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XFL Vegas Vipers

Vegas Vipers Game Notes

April 6, 2023 - XFL (XFL)
Vegas Vipers News Release


Series Notes:

‚¬Â¢ This will be the second and final meeting this season between St. Louis and Vegas; St. Louis won the first meeting in Las Vegas 29-6; prior to that meeting, the two teams have never met in the XFL, as Las Vegas had a franchise in 2001 and St. Louis had a franchise in 2020.

‚¬Â¢ Head Coaches Rod Woodson and Anthony Becht squared off as players in the NFL three times from 2000 through 2003.

‚¬Â¢ Vegas defensive back Antonio Phillips hails from St. Louis, Missouri

‚¬Â¢ Vegas offensive lineman Michael Miller played suited up for five games for the St. Louis Battlehawks during the 2020 XFL season

LEAGUE OF OPPORTUNITY AND EXCITING GAMES

So far this season, the XFL has produced some very competitive football, as 19 of 28 XFL games through seven weeks have been one-possession games (decided by 9 points or less). Despite the close scores and great endings, the league is still looking for its first overtime game. Vegas has had three, one-possession losses and one, one-possession victory, falling at the Arlington Renegades (22-20) in Week 1, against the Seattle Sea Dragons (30-26) in Week 3 and against the St. Louis Battlehawks in Week 6 (29-6). In Week 5, Vegas defeated Orlando (35-32).

DISSECTING THE LINES

So far this year, the Vegas Vipers are 2-4-1 against the spread, covering against Arlington (ARL -3) in Week 1 despite losing 22-20. As a favorite, Vegas is 1-2 as they were 3.5 favorites over DC in Week 2, but lost 18-6 in the game and were also 7.0 favorites against Orlando and won 35-32 but didn't cover the spread. The Vipers lone win as a favorite came against San Antonio in Week 7, when they were favored by 2.5 points and won 26-12. As a league, favorites are 14-12-2 this season. There have been eight outright upsets against the betting line this season: SEA @ DC in Week 1 (+100 moneyline), STL @ SEA in Week 2 (+135 moneyline), DC @ VGS in Week 2 (+145 moneyline), HOU @ SEA in Week 5 (+130 moneyline), ARL @ SA in Week 5 (+105 moneyline), SA @ ARL (+130 moneyline) in Week 6, DC @ ORL in Week 7 (+360 moneyline), which was the largest upset in the XFL this season, and STL @ HOU in Week 7 (+126 moneyline). In the seven games Vegas has played this season, the over has hit five times. The two games in which the under was the winner: Week 2 against DC where weather played a factor in the game during the second half and Week 7 against San Antonio where only seven total points were scored in the second half. In 28 games this season, the over is 15-12-1. This week against St. Louis, Vegas is a 6.5 point underdog and the over/under line is set at 46.5 (lines according to Caesar's Sportsbook on Monday, April 3).

STARTING THE RIGHT WAY

The Vegas Vipers have scored on their first or second offensive possession in five of their seven games this season. The only games where they didn't score on their either their first or second possession was against DC in Week 4 and against St. Louis in Week 6. Houston was the only team this season to score on each of it's first possessions through Week 4, but failed to do so against Seattle in Week 5 and against St. Louis in Week 7, giving the Roughnecks five opening possession scores this year. Orlando has also scored on it's opening possession five times this season. DC, San Antonio and Arlington have each scored on its opening possession three times. Seattle has scored on their opening possession twice, while St. Louis has done so once.

WEATHER OR NOT AT CASHMAN FIELD!

In the first two games at Cashman Field in Las Vegas this season, the Vegas Vipers have had multiple opponents to face during each game, their opponent on the field and Mother Nature. In the home opener against the D.C. Defenders, rain played a factor in the second half as the skies opened up while each team went into their respective locker rooms at halftime. The rain assisted the Defender defense as the Vipers were shut out in the second half. During Vegas' second home game against Seattle, wind played a factor as gusts reached 50 miles per hour in the Las Vegas Valley.

SCORING SPREE

After scoring 26 total points in the first two games to open the season, the Vegas Vipers matched that total in a 30-26 loss against the Seattle Sea Dragons. The 56 combined points put up between the Vipers and Sea Dragons was the first game this season to break the 50-point mark. Later in Week 3, the St. Louis-DC game surpassed that total, when they scored a combined 62 points. In Week 5, Vegas scored 35 points against Orlando. It was the second most points scored by one team to date this season, only behind Houston's 44 points scored in Week 4 at Orlando. The Vipers and Guardians also combined to score the most points in the XFL this season with 67 in Week 5.

ALL GAMES NATIONALLY TELEVISED

On May 17, 2022, the XFL announced a multi-year broadcast agreement with The Walt Disney Company and ESPN. This season, all 43 games (40 regular season games, two playoffs, one championship) will be featured on a combination of ABC, ESPN networks, and FX. All XFL games will be streamed on ESPN+ and simulcasted in 142 countries around the world. This week's Vegas game will air on FX with the announcing team of Lowell Galindo (play-by-play), Sam Acho (analyst), Ian Fitzsimmons (sideline analyst) and Taylor McGregor (sideline reporter). The entire Week 8 schedule is listed below (betting lines as of Monday, April 3 via Caesar's Sportsbook): Saturday, April 8 - Vegas Vipers @ St. Louis Battlehawks at 10 a.m. PT on ESPN

Line: STL -6.5 | O/U: 46.5

Saturday, April 8 - Arlington Renegades @ Orlando Guardians at 1 p.m. PT on ESPN

Line: PICK | O/U: 42.0

Sunday, April 9 - Houston Roughnecks @ San Antonio Brahmas at 12 p.m. PT on ABC

Line: HOU -4.0 | O/U: 41.0

Sunday, April 9 - DC Defenders @ Seattle Sea Dragons at 7 p.m. PT on ESPN2

Line: SEA -1.0 | O/U: 48.0

YOU BADET'CHA

Vegas Vipers wide receiver Jeff Badet has been one of the most reliable receivers for the team this season, as he has leads the team in three categories: 30 receptions, 406 yards and five touchdowns. His touchdowns are tied for the most in the XFL this season, while his yardage ranks fourth in the league and receptions rank eighth. The former Oklahoma and Kentucky standout's 13.5 yards per reception also ranks second in the league amongst receivers who have caught at least 28 passes. In Week 1 against Arlington, Badet caught two touchdowns, which were his first two touchdowns as a professional football player. Against Seattle in Week 3, he had a 56-yard reception in the third quarter, which at the time was the longest reception in the XFL, but was later surpassed in the game when Josh Gordon caught a 65-yard touchdown reception and then the next day when DC's Chris Blair had a 58-yard reception. Against Orlando in Week 5, the Florida native caught five passes for 80 yards including two touchdowns. Against San Antonio in Week7, Badet caught two passes for 30 yards, but left the game early due to injury.

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