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CFP National Championship Game Prop Bets - Ohio State vs. Notre Dame Props

Thursday, January 16, 2025

Much like the NFL?s Super Bowl, the prop bet menu for the College Football Playoff National Championship Game has exploded. With money to be made sports betting with Bitcoin there are wagering options everywhere. The semifinals were classics and now the hope is that the title game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Ohio State Buckeyes is just as exciting. The teams survived the first ever 12-team playoff and remain standing with the Buckeyes looking like the best team in the land. They won their first three playoff games by an average of nearly 20 points pounding No. 1 seed Oregon, 41-21, in the Rose Bowl in a game that wasn?t that close.

The run to the title game hasn?t been as dominant for Notre Dame but their body of work over the season has. Well, except for that loss to Northern Illinois in Week 2. There were a few good things that came from that setback. First, it happened early enough in the season for the Irish regroup, which they did. They also used that loss as fuel having won 13 straight since. They?ve also been a cash cow at the betting window with 11 straight payouts. Outside of their clunker against Michigan, the Buckeyes have been good offensively. And they will try to dent a mean Irish defense that ranks sixth nationally in yards allowed per play. Prop bets are a great way to stay involved in the game even if things get out of hand, like they seem to do in the title tilt. Don?t worry though BookMaker has you covered with an extended menu of props for the final game of the college football season.

The College Football Playoff National Championship game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Ohio State Buckeyes will air live on ESPN on Monday, January 20, 2025 from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta at 7:30 p.m. ET.

College Football Betting Lines

CFP National Championship Prop Bets Odds at BookMaker.eu

Player props are all about numbers which is why the skill guys receive most of the attention. They are the guys making plays on the field with real stats apply to them. There is no pancake block stat for offensive linemen so don?t look for it on the prop bet board. But anything related to passing, receiving, rushing and scoring is available. The quarterbacks handle the football on nearly every play making them popular on the prop board. OSU?s Will Howard has better numbers than his counterpart Riley Leonard and is averaging more than 300 passing yards in the playoff. He also has one of the best receiver talents in Jeremiah Smith. The Irish would prefer to run the football behind Jeremiyah Love and the 10th ranked ground game. Let?s take a look at some player props to see where we can make some money.

Jeremiah Smith Total Receiving Yards

Over 79.5 ( -115 )

Under 79.5 ( -115 )

His performance in the semifinal against Texas set up Smith for a big game and the OVER on this prop in the championship. One of the best receivers in college football, Smith has over 1,200 receiving yards and averages 17.5 yards per catch. A lot of that damage came in the first two playoff games when he had 103 receiving yards against Tennessee and 187 yards against Oregon. A tough Texas defense eliminated him from the offense in the semis when Smith had just one catch for three yards and was targeted three times. And not surprisingly the Buckeyes scored just three offensive touchdowns. Smith needs to be a factor for the offense to work against a gritty Notre Dame group and the coaching staff will game plan for him to be the guy. Therefore I do expect he cashes the OVER on this prop.

Prediction: OVER 79.5 Receiving Yards

Riley Leonard Total Passing Attempts

Over 27.5 ( -114 )

Under 27.5 ( -114 )

The Irish have not been forced out of their comfort zone in the playoff allowing them to run the football and keep Leonard?s pass attempts to a minimum. Leonard has contributed to a run game that averages more than 220 yards, but doing that against Ohio State?s third-ranked run defense could be a problem. And if they find themselves trailing in the second half Leonard might not have any other options than to throw the football. He had 32 attempts in the first round games against Indiana because the run game faltered. Other than a 98-yard run by Love the Irish had less than 100 yards on 34 carries. I can also see this prop hitting the OVER.

Prediction: OVER 27.5 Passing Attempts

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Ohio State vs. Notre Dame CFP National Championship Game Parlay Picks

Tuesday, January 14, 2025

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish just keep winning games and with one more victory they will have their first recognized national championship since the 1988 team led by Lou Holtz went 12-0. The Irish take a 13-game winning streak into the College Football Playoff National Championship Game against the Ohio State Buckeyes looking to knock off one of the Big Ten?s best programs for a second straight time. The Irish advanced with a 27-24 win over Penn State in the semis and face perhaps the best team in the playoff. OSU advanced with a 28-14 win over Texas and won its three CFP games by an average of almost 20 points. The Buckeyes opened as an 8.5-point favorite at the Bitcoin sportsbook. The game is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET on Monday, January 20 from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on ESPN.

College Football Betting Lines

CFP National Championship Game Betting Lines

Ohio State Buckeyes -8.5

Notre Dame Fighting Irish +8.5

Over/Under: 46.5

Money Line: Ohio State -369, Notre Dame +295

If Notre Dame used its Week 2 loss to Northern Illinois as a springboard you could say the same about OSU?s setback to Michigan in the regular season finale. Neither team has lost since those games with ND reeling off 13 straight wins and the Buckeyes showing their dominance in the playoff. The Irish were a 4-touchdown favorite to beat the Huskies back in early September but they had more questions than answers after the 16-14 defeat. I?d say they answered those in fine style. The Irish have been extremely profitable at the betting window as well with 11 consecutive payouts.

The Irish were underdogs just twice this season and won outright both times, beating Texas AM in the season opener and besting PSU as a 1-point dog in the semis. It?s been a while since the Irish were catching this many points on the betting line and they way they?ve been able to win games has me liking the points. They aren?t spectacular but the Irish play the right way and if they can slow the game down and keep OSU?s offense off the field the 8.5-point might as well be 14.

One thing Notre Dame has been good at is defending the pass. Indiana did nothing in the first round and Drew Allar completed just 12 passes last week, none to a wide receiver. The Irish have the No. 1 pass defense in the country and even returned a pair of interceptions for a touchdown in the win over USC in November.

