A league divided.

Who owns the North?
Who runs the South?

Kickoff February 18th. #XFL2023 pic.twitter.com/IQeSHAwrsO

— United Football League (@TheUFL) January 5, 2023

https://t.co/1r3B7hZpb1 pic.twitter.com/5krOSoqKIm

— United Football League (@TheUFL) January 5, 2023

PREDICTIONS

Disclaimer: It is January 5th, and obviously it is way too early for any sort of legitimate predictions about the upcoming XFL football season. But content is content, and this is a safe space, so here we are.

Prediction: Orlando is going to be good.

How good? Too soon to know or say.

However, I’m confident that Orlando’s latest professional football experiment will benefit from the fact that this is not a first or second attempt. Lessons learned from the successes of the Orlando Apollos (2016), Tuskers (2009-10), XFL Rage (2001), Thunder (1991-92), the Renegades (1985-86), Florida Blazers (1974), Panthers (1958) and even the semi-professional Orlando Predators (Go Preds!), are sure to assist the roll out of this new franchise. And funny enough, short-lived as they often are, Orlando-based football teams are generally talented enough to be successful.

Back to the Guardians. First and foremost, the Guardians have a franchise quarterback. I’m not going to reiterate all the reasons why I’m excited for a Deondre Francois return to Central Florida, but I do expect him to be named the starter at the end of training camp. You can learn more about the other talent on the roster.

Prediction: The South is going to be good, too.

Simply, the Orlando Guardians, San Antonio Brahmas, Houston Roughnecks, and Arlington Renegades have one key advantage over their XFL North counterparts. Location, location, location. While places like St. Louis and Seattle are bonified football cities, the XFL South enjoys a stronger territorial overlap with college football hotbeds like the SEC, and ACC.

Basically, XFL South teams are going to be stacked with talent, because of their close proximity to it.

Let us know what you think in the comments, and on social media.