After eight weeks of play, there is only one question left in the USFL regular season. Will the New Orleans Breakers or the Tampa Bay Bandits be the last playoff team? The New Jersey Generals lead the North Division by two games, with two games to play. The Birmingham Stallions remain undefeated and the champions of the South Division. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Stars locked up a wild card playoff spot in the North Division, leaving New Orleans and Tampa Bay to fight it out in the South Division for the last playoff spot. Tampa Bay and New Orleans meet Sunday in the biggest game of the week.
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Week 9 USFL Matchups
All games are to be played in Birmingham, Alabama, and all times listed are Eastern.
Saturday, June 11, 2022
New Jersey Generals (7-1) at Michigan Panthers (1-7) – 1 p.m. – NBC
The New Jersey Generals opened as a 7.5-point favorite over the Michigan Panthers with a total of 47.5. New Jersey is a -350 moneyline favorite, with Michigan a +270 dog.
Last week the New Jersey Generals got past the Pittsburgh Maulers 29-16 to get the money as 8.5-point favorites, with the game going over the total of 42.5.
New Jersey dominated the game with a 379 to 290 total yards advantage over the Maulers. On the ground, the Generals held a 159 to 77 yard advantage.
New Jersey quarterback Luis Perez had a solid performance with 18/24 for 220 yards, one touchdown, no interceptions, and a 116.7 QB rating. Darius Victor added 87 yards rushing with 5.1 yards per rush and three touchdowns. KaVontae Turpin led the Generals in receiving with five catches, 83 yards, and one touchdown.
Darius Victor leads the USFL in rushing with 524 yards, 4.6 yards per rush, and nine touchdowns. KaVontae Turpin is the USFL’s leading receiver with 36 catches, 444 yards, 12.3 yards per reception, and four touchdowns.
New Jersey leads the USFL with the top pass efficiency offense in the league. Additionally, the Generals lead the USFL in rushing offense. New Jersey’s defense has allowed the fewest points in the USFL. Also, the Generals have the top ranked rushing and passing defense in the league.
The Michigan Panthers are coming off a 46-24 loss to the Philadelphia Stars as 6-point dogs, with the game going over the total of 47.5.
Michigan was outgained by Philadelphia 417 to 340 in total yards. Philadelphia had its biggest advantage on the ground with 189 yards rushing compared to 89 for the Panthers. A big difference in the game was Michigan’s -3 turnover margin.
Michigan has struggled all season to get production from the quarterback position. And that was again the case against the Stars. Quarterback Paxton Lynch was 27/40 for 251 yards with two touchdowns, two interceptions, and a QB rating of 80.3.
So far, Paxton Lynch has a 105.5 QB rating with two touchdown passes and three interceptions. He ranks 14th in the USFL. Michigan running back Reggie Corbin ranks 3rd in the USFL with 514 yards rushing, 6.0 yards per rush, and two touchdowns. And then wide receiver Lance Lenoir Jr ranks 2nd in the USFL with 40 receptions, 43 yards, 10.3 yards per catch, and one TD.
Michigan ranks 7th in the USFL for passing offense but second for rushing. The Panthers rank 6th for points allowed and 6th for pass defense.
Best Bet: New Jersey Generals
Houston Gamblers (1-7) at Birmingham Stallions (8-0) – 6 p.m. – USA
The Birmingham Stallions opened as a 13.5-point favorite over the Houston Gamblers with a total of 43.5. Birmingham is a -650 moneyline favorite, with Houston at +460.
The Houston Gamblers are coming off a 13-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Bandits as 5.5-point dogs, with the game going over the total of 44.5.
The game was quite a slog as Houston held a modest edge in total yards of 244 to 214. The Gamblers' defense held the Bandits' passing game in check. Tampa Bay could manage only 69 yards passing. Houston reached the red zone only one time in the game.
Houston has suffered from terrible quarterbacking all season, and that was again the case in the loss to Tampa Bay. Kenji Bahar was 19/34, 159 yards, 4.7 yards per pass, with no touchdowns, one interception, and a 55.9 QB rating. Bahar had a better day on the ground with six rushes, 49 yards, and 8.2 yards per rush.
So far this season, the Gamblers rank last in the USFL for passing efficiency. Houston has not been much better on the ground, with a ranking of 6th. Defensively, the Gamblers rank last for points allowed, last for total defense, last for passing defense, and 7th against the rush.
The Birmingham Stallions are coming off a 10-9 win over the New Orleans Breakers as 3.5-point favorites, with the game going under the total of 44.5
New Orleans had a slight 313-301 advantage in total yards. Birmingham was outgained 244 to 160 in passing yards. But the Stallions had the advantage on the ground with 141 to 69 yards. Both teams committed three turnovers.
Birmingham quarterback J’Mar Smith was 15/29, 183 yards, one TD, one interception, 6.2 yards per pass, and a 68.6 QB rating. He also ran for 45 yards on seven rushes. Bo Scarbrough was the leading rusher for Birmingham with 54 yards on 14 carries. Marlon Williams had a solid day with seven catches, 109 yards, and 15.6 yards per catch.