Since his face plant against Michigan Will Howard has been a demon completing nearly 74 percent of his passes for 919 yards and six touchdowns in three playoff games. During that run the Buckeyes averaged 37 points against some stout units. And take away that game against Michigan where the Buckeyes scored 10 points and they are averaging 37.5 points in three games before that loss and the three games after.

Even when Jeremiah Smith isn?t a factor in the offense the Buckeyes can still move and score the football. After compiling 290 receiving yards and four TDs in the first two playoff games, Smith was held to one catch on three targets by Texas. Howard still threw for 289 yards targeting Carnell Tate nine times and Quinshon Judkins rushed for a pair of TDs.

The teams are close to being even on defense meaning this game comes down to who operates the best on offensive. And that might not be so easy to do with the top two scoring defenses on the field. Ohio State allows an average of just 12.2 points to rank No. 1 nationally while the Irish concede 14.2 points per game as the No. 2 ranked team.

The Irish would rather not throw the football making Jeremiyah Love an integral part of the game plan. Love has rushed for over 1,100 yards this season but has just 64 yards total in the last two games. That?s a good and bad sign for Notre Dame, and if the ground game doesn?t work against OSU I don?t see them winning. But again the spread is high and if there is a defensive battle I?ll have to back the points.

CFP National Championship Game: Ohio State vs. Notre Dame Parlay Picks

Notre Dame +8.5

Ohio State / Notre Dame UNDER 47

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Ravens at Bills NFL Divisional Round Parlay Picks - Bet on Football

Wednesday, January 15, 2025

Divisional Playoff Week is saving the best for last. The Buffalo Bills will host the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Divisional Playoffs on Sunday Night. Fans and gamblers need to note that this marquee matchup is on CBS instead of NBC although still in the Sunday night slot, albeit earlier than normal. Regardless, the Ravens and Bills is the one game, above all others, that is not to be missed. It is a game that has everything.

Since blowing what was said to be their best shot at a Super Bowl in 2022, the Buffalo Bills were written off as far as their Super Bowl window still being open. Yet the Bills have kept coming. But there is a sense that if Buffalo doesn?t get it done this year, that window will definitely slam shut and be locked forever. Buffalo is getting an extra lease on life nobody thought they would have.

On Sunday night, the Bills will host another team that may be at its peak of Super Bowl contention. Since Lamar Jackson became their starting quarterback, the Baltimore Ravens have been in the hunt. But they have not quite been good enough to reach Super Sunday, even as a two-time number-one seed.

The Ravens and Bills AFC Divisional Playoff showdown is the CBS Sunday evening matchup.

Baltimore and Buffalo are two of the most respected betting on pro football using crypto brands on the board as perennial contenders.

On Sunday, January 19, 2025, the Buffalo Bills will host the Baltimore Ravens at Highmark Stadium in Buffalo, NY. Kickoff time is set for 6:30 p.m. ET, and television coverage will be on CBS.

NFL Betting Lines

Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills Betting Lines

Baltimore Ravens -1.5/-115

Buffalo Bills +1.5/-105

Total 51.5

Baltimore Ravens Team Overview

Last game, the Baltimore Ravens won 28-14 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers as 8.5-point home favorites. The game went under the total of 45. Baltimore has a record of 12-5 straight up, 10-6-1 against the spread, and 13-4 over/under the total. Baltimore ranks 1st for total offense, 4th for passing, 1st for rushing, and 3rd for scoring. Defensively, they rank 18th overall, 32nd against the pass, 1st against the rush, and 14th for points allowed. Also, Baltimore ranks 3rd for fewest turnovers lost and 18th for takeaways.

Baltimore has won five straight games and has outscored its opponents 163-57 during the win streak. Overall, Lamar Jackson completed 16 of 21 passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns. Also, he ran for 82 yards. Derrick Henry had a stellar playoff debut with the Ravens. To show, he ran the ball 25 times for 182 yards and two touchdowns. With his performance, Henry has run for over 150 yards four times in the playoffs, tying him with Terrell Davis for the all-time lead.

The Baltimore Ravens football team has gotten the cash in five consecutive games.

Buffalo Bills Team Overview

Last game, the Buffalo Bills won 31-7 against the Denver Broncos 7.5-point home favorites. The game went under a total of 49. Buffalo has a record of 13-4 straight up, 10-7 against the spread, and 11-5-1 over/under the total. Buffalo ranks 11th for total offense, 10th for passing, 10th for rushing, and 2nd for scoring. Defensively, they rank 15th overall, 21st against the pass, 12th against the rush, and 12th for points allowed. Also, Bufalo ranks 1st for fewest turnovers lost and 7th for takeaways.

Buffalo dominated in the time of possession with over 41 minutes. At the same time, Denver had it for over 18 minutes. The Bills outgained the Broncos on offense by 471 yards to 224 yards. MVP candidate Josh Allen played one of the best games of his career. Allen threw for 272 yards and two touchdowns while completing nearly 76% of his passes and added 46 rushing yards. James Cook got it done on the ground with 120 rushing yards and one touchdown.

The Buffalo Bills football team got the cash in six of their most recent eight home games.

Baltimore at Buffalo Same Game Parlay Picks

At Buffalo, the Bills got the money in three of their last four games against the Ravens. All four of those games went under the total. In a game that is even, Buffalo offers more value as the power home dog.

