Heading into Week-8, the New Jersey Generals and Birmingham Stallions are playoff-bound as the two division leaders and the class of the league. But the New Orleans Breakers should not be overlooked as a top wild card contender. And then the Philadelphia Stars have flashed enough offense to hold the final wild card position, with the Michigan Panthers, Pittsburgh Maulers, and Houston Gamblers right behind. Now let’s dive into the Week-8 matchups!
USFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Week 8 USFL Matchups
All games are to be played in Birmingham, Alabama, and all times listed are Eastern.
Friday, June 3, 2022
Pittsburgh Maulers 1-6 at New Jersey Generals 6-1 – 8 p.m. – USA
The Pittsburgh Maulers are coming off a 26-16 loss to the undefeated Birmingham Stallions as 12.5-point dogs, with the game going over the total of 41.5.
The Maulers were outscored 20-6 in the second half. Birmingham had a 34:43 to 25:17 time of possession advantage. The Stallions outgained the Maulers 318 to 199 in total yards. Birmingham powered to 200 yards rushing compared to 129 for the Maulers.
Pittsburgh suffered from a terrible day of quarterbacking. Vad Lee and Roland Rivers combined to go 9/23 for 83 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions. The tandem averaged 3.6 yards per pass. Lee had a 55.1 QB rating, with Rivers at 42.4.
On the positive, Madre London had a solid day with 18 rushes, 99 yards, and a TD. London ranks 5th in the USFL for rushing yardage this season.
Pittsburgh ranks an abysmal 7th in the USFL for passing offense. The Maulers have the worst pass efficiency ranking in the league at 97.8.
The New Jersey Generals are coming off a 20-13 win over the Tampa Bay Bandits as 4-point favorites, with the game going over the total of 42.5.
The difference in the game between the Generals and Bandits was a +3 turnover margin in favor of New Jersey. New Jersey held a 33:48 to 26:12 time of possession advantage. Tampa Bay outgained the Generals 302 to 261 in total yards.
New Jersey quarterback Luis Perez had an efficient day for the Generals. Perez was 19/25 for 174 yards passing with one touchdown and no interception. His passer rating was 107.7.
Perez ranks 3rd among USFL quarterbacks with at least 57 pass attempts with a 135.8 QB rating. Perez has thrown four touchdown passes with just one interception.
Darius Victor led the Generals in rushing with 14 carries, 72 yards, 5.1 yards per rush, and one touchdown. So far this season, Victor is 4th in the USFL with 427 yards rushing, 4.6 yards per rush, and six TDs. New Jersey is the top ranked rushing offense in the USFL. The Generals are also 1st for passing efficiency.
Wide receiver Alonzo Moore had an impressive day for New Jersey with four receptions and 17.2 yards per catch.
KaVontae Turpin is the top Generals receiver with 31 receptions, 361 yards, and three TDs.
New Jersey has the top ranked defense in the USFL for points allowed. New Jersey ranks 1st in the USFL for rushing defense.
New Jersey is likely going to be overpriced in this spot, however.
Best Bet: Pittsburgh Maulers
Saturday, June 4, 2022
New Orleans Breakers 5-2 at Birmingham Stallions 7-0 – 2 p.m. – FOX
The Birmingham Stallions are coming off a 26-16 win over the Pittsburgh Maulers as 12.5-point favorites, with the game going over the total of 41.5.
It was a rough day for Birmingham quarterback J’Mar Smith. Smith was 9/24 for 138 yards, 5.8 yards per attempt, one interception, and a QB rating of 39.9. So far this season, Smith has a 120.7 QB rating with ten touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Victor Bolden Jr. caught one big pass for 53 yards. Bolden ranks 3rd in the USFL with 33 receptions, 323 yards, 9.8 yards per catch, and one TD.
Bo Scarbrough led the Stallions' offense with 27 rushes and 100 yards. Birmingham ranks 3rd in the USFL for rushing yardage and averages 4.5 yards per rush.
Birmingham ranks 3rd in the USFL for scoring defense efficiency. The Stallions rank 3rd in the USFL for rush defense and pass defense.
The New Orleans Breakers are coming off a 31-17 overtime win over the Michigan Panthers as 5.5-point favorites, with the game going over the total of 41.5.
Michigan dominated the time of possession with a 38:47 to 21:13 advantage. Michigan also outgained the Breakers 369 to 313 in total yards. The Panthers powered to 192 yards rushing compared to 89 for the Breakers.
The difference in the game was quarterback production. Michigan’s Josh Love was just 18/37 for 179 yards, 4.8 yards per attempt, and a 62.8 QB rating. Love had no touchdown passes or interceptions in the game.
Meanwhile, for the Breakers. By comparison, New Orleans quarterback Kyle Sloter was 15/24 for 182 yards, 7.6 pards per pass, two touchdowns, no interceptions, and a 113.5 QB rating. This season, Sloter has a 118.0 QB rating with nine touchdown passes and seven interceptions.
