XFL Betting – Division Championship Playoff Picks
April 27, 2023
NHL Picks – Two Key Games on Saturday for NHL Playoffs
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The Birmingham Stallions continue to wreak havoc in the USFL improving to 2-0 this season and 13-1 overall since the league reboot in 2022 with a trouncing of Memphis last week. In their championship run a season ago the Stallions’ biggest win was by 16 points. Both victories in 2023 have been by at least 17 points with last week’s 42-2 triumph the largest in the recent history of the league. The biggest test of the young season lies ahead in Week 3 with Birmingham hosting the unbeaten New Orleans Breakers starting the betting week on Saturday. The Stallions opened as a 6.5-point favorite on the USFL betting line.
It would have been hard to duplicate my betting success from Week 1 and I didn’t. The good news is that I didn’t have a losing week splitting my spread and total wagers. The numbers look good on my USFL picks against the spread winning seven of eight games across the first two weeks. My only setback came last week when I backed Memphis as an 8.5-point dog in their 40-point loss to Birmingham. I did have one upset pick at BetRivers sportsbook backing the Michigan Panthers at +2.5 in their outright 24-10 win over Philadelphia. What happened in the first two weeks doesn’t mean a thing with Week 3 of the USFL season getting started on Saturday.
USFL Week 3 Schedule
New Orleans Breakers (2-0) at Birmingham Stallions (2-0)
Date and Time: Saturday, April 29, 12:30 p.m. ET
Opening Odds: Birmingham -6.5, O/U 47.5
Breakers at Stallions TV Coverage: USA
While Birmingham looks as good if not better than last season, the Breakers are off to a hot start averaging 30 points in a pair of wins. It’s a small sample size and one game puts the numbers out of whack, but McLeod Bethel-Thompson appears to have solved the QB issues that plagued New Orleans last season. MBT was 23 of 34 for 251 yards and two touchdowns last week leading his club to a 38-31 win. Birmingham swept all three games last year, including in the postseason, holding New Orleans to an average of 13 points with no more than 17 in any game. With J’Mar Smith done for the year Alex McGough impressed last week going 21 of 28 for 302 yards and four TDs. Birmingham’s defense was the story, though, not allowing a point while holding Memphis to 183 total yards.
USFL Prediction: New Orleans +6.5 / UNDER 47.5
Memphis Showboats (0-2) at Houston Gamblers (0-2)
Date and Time: Saturday, April 29, 7 p.m. ET
Opening Odds: Houston -3, O/U 44
Showboats at Gamblers TV Coverage: FOX
Following a battle of unbeatens on Saturday is a matchup between two of the USFL’s three winless teams. After a competitive opener losing to Philadelphia 27-23, Memphis was routed in the most lopsided game since the league resumed play in 2022. I don’t think Memphis is as bad as that 42-2 loss suggests, but they aren’t very good. The offense has a chance to score points this week against the second-worst scoring unit after getting blanked by Birmingham. The Boats amassed just 183 yards and committed two turnovers. The two worst scoring defenses puts the total on the USFL betting line at 44, but both offenses have struggled even more leaving me to back the UNDER and the home team.
USFL Prediction: Houston -3 / UNDER 44
Pittsburgh Maulers (0-2) at Philadelphia Stars (1-1)
Date and Time: Sunday, April 30, 12 p.m. ET
Opening Odds: Philadelphia -6.5, O/U 42.5
Maulers at Stars TV Coverage: NBC
A big USFL favorite this week, the Philadelphia Stars look to rebound after a disappointing 24-10 loss to Michigan. The highest scoring team a season ago, the Stars put up their lowest point total since the start of 2022 despite a strong effort from Case Cookus, who was 29 of 44 for 283 yards. The Stars turned the ball over four times with Cookus tossing a pair of picks and losing a fumble. He was also sacked four times lifting the total against to 11. Pittsburgh’s defense has improved from last season, unfortunately the same can’t be said about their offense. The Maulers have scored 18 points in two games and I don’t think the group is good enough yet to stay within the spread.
USFL Prediction: New Jersey -2.5 / UNDER 36 (W, W)
New Jersey Generals (1-1) at Michigan Panthers (2-0)
Date and Time: Sunday, April 30, 4 p.m. ET
Opening Odds: Michigan -5, O/U 43.5
Generals at Panthers TV Coverage: FOX
With an impressive win over Philadelphia last week, the Michigan Panthers matched their win total from a season ago and look to keep pace in the overall USFL standings. Mike Nolan put his stamp on the defense with Michigan ranked second in yards and points allowed. The Panthers also have eight takeaways in two games and a balanced offensive attack. When the Generals don’t face Birmingham they are perfect in the regular season improving to 10-0 since the reboot following their 20-3 win over Pittsburgh. They were solid defensively holding the Maulers to 166 total yards.
USFL Prediction: New Jersey +5 / UNDER 43.5
Check out the latest USFL betting odds at BetRivers.
