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The Tampa Bay Vipers (1-3) and Los Angeles Wildcats (1-3) will wrap up Week 5 of the XFL on Sunday. The Vipers are building momentum fast after starting off the year as one of the worst in the field. Josh Johnson has played great for the Wildcats, but the health of the team’s receiving corp has been detrimental to their success. Both sides will be looking to secure a second win and climb from the bottom of their respective divisions.
This game will be a late one, as coverage will begin at 9:00 p.m. ET from Dignity Health Sports Park. ESPN will broadcast the game on television and provide a stream on the ESPN Sports App.
The Vipers appear to have found a new starting quarterback in Taylor Cornelius. He initially worked alongside Quinton Flowers while Week 1 starter Aaron Murray recovered from a foot injury, but has earned a full-time gig. He went toe to toe with the Houston Roughnecks in his first start and fell short by one score. He followed that up by helping Tampa Bay torch the DC Defenders 25-0 in Week 4. Tampa Bay is trending upward could definitely come out on top in this one.
The Wildcats have a strong quarterback in Johnson who’s leading the XFL in passer rating (106.6), but he won’t have dynamic receiver Nelson Spruce available for Week 5. Spruce tallied 256 receiving yards and two touchdowns through Week 2 before suffering a knee injury and will need more time to recover. But Los Angeles also has Tre McBride, who’s reached 236 receiving yards and three scores while only receiving targets in two games. Spruce and McBride could be the core of the XFL’s best receiving group. Los Angeles will have to settle for just one of them for now though.
This is expected to be a close game, as the Wildcats are only favored by two points at DraftKings Sportsbook. The over/under for total point is set at 40.
Tampa Bay Vipers at Los Angeles Wildcats
Game time: 9:00 p.m. ET
Channel: ESPN
Live Stream: (ESPN Sports App)
Date: Sunday, March 8th
Announcers: Kevin Burkhardt and Greg Olsen
Location: Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, CA
Odds: Wildcats -2
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