Wednesday’s NBA slate will feature nine games, beginning at 7 p.m. ET. Here’s who you should keep an eye on as you look to build optimal lineups:
Banchero is gearing up for his third meeting with the Atlanta Hawks this season. He torched them for 35 points, 10 rebounds and four assists the last time they played and will need to be aggressive to keep up with Atlanta’s high-octane offense. The Orlando Magic forward is down Franz Wagner (ankle) and has had to do some heavy lifting — he’s posted 27.6 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.7 assists over his previous seven outings, and he attempted more than 20 shots in five of those contests. Banchero’s shot volume and increased playmaking involvement will elevate his fantasy ceiling for the foreseeable future.
Barrett’s efficiency has been off the charts since the New York Knicks traded him to the Toronto Raptors. He’s tallied at least 23 points, six rebounds and two assists in four of his last five games while shooting 59.7% from the field. He notched at least 35 minutes in four of those contests and Pascal Siakam’s absence should help him take on an even larger role in the offense. The Miami Heat are a stingy defensive team, but Toronto’s recent trade with the Indiana Pacers could allow Barrett to pop on Wednesday.
“Dillon the Villain” is ready to handle a full workload after returning from an oblique injury and loves playing in Madison Square Garden. The Houston Rockets wing has scored at least 23 points in four straight meetings with the Knicks and those contests were on the road. Brooks logged 31 minutes in his second game back from injury and Houston will likely need to lean on his physicality against the new-look Knicks.
The Cleveland Cavaliers welcome the Milwaukee Bucks to Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on Wednesday evening. Cleveland is 23-15 overall and 14-8 at home this season, with the Cavaliers also entering on a five-game winning streak. Milwaukee is 28-12 overall and 9-8 on the road. Darius Garland (jaw) and Evan Mobley (knee) are out for Cleveland, with Caris LeVert (wrist) listed as questionable. Jae Crowder returns to action for the Bucks, and Milwaukee lists no injuries for Wednesday’s game.
For this game, SportsLine consensus lists the Bucks as 4-point favorites, and tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. The total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, or the over/under, is 236.5 in the latest Bucks vs. Cavaliers odds. Before making any Cavaliers vs. Bucks picks, you need to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s advanced computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters Week 13 of the 2023-24 NBA season on a sizzling 42-23 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning nearly $2,000. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Bucks vs. Cavs and just locked in its picks and NBA predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Now, here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Cavs vs. Bucks:
Bucks vs. Cavaliers spread: Bucks -4 Bucks vs. Cavaliers over/under: 236.5 points Bucks vs. Cavaliers money line: Bucks -179, Cavaliers +150 MIL: The Bucks are 8-9 against the spread in road games CLE: The Cavaliers are 10-10-1 against the spread in home games Bucks vs. Cavaliers picks: See picks at SportsLine Why the Bucks can cover The Bucks lean on two of the best players in the NBA in Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. The pairing combined for 65 points in Milwaukee’s victory over Cleveland earlier this season, and Antetokounmpo is once again in the MVP race. Antetokounmpo is averaging 31.2 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game while shooting 60.8% from the field and providing strong defensive impact. In the last six games, Antetokounmpo is averaging 33.5 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 6.8 assists, and he is flanked by a fantastic shot creator in Lillard.
In his first season with the Bucks, Lillard is putting up 25.2 points and 6.8 assists per game, and he remains one of the league’s best pull-up shooting threats. With Antetokounmpo and Lillard at the forefront, the Bucks are No. 2 in the NBA in offensive efficiency, scoring more than 1.21 points per possession. The Bucks are second in the league in free throw creation, averaging 26.4 attempts per game, and Milwaukee is also in the top three of the NBA in field goal percentage (50.2%), 2-point percentage (58.7%), and 3-point percentage (38.3%) this season. See which team to pick here.
Why the Cavaliers can cover Cleveland has the clear advantage over Milwaukee when it comes to defensive impact. The Cavaliers are in the top five of the NBA in defensive efficiency, giving up only 111.7 points per 100 possessions. Cleveland ranks in the top five of the league in opponent field goal percentage (45.9%) and opponent 2-point percentage (52.3%), and opponents are shooting only 35.6% from 3-point range against the Cavaliers. Cleveland is in the top three of the league in assists allowed (24.2 per game), and the Cavaliers are averaging 7.9 steals per contest.
