Fifty percent of the USFL 2023 regular season is in the books. As the USFL reaches its midseason point, the race has tightened in both divisions, as the North now has a four-way tie in the standings. And the South has one game separating three teams with a legitimate new threat emerging in the division.
The Houston Gamblers are the biggest surprise of the USFL season so far. They started the season red-hot offensively but sported the league’s worst defense after three weeks. But in the last two weeks, despite an injury to their starting quarterback Kenji Bahar. The Gamblers’ defense has raised their game to match Curtis Johnson’s elite offense.
In Saturday’s 27-20 victory over the defending USFL champion Birmingham Stallions. Houston’s defense kept the Gamblers in the game before their offense scored twenty points in the final quarter. Injuries up and down Birmingham’s roster have affected the quality of their play. The team seemingly has lost significant players every week this season, and it’s caught up to them, as has the rest of the league.
The New Orleans Breakers finally lost their first game of the season on Sunday in a listless 17-10 loss to the Memphis Showboats. New Orleans didn’t look right from the outset against the Showboats. It was the type of performance on Mother’s Day that only a Mother could love.
Mike Riley’s troops blew a grand opportunity in Week 5 to create distance in the North and stay undefeated within their division. The New Jersey Generals wasted a chance to kick their dreaded rival Stars while they were down. Instead, they watched Philly kickstart a dying season with eight field goals made by a lights-out Luis Aguilar. As a result, New Jersey is now log-jammed in the North Division at 2-3 with Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Michigan.
The Pittsburgh Maulers 2-3 right now looks as good, if not better, than the rest of the sub-500 dwellers. It’s not only about where they currently are but where they are coming from.
It's now time to focus on Week 6 and the Best Bets!
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Saturday, May 20
Pittsburgh Maulers -2.5, OU 41.5 at Memphis Showboats
On Saturday, May 20, 2023, the Memphis Showboats will face the Pittsburgh Maulers at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee. Kickoff time is set for 12:30 p.m. ET with television coverage on USA Network.
Last week the Memphis Showboats beat the New Orleans Breakers 17-10 as 7.5-point dogs. The game went under the total of 47.5. As a result, Memphis has a record of 2-3, good for 4th place in the USFL South Division. Memphis has USFL metrics of 6th for offensive yardage, 7th for rushing yardage, 3rd for passing yardage, and 4th for scoring offense. On defense, Memphis ranks 6th for total yards allowed, 6th for rushing yards allowed, 7th for passing yards allowed, and 6th for points permitted.
Last week the Pittsburgh Maulers beat the Michigan Panthers by a score of 23-7 as 3.5-point dogs. The game went under the total of 41.5. As a result, Pittsburgh has a record of 2-3, good for 1st place in the USFL North Division. Pittsburgh has USFL metrics of 8th for offensive yardage, 5th for rushing yardage, 8th for passing yardage, and 8th for scoring offense. On defense, Pittsburgh ranks 1st for total yards allowed, 1st for rushing yards allowed, 6th for passing yards allowed, and 1st for points permitted.
Bookmaker Best Bet: Memphis Showboats
Birmingham Stallions -5, OU 44.5 at Michigan Panthers
On Saturday, May 20, 2023, the Birmingham Stallions will face the Michigan Panthers at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. Kickoff time is set for 4 p.m. ET with television coverage on FOX.
Last week the Pittsburgh Maulers beat the Michigan Panthers by a score of 23-7 as 3.5-point dogs. The game went under the total of 41.5. As a result, Michigan has a record of 2-3, good for 1st place in the USFL North Division. Michigan has USFL metrics of 5th for offensive yardage, 6th for rushing yardage, 6th for passing yardage, and 7th for scoring offense. On defense, Michigan ranks 4th for total yards allowed, 5th for rushing yards allowed, 3rd for passing yards allowed, and 3rd for points permitted.
Last week the Birmingham Stallions lost to the Houston Gamblers 27-20 as 4.5-point favorites. The game went over the total of 46.5. As a result, Birmingham has a record of 3-2, good for 2nd place in the USFL South Division. Birmingham has USFL metrics of 3rd 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, 5th for passing yards allowed, and 4th for points permitted.
Bookmaker Best Bet: Michigan Panthers
Sunday, May 21
New Orleans Breakers -6, OU 45 at Philadelphia Stars
On Sunday, May 21, 2023, the New Orleans Breakers will face the Philadelphia Stars at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. Kickoff time is set for 12 p.m. ET with television coverage on FS1.
Last week the New Jersey Generals lost to the Philadelphia Stars by a score of 24-21 as 7-point favorites. The game went over the total of 43.5. As a result, Philadelphia has a record of 2-3, good for 1st place in the USFL North Division. Philadelphia has USFL metrics of 7th for offensive yardage, 8th for rushing yardage, 5th for passing yardage, and 6th for scoring offense. On defense, Philadelphia ranks 8th for total yards allowed, 8th for rushing yards allowed, 4th for passing yards allowed, and 8th for points permitted.
Last week the Memphis Showboats beat the New Orleans Breakers 17-10 as 7.5-point dogs. The game went under the total of 47.5. As a result, New Orleans has a record of 4-1, good for 1st place in the USFL South Division. New Orleans has USFL metrics of 1st for offensive yardage, 4th for rushing yardage, 1st for passing yardage, and 3rd for scoring offense. On defense New Orleans ranks 3rd for total yards allowed, 3rd for rushing yards allowed, 2nd for passing yards allowed, and 5th for points permitted.
Bookmaker Best Bet: New Orleans Breakers
New Jersey Generals -2, OU 45 at Houston Gamblers
On Sunday, May 21, 2023, the Houston Gamblers will face the New Jersey Generals at Simons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee. Kickoff time is set for 4 p.m. ET with television coverage on FOX.
Last week the Birmingham Stallions lost to the Houston Gamblers 27-20 as 4.5-point favorites. The game went over the total of 46.5. As a result, Houston has a record of 3-2, good for 2nd place in the USFL South Division. Houston has USFL metrics of 2nd for offensive yardage, 2nd for rushing yardage, 4th for passing yardage, and 2nd for scoring offense. On defense, Houston ranks 5th for total yards allowed, 2nd for rushing yards allowed, 8th for passing yards allowed, and 7th for points permitted.
Last week the New Jersey Generals lost to the Philadelphia Stars by a score of 24-21 as 7-point favorites. The game went over the total of 43.5. As a result, New Jersey has a record of 2-3, good for 1st place in the USFL North Division. New Jersey has USFL metrics of 4th for offensive yardage, 1st for rushing yardage, 7th for passing yardage, and 5th for scoring offense. On defense New Jersey ranks 2nd for total yards allowed, 4th for rushing yards allowed, 1st for passing yards allowed, and 2nd for points permitted.
Bookmaker Best Bet: Houston Gamblers
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