subpar teams, the Roughnecks lost three straight versus great teams. Funny how that happens sometimes.
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As a result, their faceoff last weekend versus the Brahmas was consequential, to say the least. A loss would have pushed them into must-win territory while holding a precarious one-game lead on San Antonio. Instead, the Roughnecks pushed the Brahmas to the brink of oblivion and now control their destiny while seeking to secure a home matchup in the opening round.
Houston’s QB situation threw me for a loop, as I expected QB Cole McDonald to keep the reins. Brandon Silvers had been battling an elbow injury, but poor play pre-injury seemed to push him behind the more dynamic McDonald. Instead, the Roughnecks put their faith in a healthy Silvers, and he delivered with a road win over San Antonio — which happens to have one of the league’s top defenses.
Now, I wrote “he delivered” loosely. Aside from an impressive three-yard TD strike to Deontay Burnett in tight coverage, as well as a few other well-executed plays, Silvers looked like a No. 2 QB. He connected on 17 of 36 passes for 146 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions.
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Had they been playing a tougher offense, I believe Silvers would have been benched. In fact, with the game on the line in overtime, Houston turned to McDonald for the game-winning TD dart to (you guessed it) Burnett.
This coming weekend, Houston should find it much easier to break through the Vipers’ weaker defense. If Silvers starts, I imagine he’ll play well enough to finish. But if he struggles on the opening drive, don’t be surprised if McDonald takes over for good. The Roughnecks need to figure out who they’re starting in the playoffs, and they’re running out of time to experiment.
- Recommended Point-Spread Bet: Roughnecks (-6.5)
- Recommended Moneyline Bet: Roughnecks (-250)
- Over/Under: Under 43.5 (-110)
