In a word… Absolutely! Following a lengthy hiatus, the XFL returned, playing its new inaugural season in 2020. Although the original experiment of this new football league fizzled out in 2001 – it came back strong, only to be cut short by the pandemic.
However, the ownership team promises that the league will be back in full force for the Spring of 2023. Our guide will take a brief look at its history, compare the rule differences between the XFL and NFL, discuss the various bet types, and share some useful strategies.
There’s nothing more exciting than placing a wager on your favorite team to win. Since the introduction of Kansas sports betting apps, it doesn’t matter whether you’re hunting in Minnesota, fishing in Alaska, or home on the range in Kansas, you can still catch all the action.
The XFL Journey So Far
The XFL was founded in 1999, with the intention of providing football fans with more games to watch in the winter and early spring, once the NFL (National Football League) season had finished. Unfortunately, the league played just one season before folding in May 2001.
It initially pulled in the crowds, but attendance and viewing ratings dwindled as the season went along. However, all was not lost when its original founder, ex-professional wrestler (WWE) Vince McMahon, announced a reboot of the league in 2018.
Yet again, the league experienced success during its relaunch in 2020, but after five weeks, its season was cut short due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In August 2020, the XFL was purchased by Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, former WWE wrestler, and his business partner Dany Garcia, with a relaunch set for February 2023.
No one knows what ‘XFL’ stands for, some suggest ‘Xtreme’ whilst some say it’s a marketing ploy to get people talking about the new league. What we do know is that aggressive marketing and partnerships with leagues such as the CFL (Canadian Football League) have propelled the XFL into the mainstream.
Differences Between the XFL and NFL
Some of the more significant changes introduced by the XFL back in 2001 were later adopted by the NFL, including the innovative SkyCam, a robotic camera suspended from a cable-driven, computerized transport system, capturing every angle of the game possible.
Another was the introduction of microphones attached to players and sideline interviews taking place with players during live action. This addition meant viewers could become immersed in the action as it unfolded, hearing players’ reactions and opinions and feeling more onboard with the team they’re supporting.
Other rule changes apply to the actual game played by the XFL in comparison to the NFL. For instance, the time it takes to play an XFL game is shortened due to relevant clock changes, players have one less timeout per half and the clock runs continuously unless the ball changes possession or a team calls a timeout.
In XFL games, kickoff distances are shortened from the 35-yard to the 30-yard line, and gunners are not allowed. For extra points following a touchdown, players scrimmage not kick, and overtime rules have changed to look more like a soccer penalty shootout¾leading to a ‘sudden death’ situation in the event of a tie.
How Many Teams Are In The XFL?
The league is split across two divisions, the East and West, with eight US teams in total.
The XFL teams were also able to sign players from an additional ‘Team 9’ squad, which were prepped and ready to play if one of the eight teams needed a player to fill a vacant spot.
Popular Bet Types For The XFL
If you’re accustomed to betting on American football, you’ll be familiar with the following types of bets. When wagering through an online sportsbook you’ll find an array of bets to choose from, here’s a brief guide to the more common bet types:
Moneyline Bets
This is the easiest bet of all. Just back whichever team you think will win. For example:
(Odds)
NY Guardians -150
Dallas Renegades +175
NY Guardians are the favorites, you need to wager $150 to win $100. Dallas Renegades are the underdogs, wager $100 to win $175 (if they win, of course).
Point Spread Bets
The point spread indicates how many points a team can win or lose by. Its intention is to create a 50/50 chance so that the bookie receives an even number of wagers on either side. For example:
Tampa Bay Vipers -4 -110
Los Angeles Wildcats +4 -110
The spread is +/- 4 points, so if you wager on the LA Wildcats, they’d need to win by more than 4 points for you to win and if you wager on the Tampa Bay Vipers, they can’t lose by more than 4 points for you to win.
Total Bets
Also known as over/under bets, these are about the expected total number of points to be scored by both teams. For example:
DC Defenders Over 45 Points -110
Houston Roughnecks Under 45 Points -110
Wagers can be placed on the total score going over or under forty-five combined points.
Prop Bets
Proposition bets are wagers based on specific in-game events, e.g. when they will happen and by whom. Common prop bets include:
Which team will be the first to score
Distance of the longest touchdown pass or run
Total passing yards for a quarterback
Parlay Bets
Parlay bets are a combination of two or more types of wagers, also known as accumulators or multis. Moneyline, point spreads, and totals are the most common bets to add to a parlay slip.
Futures
Future bets are a type of prop bet that involve predictions on a future event, e.g. which team will win the XFL 2023. Following each week of the season, the odds may change, depending on results.
Live Betting
In-play or live betting is when you are able to place a wager after the game has started and whilst it is still in play. With this kind of betting, you have the chance to score excellent value odds.
Useful Betting Strategies
You’ll find that XFL betting is not much different from that of the NFL. Knowing the basics goes a long way to successful betting strategies. Here are a few tips:
Know the XFL Rules
If you’re new to XFL, then learning the rule changes (of which there are a few), can go a long way to placing the correct wager and understanding its outcome.
Value Bets
Finding value bets can be achieved through line shopping or checking multiple sportsbooks. With the introduction of sports betting apps and sites, shopping for lines has never been easier.
Player Injury Reports
Injuries can make an enormous difference to the outcome of a game. For example, if the favorites enter a match with one of their star players injured, it may be canny to bet on the underdogs.
Bankroll
Gamble responsibly, only bet with what you can afford. It’s good to know when to walk away and when luck isn’t running your way.
Sportsbook Bonuses & Promotions
Most sports betting sites will offer a welcome bonus and existing customer promotions. Shop around and take advantage of the ones that suit you best. These may include deposit bonuses, cashback, or free bets.
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