The XFL conference title race comes down to this Friday at Audi Field, where the 7-2 St. Louis Battlehawks visit the 6-3 DC Defenders at 8 p.m. ET. Oddsmakers installed DC as a slim 1-point favorite with a total of 45.5, befitting of these two hot offenses and plenty of playoff urgency. Battlehawks head coach Anthony Becht insists his group wants to sweep the season series and carry a six-game win streak into the postseason. DC, meanwhile, can still steal the top seed in the XFL Conference with a victory, so expect a playoff-like atmosphere beneath the Friday night lights. Continue reading to get our pick for this St. Louis Battlehawks vs DC Defenders matchup.
St. Louis Battlehawks vs DC Defenders Game Preview
St. Louis arrives fresh off a 39-13 dismantling of San Antonio in Week 9, a contest that showcased both offensive balance and defensive bite. Quarterback Max Duggan, undefeated in five starts since taking over, owns modest ing figures (696 yards, 4 TD, 4 INT) but brings a dual-threat element that keeps defenses honest. His 299 rushing yards and 5 ground scores lead all UFL quarterbacks. The ground game, driven by league rushing leader Jacob Saylors (499 yards, 4.4 per carry), is the focal point for their offense both with their backs and the quarterback.
Defensively, coordinator Donnie Abraham’s front lives in opposing backfields. Edge terrors Pita Taumoepenu (7.5 sacks, league leader) is a threat to opposing quarterbacks, while the secondary sits first in takeaways since Week 6. That pressure will be vital against a Defenders offense that leans on the league’s most productive er.
DC’s season has been a Jordan Ta’amu showcase. The veteran tops the UFL in ing yards (2,153) and touchdowns (17) against just 4 interceptions, firing deep with 7.6 yards per attempt. Cornell Powell has blossomed into his go-to target and sits tied for the league lead with 7 receiving TDs, while all-purpose dynamo Chris Rowland has piled up 1,087 all-purpose yards in nine games. Their offense did, however, stumble in last week’s 24-21 home loss to Houston. That was DC’s first defeat since Week 6 and they will look to bounce back here.
Defensively, the Defenders bend plenty. They allow 23.4 points per game, but generate splash plays of their own. Derick Roberson is top-five in sacks at 5.5 on the season and interior lineman Joe Wallace (4.5 sacks) helps anchor a rush that ranks third in pressure rate. The Defenders’ biggest vulnerability comes against the run, as a softness between the tackles looms large against Saylors and the league’s most creative mesh-point concepts.
Betting Insights
- Point spread: Opened DC -1.5 now stands at DC -1.
- Total: 45.5
- Moneyline: Battlehawks +100, Defenders -120
- Head-to-head 2025: Week 3 saw DC defeat the Battlehawks 27-15 in St. Louis.
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St. Louis Battlehawks vs DC Defenders Prediction
The spread suggests near coin-flip territory, yet underlying metrics give St. Louis a small edge. Since Week 6, the Battlehawks own a league-best plus-0.18 expected points added per play, driven by a ground attack that moves the chains on 31% of rush attempts. DC’s rush defense ranks seventh in success rate over that span and just surrendered 174 yards to Houston. If DC commits extra bodies to the box, Duggan has proven willing to take one-on-one shots without being reckless.
Conversely, Ta’amu faces the season’s toughest rush. Taumoepenu’s speed off the left edge will be a significant factor again. When pressured, Ta’amu’s completion rate dips, and his average depth of target drops.
The pick: Battlehawks +1 (play to pick ’em) and Over 45.5.
Duggan’s legs, Saylors’ vision, and a suffocating rush should offset Ta’amu’s aerial fireworks, pushing St. Louis to an eighth win and rewarding bettors who back the hottest side in spring football.
Projected score: Battlehawks 26, Defenders 23.
