USFL Championship Game Total Odds & Pick: Maulers vs. Stallions
The Stallions are back in the championship game to defend their crown. Conversely, the Maulers went from the laughingstock in the USFL last year to the North Division champion and representative in the championship game. However, Pittsburgh enters this game with a 5-6 record, including their win last week, and Birmingham lost only two contests. Will spring football history repeat itself this year after the sub-.500 Arlington Renegades beat the one-loss D.C. Defenders in the XFL Championship Game? I’m skeptical. Yet, this piece is concerned with the game’s scoring expectations. Should gamers bet the over or the under on this year’s USFL Championship Game?
USFL Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions: Championship Game (2023)
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Birmingham Stallions vs. Pittsburgh Maulers
The Stallions are an offensive juggernaut. They led the USFL in scoring in the regular season, hanging 287 points on their opponents, 50 more than the second-highest mark. Birmingham didn’t have a flawless defense, either. They ceded 196 points and coughed up the most yards per game (309.0).
Can the Maulers take advantage of the Stallions surrendering a USFL-high for yards? That’s doubtful. The Maulers averaged only 18.9 points per game in 11 games this year. They scored at least 20 points only six times. However, two of their games scoring at least 20 points were against the Stars, twice was against the Panthers, once was against the Generals and once was against the Stallions. Philadelphia allowed the most points, and Michigan allowed the third most in the USFL. So, the Maulers did their best work against the worst defenses in the league, casting doubt on their ability to pull their scoring weight for the over in this game.
The Stallions scored 47 points last week against the Breakers. New Orleans’s defense allowed the fewest points per game (17.0) and the second-fewest yards per game (272.2) in the regular season, and they had no answers for Birmingham’s elite offense. The Stallions scored at least 24 points 10 times in 11 games this season. Additionally, they cleared 30 points four times. Birmingham’s offense is potent enough that they can handle the heavy lifting. However, these teams combined for 44 points in Week 4.
Pittsburgh’s defense is also genuinely good, while their offense is legitimately pathetic. As a result, even if the Stallions hang 30 points on the Maulers, Pittsburgh might not have enough firepower to score the requisite 47 points for this game to go over the total. And since I’m expecting a blowout, Birmingham might salt the game away late, which would be suboptimal for the over. Therefore, the under is the pick.
Pick: Under 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.