USFL Week 5 Online Betting
Last week, two common themes for the undefeated Breakers have been the steady play of quarterback and former CFL star McLeod Bethel-Thompson and running back Wes Hills. On Sunday, Bethel-Thompson completed over 70% of his throws for 279 yards. The former CFL star completed three passes on the Breakers' game-winning drive to beat the Generals, who entered the game atop the North Division at 2-1.
Per usual, Bethel-Thompson's favorite target was tight end Sage Surratt, who pulled down six passes for 94 yards. The two connected for a 33-yard gain on the game's first drive to help set up Hills' nine-yard touchdown run. Hills' second touchdown of the game -- and league-leading eighth of the season -- gave New Orleans a 14-7 lead late in the third quarter. Along with his 88 rushing yards, Hills racked up 71 more yards on seven catches.
Led by linebacker Vontae Diggs, the Breakers' defense held Generals quarterback De'Andre Johnson to just 113 yards on 7 of 14 passing. New Jersey had far more success on the ground, as Johnson, reigning USFL Offensive Player of the Year Darius Victor, and Trey Williams rushed for a combined 172 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries.
The Breakers and Generals entered the fourth quarter tied 17-17. A 25-yard field goal by New Orleans kicker Matt Coughlin with 7:10 remaining proved the difference in the game.
Both these teams made the playoffs last season but lost in the semifinals. Chances are, they'll be in the mix again this year.
Meanwhile, The Stallions went 10-1 last regular season before winning the inaugural USFL championship. Still, after losing to the Breakers last week and trailing Pittsburgh with less than 7 minutes remaining on Sunday, they were in jeopardy of surpassing their 2022 loss total after just four weeks.
The Maulers had taken a 21-7 lead with 6:52 left in the game on a Troy Williams 34-yard run for a touchdown. And that's when this happened.
Deon Cain returned the ensuing kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown, which turned out to be the final points in the game.
Williams, the Maulers' quarterback, was the team's leading passer (217 yards, no TDs or INTs) and rusher (63 yards, 1 TD). Stallions quarterback Alex McGough threw a pair of costly interceptions but did have a TD on 157 yards passing. He, too, led his team in rushing (48 yards, 1 TD).
The Memphis Showboats entered Week 4 as the league's only winless team, but they changed that with a dominating performance against a Michigan Panthers squad that had entered with just one loss -- and was playing on its home turf at Ford Field in Detroit.
Memphis' first two scores were back-to-back 50-plus yard field goals by Alex Kessman -- a 54-yarder followed by a 53-yarder in the first quarter (Kessman later added a 37-yarder in the third quarter). Kessman was inactive last week, reportedly due to on-field struggles.
The Showboats' Anthony Butler helped his team stretch the lead to 13-0 after picking off Michigan quarterback Josh Love to set up a touchdown run by quarterback Cole Kelley. Kelley threw for 151 yards and had two rushing touchdowns -- the Showboats' only TDs on offense. Memphis' defense led the way, with two interceptions and a strip sack fumble that Jeff McCulloch returned to the house.
Love had started strong for the Panthers this season, as they began 2-0, but was held to just 58 yards passing with a TD and INT on Saturday. Michigan also played Carson Strong at quarterback, but he fared no better, throwing for 76 yards with no TDs and an INT.
The Philadelphia Stars reached last year's USFL championship game, and there was no reason to think they wouldn't be in the mix again this season, with Case Cookus returning as starting quarterback and the team kicking off 2023 with a victory.
However, it's been nothing but losses for the Stars since the opener, and Saturday's defeat was the most lopsided yet, as the Gamblers won by 25 points.
Cookus, who went 24-of-36 for 189 yards with a TD and an INT, is among the league's passing leaders. But Philly's Week 4 rushing leader managed a whopping 16 yards, and its defense is in a tie for allowing the most points this season.
It was a different story for Houston's rushing attack, as Mark Thompson ran for 134 yards and three TDs on only 13 carries.
2023 USFL Schedule
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