USFL Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions: Week 2 (2023)
Things can change quickly. However, the opening week of the USFL season gives bettors some information to work with when wagering this week. A pair of 0-1 clubs from the North Division will look to earn their first win in 2023. Meanwhile, the league’s highest-scoring team in Week 1 and the co-second-highest-scoring team square off in another North Division battle to close out Week 2.
USFL Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions: Week 2 (2023)
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Pittsburgh Maulers vs. New Jersey Generals
The Maulers and General lost their openers in Week 1. However, the Generals were the North Division’s winner in 2022, and the Maulers were the laughingstock of the USFL. The Generals were beaten by 17 points by the defending USFL champion Stallions, and the Maulers lost by seven to the Breakers to open their 2023 campaigns.
The point disparity might suggest taking the points is a wise move. The betting suggests otherwise, though. The Generals were favored by only 2.5 points, and the line has surged to 5.0 points. Additionally, Pittsburgh’s losing margin was flukey. The Maulers scored their only touchdown on a fumble forced on the one-yard line and recovered in the end zone. Conversely, the Breakers had to settle for five field goals.
New Orleans had the ball for 37 minutes and 18 seconds and had 332 yards on offense versus 22 minutes and 42 seconds of time of possession and 156 total yards for the Maulers. The Breakers thoroughly outplayed the Maulers, and Pittsburgh’s offense is a joke again this season.
The Generals missed Luis Perez and the reigning USFL MVP KaVontae Turpin in the passing game after their significant contributions to the offense in 2022. Still, New Jersey’s bread was buttered on the ground last year. They haven’t lost their identity this season. They rumbled for 197 yards at 6.6 yards per attempt in Week 1.
The Maulers don’t have the scoring ability to push the Generals out of their run-first tendencies. So, New Jersey should get right this week in a cushy matchup.
Pick: New Jersey Generals -5.0 Points (-110)
Philadelphia Stars vs. Michigan Panthers
The game’s total was 42.5 points earlier in the week and has exploded to 46.0 points. That’s unlikely to be the only explosion for the Stars and Panthers this week. The offenses should rule the roost this in this game.
The Stars had the highest-scoring team in the league last year. According to The Football Database, Philadelphia’s 262 points were the most in the USFL by 28 points. However, they also tied for the most points allowed (243). Meanwhile, the Panthers scored 211 points and yielded 236 in 2022.
Philadelphia’s offense hung 27 points on the Showboats in Week 1. The combination of quarterback Case Cookus and head coach/play-caller Bart Andrus picked up where they left off last year. The offense even added speedster Corey Coleman to the mix this year. The Stars might repeat as the USFL’s leading-scoring team this season.
However, the Panthers led the league in scoring in Week 1, dropping 29 points on the Gamblers. Michigan had 327 total yards of offense at a rock-solid 6.1 yards per play. The Panthers have a talented one-two punch in the backfield. Yet, they completed 23 of 26 passes for 249 yards and three touchdowns.
Philadelphia’s defense wasn’t sharp in Week 1, coughing up 295 yards and 23 points to the Showboats. Thus, Michigan’s offense won’t necessarily slow down this week. So, again, the offenses should show out in this contest. Finally, the new kickoff rules have allowed teams to have excellent field position after kickoffs and should help enhance the scoring in this game. Hop on the game’s over and enjoy a high-scoring affair.
Pick: Over 46.0 points (-110)
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.