DC Defenders at LA Wildcats 2/23/20 - XFL Picks & Predictions
The DC Defenders travel cross country to the Dignity Health Sports Park in California to take on the LA Wildcats. The DC Defenders look to be one of the best teams in the XFL through the first two games of the season, winning their week 1 matchup 31-19 over the Seattle Dragons and winning last week 27-0 at home over the NY Guardians. The Wildcats have struggled this season, losing 37-17 their first week out to the Houston Roughnecks and then falling 25-18 last week to the Dallas Renegades to drop their record on the season to 0-2.
The Defenders are led by former Ohio State quarterback and national championship winner, Cardale Jones. Jones put together a solid performance against the Guardians going 23/37 completing 62% of his passes for 276 yards and two touchdowns. Cardale Jones is an early candidate for the MVP of the XFL. The Defenders have a plethora of talented wide receivers and had 8 players catch passes their last time out but leading the way was Rashad Ross who is an effective long-ball threat, catching 4 passes for 95 yards, one that went for 40 yards and set up a field goal before halftime.
The Wildcats have stuttered to a start this coming in at 0-2 but have had solid quarterback play behind Josh Johnson who went 18/34 for 196 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. The Wildcats run game struggled to gain only 57 yards on the ground their last time out to the Renegades. The Wildcats leading receiver is Nelson Spruce who caught 6 passes for 89 yards and two touchdowns out of the slot against the Renegades.
The Wildcats have allowed 31 points per game which puts them last in scoring defense in the XFL this early in the season. The Defenders have been solid on the season and have allowed just a 54.4 passing rating on defense which leads the XFL. The DC Defenders pitched a shutout their last time out against the Guardians have allowed just 9.5 points per game thus far in the early part of the season.
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The Defenders are a clear early-season contender with the electric offense led by Cardale Jones and a stout defense that has flexed its muscles early in the season. The Wildcats have struggled this year coming in at 0-2 but the return of Josh Johnson was clearly an improvement and giving him another week in the system should be a boost. Unfortunately for him, he will be dealing with the best pass defense in the XFL and it will give him fits in this game as the Defenders go on the road winning and covering the spread with a. Final Score Prediction, DC Defenders win and cover ATS 32-17.
