2025 UFL Season: Week 6 Game Previews & Predictions
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Last week would be one I’d like to forget in terms of my picks, but what a great week for the UFL.
In Week 5, all but one team eclipsed 20 or more points in a game, which made it the highest-scoring weekend of the UFL season. It even featured the first overtime game in league history.
I missed on all four picks last week, placing me at a 9-11 record (for those who took advance for betting, I’m sorry). Here’s a look at my attempt to bounce back with my Week 6 UFL game previews and predictions:
Renegades-Battlehawks Game Details
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Location: The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis, Missouri
Date and Time: Friday, May 2 at 8:00 pm EST
Network: FOX
Betting Odds via DraftKings: Battlehawks -5.5, O/U 42.5
Key Injuries
Arlington Renegades starting center Jake Johanning only participated in practice on Wednesday, but has been ruled out with a head injury. The Battlehawks will be without defensive lineman Austin Faoliu (left knee) and offensive tackle Juwann Bushell-Beatty (right toe) for the game.
Keys to Victory
Last week was an off week for the Renegades’ defense, which allowed a season-high 37 points in the loss to the D.C. Defenders. However, this is still an opportunistic defense that can create turnovers. Cornerback Ajene Harris has been lights out this season and will be leaned on to do what he did to the Battlehawks in their previous meeting: take an interception back for a touchdown. Arlington’s offense last week was near perfect outside of the Luis Perez interception, so it should be more of the same with a steady dose of more consistency in the running game.
Battlehawks quarterback Max Duggan would like to forget his performance against Arlington a couple of weeks ago, but he’s got more game experience since and has shown that he needs to run the ball as much as he should throw it. Big plays helped St. Louis last week and more of getting Hakeem Butler involved on deep passes will make a difference.
Prediction: Renegades 27, Battlehawks 23
Showboats-Roughnecks Game Details
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Location: TDECU Stadium in Houston, Texas
Date and Time: Saturday, May 3 at noon EST
Network: ABC
Betting Odds via DraftKings: Roughnecks -4.5, O/U 37.5
Key Injuries
The only major injury concern for the Showboats this week was running back Jalen Jackson, who was dealing with a right ankle injury but has been listed as probable. Houston’s injury report is more concerning with cornerback Damon Arnette (abdomen) and wide receiver Marcus Simms (left hamstring) being listed as out. Wide receiver Reggie Roberson Jr. is doubtful with a left wrist injury, and cornerback Colby Richardson is questionable with a left groin injury.
Keys to Victory
UFL offensive player of the week Dresser Winn looked poised and calm in his first professional start as he lit up the Stallions’ defense to lead Memphis to its first win (pun not intended, but Showboats fans hope to get used to it). Establishing a solid running game would go a long way in the Showboats winning the time of possession and getting the ball out of Roughnecks quarterback Jalan McClendon’s hands.
Speaking of McClendon, how great has he been for the Roughnecks? Houston’s receivers have to do a better job for him, as there were multiple missed opportunities in that blowout win against San Antonio. The Roughnecks’ defense is more concerning with the injuries in the secondary. Houston’s pass rush is going to need to step up and pressure Winn into making bad decisions.
Prediction: Roughnecks 25, Showboats 18
Defenders-Panthers Game Details
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Location: Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan
Date and Time: Sunday, May 4 at noon EST
Network: ESPN
Betting Odds via DraftKings: Panthers -2.5, O/U 42.5
Key Injuries
D.C. has some key injuries in the secondary with safeties Sam Kidd (right foot) and Tayler Hawkins (left wrist) not practicing through Thursday. Wide receiver Chris Rowland was only limited in Thursday’s practice as he deals with a left groin injury, and his fellow receiver Cornell Powell didn’t practice Wednesday, but was limited on Thursday with his left hamstring injury.
Panthers punter Seth Vernon is the only concern as he has yet to practice this week with his right knee injury. Defensive tackle Walter Palmore (right knee) and wide receiver Devin Ross (left hand) were limited on Wednesday, but did practice fully on Thursday.
Keys to Victory
This is a toss-up of a game despite how great the Defenders have been this season. D.C. quarterback Jordan Ta’amu is playing the best football of his professional career, and the defense has made key plays when they need to led by linebacker Anthony Hines III. The Defenders need to protect the ball on offense better and the defense has to find a way to rattle Panthers quarterback Bryce Perkins without letting him run the ball.
I think I can speak on behalf of all UFL and Panthers fans when I say, thank you, Mike Nolan, for finally realizing Perkins should be the full-time starter. The potential UFL MVP now has a chance to be fully unleashed as he has demonstrated to be the most accurate quarterback in the league and should have more RPO-style plays to run. Michigan’s defense might have a chance to slow down the passing game with how banged up the Defenders’ receivers are so load up the box to stop Abram Smith and Deon Jackson.
Prediction: Defenders 21, Panthers 17
Brahmas-Stallions Game Details
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Location: Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama
Date and Time: Sunday, May 4 at 4:00 pm EST
Network: FOX
Betting Odds via DraftKings: Stallions -10, O/U 36.5
Key Injuries
The injury report for San Antonio is loaded with eight players who have not practiced through Thursday. Here are the eight players who have not participated in practice:
WR Greg Ward (abdomen)
WR Mathew Sexton (right hamstring)
QB Jarrett Guarantano (illness)
WR Jontre Kirklin (right ankle)
DE Caeveon Patton (left shoulder)
OL Zuri Henry (right knee)
RB Aidan Robbins (illness)
OLB Nelson Ceaser (personal reasons)
Birmingham has its long list of players who have yet to practice this week:
OG Lachavious Simmons (left knee)
OG Cole Schneider (right ankle)
WR Austin Watkins Jr. (lower back)
QB Matt Corral (left flank, left hip)
LS Ryan Langan (right hamstring)
Keys to Victory
Coming off the high of beating the top UFL team, the Defenders, San Antonio took a massive fall from grace with only three points to show for it against Houston last week. Mond got benched, and now his backup, Jarrett Guarantano, is dealing with an illness this week. The injury report indicates the importance of the running game for the Brahmas, with three wide receivers having yet to practice this week. Something has to give defensively, as that unit is way too experienced to be ranked last in points allowed.
Despite a nice comeback last week, Stallions starting quarterback Case Cookus struggled for most of their shocking loss to the Showboats. It will have to be all about running the football for Birmingham with Ricky Person Jr. and C.J. Marable having to step up and help, as Cookus was the leading rusher last week with 83 yards to others’ 65 combined yards. Birmingham’s defense played better than the stats show, as they did allow 323 yards, but really allowed less than the 24 points due to the missed field goal. The Stallions’ defense up front is stellar and should be able to get pressure on Mond.
