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Through six weeks of the 2023 USFL season two wins are all that separate the league’s best team from its worst club. The South Division has been the best with four squads sitting at 4-2 entering Week 7. With four consecutive victories the Houston Gamblers are the hottest team in the league. They’ve also been the best USFL betting pick with four straight payouts. The Gamblers hook up with the second hottest team the Memphis Showboats on Sunday in what is the game of the week. Memphis won its third straight shutting out Pittsburgh, 22-0, last week surrendering a total of 20 points during the winning streak. The Gamblers started their current run of success with a 30-26 decision over the Boats in Week 3 and opened as a 3.5-point favorite on the USFL betting line at BetRivers sportsbook.
Underdogs again had plenty of success winning three games outright last week. Philadelphia was the biggest winner beating New Orleans 16-10 while catching 6.5-points. Over the previous two weeks dogs won seven of the eight games. The Michigan Panthers were the lone exception dropping a 27-13 decision to Birmingham getting 5.5-points in Week 6, their fourth straight setback. The New Jersey Generals are the biggest USFL favorite this week laying 7-points in their Sunday matchup with the Panthers.
USFL Week 7 Schedule
Birmingham Stallions (4-2) at New Orleans Breakers (4-2)
Date and Time: Saturday, May 27, 4 p.m. ET
Opening Odds: Birmingham -2.5, O/U 46.5
Stallions at Breakers TV Coverage: FOX
The once scorching Breakers have fallen back to the pack with two straight losses. And their once dynamic offense has been a no-show scoring 10 points in each of the setbacks. Defensively they’ve been fine allowing 17 points or less in each of the last three games and Wes Hills continues to be effective. However, McLeod Bethel-Thompson threw for less than 200 yards with a pair of picks last week and faces a tough Birmingham defense. The Stallions are a championship team and with first place in the South at stake I expect a better showing than what we saw in Week 3 when the Breakers compiled nearly 500 total yards in a 45-31 victory. Hills ran for 191 yards and three TDs in that contest. Alex McGough has been solid running Birmingham’s offense and the Stallions lead the USFL in red zone efficiency. I do anticipate points, however with a different outcome.
USFL Prediction: Birmingham -2.5 / OVER 46.5
Philadelphia Stars (3-3) at Pittsburgh Maulers (2-4)
Date and Time: Saturday, May 27, 9 p.m. ET
Opening Odds: Pittsburgh -1.5, O/U 38
Stars at Maulers TV Coverage: FS1
There have been two shutouts since the reboot last year and Pittsburgh was blanked both times. After showing signs of life with two wins in their previous three games, the offensive futility returned in a 22-0 loss to Memphis. For the third time this season the Maulers failed to score an offensive touchdown and they average a league worst 13.7 points. Three interceptions didn’t help with starter Troy Williams getting yanked in favor of James Morgan. Inconsistency at the QB position has been the biggest issue. Philly has problems putting the ball in the endzone as well, but at least they’re winning. The Stars failed to score an offense TD for the second straight game getting three more field goals from Luis Aguilar and a pick six. The total is the lowest on the Week 7 board and the teams will find a way to play below the number.
USFL Prediction: Philadelphia +1.5 / UNDER 38
Houston Gamblers (4-2) at Memphis Showboats (3-3)
Date and Time: Sunday, May 28, 2:30 p.m. ET
Opening Odds: Houston -3.5, O/U 43.5
Gamblers at Showboats TV Coverage: USA
We certainly didn’t expect this to be the game of the week after both clubs opened the season with losing streaks. With Memphis just a game behind the rest of the division this contest has serious playoff implications. The first meeting in Week 3 started a series of events for both sides. It was the first of four straight wins for Houston and also the last time Memphis lost. And if this game is anything like that one, we can expect a close encounter. Houston escaped with a 30-26 win with Kenji Behar having a breakout game. And the Gamblers haven’t lost with Mark Thompson in the lineup. Houston covered the 3.5-point USFL betting line in Week 3, but the improved Memphis defense, which has allowed just 20 points in the last three games, will be a tougher test.
USFL Prediction: Memphis +3.5 / UNDER 43.5
Michigan Panthers (2-4) at New Jersey Generals (2-4)
Date and Time: Sunday, May 28, 5;30 p.m. ET
Opening Odds: New Jersey -7, O/U 38.5
Panthers at Generals TV Coverage: FS1
This is not a good matchup for Michigan with an offense that hasn’t scored more than 13 points in any of its last four games facing a tough New Jersey defense. The Generals have their own issues with QB De’Andre Johnson likely to miss more time. Kyle Lauletta got the start last week going 17 of 30 for 177 yards and a TD in the 16-10 loss. The unit looked better scoring all of its points in the final quarter and the Generals should do enough to get a victory against a Panthers squad that hasn’t been closer than 14 points in four straight losses and is 5-0 against the UNDER as a USFL pick.
USFL Prediction: New Jersey -7 / UNDER 38.5
Check out the latest USFL betting odds at BetRivers.
