UFL Week 8 betting projections: Hunt backs Orlando, D.C., St. Louis, Birmingham

Football analyst Emory Hunt released his betting projections for Week 8 of the 2026 United Football League on May 14, 2026. He outlined projected point spreads and totals for four games that shape a crowded playoff race. The projections list Orlando +1.5 at Dallas, D.C. -5.5 at Louisville, St. Louis -7.5 vs. Houston, and Birmingham -3 vs. Columbus, with corresponding Over/Under leans. Week 8 opens Friday at 8 p.m. ET when the Orlando Storm visit the Dallas Renegades.

Three teams enter Week 8 at 5-2 — Orlando, D.C. and St. Louis — while three sit at 3-4 — Dallas, Louisville and Birmingham — with three regular-season games remaining. Houston and Columbus are 2-5. Hunt, who has a 132-111-2 record on NFL wagers over the past three seasons, framed his picks around recent form and matchup tendencies. His totals lean Under 45.5 for Orlando–Dallas and Under 44.5 for St. Louis–Houston, with Over 45.5 for both D.C.–Louisville and Birmingham–Columbus.

The weekend slate continues Saturday with D.C. visiting Louisville at 12 p.m. ET and St. Louis hosting Houston at 3 p.m. ET. Week 8 concludes Sunday at 1 p.m. ET when the Columbus Aviators travel to the Birmingham Stallions. With narrow margins in both divisions, small swings in point differential and turnover luck could prove decisive.

Projected lines and totals by matchup

Orlando Storm at Dallas Renegades (+1.5, Under 45.5 lean)

Hunt projects Orlando to cover as a slight road underdog and leans to the Under. He cites Dallas’ slide since Week 4 after a strong start and expects Orlando’s offense to find a better rhythm even after an uneven showing last week. The Storm defense, he notes, matches up well against a Renegades attack that has struggled to finish drives.

D.C. Defenders at Louisville Kings (-5.5, Over 45.5 lean)

Hunt expects a sharper response from D.C. after an upset loss in the prior meeting. He highlighted Louisville’s surge after quarterback Chandler Rogers absorbed a heavy hit last week and the Kings’ ability to complement their defense with explosive plays. Even so, he favors D.C. to cover in the rematch and leans Over 45.5 given the potential for sustained scoring on both sides.

Form notes on St. Louis and Birmingham

Houston Gamblers at St. Louis Battlehawks (-7.5, Under 44.5 lean)

St. Louis continues to stack wins with disciplined, well-drilled play under coach Ricky Proehl, and Hunt sees that structure translating into a comfortable home cover. He leans to the Under, pointing to the Battlehawks’ ability to control tempo and limit mistakes, which can suppress total points.

Columbus Aviators at Birmingham Stallions (-3, Over 45.5 lean)

Since Dorian Thompson-Robinson took over at quarterback, Birmingham’s offense has shown marked improvement, which in turn has helped the defense become more opportunistic. Hunt expects Columbus to compete but struggle with consistency across four quarters. He projects the Stallions to cover at home and leans Over 45.5 due to Birmingham’s uptick in efficiency.

These are Hunt’s projections and may differ from market odds near kickoff. With three weeks left, Week 8 results could clarify seeding and tighten the race for the final postseason spots.