from cbs Sportsline:
Here are Tierney's picks and analysis (odds from William Hill Sportsbook):
Best value
DC Defenders (9-2):
Let's drop below the co-favorites, Dallas and Tampa Bay, to the third team on the board. Coach Pep Hamilton's name might not ring with familiarity, but he is a longtime NFL assistant coach whose resume' is highlighted by three years as offensive coordinator with the Indianapolis Colts.
Versatile quarterback Cardale Jones is blessed with a strong supporting cast, notably ex-Washington Redskins wide receiver Rashad Ross, who topped the short-lived AAF in receiving, and former Pittsburgh Steelers wideout Eli Rogers.
Besides, D.C. pro sports is on a roll, with recent titles won by MLB's Nationals, the NHL's Capitals and the WNBA's Mystics.
Best longshot
New York Guardians (12-1):
William Hill's highest-priced team unveils a solid, if not glittering, roster and a coach of repute. Kevin Glibride worked in the NFL for nearly a quarter-century and, although he has not been a head coach since the 20th century, can point to a cumulative winning record for the teams he served.
While most XFL members are expected to air it out, given the identity of the coaches, the Guardians might take a different approach. The roster carries four tight ends, as many as two more than other squads, and running backs Justin Stockton and Tim Cook III were effective in the AAF.
Bottom line: With a tough-to-predict scenario, why not opt for the team with the steepest odds?
Team to avoid
St. Louis BattleHawks (13-2):
Coach who? Head man Jonathan Hayes brings less top-level experience than his peers, having risen no higher than tight ends coach in the NFL.
St. Louis likely will lean toward the ground game because of a hazy quarterback situation. It hardly helps that the offensive coordinator role changed hands recently.
And do we really want to pitch a team whose nickname is associated with explosives in combat?