Jordan Ellis ranks 2nd in the USFL for rushing with 478 yards, 4.2 yards per attempt, and three touchdowns. Ellis has served a valuable role in keeping defenses honest against the Breakers.
Jonathan Adams ranks 5th in the USFL for receiving with 22 receptions, 317 yards, 14.4 yards per catch, and three TDs. Adams caught a TD pass in the win against Michigan last week.
The New Orleans defense has been a pleasant surprise. The Breakers rank 3rd for points allowed.
Best Bet: New Orleans Breakers
Sunday, May 5, 2022
Michigan Panthers 1-6 at Philadelphia Stars 4-3 – 12 p.m. – FOX
The Michigan Panthers are coming off a 31-27 overtime loss to the New Orleans Breakers as 5.5-point dogs, with the game going over the total of 41.5.
Until Michigan gets reliable quarterbacking play, they are doomed. Shea Patterson moved on to the New Orleans Breakers after flopping as the Panthers' starter. But Josh Love proved to be no answer in replacing Patterson against the Breakers. The Panthers rank 7th in the USFL for passing efficiency.
Reggie Corbin supplied most of the Michigan offense with 13 rushes, 108 yards, 8.2 yards per attempt, and no scores. Corbin is the top rusher in the USFL with 416 yards, 6.2 yards per rush, and two TDs. Thanks to Corbin, Michigan boasts the second-best rushing attack in the USFL.
Defensively, the Panthers rank a respectable 4th in the USFL for points allowed. Michigan ranks 2nd in the USFL against the rush and 2nd against the pass. The Michigan defense is simply not getting enough support from the offense.
The Philadelphia Stars are coming off a 35-24 win over the Houston Gamblers as 4.5-point favorites, with the game going over the total of 43.5.
The Stars exploded for a 22-0 4th quarter to get the win and over the .500 mark. Philadelphia outgained the Gamblers 315 to 200 in total yards. The Stars held a big advantage on the ground with 152 yards rushing compared to 70 for the Gamblers. Houston committed three turnovers that were consequential as well.
Philadelphia quarterback Case Cookus was 21/31 for 163 yards, 5.3 yards per attempt, with one touchdown, two interceptions, and a 64.3 QB rating. Overall, Cookus has a 121.6 QB rating this year with six touchdown passes and three interceptions. The Stars rank 2nd in the USFL for passing efficiency.
Jordan Suell was the Stars' top receiver with seven receptions, 72 yards, and one TD.
Philadelphia kicker Luis Aguilar was 4/4 on field goals to provide the Stars' margin of victory.
Of great concern is the Philadelphia defense. The Stars rank 6th in the USFL for points allowed. Philadelphia ranks 7th for passing offense and last for rushing defense.
Best Bet: Philadelphia Stars
Houston Gamblers 1-6 at Tampa Bay Bandits 3-4 – 4 p.m. – Peacock
The Tampa Bay Bandits are coming off a 20-13 loss to the New Jersey Generals as 4-points dogs, with the game going under the total of 42.5.
Tampa Bay quarterback Jordan Ta’amu had a terrible day for the Bandits. Ta’amu was 17/37 for 237 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions. His QB rating was an abysmal 42.3. This season Ta’amu ranks 9th in the USFL with a 122.5 QB rating and ten touchdown passes with eight interceptions.
Their woeful offense has been most disappointing for the Bandits this season. The Bandits rank last in the USFL for rushing yardage and 5th for passing efficiency.
Defensively, the Bandits have been under par as well. Tampa Bay ranks 7th in the USFL for points allowed, 6th for pass defense, and 5th for rush defense.
The Houston Gamblers are coming off a 35-24 loss to the Philadelphia Stars as 4.5-point dogs, with the game going over the total of 43.5.
The Gamblers continue to suffer from weak quarterbacking. Kenji Bahar and Clayton Thorson split time in the loss to the Stars. Bahar was 10/13 for 101 yards and 7.8 yards per attempt with one touchdown and interception. Thorson, who has been a liability all season for Houston, was 8/12 for 70 yards, 5.8 yards per pass, and an 81.9 QB rating.
So far this season, Thorson has a 125.4 QB rating with ten TD passes and seven interceptions. Houston has suffered several close losses this season, and the difference was often Thorson’s unreliable play.
Houston ranks 3rd in the USFL for passing efficiency. That is more of an indictment of the poor overall play of the league quarterbacks than anything good about the Gamblers. Houston ranks 5th in the USFL for rushing yards.
Donald Payne was a defensive star for the Gamblers. Payne had nine tackles, six solos, one tackle for loss, two interceptions, and one TD.
One positive for Houston this season has been running back Mark Thompson. Thompson ranks 3rd in the USFL for rushing with 469 yards, 4.3 yards per rushing, and two touchdowns.
Defensively the Gamblers have been one of the worst teams in the USFL. Houston ranks 7th for points allowed, 8th for pass defense, and 8th against the rush.
Best Bet: Tampa Bay Bandits
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!