Buffalo Bills +1.5

Baltimore/Buffalo Under 51.5

Check out the latest odds at BookMaker

Commanders at Lions NFL Divisional Round Parlay Picks - Bet on Football

Wednesday, January 15, 2025

Six teams emerged from the first round of the NFL playoffs and will compete in the Divisional Round. They?ll be joined by the top two teams from each conference who had last week off. The Detroit Lions had the best season in franchise history winning 15 games and needed the bye in order to get some rest ahead of their quest for a first Super Bowl appearance. The Lions host the Washington Commanders in one NFC matchup on Saturday. The game is scheduled to kick off at 8 p.m. ET from Ford Field on FOX. The Lions were the highest scoring team in the NFL during the regular season averaging more than 32 points and boast an abundance of playmakers that allowed them to cash the OVER in four of their last five games. If you bet on the NFL using bitcoin backing the Lions was a profitable move. They own the NFL?s best cover ratio at 70.6 percent and they are favored by 19.5-points to advance to the NFC Championship.

NFL Betting Lines

Commanders at Lions Betting Lines

Washington Commanders +9.5 / ML +458

Detroit Lions -9.5 / ML -581

Over / Under 55

With the help of Jayden Daniels the Commanders surprised a lot of people around the NFL. They won just four games a season ago and hadn?t had a winning record since going 8-7-1 in the 2016 campaign. Few expected them to win 12 regular season games and reach the postseason, but here they are one of the most confident teams after besting Tampa Bay, 23-20, in last week?s wild card contest.

Daniels helped transform the Commanders into a scary unit by completing 69 percent of his passes for 3,568 yards and 25 touchdowns during the regular season. They averaged 28.5 points to rank fifth in the NFL. This was quite a change for the organization, which hadn?t finished better than 23rd in scoring in any of the previous six seasons. Daniels was probably better as a runner leading the team with 891 rushing yards during the season with six TDs. His dual threat ability confounded many defenses over the course of the season.

The young Commanders showed few nerves in their first playoff appearance in four years defeating the Bucs on a last second field goal for their first postseason win since the 2005 season. It wasn?t their best game offensively with the NFL?s third-best rushing attack amassing just 82 yards on 33 attempts. And they failed to score a TD on three of five red zone trips, but the team formerly known as the Redskins prevailed by holding the Bucs to less than 300 total yards.

The Lions overcame a slew of injuries in a Week 15 loss to Buffalo winning their final three contests and staving off Minnesota for the NFC North title and the No. 1 seed. The bye has apparently helped David Montgomery, one of the players injured in the Bills game. Exhaustive rehab has the team?s second leading rusher on pace to return for this matchup, and if he?s as good as he was before the injury the Lions have more weapons.

Before exiting Montgomery had 775 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns forming a formidable duo with Jahmyr Gibbs. Between them they rushed for nearly 2,200 yards and 28 touchdowns. They are also threats out of the backfield making the passing game work. Gibbs 52 receptions during the season and Montgomery had 36 for nearly 900 yards. The balanced attack has flummoxed opposing defenses and Jared Goff has done a masterful job orchestrating the unit.

He won?t be mentioned in any MVP conversation but Goff had a stellar season completing 72.4 percent of his throws for 4,629 yards and 37 TDs. He did throw 12 interceptions but five of those came in one game which the Lions won, knocking off AFC South champion Houston on the road in Week 10. There are holes in Detroit?s defense with the injuries taking out key personnel, but the offense is intact and maybe even better with Montgomery expected to play.

Commanders at Lions Same Game Parlay Picks

Lions -9.5

Commanders / Lions OVER 55

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UFL Championship Parlay Picks - UFL Betting Lines

Tuesday, June 11, 2024

For the past three years, the Birmingham Stallions have been the best team in spring football. Birmingham won both USFL championships and nearly went undefeated in the 2024 UFL season. Birmingham will have the opportunity to solidify its spring football dynasty in Sunday?s UFL championship game against the San Antonio Bahamas. Head coaches Skip Holtz of Birmingham and Wade Phillips of San Antonio have turned in tremendous performances this season. San Antonio was the only team to beat Birmingham this season. Thus, they have the confidence in knowing they can do it again.

Let?s look at UFL parlays for June 16, 2024.

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UFL Championship Betting

Birmingham Stallions vs. San Antonio Brahmas +3, OU 42, 5 p.m. ET

Sunday Parlay

San Antonio Brahmas +3

Birmingham Stallions vs. San Antonio Brahmas UNDER 42

Bet $100 to Win $360

Birmingham Stallions vs. San Antonio Brahmas

The San Antonio Brahmas have a record of 7-3. The Brahmas are in 2nd place in the UFL XFL Division standings. On offense, San Antonio ranks 6th for total yards, 3rd for rushing, 7th for passing, and 2nd for scoring. On defense, San Antonio ranks 2nd for total yards, 5th for rushing, 2nd for passing, and 4th for scoring. Last week, the San Antonio won 25-15 against the St. Louis Battlehawks.

The Birmingham Stallions have a record of 9-1. The Stallions are in 1st place in the UFL USFL Division standings. On offense, Birmingham ranks 1st for total yards, 1st for rushing, 2nd for passing, and 1st for scoring. On defense, Birmingham ranks 3rd for total yards, 1st for rushing, 4th for passing, and 2nd for scoring. Last week, the Stallions won 31-18 against the Michigan Panthers.

Last week, The Brahmas offense fired on all cylinders with a season-high 410 total yards. They also recorded the league?s longest rush of the season on a 69-yard Anthony McFarland Jr. score on their first play of the second half and the team?s longest reception of the season on a Chase Gabers-to-Justin Smith 63-yard touchdown connection in the second quarter. Gabers finished with two passing touchdowns, his first multi-passing TD game since Week 2.

San Antonio?s rushing attack combined for 213 yards, tied for the most for a team in a game this season.

Garbers led San Antonio down the field on their first possession of the game, a 10-play, 62-yard drive to the five-yard line of the Battlehawks, before being turned down by a Kameron Kelly interception.

Garbers completed 15-of-21 passes for 197 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception for the Brahmas. McCarron completed 19-of-29 passes for 179 yards and one touchdown.

