Tampa Bay Vipers at New York Guardians Odds
- Spread: Vipers -3.5
- Total: 53.5
- Kickoff: 2 p.m. ET on Sunday
- TV: FOX
Odds as of Sunday and via FanDuel, where Action Network users get a risk-free bet up to $500.
Week 1 of the XFL is here!
Find our betting preview for Sunday's Vipers-Guardians matchup, complete with matchup analysis and our experts' projected spread below.
Vipers vs. Guardians Injury Report
Vipers TE DeAndre Goolsby (neck) did not practice Wednesday and backup DL Jason Neill (groin) was limited.
Guardians WR Joe Horn Jr. (ankle) was limited this week in practice. WRs DeAngelo Yancey and Tanner Gentry are both on short-term IR. — Tony Marquis
Key Matchup
Vipers QB/RB Quinton Flowers vs. Guardians Defense
Is Flowers the Taysom Hill of the XFL? We'll find out. He could see a significant amount of time on the field, according to head coach Marc Trestman, who has been touting his triple-threat player all preseason.
Anytime he's on the field, Flowers has the potential to be used on a double-forward pass, and if Trestman can inventively use him as a passer multiple times per game, he could be incredibly valuable.
Although Flowers isn't incredibly polished as a passer, in college at South Florida, he averaged 8.7 adjusted yards per attempt and passed for 71 touchdowns to 23 interceptions.
And his running ability is apparent: In his three seasons as a starter in college, Flowers averaged 1,199.7 yards and 13.7 touchdowns rushing per year.
And Flowers might even fill the Matt Forte receiving back role for the Vipers. Although the Vipers have solid backs in De'Veon Smith and Jacques Patrick, neither is a strong receiver, and Trestman has historically featured his backs in the receiving game.
It's very possible that Flowers could see significant action in Week 1 as a do-it-all X-factor as a passer, runner and receiver.
But if the Guardians can shut down Flowers, that could go a long way in helping them get the win as home underdogs. — Marquis
Our Projected Vipers-Guardians Odds
You'll find our experts' consensus spread as well as Sean Koerner's total below. Find their projections for every Week 1 game here.
- Our Experts' Consensus Spread: Vipers -2.2
- Koerner's Projected Total: 48.7
Expert Picks
Matthew Freedman: Vipers -3
Until we see the teams play, everything is just a projection, but the Vipers might be the best team in the league. They have an inventive, offense-focused head coach in Trestman, who won multiple championships in the CFL, which I think has a style of play comparable to what we will see in the XFL.
The Vipers also might have the best quarterback in the league in Aaron Murray.
The Guardians, meanwhile, are coached by Kevin Gilbride, who was once a strong coordinator for the Giants, but his scheme grew stale, and he hasn’t coached since 2013. Quarterback Matt McGloin has NFL experience, but he’s rather mediocre, even by XFL standards, and two of his starting wide receivers are on injured reserve.
Early in the season, Trestman should have a significant coaching edge over the antiquated and rusty Gilbride. I bet this at -2 but would still bet it at -3.
