Three of the four home teams are favored for the first time since the XFL’s opening weekend. Road teams are 7-9 against the spread. Only the Houston Roughnecks and St. Louis BattleHawks are above .500 ATS.

Here are picks against the spread for every game in Week 5 of the 2020 XFL season, as well as updated betting odds at U.S. sportsbooks.

Seattle Dragons (+12.5) at Houston Roughnecks

It’s a battle between the league’s best and worst teams. Houston is undefeated, led by MVP favorite quarterback P.J. Walker. Seattle is 1-3, having only defeated another one-win team. Dragons quarterback Brandon Silvers has played poorly. He could be replaced by B.J. Daniels, who was under center for Seattle in the second half of its 23-16 loss in Week 4. Daniels threw for 100 yards and ran for 84 more, leading the Dragons to 13 second-half points.

The Seahawks haven’t lost by more than 12 points in any game. Houston has won three straight games by seven points or fewer.

Prediction ATS: Seattle

New York Guardians (+8) at Dallas Renegades

Before scoring at least 20 points in each of their last three games, the Renegades opened the season with a 15-9 loss at home against the BattleHawks. Quarterback Landry Jones missed that contest with a knee injury, and he won’t play Saturday after reaggravating the injury. Philip Nelson was 33-42 for 218 yards as the Week 1 starter, unable to move the ball down the field.

As much as New York has struggled on offense, the unit was improved in Week 4 when Luis Perez made his first start at quarterback. The Guardians are giving up 15.3 points per game to opposing offenses. Dallas is 0-2 straight up and against the spread at home.

Prediction ATS: New York

St. Louis BattleHawks (-4.5) at DC Defenders

DC was the XFL’s most dominant team in the season’s first two weeks, leading the league with a plus-39 point differential. The story has been the exact opposite over the last two weeks, during which the Defenders have been outscored 64-9. Which team will show up in Week 5?

DC returns home, where they had success in Weeks 1 and 2, but their struggles go beyond location. The offense has been a mess with Cardale Jones throwing for 175 yards and five interceptions in two games. DC has been defeated by two one-win teams. St. Louis is 3-1, only losing to undefeated Houston. The BattleHawks give up 11.3 points per game when they don’t face the Roughnecks.

Prediction ATS: St. Louis

Tampa Bay Vipers (+2) at Los Angeles Wildcats

Road teams are 5-11 through four weeks. Teams that travel cross-country are 0-4 straight up and against the spread, losing by an average score of 26-10. That trend doesn’t bode well for the Vipers, who are winless and 0-2 against the spread away from Tampa Bay.

Taylor Cornelius will get another start at quarterback for the Vipers. He has a 69.4 passer rating and has been aided by the XFL’s top rushing attack. Wildcats quarterback Josh Johnson leads the league with a 106.6 passer rating and 262.7 passing yards per game. If Los Angeles is able to have success moving the ball down the field, Tampa Bay could have a hard time keeping up.

Prediction ATS: Los Angeles

Season Record: 9-3

PJ Walkers Houston Roughnecks XFL
P.J. Walker #11 of the Houston Roughnecks runs with the ball during the fourth quarter against the St. Louis Battlehawks at TDECU Stadium on February 16, 2020 in Houston, Texas. Bob Levey/Getty Images

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