From there, Milwaukee has clear defensive flaws, including the league’s worst mark in turnover creation (11.8 per game) and a bottom-five ranking in steals (6.5 per game). On offense, Cleveland is clearly led by Donovan Mitchell, who is averaging 30.1 points per game in the last eight outings and 28.1 points per game for the season. The Cavaliers are shooting 55.7% on 2-point attempts, and Cleveland is firmly in the top 10 of the league in offensive rebound rate (30.1%) and second-chance points (16.2 per game). See which team to pick here.
How to make Cavaliers vs. Bucks picks SportsLine’s model is leaning Over on the total. The model also says one side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time. You can only see the model’s picks at SportsLine.
The Dallas Mavericks (24-17) go on the road to square off against the Los Angeles Lakers (20-21) on Wednesday. The Western Conference is extremely competitive halfway through the season. Dallas sits as the No. 5 seed, meanwhile, Los Angeles is in the 10th spot. The Mavericks are ranked seventh in the league in scoring (118.7), while the Lakers average 114.1 points per game, which is good for 19th in the NBA. LeBron James (ankle) is listed as questionable for Los Angeles, while Luka Doncic (ankle) is questionable for Dallas.
Tipoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The Lakers are 4-point favorites in the latest Mavericks vs. Lakers odds via SportsLine consensus. The over/under for total points is 243.5. Before making any Lakers vs. Mavericks picks, you need to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s advanced computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters Week 13 of the 2023-24 NBA season on a sizzling 42-23 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning nearly $2,000. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Lakers vs. Mavs and just locked in its picks and NBA predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Now, here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Mavs vs. Lakers:
Lakers vs. Mavericks spread: Los Angeles -4 Lakers vs. Mavericks over/under: 243.5 points Lakers money line: Los Angeles -172, Dallas +144 LAL: The Lakers have hit the game total Under in 31 of their last 46 games at home DAL: The Mavericks have hit the 1Q game total Under in 19 of their last 27 games Lakers vs. Mavericks picks: See picks at SportsLine Why the Lakers can cover The Lakers have added D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves back to the starting lineup. Reaves is a crafty ball handler and three-level scorer. The Oklahoma product gets into the lane with ease and has a knack for drawing contact to get to the free-throw line. The 25-year-old averages 15.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 5.2 assists. In his last outing, Reeves finished with 15 points and seven assists.
Russell owns a smooth jumper on the perimeter with solid vision as a playmaker. The Ohio State product logs 15.4 points, 6.1 assists, and shoots 39% from beyond the arc. He’s dished out at least six assists in four of his last five games. On Jan. 13 versus the Jazz, Russell notched 39 points, eight assists, and went 6-of-11 from downtown. See which team to pick here.
Why the Mavericks can cover Guard Kyrie Irving is an explosive ball handler and scorer who has the quickness to blow past defenders and is an acrobatic finisher around the rim. Irving averages 25.8 points, five rebounds and 5.4 assists per game. In Monday’s win over the Pelicans, he dropped 42 points, seven boards and seven assists.
He’s scored 33-plus points in five straight games. Forward Tim Hardaway Jr. is a nice perimeter asset for the Mavericks. He can score off the dribble or put the ball on the deck when needed. The Michigan product logs 18.3 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. Hardaway Jr. dropped 24-plus points in three straight games. In his last outing, he totaled 41 points and made nine 3-pointers. See which team to pick here.
How to make Mavericks vs. Lakers picks SportsLine’s model is leaning Under on the total, projecting 237 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time. You can only see the model’s picks at SportsLine.
Nine games make up Wednesday’s NBA slate with matchups tipping off between 7 and 10 p.m. ET. The Golden State Warriors-Utah Jazz matchup has been postponed, but there are still plenty of options to choose from. Are you looking to find an edge? We’ve gone over each pairing to identify a moneyline, spread and player prop pick worth considering.
Moneyline: Miami Heat (-155) @ Toronto Raptors Jaime Jaquez Jr. is out with a groin injury but Jimmy Butler is back in the mix just in time to take on the depleted Raptors. Bam Adebayo should dominate Toronto’s frontcourt in the absence of Jakob Poeltl (ankle) and Pascal Siakam, who was traded to the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday. Miami has excelled while shorthanded all year while Toronto is 0-1 without Siakam.
