Battlehawks vs Roughnecks Picks and Prediction – 3/29/2025

The 2025 UFL regular season will kick off on Friday night, when the St. Louis Battlehawks travel to TDECU Stadium to take on the Houston Roughnecks. Check out all of our free UFL picks. The Battlehawks (7-3) have been one of the most prolific passing offenses in spring football and averaged 26 points per game a season ago. Head coach Anthony Becht made the decision to replace QB A.J. McCarron and will have a battle for the starting job. The likely starter will be Manny Wilkins, with Max Duggan and Chevan Cordeiro also in the mix.

St. Louis returns WR Hakeem Butler, who was named the 2024 UFL Offensive Player of the Year. RB Jacob Saylors became the starting RB midway through last year and ranked second in the league with 461 rushing yards. 

The Houston Roughnecks ended last season on a six-game losing streak and finished with the worst record in the league. The Roughnecks (1-9) must improve an offense that ranked seventh in yards per game and a pedestrian 15.8 points per contest, Nolan Henderson should get the nod as the starting quarterback and will look to find dynamic WR Justin Hall, who caught 56 balls for 604 yards and three touchdowns a season ago. 

The Roughnecks have one of the better defenses in the UFL and will benefit from an offense that can move the chains. Houston S Markel Roby ranked ninth in the league in tackles and second in passes defended. 

St. Louis has been one of the better teams in the UFL thanks in large part to a solid head coach and the best fan base. The Battlehawks will take a step back offensively without the accurate McCarron under center and could rely more heavily on the run. The Roughnecks will struggle to move the ball against an aggressive defensive front. Look for St. Louis to do enough to win on the road in a game that stays under the total. Final Score Prediction, St. Louis Battlehawks win 16-13.