McFarland Jr. was San Antonio?s leading rusher with 115 yards and one touchdown on 11 attempts. Jacob Saylors was the leading rusher for the Battlehawks with 14 rushes for 79 yards.

Meanwhile, at Birmingham, Michigan was in control early, scoring on each of its first five possessions. But the Panthers settled for field goals on four of those possessions, building an 18-3 lead late in the second quarter that could have been larger.

Birmingham outgained Michigan 365-253. Matt Corral was 9-of-11 for 120 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. Adrian Martinez finished 10-of-19 for 164 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. C.J. Marable led the way for the Stallions on the ground, rushing for 77 yards on eight carries. Kyahva Tezino paced the Stallions? defense with seven total tackles, while Ike Brown grabbed two interceptions to go along with Isom?s interception for a touchdown.

The Stallions and head coach Skip Holtz have now won their respective division/conference championship game for three straight seasons (USFL South Division Champions in 2022-23; USFL Conference Champions in 2024). They will make their third straight league championship game appearance, coming off back-to-back USFL Championships in 2022-23. Holtz and Birmingham are undefeated (5-0) in the postseason all-time.

Check out the latest odds at BookMaker

UFL Conference Championship Parlay Picks - UFL Betting Lines

Tuesday, June 4, 2024

The Birmingham Stallions were the best team in the UFL. The Stallions led the league wire to wire and earned the best regular season record. On Saturday, the Stallions will host the Michigan Panthers for the second consecutive weekend. The game is for the USFL Conference championship. Last week Birmingham needed a late TD pass to pull out the win. Michigan has been the most rapidly improving team in the UFL this year. In the XFL Conference, the St. Louis Battlehawks will host the San Antonio Brahmas in a repeat of last weekend?s regular season finale. St. Louis squeaked by the Brahmas to earn home field advantage for this matchup.

Let?s look at UFL parlays for June 8 and June 9, 2024.

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UFL Conference Championships Betting

Michigan Panthers at Birmingham Stallions -6.5, OU 43, 3 p.m. ET, ABC

San Antonio Brahmas at St. Louis Battlehawks -3.5, OU 44.5, 7 p.m. ET, FOX

Weekend Parlay

Birmingham Stallions -6.5

Michigan Panthers at Birmingham Stallions UNDER 43

St. Louis Battlehawks -3.5

San Antonio Brahmas at St. Louis Battlehawks UNDER 44.5

$100 to win $1200

Michigan Panthers at Birmingham Stallions

The Michigan Panthers have a record of 7-3. The Panthers are in 2nd place in the UFL USFL Division standings. On offense, Michigan ranks 3rd for total yards, 2nd for rushing, 6th for passing, and 4th for scoring. On defense, Michigan ranks 4th for total yards, 2nd for rushing, 5th for passing, and 3rd for scoring. Last week, the Michigan Panthers lost 20-19 against the Birmingham Stallions.

In a thrilling finish, the Stallions scored a touchdown with under a minute remaining to take a 20-19 lead after trailing the entire second half.Adrian Martinez led the Stallions' offense, completing 14 of 28 passes for 163 yards. In the rushing game, C.J. Marable took the lead with 56 yards and two touchdowns, while Martinez contributed 41 yards.

San Antonio Brahmas at St. Louis Battlehawks

The St. Louis Battlehawks have a record of 7-3. The Battlehawks are in 1st place in the UFL XFL Division standings. On offense, St. Louis ranks 6th for total yards, 3rd for rushing, 7th for passing, and 2nd for scoring. On defense, St. Louis ranks 2nd for total yards, 5th for rushing, 2nd for passing, and 4th for scoring. Last week, the Battlehawks won 13-12 against the San Antonio Brahmas.

Last week, the game came down to the wire. Down by seven with less than two minutes remaining, Brahmas quarterback Quinten Dormady connected with Kirklin for a 37-yard touchdown pass. San Antonio opted to attempt a two-point conversion to take the lead. Dormady found Kirklin again for a successful conversion, but St. Louis challenged the play for an ineligible man downfield. The challenge went in the Battlehawks' favor, and San Antonio was unable to convert on the retry, leaving them one point short.

Check out the latest odds at BookMaker

2023 USFL Championship Game Betting Odds

Moay, June 26, 2023

The march to the 2023 USFL Championship Game has concluded, with the final two teams now set to face off. The North Division's representative in the big game was decided on Saturday night when the Pittsburgh Maulers outlasted the Michigan Panthers,31-27, in an overtime thriller. Now the Maulers have a chance to complete an incredible worst-to-first turnaround after a 1-9 campaign in 2022. They'll face the Birmingham Stallions, looking to defend their 2022 championship after trouncing the New Orleans Breakers, 47-22, on Sunday in the South Division Championship.

Bet USFL Championship Game Picks at BookMaker.eu

Saturday, July 1, 2023

Pittsburgh Maulers vs. Birmingham Stallions -6.5, OU 46

On Saturday, July 1, 2023, the Birmingham Stallions will face the Pittsburgh Maulers in the USFL championship game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. Kickoff time is set for 8 p.m. ET with television coverage on NBC and Peacock.

Last week the Pittsburgh Maulers beat the Michigan Panthers 31-27 as 3-point favorites in the USFL North Division championship game playoff. The game went over the total of 36.5. In the regular season, Pittsburgh had a record of 4-6, good for 1st place in the USFL North Division. Pittsburgh has USFL metrics of 8th for offensive yardage, 4th for rushing yardage, 8th for passing yardage, and 7th for scoring offense. On defense, Pittsburgh ranks 1st for total yards allowed, 2nd for rushing yards allowed, 1st for passing yards allowed, and 1st for points permitted.