Spread: Minnesota Timberwolves @ Detroit Pistons under 222.5 points (-110) The league’s top defense will face the Pistons’ bottom-five offense in Wednesday’s first game. Minnesota is holding opponents to a league-low 107.3 points per game and Detroit won’t have its primary creator in Cade Cunningham. The Pistons scored 110 points or less in three of their last four games before hanging 129 on the Washington Wizards’ bottom-ranked defense. It’s unlikely that Detroit will have the firepower to keep this competitive as 13.5-point underdogs.
Player prop: Jrue Holiday over 12.5 rebounds + assists (+104) Derrick White has been ruled out with an elbow injury so the Celtics will rely heavily on Jrue Holiday. The point guard has averaged an impressive 8.7 rebounds and 7.0 assists in the three contests he’s appeared in without White this season while logging nearly 40.0 minutes per night. Boston likely won’t rely on Payton Pritchard too heavily, as a quick, strong guard will be needed to stick with Donovan Mitchell. Holiday is averaging 6.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists without White as a Celtic, so I’m comfortable with this total. Especially given that he’ll likely play at least five more minutes than he usually does.
The Toronto Raptors and Indiana Pacers have finalized a deal that will send two-time All-Star Pascal Siakam to Indiana, the Pacers announced on Wednesday night. The Raptors will receive three first-round picks as well as Bruce Brown and Jordan Nwora in the blockbuster deal that comes three weeks ahead of the Feb. 8 NBA trade deadline. The Pelicans are also involved in the trade, sending Kira Lewis Jr. to Toronto.
Two of the three first-round picks acquired from the Raptors will be in the 2024 NBA Draft: Indiana’s pick, plus a pick originally acquired from the Thunder that will be the lowest pick among the Jazz, Rockets and Thunder’s picks. The other first-rounder is Indiana’s 2026 selection. The 2026 pick is top-four protected, per The Athletic.
Here’s the deal in full:
Pacers receive: Pascal Siakam, 2024 second-round pick (via Pelicans) Raptors receive: Bruce Brown, Jordan Nwora, Kira Lewis Jr., 2024 first-round pick (via Pacers), 2024 first-round pick (lesser of picks from Jazz/Clippers/Rockets/Thunder) and 2026 first-round pick (via Pacers, protected 1-4) Pelicans receive: Cash considerations Siakam, an impending free agent, is “expected to be eager” to work out a long-term deal this summer to stay in Indiana, ESPN adds.
“I’m excited that Pascal is getting a first-class opportunity with the Pacers, being paired with Tyrese [Haliburton] and Myles [Turner] and being coached by a great coach in Rick Carlisle. His future there looks bright there,” Siakam’s agent Todd Ramasar told Andscape.
Several other teams reportedly explored acquiring Siakam, including the Golden State Warriors and Dallas Mavericks. The Raptors were seemingly at one point involved in talks with the Sacramento Kings, but those talks eventually fizzled. Sacramento was reportedly been unwilling to include second-year forward Keegan Murray in any deal for Siakam. Siakam, with his summer date with free agency, had unusual leverage in these trade talks. He could scare off teams he was not interested in by refusing to negotiate an extension.
Indiana, now 23-17 and holding the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference, was well-positioned to make the significant addition. Not only did the Pacers — who average an NBA-best 125.6 points per game — own all of their own first-round picks as well as another 2024 first-rounder from the Thunder, but they are positioned to create max cap space this offseason as well. That gave them a bit of leverage against the Raptors in these negotiations.
Siakam, 29, is averaging 22.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game this season. This is his eighth season in the NBA, all of which came with the Raptors, who drafted him 27th overall in 2016. Siakam has made two All-Star teams, two All-NBA teams and helped Toronto win its first NBA title in 2019.
The Raptors already made a big trade this season by sending OG Anunoby to the New York Knicks in a deal that landed them RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley. Barrett and Quickley have fit in seamlessly in Toronto, and now, the Raptors dealt another key veteran to continue their push to make the roster younger around centerpiece forward Scottie Barnes.
