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Streaks are all the rage in the USFL right now. Some are good, some are bad and a few ended in Week 7. The Memphis Showboats are the hottest team in the league, something we wouldn’t have expected to say a month ago. After dropping their first three contests the Boats have rattled off four straight outright wins as an underdog on the USFL betting line. Memphis exacted some revenge for a Week 3 loss beating Houston 23-20 while catching 3.5-points at BetRivers sportsbook. Memphis goes for its fifth consecutive win taking on the New Jersey Generals in Week 8 with playoff positioning at stake. The Boats are tied with New Orleans and Houston just a game behind Birmingham in the South Division. Despite their recent success the Boats are a +2 USFL betting pick against a team that has dropped four games in a row.
The surprises keep coming with three dogs winning outright last week. Philadelphia won its third straight game knocking off Pittsburgh, 37-31, getting 1.5-points. Two of the league’s worst offenses combined for the third highest scoring game of the season. Philly can secure a playoff spot for the second straight year with a win and a few other scenarios working in their favor. We also saw the Michigan Panthers end a three-game slide with 25-22 victory over New Jersey handing the Generals their fourth straight loss, all by six points or less. The Birmingham Stallions own the best record at 5-2 and they are the biggest USFL favorite this week laying 6.5-points for their Saturday matchup with Philadelphia.
USFL Week 8 Schedule
Houston Gamblers (4-3) at Pittsburgh Maulers (2-5)
Date and Time: Saturday, June 3, 12 p.m. ET
Opening Odds: Houston -3, O/U 42.5
Gamblers at Maulers TV Coverage: USA
Despite erupting for a season-high 31 points last week, the outcome was all too familiar for the Maulers. The USFL’s lowest scoring team has oftentimes got in its own way taking away from what’s been an otherwise strong defense. Philly went two weeks without scoring an offensive touchdown so you could say they were due. Case Cookus looked like the player from last season throwing for 235 yards and a pair of scores rattling the Maulers. Pittsburgh has scored three non-offensive touchdowns this season yet they are still last in scoring. The offense produces an average of only 231.3 yards, also last. They’ll have to score to keep up and I don’t see them doing that making Houston my USFL pick against the spread.
USFL Prediction: Houston -3 / UNDER 42.5
Philadelphia Stars (4-3) at Birmingham Stallions (5-2)
Date and Time: Saturday, June 3, 3 p.m. ET
Opening Odds: Birmingham -6.5, O/U 46
Stars at Stallions TV Coverage: NBC
All eyes will be focused on the championship game rematch from a season ago. The Stars stunned everyone by reaching the title game and may have won the title if not for Case Cookus sustaining a broken leg in the 33-30 loss. Philly hasn’t been the same with Cookus struggling to avoid pressure. He’s been sacked the most of any QB and Birmingham likes to dial up the pressure. Even when they couldn’t score an offensive touchdown the Stars found ways to win, mainly on the leg of K Luis Aguilar, who booted eight field goals in a Week 5 win over Jersey and added three more the following week when the defense silenced the New Orleans attack. However, field goals won’t get it done against the USFL’s highest scoring team.
USFL Prediction: Birmingham -6.5 / UNDER 46
Memphis Showboats (4-3) at New Jersey Generals (2-5)
Date and Time: Sunday, June 4, 1 p.m. ET
Opening Odds: New Jersey -2, O/U 40.5
Showboats at Generals TV Coverage: USA
It’s hard to imagine the hottest team in the USFL catching points on the USFL betting line, but that’s the scenario with Memphis hitting the board as a 2-point dog. That could actually benefit the Boats, though, since their last four victories all came when the club was the underdog. The Boats showed their resilience last week blowing a fourth quarter lead only to come back with a Cole Kelley to Derrick Dillon scoring pass. Memphis sucks on third down but the Boats more than make up for it on fourth down chances. They’ve converted 10 of 14 attempts putting pressure on opposing defenses, and that’s one way to beat a banged up Generals group that has three defensive starters on the shelf.
USFL Prediction: Memphis +2 / OVER 40.5
Michigan Panthers (3-4) at New Orleans Breakers (4-3)
Date and Time: Sunday, June 4, 4 p.m. ET
Opening Odds: New Orleans -3.5, O/U 43
Panthers at Breakers TV Coverage: FOX
If the New Orleans Breakers can hold onto the football they have a golden chance of breaking their three-game slide and putting up numbers on offense we saw earlier in the season. During their current slide the Breakers have eight giveaways, including three in last week’s 24-20 loss to Birmingham. Everything else looked good with McLeod Bethel-Thompson throwing for 279 yards and USFL rushing leader Wes Hills going for 77 on 20 attempts. New Orleans had over 100 more yards of offense but also failed in the redzone going 1 of 4. The Panthers had an outburst last week scoring 25 points breaking a four-game skid, in which they averaged fewer than 11 points. I’m not sold on Michigan’s offense but I do like the Breakers and they will snap out of their funk as my Week 8 USFL best bet.
USFL Prediction: New Orleans -3.5 / UNDER 43
Check out the latest USFL betting odds at BetRivers.
