2023 XFL picks, Week 1 bets by proven pro football expert

The new-look XFL returns to the field for the first time in three years when the Arlington Renegades host the Vegas Vipers in the 2023 season opener on Saturday at Choctaw Stadium in Arlington, Texas. With new owners, including Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and eight teams from Seattle to Washington, D.C., the XFL hopes to finish what it could not three years ago. In 2020 the league was able to play only half of its 10-game season before the COVID-19 pandemic forced the league to cancel the rest of the season. The Renegades vs. Vipers game is the first of four games this weekend.

Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. ET. Arlington is a 3.5-point favorite in the latest Renegades vs. Vipers odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is 36. Before locking in any Vipers vs. Renegades 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 Renegades vs. Vipers and released a confident against-the-spread pick that is available only at SportsLine. Go to SportsLine to see it. Here are the XFL lines and trends for Vipers vs. Renegades:

Renegades vs. Vipers spread: Arlington -3.5
Renegades vs. Vipers over/under: 36 points
Renegades vs. Vipers money line: Arlington -178, Vegas +150
ARL: TE Sal Cannella had 34 catches for 368 yards and two touchdowns in the USFL in 2022.
VEG: QB Luis Perez completed 72% of his passes in the USFL in 2022.
Renegades vs. Vipers picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Renegades can cover
Arlington has a prolific quarterback in Drew Plitt. The 6-foot-2, 217-pound Plitt played five seasons at Ball State and finished second in program history in completions (777) and third in passing yards (9,062) and passing touchdowns (68). In brief action with the Bengals last preseason, he completed 7-of-8 passes for 93 yards and a touchdown.

In addition, the Renegades have a running back with NFL experience in Keith Ford. The 5-foot-10, 219-pound Ford has spent time on the roster of the Bills, Colts and Packers. He has played in two NFL games, running for 79 yards on 21 carries.

Why the Vipers can cover
Vegas has receivers with NFL experience. Martavis Bryant had 145 receptions for 2,183 yards and 17 touchdowns in four seasons with the Steelers and Raiders. Meanwhile Geronimo Allison had 89 receptions for 1,045 and six touchdowns in parts of five seasons with the Packers and Lions.

Bryant and Allison will be catching passes from a prolific passer in Luis Perez. The 6-foot-3, 222-pound Perez was a two-year starter at Texas A&M-Commerce where he threw for 8,327 yards and 78 touchdowns and led the team to the Div. II national championship in 2017. That season he also won the Harlon Hill Trophy, which is the Div. II equivalent to the Heisman Trophy.

How to make Renegades vs. Vipers 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.