Indiana is not known to be especially aggressive in pursuing veteran talent, but the emergence of Tyrese Haliburton as a legitimate MVP candidate has changed their roster-building calculus. The right upgrades could turn the Pacers into championship contenders in the near future.
Case Cookus was caught checking his teeth after sustaining a hit during Sunday’s USFL Championship Game. When asked about it, the Philadelphia Stars quarterback said, “I’ve got my wedding coming up in a couple of days; didn’t want my fiancee to kill me.”
Cookus’ teeth remained intact throughout the game, but unfortunately for Cookus, his team and his bride to be, he was not able to leave the game unscathed. With the Stars leading the Birmingham Stallions with 8:25 remaining, Cookus was carted off the field after being sacked by defensive end Dondrea Tillman. Cookus then had to watch as the Stars fell behind and ended up on the wrong end of a 33-30 final score.
Initially reported as a knee injury, Cookus actually suffered a broken bone in his leg. The injury took place 11 days before his wedding, which is set to take place on July 14.
While his season ended on a sour note, Cookus enjoyed way more ups than downs during his first season as the Stars’ quarterback. After a 2-3 start, Cookus helped Philadelphia win five of its final six games entering Sunday’s championship game. Trailing 20-9 at halftime on Sunday night, Cookus directed consecutive scoring drives as the Stars pulled ahead of the Stallions with 11:18 left.
🗣 LET’S GO @CaptainCookus10 was HYPED after the @USFLStars TD pic.twitter.com/GIzwlkuYsO
— USFL (@USFL) July 4, 2022 Philadelphia appeared to be in command of the game after coming up with an interception on Birmingham’s ensuing possession. But Cookus’ absence shifted the game’s momentum, as the Stallions scored two touchdowns in 13 seconds to take a 33-23 lead.
The Stars, with backup KJ Costello in for Cookus, were able to make it a one possession game with 1:47 left. But a missed conversion attempt after their touchdown, along with a last-minute interception by the Stallions defense, ended the Stars’ comeback bid.
Based on his comments following Sunday’s game, Cookus is not letting the sequence of events quell his spirit.
“Wasn’t the way we wanted to go out but I am so proud of what this team did this year!” Cookus wrote via Twitter on Sunday night. “Thank you for the support!”
The rebooted USFL completed its first season Sunday night. The league ended the year on a high note, as the Birmingham Stallions defeated the Philadelphia Stars in an entertaining championship game.
Similar to the 1980s version, the modern-day USFL has several policies that makes it a little different than the NFL. The NFL eventually adopted some of the original USFL’s policies, such as instant replay and the two-point conversion. Like they did before, the NFL would be wise to consider adopting some of the USFL’s current policies in order to improve both the fan experience as well as the on-field product.
Here’s a look at three successful USFL policies that the NFL should consider adopting some time in the future.
Running clock Starting in Week 4, the USFL instituted a running clock after incomplete passes during the first and third quarters in order to keep games under three hours. While some games (including Sunday’s championship game) went over the three-hour mark, the USFL achieved its goal, as games were completed in a more timely manner. Along with making NFL games shorter, this rule change would encourage more passing plays on third-down situations.
Onside kick alternative Along with the traditional onside kick, the USFL offers a second way for teams to retain possession after a score. The scoring team can try to convert a fourth-and-12 from their own 33-yard-line. If they make it, they keep the ball. If they don’t, the other team gets the ball at the spot of the play.
This scenario played out during Sunday’s championship game. Down 33-23, the Stars scored, then elected to try to keep the ball by picking up the necessary 12 yards with 1:43 left. While Philadelphia was unable to convert, the play created a sense of drama and excitement that the NFL should consider adding to their game.
No good! 🛑
In the USFL you have another option on top of the onside kick: A 4th & 12 scrimmage play from the 33-yard line
Watch how it played out for the Stars ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/SIoKOma6cD
— USFL (@USFL) July 4, 2022 Pass interference Like college football, the USFL assesses a 15-yard penalty for pass interference. By doing this, the USFL had more games decided on the field as opposed to the zebras. One can assume that Jaguars fans would have preferred 15-yard penalties for DPI during Jacksonville’s loss to the Patriots in the 2017 AFC Championship Game. Ahead 14-3, the Jaguars were on the wrong side of a controversial pass interference penalty that moved the ball 32 yards and led to the Patriots cutting their deficit to four points at halftime.
