Super Bowl 54 — the final football game until next fall. Oh wait, just kidding …
The XFL is back!
After a near-20 year hiatus, the Vince McMahon-led football league has returned and is set to kick off on Saturday, Feb. 8. Two nationally-televised games will be played every Saturday and Sunday for 10 straight weeks, ensuring football lovers have plenty of action to consume throughout the spring.
Of course, some folks are skeptical considering the original XFL lasted just one season, while last year's AAF didn't even make it that far. Perhaps more widespread legal sports betting will help combat that issue.
It's tough to handicap futures odds on a league that hasn't had any games, but oddsmakers are taking a crack at it now that full rosters have been unveiled.
Here are the opening numbers from DraftKings Sportsbook.
Odds as of Wednesday, Jan. 29 and via DraftKings, where Action Network users get a risk-free bet up to $500.
2020 XFL Championship Odds
- Dallas Renegades: +300
- Tampa Bay Vipers: +400
- New York Guardians: +450
- Los Angeles Wildcats: +500
- DC Defenders: +750
- Houston Roughnecks: +750
- St. Louis Battlehawks: +1000
- Seattle Dragons: +1100
Leading the pack are the Dallas Renegades and Tampa Bay Vipers, likely due to their notable head coaches — Bob Stoops and Marc Trestman, respectively. Dallas also may have the best quarterback in the league in Landry Jones, which says all you need to know about the level of talent we are dealing with.
Most teams have a few players you may remember from the NFL, though none exactly had storied careers. The most successful NFL player in the league very well may be Marquette King, former Raiders punter. Most teams also have a quarterback with at least a few NFL snaps under his belt.
Below are some basic roster notes on each team. Depending on how avid a football fan you are, you may know some of these players, you may know half of a team's roster or you may be scratching your head at all the players I listed.
Dallas Renegades (+300)
- Head Coach: Bob Stoops
- Quarterbacks: Landry Jones, Eric Dungey, Philip Nelson
- Other Notable Players: Cameron Artis-Payne, Lance Dunbar, Frank Alexander
Tampa Bay Vipers (+400)
- Head Coach: Marc Trestman
- Quarterbacks: Chase Litton, Aaron Murray, Taylor Cornelius
- Other Notabale Players: Antonio Callaway, Tanner McEvoy, Corey Moore
New York Guardians (+450)
- Head Coach: Kevin Gillbride
- Quarterbacks: Matt McGloin, Luis Perez, Marquise Williams
- Other Notable Players:Joe Horn Jr., Matt McCrane
Los Angeles Wildcats (+500)
- Head Coach: Winston Moss
- Quarterbacks: Josh Johnson, Chad Kanoff, Jalan McClendon
- Other Notable Players:DuJuan Harris, Shawn Oakman, Nick Novak
DC Defenders (+750)
- Head Coach: Pep Hamilton
- Quarterbacks: Cardale Jones, Tyree Jackson
- Other Notable Players:Eli Rogers, Jonathan Massaquoi, Scooby Wright, Matt Elam, Shamarko Thomas
Houston Roughnecks (+750)
- Head Coach: June Jones
- Quarterbacks: Connor Cook, Phillip Walker
- Other Notable Players:Sammie Coates, De'Angelo Henderson, Kony Ealy
St. Louis Battlehawks (+1000)
- Head Coach: Jonathan Hayes
- Quarterbacks: Taylor Heinicke, Nick Fitzgerald, Jordan Ta'amu
- Other Notable Players:Christine Michael, Matt Jones, Marquette King
Seattle Dragons (+1100)
- Head Coach: Jim Zorn
- Quarterbacks: B.J. Daniels, Brandon Silvers
- Other Notable Players:Austin Proehl, Kenneth Farrow, Steve Williams
