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Guardians vs Roughnecks XFL Picks & Sportsbook Promos 2/18/23
Last updated February 14, 2023
On opening weekend of the XFL season, the Orlando Guardians will visit the Houston Roughnecks. Orlando is the biggest longshot to win the league title heading into the season, but they are in a pick 'em game against the Roughnecks to open their season. If nothing else, this will be an interesting way for both teams to start their seasons.
In our XFL betting picks for Week 1, we break down Guardians vs Roughnecks and look at the top XFL sportsbook promos for the game also.
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Why bet on the Roughnecks:
✅ The Guardians are the biggest longshot to win the title in the XFL this season, so it makes sense to fade them on the road
✅ Houston has seen its odds come down significantly since the initial release of the league's futures odds, and that is cause for confidence in them early in the season
✅ Wade Phillips, the defensive genius from the NFL, will coach the Roughnecks to a tenacious defensive start
| Teams | Orlando Guardians vs Houston Roughnecks |
| When | Saturday, February 18, 2023 at 8:30 PM ET |
| Venue | TDECU Stadium, Houston, TX |
| Betting Pick | Roughnecks PK (-110) over Guardians |
Best Guardians vs Roughnecks Sportsbook Promo
Before Guardians vs Roughnecks and the first week of XFL action, bettors can get their first bet on Caesars Sportsbook up to $1,250. This promotion lets bettors place their first wager on this matchup from Houston. If that bet does not win, bettors will be refunded the amount they lost, up to $1,250 in site credit.
| Promo Offer | First Bet On Caesars up to $1,250 |
| Promo Code | SQOREFULL |
$1,000 First Bet on Caesars
Orlando Guardians
The Orlando Guardians come into the 2023 XFL season with the worst odds to win the league championship. They come into the season with Deondre Francois as their likely starting quarterback, who football fans may remember from his disastrous tenure as the quarterback at Florida State. Here, he looks for redemption in the start of his pro career as the starter for the Guardians, who reside in Orlando after being in New York in 2020.
The Guardians will need their offense to be at its best right away in this contest, as they face a Wade Phillips coached defense. Phillips' coaching history includes shutting down all-time greats like Tom Brady, and it will be interesting to see how the Guardians handle the pressure that Phillips is known for dialing up.
Houston Roughnecks
The Houston Roughnecks were the gold standards of the XFL in 2020, going 5-0 before the league shut down due to the COVID pandemic. Here, they return as a team that is expected to have a different philosophy than it did a few years ago, as Wade Phillips replaces June Jones as their head coach. Because of that, Houston's defense is expected to be a force to be reckoned with from the first week of the season.
Offensively, there are questions as to how Houston will move the ball through the air this season. Their quarterback group of Kaleb Eleby, Cole McDonald, and Brandon Silvers is far from inspiring. But on a team where a lot of points may not be required to win games, the Roughnecks may not need the high-flying offense they enjoyed with P.J. Walker at the helm in 2020.