The rebranded USFL pulled off something the AAF and XFL could not: a successful spring season. It was the one-loss Birmingham Stallions who hoisted the hardware earlier this month, as they defeated the Philadelphia Stars in the USFL championship, 33-30. While the Stallions didn’t have the USFL MVP, the Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year or Coach of the Year, Skip Holtz put together arguably the most talented roster in the league.
If there’s anything we learned from the past few months, it’s that there’s talent not rostered in the NFL. From defensive linemen to even kickers, the USFL showcased some impressive players who NFL teams are intrigued by.
Below, we will break down each USFL-to-NFL signing that has been reported this offseason.
Arizona Cardinals WR Victor Bolden Jr. (Birmingham Stallions) Bolden, who had short stints in the NFL with the 49ers, Bills and Lions, proved to be a valuable piece in the Stallions’ offense, totaling 42 receptions for 415 yards and one touchdown. Those reception totals were the third highest in the league, while his receiving yards ranked fourth. Bolden capped off his productive season with an MVP performance in the USFL title game win over the Philadelphia Stars.
Chicago Bears LB DeMarquis Gates (Birmingham Stallions) The Bears are reportedly signing one of the best players from the 2022 USFL season in linebacker Gates. He recorded 62 tackles, 6.5 sacks and a league-leading 11 tackles for loss for the champion Stallions. Undrafted out of Ole Miss in 2018, Gates spent time with the Browns, Washington and Vikings, but has not played in an NFL game yet.
Cleveland Browns DE Chris Odom (Houston Gamblers) Cleveland is taking a flier on the USFL Defensive Player of the Year. Odom was dominant over the past few months, as he led the USFL in sacks with 12.5, and forced fumbles with six. Undrafted out of Arkansas State in 2017, Odom has spent time with a few different NFL teams. He did suit up seven games for the Packers in 2017, and four games for Washington in 2019. In those 11 games, Odom recorded 16 combined tackles and two sacks to go along with a forced fumble.
Dallas Cowboys LB Christian Sam (New Orleans Breakers) Sam was a sixth-round pick of the New England Patriots out of Arizona State back in 2018, but never played in a regular-season game. He spent time on the practice squads of three other NFL franchises afterwards. Sam was actually drafted by the USFL’s Tampa Bay Bandits, but was released and then claimed by the Breakers. According to the USFL’s press release, the Texas native recorded 54 tackles, eight tackles for loss and an interception in nine games played for the Breakers.
WR/KR KaVontae Turpin (New Jersey Generals) Dallas held a workout for Turpin only days ahead of training camp and clearly liked what they saw, adding to what he put on film during the inaugural USFL season, when he led that league with 540 receiving yards and four touchdowns on 44 receptions in 10 games. He added 184 punt return yards and could be used in that role with the Cowboys.
Green Bay Packers TE Sal Cannella (New Orleans Breakers) A 6-foot-5, 242-pound All-USFL tight end, Cannella caught 34 passes for 368 yards and two touchdowns in 10 games played for the Breakers. He started his college career at Scottsdale Community College in 2016, and then played for Auburn.
WR Osirus Mitchell (Birmingham Stallions) A USFL champion, Mitchell caught 23 passes for 333 yards and three touchdowns in 10 games played. The Mississippi State product went undrafted in 2021, and was on the practice squad of the Cowboys for the majority of last season.
WR Ishmael Hyman (Michigan Panthers) The Packers are clearly interested in receivers. Hyman played his college ball at Kansas and James Madison before going undrafted in 2018. He spent time with the Browns, Buccaneers and Panthers, and actually played two games for the Buccaneers in 2019, catching two passes for 34 yards.
Jacksonville Jaguars QB Kyle Sloter (New Orleans Breakers) Sloter went undrafted in 2017 out of Northern Colorado, but has bounced around the NFL quite a bit. He’s made stops with the Broncos, Vikings, Cardinals, Lions, Bears, and Raiders before this latest stint with the Jaguars. For the Breakers, Sloter passed for 1,798 yards, which was the second highest mark in the league. He also completed 168 of his 291 throws for nine touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
Las Vegas Raiders WR Isaiah Zuber (Houston Gamblers) Zuber went undrafted in 2020 after playing college football at Kansas State and Mississippi State, but did get a chance with the Patriots. He played four games in his rookie season, catching two passes for 29 yards and rushing twice for 21 yards. However, Zuber was waived the next preseason before bouncing around a few practice squads. With the Gamblers this season, Zuber led all USFL players with five receiving touchdowns and led Houston with 322 receiving yards on 22 catches.
