Top sportsbooks online favor the BattleHawks by a field goal over the Tampa Bay Vipers, as the spread goes for their XFL Week 6 regular-season game on Saturday, March 14 with kickoff scheduled for 5:00 p.m. ET at Raymond James Stadium.
St. Louis BattleHawks vs. Tampa Bay Vipers XFL Odds by Intertops.eu
| Team | SP/RL | TOTAL | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BattleHawks | -3½ (-110) | 43 (-110) | -185 |  |
| Vipers | +3½ (-110) | 43 (-110) | +160 | |
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Betting St. Louis BattleHawks
The Hawks lost 6-15 to the DC Defenders in Week 5 as 4.5-point road faves, per the best online sportsbooks. Starting QB Jordan Ta’amu went 15 of 25 for 174 yards. He was sacked four times. Wide receiver L’Damian Washington had 114 yards on five receptions. Ta’amu struggled for the first time in his professional career. Running back Matt Jones rushed for 70 yards on 13 carries. St. Louis lost 60 yards on penalties and posted a terrible 25% effectiveness on third-down conversions (4 of 16). They also went 0 for 2 on fourth down and 0 for 3 in the red zone. The defense held DC to just 39 passing yards but allowed 229 on the ground. Linebacker Terence Garvin had 16 total tackles and safety Will Hill 12. Kenny Robinson had had an interception, a sack, and a pass deflection.
“We just can’t start slow. You come to these places, you travel away, you really have to be warriors. Every team is good, no team is slack, no team doesn’t have talent. Every team has players, every team has good players. You have to come out here ready to go. As a unit, as a team, you just have to come out stronger,” Garvin said.
Betting Tampa Bay Vipers
The Vipers returned to their losing ways with a 34-41 Week 5 loss to the LA Wildcats as two-point road dogs, according to top sportsbooks online. Starting QB Taylor Cornelius went 22 of 34 for 300 yards with two TDs, two picks, and one sack. Wide receivers Jalen Tolliver and Reece Horn combine for 185 yards two TDs on 13 catches. Running back De’Veon Smith had 69 yards on 24 carries. The Vipes outgained the Cats 434 total yards to 345, including 142 to 57 on the ground. But LA simply was twice as effective in the red zone as TB was. Additionally, Tampa went just 5-of-14 (36%) on third down attempts. The Vipers squandered an early double-digit lead. That one sack on Corn Dog was very costly, as it was returned for a TD late in the fourth quarter.
The Vipes scored 24 points and forced three TOs in the first half. However, they were outscored 21-10 and had turnovers of their own, as well as penalties that ultimately cost them the game. Running back Jaques Patrick’s injury late in the first half might have had quite a bit to do with TB’s second half woes. Patrick and Smith each broke the 100-yard mark rushing in the Week 5 25-0 win over D.C. They totaled just 94 yards on 31 carries on Sunday. They scored on four of their first five possessions. But then Tampa Bat went scoreless on five consecutive possessions. And didn’t reach the end zone until late in the fourth quarter. When it was too late, as an 18-point lead had turned a 14-point deficit.
“I will just start by saying we have a very disappointing Vipers locker room. I am proud of our guys. We played our tails off, but the fact of the matter is that we are a 1-4 football team, and we have to accept that,” Vipers head coach Marc Trestman said.
St. Louis BattleHawks vs. Tampa Bay Vipers XFL Pick
It all comes down to whether users of top sportsbooks online think TB will be able to sustain momentum. And not just create it. If that’s the case, the fade the BattleHawks. If not, take St. Louis and the points.