Last week the Birmingham Stallions beat the New Orleans Breakers by a score of 47-22 as 3-point favorites in the USFL South Division championship game playoff. In the regular season, Birmingham had a record of 8-2, good for 1st place in the USFL South Division. Birmingham has USFL metrics of 1st for offensive yardage, 3rd for rushing yardage, 2nd for passing yardage, and 1st for scoring offense. On defense, Birmingham ranks 7th for total yards allowed, 7th for rushing yards allowed, 6th for passing yards allowed, and 3rd for points permitted.

The best offense in the USFL takes on the top defense in the league when the Birmingham Stallions face the Pittsburgh Maulers in the USFL championship game on Saturday, 8 p.m. ET in Canton, Ohio, at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.

The Stallions finished with the best regular-season record in the league at 8-2, then beat down the New Orleans Breakers in the USFL South title game, 47-22 in front of Birmingham?s hometown fans at Protective Stadium.

Led by playmaking quarterback Alex McGough, Birmingham seeks to defend its USFL title from last season. The Stallions are 20-3 under head coach Skip Holtz, averaging a league-best 28.7 points a game during the 2023 season.

The Maulers (5-6) have been the surprise team in the league, winning the North division title with a 31-27 overtime victory over the Michigan Panthers on Saturday. Pittsburgh finished last in the division last year at 1-9, and with new head coach Ray Horton, the Maulers now find themselves one win away from a worst-to-first turnaround.

The Stallions won the only contest between these two teams during the regular season, a 24-20 victory over Pittsburgh in Week 5 in Canton.

However, Pittsburgh?s defense kept McGough from wrecking the game. The Florida native finished with just 157 passing yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions.

Maulers quarterback Troy Williams finished 21 of 33 for 217 passing yards, with no touchdowns or interceptions in that contest. Williams also ran for 63 yards.

Deon Cain?s 91-yard kickoff return for a score in the fourth quarter was the difference in the game.

The Maulers finished the regular season as the top team in the USFL in takeaways, with 20. Pittsburgh?s defense forced McGough into two interceptions in the earlier matchup and will likely need to do something similar to have a chance in the title game.

Specifically, McGough?s ability to extend plays with his feet and keep the chains moving has been a key part of Birmingham?s offense. McGough was responsible for 394 yards and five touchdowns in his team?s runaway win over the Breakers.

The Maulers will have to devise a scheme that keeps McGough in the pocket, whether it?s using a spy on the quarterback defensively or disguised blitzes that confuse the mobile signal caller and slow down his decision making.

Birmingham has averaged 37 points in the playoffs over the last two years. The Maulers held Birmingham to 281 total yards and an average of 4.7 yards per play in a close loss to the Stallions earlier this year.

The Maulers finished a league-worst 29.7% in the red zone during the regular season but converted 3-of-4 red zone opportunities in the win over Michigan.

Birmingham ran 30 times for a season-high 245 rushing yards against New Orleans. The Maulers held Michigan to 40 rushing yards last week.

Bookmaker Best Bet: Birmingham Stallions

Check out the latest odds at BookMaker

USFL Division Championships Betting Odds

Tuesday, June 20, 2023

What a difference a year makes. Pittsburgh Maulers head coach Ray Horton took over a team that finished 1-9 last season and started this year 1-3. But the patient Horton managed to steady the ship, leading Pittsburgh to a 3-3 record the rest of the way for a 4-6 overall and an unlikely playoff berth in his first year leading the team. With perhaps the best defense in the league, Horton?s Maulers face another unlikely team in the 4-6 Michigan Panthers for the USFL North Championship on Saturday in Canton, Ohio.

New Orleans Breakers head coach John DeFilippo understands there won?t be any surprises he can sneak past Skip Holtz when his team faces the defending champion Birmingham Stallions in the USFL South Championship on Sunday. The two teams see each other every day in the Birmingham hub and have already played twice this season. Safe to say, Sunday?s matchup will be more about players making plays and less about the scheme.

The South teams play each other in Week 10 -- Stallions vs. Showboats on Saturday and Breakers vs. Gamblers on Sunday.

There's a strong argument to be made that the USFL's four best teams reside in the South Division, and its four worst in the North. Take the Pittsburgh Maulers, for example -- a team that was 2-6 last week yet still controls its playoff destiny.

The Week 10 games in the North Division pit the Maulers vs. the Generals and the Stars vs. the Panthers. If the Stars win, they'll be the No. 1 seed, with the Maulers-Generals winner the No. 2 seed. A Stars loss makes things very interesting: The Stars, Panthers, and Maulers-Generals winner would finish in a three-way tie for first at 4-6, meaning tiebreakers would decide the top two seeds and who's out of the Playoffs.

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Saturday, June 24, 2023

Michigan Panthers at Pittsburgh Maulers -3, OU 38

On Saturday, June 24, 2023, the Michigan Panthers will face the Pittsburgh Maulers at Tom Benson Stadium in Canton, OH. Kickoff time is set for 8 p.m. ET with television coverage on NBC.

Last week the Pittsburgh Maulers beat the New Jersey Generals by a score of 26-6 as 3.5-point dogs. The game went under the total of 40.5. As a result, Pittsburgh has a record of 4-6, good for 1st place in the USFL North Division. Pittsburgh has USFL metrics of 8th for offensive yardage, 4th for rushing yardage, 8th for passing yardage, and 7th for scoring offense. On defense, Pittsburgh ranks 1st for total yards allowed, 2nd for rushing yards allowed, 1st for passing yards allowed, and 1st for points permitted.

Last week the Michigan Panthers beat the Philadelphia Stars by a score of 23-20 as 1.5-point dogs. The game went over the total of 42.5. As a result, Michigan has a record of 4-6, good for 2nd place in the USFL North Division. Michigan has USFL metrics of 6th for offensive yardage, 6th for rushing yardage, 4th for passing yardage, and 8th for scoring offense. On defense, Michigan ranks 5th for total yards allowed, 6th for rushing yards allowed, 5th for passing yards allowed, and 6th for points permitted.

