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If you’ve been longing for football ever since Super Bowl LIX ended well over a month ago, you’re back in business. It’s time for the UFL to kick off once again and it all starts this Friday, March 28.
St. Louis will travel to Houston on Friday night to begin the UFL’s second season. The league’s eight teams will all play a 10-game schedule playing the other three teams in their own division twice and then crossing over to play each team in the other division once. The season culminates with the UFL championship game on Saturday, June 14.
Birmingham returns as the defending UFL champion. The Stallions are the early favorite to repeat as champions. Birmingham will play at DC on Sunday, March 30, to begin the 2025 season. FOX and ESPN will broadcast the UFL Week 1 games. See below for more details.
Let’s huddle up to look at the latest UFL Week 1 odds, courtesy of the top sports betting sites, and make our UFL Week 1 predictions.
UFL TV Schedule for Week 1
Football fans that need their spring football fix can tune in and watch all four UFL games this weekend. FOX and ESPN will broadcast all four games as seen below.
- Friday, March 28: St. Louis @ Houston, 8PM ET on FOX
- Saturday, March 29: San Antonio @ Arlington, 4PM ET on FOX
- Sunday, March 30: Michigan @ Memphis, 12PM ET on ESPN
- Sunday, March 30: Birmingham @ DC, 3PM ET on ESPN
UFL Week 1 Schedule
| Date | Time (ET) | Road Team Odds | Home Team Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, March 28 | 8:00 PM | St. Louis (-228) | Houston (+225) |
| Saturday, March 29 | 4:00 PM | San Antonio (-155) | Arlington (+130) |
| Sunday, March 30 | 12:00 PM | Michigan (-162) | Memphis (+136) |
| Sunday, March 30 | 3:00 PM | Birmingham (-380) | DC (+300) |
UFL Week 1 Predictions
Let’s take a look at the full Week 1 slate of matchups and make our spread, total, and moneyline picks for each game.
St. Louis Battlehawks vs. Houston Roughnecks Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis Battlehawks | -228 | -6 (-110) | O 37.5 (-110) |
| Houston Roughnecks | +225 | +6 (-110) | U 37.5 (-110) |
St. Louis won the XFL Division last year with a 7-3 record. The Battlehawks had the second-highest scoring offense in the UFL led by QB AJ McCarron and UFL Offensive Player of the Year Hakeem Butler. McCarron will not return, but Butler is back. He’ll catch passes from one of Max Duggan, Chevan Cordeiro, or Manny Wilkins. A total of 29 players return to the Battlehawks roster this season.
Houston had a rough go in 2024. They finished with the worst record in the league at 1-9. The offense averaged a league-worst 15.8 points per game. The Roughnecks signed former Baltimore Ravens QB Anthony Brown to help change the offense. The defense also got better with the addition of Eyabi Okie-Anoma, who the Roughnecks took with the second pick in the 2025 UFL draft.
St. Louis Battlehawks vs. Houston Roughnecks Predictions
St. Louis will make some changes on offense, but they’re playing the worst franchise in the UFL. Sure, expectations will be high, but as soon as the Battlehawks start to put it on the Roughnecks, Houston will revert to its former self.
Houston hired a new GM in the offseason and it was thought that he would replace head coach Curtis Johnson. He did not, but you can bet he’s on a short leash. The Roughnecks didn’t do enough to improve the league’s worst offense. The Battlehawks have Offensive Player of the Year Hakeem Butler back. There’s just too much of a talent gap between these two teams. That’s why the Battlehawks are 6-point road favorites.
This total likely stays Under as the Houston offense will struggle. The Roughnecks averaged 15.8 points per game last season. In last year’s game against St. Louis, Houston managed just eight points in a 22-8 loss. Expect similar results on Friday.
Bet: St. Louis (-228), St. Louis -6 (-110), Under 37.5 (-110)
San Antonio Brahmas vs. Arlington Renegades Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Antonio Brahmas | -155 | -3 (-105) | O 37 (-110) |
| Arlington Renegades | +130 | +3 (-115) | U 37 (-110) |
The Brahmas are looking to return to the UFL championship game after getting blown out 25-0 by Birmingham in last year’s title game. The Brahmas finished 7-3 but lost to St. Louis 13-12 in the final week of the regular season. That prevented the Brahmas from winning the XFL Division and getting a home playoff game. San Antonio had to go on the road and face St. Louis again and the Brahmas pulled off the upset to reach the championship game.
The Brahmas should be better at quarterback this year. Jarret Guarantano leads a strong QB room that also features veteran Kevin Hogan and Kellen Mond. The defense was the UFL’s best last year and San Antonio returns several players who made an impact on that defense in 2024.
Arlington finished last in the XFL Division last season with a 3-7 record. The offense was solid, averaging nearly 25 points per game in 2024. The Renegades’ problem was they just couldn’t stop anyone. The defense should be improved and Arlington is looking to build upon their 3-1 finish over the final four weeks of last season.
San Antonio Brahmas vs. Arlington Renegades Predictions
Arlington has some offensive firepower, but the defense will have to prove itself before the Renegades have any chance at a playoff spot this season. Luis Perez returns at quarterback, but the defense allowed almost 25 points a game last year.