CB Ike Brown (New Orleans Breakers) A Florida International product, Brown signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent in 2020. However, he actually quickly retired, saying he fell out of love with playing. Brown then returned to football and recorded 16 tackles and two interceptions for the Breakers this past season.
Los Angeles Chargers DE Carlo Kemp (Pittsburgh Maulers) Kemp recorded five sacks and 51 total tackles for Pittsburgh. He went undrafted out of Michigan last year, but had a cup of coffee with the Packers and the Broncos’ practice squad. He’s also the nephew of Chuck Pagano.
Los Angeles Rams QB Luis Perez (New Jersey Generals) New Jersey’s top quarterback threw for 1,200 yards, nine touchdowns and just one interception in nine USFL games played. After going undrafted in 2018 out of Texas A&M-Commerce, it was actually the Rams that gave him his first NFL opportunity, but he was cut from the roster after the preseason. Perez played in the AAF, the XFL and the USFL.
New England Patriots DL Jeremiah Pharms (Pittsburgh Maulers) Pharms recorded 31 tackles and two sacks for the Maulers this season, per CBS News. He played his college ball at Friends University.
Pittsburgh Steelers DL Doug Costin (Birmingham Stallions) Costin went undrafted out of Miami University in 2020, but caught on with the Jacksonville Jaguars. In 13 games played with nine starts over two seasons, he recorded 33 combined tackles and three tackles for loss. Costin spent most of the 2021 season on the practice squad, and actually later spent a week on the Cincinnati Bengals’ practice squad in January.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers TE Bug Howard (Philadelphia Stars) The Bucs are taking a flier on one of the most intriguing USFL players, signing 6-foot-5, 240-pound tight end Johnathan “Bug” Howard. He led the Stars in receiving yards with 371, and touchdown catches with four. Overall, he finished seventh in the USFL in receiving yards, and tied for second in receiving touchdowns.
Undrafted out of UNC in 2017, the 27-year-old tight end/wide receiver hybrid bounced around with a handful of NFL teams, and now gets a chance with the Buccaneers.
Tennessee Titans CB Shakur Brown (Pittsburgh Maulers) Undrafted out of Michigan State last year, Brown spent time with the Steelers, Chiefs and Lions practice squads before joining the Maulers. Listed at 5-foot-10, 190 pounds, he recorded 36 total tackles and one pass defended in nine USFL games played.
Washington Commanders CB Channing Stribling (Philadelphia Stars) Undrafted out of Michigan, the 27-year-old Stribling has spent time with the practice squads of a handful of NFL teams. While he played in just seven USFL games due to injuries, he led the league in interceptions with seven.
CB DeJuan Neal (New Jersey Generals) Neal actually spent time with Washington as an undrafted free agent in 2019, but was cut. He played his college ball at Division II Shepherd University.
The San Antonio Brahmas helped kick off the latest rendition of the XFL on Sunday. Their city will also help the 2023 XFL season culminate by hosting the inaugural championship game. Minutes before Week 1’s showdown between the Brahmas and St. Louis Battlehawks, the league announced that the Alamodome will feature the title contest on May 13.
“We are thrilled to announce that San Antonio and the Alamodome will be the host of this season’s inaugural Championship Game,” XFL chairwoman and co-owner Dany Garcia said in a statement. “I have been so impressed by the level of enthusiasm and commitment from the fans in San Antonio. We can’t wait to bring together the best of the XFL North and XFL South to compete for the Championship title in an event that will celebrate our players, coaches, and the revival of professional football in San Antonio.”
Dwayne Johnson, Garcia’s XFL co-owner, said the host site also has a special connection to his past.
“I started my wrestling career in San Antonio, specifically at the Alamodome,” he said in an XFL statement. “This was my very first Royal Rumble. The city, the fans, San Antonio and the state of Texas helped shape my career.”
The first annual XFL Championship Game is officially scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on May 13, with ABC set to broadcast.