Just picked up by the Panthers on May 30, new quarterback E.J. Perry led Michigan to a surprising, come-from-behind win over Case Cookus and the Philadelphia Stars in the last game of the regular season. The Stars played in the USFL championship last year.

Like Horton, Michigan?s Mike Nolan made the postseason in his first season as head coach. The Panthers finished a disappointing 2-8 last season.

The Maulers swept the season series against the Panthers. Pittsburgh took a Week 5 contest against Michigan, 23-7 and then beat the Panthers again four weeks later in Canton, 19-7.

The Maulers won their last two games to reach the postseason, while the Panthers lost six of their last eight games after starting the season 2-0.

Bookmaker Best Bet: Pittsburgh Maulers

Sunday, June 25, 2023

New Orleans Breakers at Birmingham Stallions -3, OU 44

On Sunday, June 25, 2023, the Birmingham Stallions will face the New Orleans Breakers at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama. Kickoff time is set for 7 p.m. ET with television coverage on FOX.

Last week the New Orleans Breakers beat the Houston Gamblers by a score of 17-10 as 3.5-point favorites. The game went under the total of 44.5. As a result, New Orleans has a record of 7-3, good for 2nd place in the USFL South Division. New Orleans has USFL metrics of 2nd for offensive yardage, 5th for rushing yardage, 1st for passing yardage, and 2nd for scoring offense. On defense New Orleans ranks 2nd for total yards allowed, 3rd for rushing yards allowed, 3rd for passing yards allowed, and 2nd for points permitted.

Last week the Birmingham Stallions beat the Memphis Showboats by a score of 27-20 as 4-point favorites. The game went over the total of 43.5. As a result, Birmingham has a record of 8-2, good for 1st place in the USFL South Division. Birmingham has USFL metrics of 1st for offensive yardage, 3rd for rushing yardage, 2nd for passing yardage, and 1st for scoring offense. On defense, Birmingham ranks 7th for total yards allowed, 7th for rushing yards allowed, 6th for passing yards allowed, and 3rd for points permitted.

The teams split the two games played against each other this season. New Orleans won the Week 3 matchup 45-31, while the Stallions took the second game in Week 7, 24-20.

Birmingham finished the season on a five-game winning streak, while the Breakers won three straight to complete the regular season.

Bookmaker Best Bet: Birmingham Stallions

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2023 XFL Championship Game Betting Odds

Thursday, May 4, 2023

XFL Championship Weekend treated us very kindly over at the online sportsbook with the Arlington Renegades pulling the shocker over the Houston Roughnecks as expected and the D.C. Defenders taking care of business against Seattle to take a third straight from the Sea Dragons to put a fork in their season. The 2-0 ATS showing moves us to 5-1 ATS over the last six recommended XFL betting recommendations and 20-21-1 ATS for the season. The XFL Championship Game offers up a rematch of a Week 9 clash that went down in Audi Field where D.C. escaped with the 28-26 overtime win as near 10-point favorites. The combined 54 points smashed the closing 41.5-point O/U with both teams combining for just short of 750 yards and 51 first downs. Both quarterbacks performed exceptionally well while each defense shut both running games down. So is that how the second go-round will play out? The following are my side and total selections for the big game with the hope we cash both and claw over the breakeven point for the 2023 season.

XFL Championship Betting Odds at BookMaker.eu

D.C. Defenders -5.5 -113

Arlington Renegades +5.5 -103

Total 46.5

The betting line for the final game of the XFL season hit the board with D.C. installed 6-point favorites and the total lined 46.5. It was immediately bet down to -5 with Arlington getting the early love from the betting market, but has since bumped back up to -5.5 with heavier -113 juice attached to the Defenders side of the impost. While you might be asking yourself why linemakers dramatically altered this game?s betting line from the first meeting, keep in mind this game takes place in a neutral venue at the Alamodome where both the Renegades and Defenders came out victorious in the regular season. The total remains at the 46.5 opener much like the first go-round did when it hit the board 41.5 and stayed there right up till kick-off.

So I took the points with the Renegades in the first showdown at D.C. with the belief that the defense would prove to be one of the toughest assignments for the league?s highest scoring offense. Arlington is no joke on the defensive side of the ball where it ranks out with the No. 2 ranked run defense and fifth ranked pass defense. It was its ability to shut the run down that lead me to believe catching more than a possession ? including a 3-point conversion ? was simply just too much to give an Arlington team that was fighting tooth and nail with the San Antonio Brahmas for the South Division?s No. 2 seed. The run D would go on to shut RB Abram Smith down limiting him to just 2.7 yards on his 10 overall carries.

Knowing full well that its running game would have issues, D.C. OC Fred Kaiss dialed up 29 overall pass plays and the change in ideology worked with QB Jordan Ta?amu going on to complete 14 of his 20 passes for 188 yards and a pair of touchdown strikes. WR Lucky Jackson proved to be the beneficiary with his only two catches going for touchdown snares. And that?s just the thing about the Defenders. They know how to evolve in real-time with their in-game adjustments arguably the best in the league. If you limit them on the ground, they can rip you through the air. If you play blanket coverage, they?ll rip you to shreds on the ground. Just ask the St. Louis Battlehawks and Seattle Sea Dragons about that! Two teams that I believe are much better than anything the South Division sent to the playoffs this season.

While I get that Arlington only lost by two points in the lone regular season encounter that went to overtime, the Renegades needed to rattle off 17 unanswered fourth quarter points just to push the game to an extra session. Unfortunately, I didn?t get to witness a single snap of that game live but can only imagine a bulk of the Renegades yardage was accrued when in comeback mode during that wild last 15 minutes. I think recently named XFL Coach of the Year Reggie Barlow will have learned his lesson by not going for the kill shot and will let it all hang out in the rematch knowing full well what Bob Stoops? troops are capable of.