San Antonio has a lot going for itself in 2025. Head coach Wade Phillips and his entire Brahmas coaching staff returns. Continuity is a key in winning football programs at any level. The Brahmas will have a new quarterback and it is likely Mond who will have one of the best wide receivers in the league, Jontre Kirklin, to throw to.
The Brahmas won both games against the Renegades last year, holding Arlington to 15 points in each game. The Brahmas have the better defense, but there will be some firepower on the field on Saturday. San Antonio gets the win, but Arlington should put up some points to push this total Over.
Bet: San Antonio -155, San Antonio -3 (-105), Over 37 (-110)
Michigan Panthers vs. Memphis Showboats Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan Panthers | -162 | -3 (-110) | O 38.5 (-108) |
| Memphis Showboats | +136 | +3 (-110) | U 38.5 (-112) |
Michigan made the playoffs last season, finishing 7-3 and in second place in the USFL Division behind Birmingham. The Panthers get it done with defense. They held opponents to 18.9 points per game. The majority of that defense and the entire roster (68 percent to be exact) returns in 2025 for Michigan.
Memphis won just two games in 2024. The defense was absolutely awful allowing 29 points per game. The Showboats had the UFL’s worst point differential (-102 points) and they allowed 30-plus points six times last season. Whatever the Showboats do in 2025, the defense has to get better. They did sign former Tennessee Titans CB Eric Garror in the offseason. Garror started four games for the Titans in 2023.
Michigan Panthers vs. Memphis Showboats Predictions
Why Michigan is fifth on the UFL championship betting board is somewhat puzzling. The Panthers return most of their roster from last year. Head coach Mike Nolan is back as is his entire coaching staff. The Panthers defense is outstanding and QB Danny Etling returns to run the Panthers offense.
Memphis will have a new quarterback and must improve on defense. Last season, the Showboats allowed opponents to score 29 points per game. In the offseason, it didn’t appear that Memphis had done enough to make its defense better. When the Panthers played Memphis last year, they won 24-18 and 35-18.
The Showboats will have to operate under a new head coach, Ken Whisenhunt. It may take some time to adjust. Michigan will likely pick up where they left off a year ago. With Memphis still having some holes in its defense, look for this total to go Over.
Bet: Michigan -162, Michigan -3 (-110), Over 38.5 (-108)
Birmingham Stallions vs. DC Defenders Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham Stallions | -380 | -7 (-105) | O 41 (-110) |
| DC Defenders | +300 | +7 (-115) | U 41 (-110) |
The big news out of DC was the sudden resignation of head coach Reggie Barlow on Sunday. Barlow, who was the XFL Coach of the Year in 2023, stepped down to become the new head coach at FCS Tennessee State. QB coach Shannon Harris was named the Defenders interim head coach.
How much of an effect will the coaching change have? Plus, the Defenders are coming off a disappointing 4-6 season, one in which they did not make the UFL postseason. The Defenders do have one of the better quarterback prospects in the league in Jordan Ta’amu. He will have WR Chris Rowland back and DE Malik Fisher – tied for second in sacks in UFL last year – returns to the defense.
Birmingham Stallions vs. DC Defenders Predictions
When you’ve won four straight spring football championships, what do you do for an encore? Keep winning, that’s what. Until proven otherwise, the Stallions are the team to beat in the UFL. They’ve got the edge at quarterback where 2023 USFL MVP Alex McGough returns. He’s backed up by Matt Corral.
McGough transitioned to wide receiver while in Green Bay last season, but head coach Skip Holtz will play McGough at quarterback. The Stallions are the UFL’s best offense and remember, the defense held San Antonio scoreless in last year’s league championship game. There’s a reason why Birmingham is such a huge favorite here.
That said, the Defenders could be the UFL’s most improved team. They were lacking playmakers on offense last year. They’ll have Ta’amu at quarterback and probably the best addition to a UFL offense this season is the dynamic Lynn Bowden to DC. He could help DC keep this one close.
Bet: Birmingham -380, DC +7 (-115), Under 41 (-110)
UFL Week 1 Best Bets
Each week of the 2025 UFL season, our Scores & Stats experts examine each game looking for best bets. With this being Week 1, our best handicappers have no recent games to analyze. Sometimes, that can be a good thing. Here’s what our guys see as the best bets in UFL Week 1.
- San Antonio Brahmas -3 (-105) @ Arlington Renegades
- Birmingham Stallions (-228) @ DC Defenders
Arlington has the offense to get it done, but the defense leaves much to be desired. There will be some new faces on the Renegades defense, but they won’t be enough to make a difference in Week 1.
The Brahmas will have some new faces on offense, but the carryover from last year to this year with Phillips and his staff gives San Antonio the edge. The Brahmas won eight games last season (including the playoff win). In those eight wins, San Antonio won by three or more points seven times.
Now, taking the Stallions at odds of -228 is not the sexiest bet, but those odds equate to nearly a 70 percent implied odds for Birmingham to win. It’s the league’s best team against a team that went 4-6 last year. Yes, the Defenders could be the surprise team of 2025, but Birmingham has the clear advantage in Week 1.
The other benefit of backing Birmingam at -228 is that you could parlay these two wagers. Individually, a $100 bet on each game would give you winnings of $95.24 and $43.86 for a total of $139.10.
If you parlay these two bets, you will get odds of +181. That means you can wager $100 and when both legs of the parlay cash, you will earn $181.
