Connect with us

Extra

XFL Preview: Buckle Up Football Fans, XFL Season A Month Away

Buckle up football fans, the XFL season is just over a month away!

Back in 2001, the XFL lasted only one season before the plug was pulled on the league. However, that was before the age of legalized sports gambling.

2001 XFL Season Highlights: 

Sports gambling will surely increase the viewership and interest in the XFL, especially to fill the void of the eventful NFL season that ends a week prior to kickoff. Football fans will be desperate to get their fix while the NFL, and its players, take a well-deserved break.

But who will take the glory? Take a look at three teams ready to contend to be the 2020 XFL Champion and see where you can legally get a bet on in New Jersey.

The season is bound to throw up plenty of shocks, but the pre-season odds are always a good indicator of which teams can be expected to be in the running for the glory. So, let’s have a closer look at those who have every reason to be feeling optimistic for the upcoming season.

New York Guardians

Odds to win Championship: +400

Taking over the reigns as head coach of the Guardians is a familiar face to New York.

Head coach Kevin Gilbride has over 30 years of NFL coaching experience and won two Super Bowls as Offensive Coordinator of Eli Manning and the New York Giants.

Leading Gilbride’s offense in New York will be six-year NFL backup Matt McGloin, who saw time with the Oakland Raiders and Houston Texans.

Eight-year NFL veteran defensive end George Johnson was the Guardians’ most notable draft pick due to his hometown New Jersey roots and solidified NFL career.

Johnson totaled 66 tackles, 8.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in his career.

Other notable players drafted by New York: Wide receiver and special teams’ standout Demarcus Ayers, former AAF standout corner and New Jersey native Jamar Summers and former fifth-round wide receiver DeAngelo Yancey.

Dallas Renegades

Odds to win Championship: +300

The Dallas Renegades have the strongest odds to win the XFL Championship based mainly on the coaching. While there isn’t particularly great value to be had when betting on them, they are the favorites for a reason.

Dallas will be led by legendary Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops, who won a FBS National Championship and 10 Big-12 Championships with the Sooners.

Stoops’ offense will be run by former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Landry Jones.

He played for four years under Stoops at Oklahoma and will fit in nicely with the gun-slinging shotgun offense the Renegades will run.

Other notable players drafted by Dallas: former New Orleans Saints wide receiver Tommylee Lewis, who was infamously involved in the controversial pass-interference call against the Los Angeles Rams in the 2019 playoffs.

Auburn alumni running back Cameron Artis-Payne and cornerback John Franklin III will also get another shot at the pros. Artis-Payne played three seasons with the Carolina Panthers and Franklin III is known best for his appearance on the Netflix Series “Last Chance U”.

Tampa Bay Vipers

Odds to win Championship: +500

The Tampa Bay Vipers have the third best odds to win the XFL, and if they win it all it’ll be courtesy of the scheme set up by head coach Marc Trestman.

Trestman has been a head coach and offensive guru in three separate leagues, the NFL, CFL and now XFL.

In the CFL, Trestman had his most success winning three Grey Cups in 2009, 2010 and 2017. As a head coach with the Chicago Bears, he helped lead the team to the second highest scoring offense in the NFL.

Playing quarterback for Trestman and the Vipers is the SEC’s All-time passing touchdown leader Aaron Murray.

The Georgia alumni played one full season in the NFL and started for the AAF Atlanta Legends before the league was disbanded.

One of the most interesting draft picks by Tampa Bay is running back Quinton Flowers, who was a four-year starting quarterback at the University of South Florida.

Flowers is USF’s all-time passing and rushing touchdowns leader, and coach Trestman will surely find a creative way to best utilize his abilities.


Unleash the Action: Sign up for XFL Insider and Fuel Your Passion for Football!


Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

XFL Kickoff

XFL News Alerts

USFL and XFL Merger: A Deep Dive into the Historic Collaboration

Latest Podcast

Subscribe XFL Podcast

More in Extra

XFL News Hub