D.C. was the cream of the XFL crop from Week 1 forward. Not only have they won 10 of 11 played games, but they also went a moneymaking 8-3 against the closing XFL odds. They were also a boon to total bettors? bankrolls with the over cashing in at a 10-1 clip. I won?t stray from the trend and suggest you don?t either. Playing on the fast track of the Alamodome will only showcase the squad?s elite speed and make it darn near close to impossible for the Renegades to keep up. While I respect the job Arlington did to get here and fattened up the bankroll because of it, the Defenders have simply played in a different stratosphere than every other team since its season-opening win against Seattle. They simply bring too much offense and havoc defensively for Luis Perez and the Renegades to make another game of it with the XFL Championship on the line.

DEFENDERS 38 RENEGADES 16

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2023 XFL Division Championship Preview - XFL Betting

Wednesday, April 26, 2023

My recent XFL picks stunk the joint up going into Week 10. However, we closed the XFL betting season out with a bang by cashing in at the online sportsbook with three of the four made recommendations. It all kicked off with an embarrassing defeat on the Orlando Guardians plus the points. Though Quinten Dormady and co. kept it close for a half only trailing 25-20, A.J. McCarron and his crew turned the jets on in the second half to cruise to the 53-28 win and cover. San Antonio battled back from a 10-point halftime deficit against D.C. to ultimately cover in a 29-28 defeat, but ended up missing out on a shot at the playoffs due to John Parker Romo ? the league?s best kicker ? missing the game-winning kick with 32 ticks left on the clock. The total in the Houston/Arlington game fell all the way down to 38 at kick-off, but the two teams still failed to surpass the impost allowing us to cash our under ticket in. Closing it all out was the Seattle Sea Dragons who like the Battlehawks turned it up a couple notches in the second half to log the 28-9 win and cover against Vegas to punch their ticket into the second season. The 3-1 ATS showing moves us to a bothersome 18-21-1 ATS overall. Let?s see if we can keep the mojo rising in the Division Championships!

Bet XFL Division Championship Picks at BookMaker.eu

D.C. Defenders -170

This is a tough one to recommend knowing full well I?d love nothing more than to cash that +550 ticket in on the Sea Dragons recommended in the middle of what turned out to be a five-game Seattle winning streak. Call it a hedge! The Defenders simply just come off as the better overall team in my opinion. Someway, somehow ? D.C. finds a way to get the job done. I do however still like Seattle plus the points knowing full well each of the Defenders last three wins came by an average of just 1.3 points per game.

Even so, I want nothing to do with QB Ben DiNucci in a big game. His 13 interceptions were far and away the most in the league! You know darn well he?s going to get reckless in this third go-round with the Defenders much like he did in the prior two regular season meetings with both miscues ultimately costing the Sea Dragons both games. For reference sake, QB Jordan Ta?amu has only thrown three interceptions to go along with 14 touchdown passes. While that number comes up noticeably short of DiNooch?s 20, the former knows how to better take care of the ball and isn?t reckless with his decision making.

As evenly matched these two teams are evidenced by the 22-18 and 34-33 finals in the regular season, a mistake could prove to be all that separates these teams on the scoreboard. With that, I?ll take the Defenders on the moneyline thank you very much!

Arlington Renegades +6.5

I?m not reading too much into last week?s 25-9 result won and covered by the Roughnecks to sweep the season rivalry from the Renegades. Both Houston and Arlington rested a number of starters knowing full well the following week?s game is the only one that truly mattered. While bothered that the Renegades were held scoreless in the second half for the second time in as many meetings with their division rivals, I won?t allow it to prevent me from taking the points with Arlington whom I think can ugly this one up enough to keep it competitive and possibly win outright.

Houston?s passing attack is injured right now with QB Brandon Silvers still ailing from the triceps injury suffered over a month ago. The ground game is what?s paced the offense recently, and that?s where the Renegades shine with it owners of the league?s best run defense heading into last week?s matchup. It held Max Borghi and co. to just 77 yards and 2.8 yards per carry when at full strength in the first meeting back in Week 2. QB Luis Perez hasn?t dazzled since coming over from Vegas, but he?ll be the healthiest and most effective QB on the field come Saturday night. That?s a huge advantage heading into this win or go home tilt!

With both prior meetings combining for ugly low scorers and a number of goose eggs hung in numerous quarters, this one won?t be pretty. As such, catching points in a grudge match like this is where I want to position myself with a trip to the XFL Championship on the line.

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CFL Grey Cup Odds - Tiger-Cats vs. Blue Bombers Lines

Tuesday, December 7, 2021

The triumphant return of the Canadian Football League culminates with the Grey Cup on Sunday. The league shutdown last season due to COVID without a championship game played for the first time in over 100 years. The wait was worth it for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Winnipeg Blue Bombers, who set up a rematch of the 2019 Grey Cup by winning their respective division finals. Winnipeg made its record 25th Grey Cup appearance two years ago beating Hamilton 33-12 for its 11th CFL championship. The Bombers posted the best record in the league this season going 11-3 and hit the board as a 4-point favorite to repeat as Grey Cup champs.

The Grey Cup final will take place on Sunday, December 12, 2021 at 6 p.m. ET at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, ON and will be televised on ESPN2.

CFL Odds to win Grey Cup

Hamilton Tiger-Cats +4

Winnipeg Blue Bombers -4

Total 45.5

Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Winnipeg was the best team during regular season going 11-3 and the Bombers overcame six turnovers to beat Saskatchewan 21-17 in the West final. Led by quarterback Zach Collaros, who led the league with 20 touchdown passes, the Bombers averaged a CFL best 25.8 points and also allowed the fewest points with only 188 conceded.