It has been an inconsistent year for J’Mar Smith at quarterback for the Stallions. Smith has a 118.9 QB rating with nine touchdowns and four interceptions. He is averaging 6.5 yards per pass attempt. Running CJ Marable leads the Stallions with 328 yards, 3.9 yards per rush, and four TDs. Meanwhile, Bo Scarbrough has 283 yards rushing, 4.4 yards per attempt, and one TD. Marlon Williams leads the Stallions in receiving with 22 catches, 379 yards, 17.2 yards per catch, and three touchdowns.
Birmingham ranks 5th in the USFL for passing offense and third for rushing offense. Defensively, the Stallions rank 2nd for points allowed, 2nd for pass defense, and 2nd for rush defense.
Best Bet: Birmingham Stallions
Sunday, June 12, 2022
Tampa Bay Bandits (4-4) at New Orleans Breakers (5-3) – 4 p.m. – FOX
The New Orleans Breakers opened as a 3-point favorite over the Tampa Bay Bandits with a total of 43.5. New Orleans is a -155 moneyline favorite, with Tampa Bay at +135.
Tampa Bay is coming off a 13-3 win over the Houston Gamblers as 5-point favorites, with the game going under the total of 44.5.
Tampa quarterback Jordan Ta’amu continues to struggle. Last week he was 12/21 for 98 yards, 4.7 yards per attempt, one TD, one interception, and a 65.2 QB rating. Running back Juwan Washington slogged for 60 yards on 20 carries with no touchdowns.
So far this season, Jordan Ta’amu had a lackluster QB rating of 120.6. He has completed 57.8 percent of his passes for 187.8 yards per game with 11 TD passes and nine interceptions. Juwan Washington leads the Bandits in rushing with 280 yards, 3.3 yards per rush, and three touchdowns. Cheyenne O’Grady leads the Bandits in receiving with 25 catches, 286 yards, 11.4 yards per catch, and two TDs.
Overall, the Bandits rank 4th in the USFL for passing efficiency. Of great concern is that Tampa Bay ranks 7th for rushing offense. On defense, the Bandits rank 4th for points allowed and 5th overall. Tampa Bay ranks 5th for pass defense and 5th against the rush.
The New Orleans Breakers are coming off a 10-9 loss to the Birmingham Stallions as 3.5-point dogs, with the game going under the total of 44.5.
The Stallions' defense held New Orleans quarterback Kyle Sloter in check. Sloter was 23/40 for 251 yards, 6.2 yards per attempt, with no touchdowns and three costly interceptions. Sloter had a 44.9 QB rating. Jordan Ellis led the Breakers in rushing with 11 rushes, 41 yards, and no TDs. Taywan Taylor led New Orleans in receiving with four catches, 76 yards, and 19.0 yards per catch.
So far this season, Sloter has a 114.7 QB rating with nine TD passes and ten interceptions. He is averaging 6.3 yards per attempt and 218.8 yards per game. New Orleans running back Jordan Ellis is second in the USFL with 519 yards rushing, 4.6 yards per rush, and nine touchdowns. Jonathan Adams leads New Orleans in receiving with 27 catches, 371 yards, 13.7 yards per catch, and three touchdowns.
New Orleans leads the USFL in passing yards per game. The Breakers rank 4th in the league for rushing yardage. Defensively, the Breakers rank 3rd for points allowed, 3rd overall, first for pass defense, and 3rd against the rush.
Best Bet: New Orleans Breakers
Philadelphia Stars (5-3) at Pittsburgh Maulers (1-7) – 7:30 p.m. – FS1
The Philadelphia Stars are an 8.5-point favorite over the Pittsburgh Maulers, with a total of 47. Philadelphia is a -380 moneyline favorite, with Pittsburgh at +290.
The Philadelphia Stars are coming off a 46-24 win over the Michigan Panthers as 6-point favorites, with the game going over the total of 47.5.
Philadelphia quarterback Case Cookus had a strong day with 20/26, 247 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions. Cookus averaged 9.5 yards per attempt and had a 145.4 QB rating. Additionally, Cookus ran for 118 yards on four tries with a touchdown and longest rush of 79 yards,
Cookus has a QB rating of 135.4 on the season with 10 TD passes and three interceptions. Cookus has a completion rate of 65.4 percent. Running back Matt Colburn leads the Stars in rushing with 322 yards, 4.0 yards per rush, and six TDs.
Philadelphia ranks 2nd in the USFL for passing efficiency. Defensively the Stars have improved to rank 4th in the USFL for points allowed. However, Philadelphia ranks 7th for total defense, 7th against the rush, and 8th against the pass.
The Pittsburgh Maulers are coming off a 29-18 loss to the New Jersey Generals as 8.5-point dogs, with the game going over the total of 42.5.
Pittsburgh quarterback Roland Rivers had a rough game. Rivers was 18/38 for 218 yards with one touchdown, one interception, and a QB rating of 63.3. Rivers averaged only 5.7 yards per attempt. The top receiver for the Maulers last week was Delvon Hardaway, with three catches, 64 yards, and 21.3 yards per reception.
This season, Rivers ranks 16th in the USFL for quarterback efficiency. Running back Madre London leads the Maulers in rushing with 363 yards, 4.4 yards per rush, and one touchdown. Tre Walker leads Pittsburgh receivers with 30 catches, 325 yards, 10.8 yards per catch, but no touchdowns.
Pittsburgh ranks last in the USFL for passing efficiency and rushing offense. Defensively, the Maulers rank 7th for points allowed, 6th for pass defense, and 6th for rush defense.
Best Bet: Philadelphia Stars
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