Will This Sunday Be an XFL Day of the Dogs?

Maybe it's only Week 2 in the XFL's existence, but it's not too early to start taking note of some impressions.

First and foremost, Vince McMahon's smartest move in this whole operation was hiring Oliver Luck to serve as the league's commissioner.

Dude's responsible for most of the new rules, and -- from this vantage point, at least -- he's given the staid ol' NFL a few things to think about.

 

Consider ...

• Kickoffs are being returned for decent gains and very few players are being helped off the field;
• The pace of play is faster with no resultant confusion, what with speakers in WR headsets and the 25-second play clock that even takes the final two minutes into account; and
• The extra-point options mean a team within nine points of its opponent still has a shot at catching up with only one successful TD drive.

 

So is whatever we're doing to pick ATS winners through the first six games.

We may as well enjoy it while it lasts, and we're looking to extend that streak today by thinking it's about time the underdogs showed up in force.

Or as much of a force that can be made in only two games.

 

Dallas Renegades at Los Angeles Wildcats +4

Bovada also has set the total at 48 and the moneyline at Los Angeles +160.

What happened to the Wildcats last week? As a pre-season favorite, they sure didn't look that way against Houston. Dudes got blasted, 37-17. There were a number of reasons, but the biggest was the play of Houston chucker Paul Walker.

The Renegades’ QBs can’t hold a candle to Walker. St Louis beat Dallas, 15-9, in Week 1. If they're going to win, much less cover, Landry Jones had better start performing like Bob Stoops expects. Take the points.

Result: Dallas 25 Los Angeles 18 ... Renegades cover

 

St Louis BattleHawks +8 at Houston Roughnecks

Bovada has set the total at 50½ and the moneyline at St Louis +265.

This should be a high-scoring game. Walker threw 4 touchdowns against the Wildcats in Week 1. In the BattleHawks’ first game, quarterback Jordan Ta’amu threw for 209 yards and a TD. Dude also rushed for 77 yards from 9 carries.

Ta’amu should keep Houston’s defense guessing. Oddsmakers are over discounting St. Louis’ win over Dallas. They’re overemphasizing the beatdown the Roughnecks put on to Los Angeles. Go with the dog in this match-up, too.

Result: Houston 28 St Louis 24 ... BattleHawks cover

***

Sportbet Columnist: Josh Bailey ... Today: 1-1 ... Overall: 7-1

Aspiring to become the Mark Twain of sportswriting, Josh has been labelled as the up-&-coming sportswriter of the year by absolutely nobody and the new heavy hitter in sports handicapping by his mother.