Defenders vs Vipers Week 2 Game Info
- 2023 XFL Regular Season Game
- DC Defenders (1-0) vs. Vegas Vipers (0-1)
- Date:'Saturday, February 25, 2023
- Time:'7:00 PM ET
- Venue:'Cashman Field — Las Vegas, NV
- Coverage:'ESPN Deportes/FX
Week 2 of the XFL season continues on Saturday night with a matchup between the DC Defenders and Vegas Vipers kicking off at 7 p.m. ET.
The Defenders beat the Seattle Sea Dragons by a score of 22-18 in Week 1 thanks to cornerback Michael Joseph's pair of interceptions. Meanwhile, the Vipers couldn't hold on to a second-half lead in a 22-20 loss to the Arlington Renegades after quarterback Luis Perez th rew two interceptions.
Defenders vs Vipers Odds & Spread
- Moneyline:'DC: (+135) | VEGAS: (-160)
- Spread:'DC: +2.5 (+100) | VEGAS: -2.5 (-120)
- Total:'36.5 — Over: (-110) | Under: (-110)
Vegas enters this contest as a slight home favorite on the moneyline and spread per FanDuel Sportsbook's odds. This 7 p.m. ET clash also features an over/under of 36.5 points, which ranks tied for the lowest of XFL's Week 2 projected totals.
Defenders vs Vipers Prediction & Pick
The crowd at Audi Field was crazy on Sunday and that intensity certainly helped the Defenders come back from an 18-8 deficit to win the game. DC's defense was unstoppable in the second half as it constantly harassed quarterback Ben DiNucci, which led to two interceptions and a lost fumble.
That defense has its hand full agains this weekend as the Vipers accounted for 261 total yards in Week 1. Perez threw 3 touchdowns and almost tied the game up on a two-point conversion attempt. The 28-year-old's inaccuracy ended up costing Vegas when the game was on the line, though.
This is a great opportunity to Perez to bounce back. The Defenders gave up 331 total yards to the Sea Dragons in Week 1 and their inability to get off the field was overlooked with a few takeaways. As long as Perez finds the open man and throws the ball away when necessary, he'll be the winning QB.
Final Score Prediction:'Defenders: 19 | Vipers: 23
Defenders vs Vipers Best Bet
There's value in backing the Vipers as a home favorite in this game, but there's even more value in backing a high-scoring game to break out. Vega s showed off its offensive talent by averaging 4.4 yards per play in Week 1, while the Defenders managed to score 18 points despite tallying only 177 total yards. The rule changes in the XFL favor scoring and that'll be evident on Saturday night.