If there is a downside to this matchup it?s that the Bombers are playing a road game. The 108th edition of the Grey Cup will be played on Hamilton?s Tim Hortons Field. The Bombers were a perfect 7-0 at home during the regular season but just 4-3 on the road with two of those setbacks coming against East foes Toronto and Montreal.

There were some anxious moments for Winnipeg fans at the end of the season. The Bombers dropped consecutive games to Montreal, 28-14, and Calgary, 13-12, to end the season with the offense going stagnant. And five first half turnovers in the West Final was more cause for alarm. But like they did throughout the season, the Bombers controlled the second half and especially the fourth quarter to get by the Rough Riders.

Having Andrew Harris back in the lineup was a welcome sight. Out for nearly two months, Harris enjoyed his return with 136 yards and a TD on 23 carries. Winnipeg scored the only points in the fourth quarter and controlled the ball for over 11 minutes to overcome their mistakes. Collaros completed 81 percent of his passes in the game with three of his four errant throws resulting in interceptions. Defensively the Bombers came up with five sacks, none bigger than the strip-sack by Jackson Jeffcoat with Saskatchewan deep in Winnipeg territory and leading by three at the time.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Unlike their opponent Hamilton had to play an extra playoff game. The Ticats finished a game behind Toronto in the East standings and were forced to play Montreal in the East semifinals. Jeremiah Masoli threw for 184 yards and a TD and the defense recovered three fumbles, intercepted a pass and forced a turnover on downs while also recording six sacks in a dominant performance leading to the 23-12 victory.

The Tiger-Cats earned a return trip to the Grey Cup by knocking off Toronto in the East Final. And they did it behind Dane Evans, who replaced an ineffective Masoli in the first half. Evans completed all 16 of his throws for 249 yards and a touchdown and added two more scores on the ground to salt away a 27-19 victory.

The teams met in the first week of the regular season with Winnipeg prevailing 19-6 behind a stellar defensive effort. Hamilton scored on its first possession but was blanked the rest of the game. Winnipeg controlled the contest running for 149 yards while possessing the ball for over 33 minutes. The Ticats turned the ball over three times and failed to register a takeaway.

Free ATS Pick

Much like the Tampa Bay Bucs last NFL season, Hamilton gets the championship game in its home stadium and that?s certainly worth something. However, the Bombers chiseled off some of the rust from their late-season swoon and they are the best in the CFL. I don?t see the Ticats mustering up enough offense to win the game, but it should be close. As much as I want to take the points I have to stick with the better team winning by at least a touchdown.

CFL Pick: Winnipeg Blue Bombers -4 / UNDER 45.5

Grey Cup Betting Odds ? Hamilton Tiger-Cats vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Only two teams have yet to win a Grey Cup in the 21st Century, but one of those teams will end that streak this Sunday when the Hamilton Tiger-Cats take on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Hamilton?s last Grey Cup title came in 1999 when the Tiger-Cats bested Calgary 32-21, while Winnipeg has gone three decades without a Grey Cup. The Blue Bombers have lost in the Grey Cup Finals five times since winning the title in 1990, while the Tiger-Cats have lost in each of their last three trips.

The 107th Grey Cup will be contested at McMahon Stadium in Calgary, Alberta. It will kick off at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, November 24, 2019 with ESPN2 broadcasting the game in the United States.

CFL Betting Odds at BookMaker.eu

Hamilton Tiger-Cats -3 vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers, O/U 52

Both Hamilton and Winnipeg overcame season-ending injuries to their starting quarterbacks to make it to the Grey Cup. The Tiger-Cats lost star quarterback Jeremiah Masoli to a torn ACL in the sixth game of the season, and it appeared their Grey Cup hopes were dashed. Hamilton had been the favorite to win it all per the Grey Cup betting odds at that point, but the Ti-Cats were forced to turn to unproven back-up Dane Evans once Masoli went down. Evans didn?t miss a beat, posting even better efficiency numbers than Masoli while also showcasing his threat as a runner.

Winnipeg lost Matt Nichols to a major injury midway through the season, and it took a lot longer for the Blue Bombers to find the right fit under center. The team tried to make it work with Chris Streveler, but Streveler was far too interception prone with 14 interceptions compered to eight touchdown passes. That led to Winnipeg rolling the dice at the trade deadline by trading for oft-injured Zach Collaros, and that move paid off in spades. Collaros has always had the talent to be a star in the CFL, but health has been a constant issue.

What to Expect

The Tiger-Cats are going to throw the ball all over the place. Hamilton has the most lethal passing attack in the CFL, as Evans and Masoli combined to throw for 5,330 yards and 30 touchdowns in the regular season. This team boasts the best wide receiver tandem in the league in Brandon Banks and Bralon Addison, and Winnipeg?s defensive backs must respect these receivers.

Banks is one of the two finalists for the Most Outstanding Player award that will be announced this week. He led the CFL in every major receiving category with 112 receptions for 1,550 yards and 13 touchdowns. Addison had an excellent year too with 95 receptions for 1,236 yards and seven touchdowns, allowing Hamilton to thrive despite the lack of a decent running game.

The Blue Bombers are the converse of the Ti-Cats in this regard. Winnipeg has the best run game in the CFL with Andrew Harris leading the league in rushing by a substantial margin. Harris ran the ball for 1,380 yards and four touchdowns this year, while Streveler was an incredible runner too with 726 yards and 12 touchdowns as a quarterback.

Prediction

Winnipeg has been a team of destiny. The Blue Bombers went on the road to beat Calgary and Saskatchewan to make it to the Grey Cup, and they should not be an underdog in this game. Collaros is the most underrated quarterback in the CFL, and he would have claimed multiple MOP awards if he was able to stay healthy. Look for Collaros to put up great numbers while Streveler keeps Hamilton?s defense off balance in an upset win for Winnipeg.