Besides hosting the Brahmas, a new franchise in the latest spin on the XFL, the Alamodome also serves as the home stadium for the NCAA’s Alamo Bowl and the UTSA Roadrunners. The venue previously served as the home of the San Antonio Commanders, one of the eight teams in the now-defunct Alliance of American Football League.
The XFL makes its triumphant return this weekend with several intriguing matchups, including one between the Seattle Sea Dragons and the D.C. Defenders from Audi Field in Washington, D.C. The Sea Dragons and Defenders have been picked by many experts to be two of the top three teams in the league. Both have solid quarterbacks in Ben DiNucci for Seattle and Jordan Ta’amu for D.C., and both have top-notch coaches in the Sea Dragons’ Jim Haslett and D.C’s Reggie Barlow. Seattle also has one of the better offensive coordinators in the game in June Jones, a former NFL head coach himself.
Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET. The Defenders beat the Sea Dragons 31-19 during the 2020 Covid-shortened season. Seattle is a 2-point favorite in the latest Defenders vs. Sea Dragons odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is set at 38. Before making any Sea Dragons vs. Defenders picks or XFL predictions of your own, you need to see what pro football expert R.J. White has to say.
White, a Fantasy and gambling editor for CBS Sports, consistently crushes against-the-spread picks and went 535-450-30 on his ATS picks from 2017-22, which returned more than $3,500 to $100 players. He also closed the NFL season on an incredible 107-80-6 on his last 193 against-the-spread and total NFL picks during the 2022 NFL season, returning more than $1,800 for $100 bettors.
White has crushed not only the NFL but also the XFL during its abbreviated 2020 season, going 16-4 on XFL ATS picks before the league suspended operations. Anyone who has followed him is way up.
Now, he has locked in on Sea Dragons vs. Defenders and released a confident against-the-spread pick that is available only at SportsLine. Here are the XFL lines and trends for Defenders vs. Sea Dragons:
Defenders vs. Sea Dragons spread: Sea Dragons -2 Defenders vs. Sea Dragons over/under: 38 points Defenders vs. Sea Dragons money line: Seattle -135, D.C. +115 SEA: The Sea Dragons had a minus-3 touchdown deficit in 2020 DC: The Defenders were 3-0 on their home field in 2020 Defenders vs. Sea Dragons picks: See picks at SportsLine Why the Sea Dragons can cover Wide receiver Josh Gordon has NFL talent, but it’s yet to be determined if he is committed to getting back to an elite level following his off-the-field struggles. In parts of eight NFL seasons, he played in 77 games, making 252 catches for 4,284 yards (17.0 average) and 21 touchdowns. He also rushed six times for 89 yards (14.8 average). His best season was in 2013 with the Cleveland Browns, when he caught 87 passes for 1,646 yards (18.9 average) and nine touchdowns.
Another intriguing receiver on the Seattle roster is Juwan Green. A former member of the Tennessee Titans, he played two collegiate seasons at Albany. In 2019, he had a monster season with 83 receptions for 1,386 yards (16.7 average) and 17 touchdowns. His best game that year was in a 38-35 overtime loss at Monmouth, when he caught 15 passes for 245 yards (16.3 average) and three touchdowns.
Why the Defenders can cover Running back Abram Smith is another weapon for D.C. The former Baylor standout had been with the New Orleans Saints last year, but failed to crack the roster. He was coming off a remarkable senior season in college. At Baylor in 2021, he carried 257 times for 1,601 yards (6.2 average) and 12 touchdowns. He had nine 100-plus-yard rushing games in 2021, including a 27-carry, 188-yard and three-touchdown performance against No. 19 BYU in a 38-24 victory.
Also ready to make his mark in D.C. is wide receiver Josh Hammond, who had been in camp with the New England Patriots. He played collegiately at Florida, compiling 1,138 yards receiving on 87 receptions (13.1 average). His best season was in 2018, when he caught 28 passes for 369 yards (13.2 average) and four touchdowns. In a loss to Missouri that season, he caught five passes for 48 yards (9.6 average) and one touchdown.
How to make Defenders vs. Sea Dragons picks White has analyzed this matchup and while we can tell you he’s leaning Under the total, he has discovered a crucial x-factor that makes one side of the spread a must-back. He’s sharing it only at SportsLine.
