XFL regular season has come to an end, and the playoffs are about to begin. Four teams will be competing for a chance to win the XFL championship, with two semifinal games set to take place this weekend. The winners of these two games will meet next weekend in a one-game showdown to determine the league champion. XFL 2023 Semifinals will be the most exciting matches to see over the weekend. Here is a look at each of the two semifinal games, with a Dunkel pick and prediction for each matchup.
Arlington Renegades vs Houston Roughnecks
The Houston Roughnecks will host the Arlington Renegades on Saturday. Houston is a 6.5-point favourite in this game, having dominated both of the first two meetings between the in-state rivals during the regular season. Arlington comes into this game having lost four of their last five games and is limping into the postseason.
The Renegades don’t score a lot on offence, but they are in the playoffs because they create a lot of turnovers. On the other hand, Houston is a team that can put points on the board real quick, especially when it comes to the passing attack. While the Renegades may be able to keep the game close for a half, Houston has so many weapons on offence that they are likely to win by a big margin, covering the spread.
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Seattle Sea Dragons vs DC Defenders
The DC Defenders were the best regular-season team in the XFL and will try to start their run to the championship at home. The Seattle Sea Dragons will visit DC to begin the postseason, and this game is expected to be the most exciting game of the playoffs. Seattle has been in postseason mode over the last few weeks, having won four of their last five games to finish with a 7-3 record and clinched the final postseason spot on a tiebreaker.
DC only lost one regular-season game all year, but they played in many close games. They’ve had each of the last four games decided by two points or less, which may not be a good sign.
Both teams have been terrific on offence this season, but Seattle is the better defensive team overall, and their defence is expected to make the difference in this game.
For us, the pick and prediction for this game is an upset. Seattle is to win this game straight up and continue their magical run in the playoffs. Although it is a bold prediction, there is no doubt that Sea Dragons have the capability to surprise in XFL 2023 semifinals.
Conclusion:
The XFL playoffs are shaping up to be an exciting affair, with two intriguing matchups to look forward to. While Houston is expected to win easily against Arlington, Seattle could cause an upset against DC. Fans should brace themselves for an intense weekend of football, as the inaugural season of XFL moves one step closer to crowning its champion.
