USFL WEEK 8 PREVIEW & PICKS

BY ADAM GREENE

We have a new top ranked team after half a month of the Houston Gamblers holding down the top spot. If you follow the league, it won’t shock you who it is, as they were last season’s USFL South regular season champions and the eventual USFL Championship team, the Birmingham Stallions.

Yes, I realize that’s a spoiler, but there are only eight teams here. There’s only so many secrets we can keep.

Regardless of that fact, we have work to do and the odds, lines and totals with which to make watching all this spring football worth our while. Here’s an overview of the USFL via the Power Rankings and your Week 8 picks.

USFL POWER RANKINGS

1. BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS (5-2)

After being out of the top spot for weeks, the Stallions made their triumphant return as they handed the New Orleans Breakers their third consecutive loss of the season. Last week: No. 2

2. PHILADELPHIA STARS (4-3)

After multiple faceplants over the first month of the season, the Stars seem to have finally pulled it all together to cross the .500 mark for the first time this year and set up a potential USFL Championship rematch with the Birmingham Stallions. Last week: No. 3

3. MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS (4-3)

Did Todd Haley finally remember how to coach? Was last year, and the beginning of this one, just bad luck? We’ve got three games left in the season to find out. And Memphis, as of right now, are in the playoffs. Last week: No. 5

4. HOUSTON GAMBLERS (4-3)

The Gamblers reeled off 14 fourth quarter points, but couldn’t stay ahead of the suddenly dangerous Memphis Showboats last week, falling by a field goal at the end and by three spots in the Power Rankings. Last week: No. 1

5. NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS (4-3)

A 4-0 start has been followed by a 3-0 swoon and the fact the Breakers kept it close against the top ranked Birmingham Stallions this week should be more frustrating than heartening. Last week: No. 4

6. MICHIGAN PANTHERS (3-4)

It’s been a month since the Panthers won a game, but they managed to finally rediscover that early season magic, outlasting the New Jersey Generals and getting back into the playoff race right in the nick of time.. Last week: No. 7

7. NEW JERSEY GENERALS (2-5)

Just when you think the Generals might have a chance to right the ship, they decide to capsize the whole thing, losing to the Michigan Panthers, a team that hadn’t won a game in a literal calendar month. Last week: No. 6

8. PITTSBURGH MAULERS (2-5)

After taking a week off, the offense showed up for the Maulers last Saturday, but the defense didn’t get the memo. Pittsburgh wasted a 31-point outing to pick up their second straight loss. Last week: No. 8

SATURDAY

HOUSTON GAMBLERS AT PITTSBURGH MAULERS (+3.5, O/U: 42.5)

The Gamblers mounted a fourth quarter comeback, but couldn’t overcome the suddenly potent Memphis Showboats, falling 23-20 last Sunday. Kenji Bahar had a rough outing in the loss, going 18 of 39 for 216 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions. Mark Thompson led the team with 13 rushes for 42 yards and two TDs. Josh Pederson caught five passes for 93 yards. Teo Redding hauled in five receptions for 57 yards. Manny Bunch and Khalan Tolson finished with 11 tackles each, with Bunch adding a sack, an interception and a pass defense. JT Tyler had eight tackles, one tackle for a loss and a pass defense. Isiah Chamblers and D Rutledge, Jr. finished with five tackles apiece, with Chambers notching three tackles for a loss. Rutledge had a pass defense.

After being shutout of all scoring a week ago, the Maulers’ offense made an appearance last Saturday. Unfortunately for Pittsburgh, the defense missed their alarm. The Maulers fell 37-31 in their rematch with the Philadelphia Stars. Troy Williams was 18 of 28 for 145 yards, one touchdown and a pick. He rushed 11 times for 44 yards. Bailey Gaither had two carries for just eight yards, but scored a TD. Garrett Grosheck had four carries for only five yards, but he too found the end zone. Mason Stokke caught three passes for 34 yards. Isiah Hennie caught two balls for 22 yards and a touchdown. Kyahva Tezino had 15 tackles and one tackle for a loss. Bryce Toreden and Reuben Foster finished with seven tackles apiece. Nasir Player had six tackles. Will Miles had five tackles, one sack and two tackles for a loss. Arnold Tarpley III had three tackles, one interception and two passes defended. 

While Houston stumbled at the finish line last week, I find it hard to believe they’ll do it two weeks in a row, especially when their opponent is Pittsburgh. Gamblers 24, Maulers 20

PHILADELPHIA STARS AT BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS (-6.5, O/U: 45.5)

The Stars reeled off their third straight win to post their first winning record of the season thanks to a tremendous offensive output and one extra defensive stop. Philadelphia took out the Pittsburgh Maulers 37-31 last week. Case Cookus put up actual quarterback numbers in the victory, going 18 of 30 for 235 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He scrambled four times for 28 yards. Matt Colburn II finished with 20 carries for 82 yards and two TDs. Corey Coleman and D Gray each caught four passes for an identical 75 yards. Coleman added a score. Gabriel Sewell, Jr. wrapped with nine tackles. Joey Alfieri had seven tackles. LaBryan Ray, Carson Taylor, Cody Brown, Devin Taylor and BJ Bello all recorded four tackles, with Ray adding two sacks and three tackles for a loss. Taylor had a sack and two tackles for a loss. Adam Rodriguez had three tackles, one sack and one tackle for a loss.

Birmingham held off a fourth quarter comeback from the New Orleans Breakers to take a 24-20 victory last Saturday in spite of being held scoreless themselves over the game’s final 15 minutes. Alex McGough was efficient passing the ball, going 16 of 23 for 176 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. He added seven scrambles for 22 yards and a score. CJ Marable rushed 17 times for 86 yards and added six receptions for 52 yards. J ace Sternberger caught two passes for 28 yards and a TD. Quentin Poling led the defense with 11 tackles, two sacks and three tackles for a loss. Nate Brooks, Tyree Robinson finished with six tackles apiece, with brooks adding a pass defense. Khalil Davis, Nick Holley and TJ Carter had five tackles each. JoJo Tillery recorded four tackles, an interception and a pass defense

Philly is hot right now, but Birmingham has one of the few home field advantages in the USFL, if you can call it that. I don’t know where they’re hiding the fans, but they’re not showing up on the screen. Either way, the home team is your safest bet, but I don’t like the spread. Stallions 23, Stars 20

SUNDAY

MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS AT NEW JERSEY GENERALS (-2, O/U: 41)

Memphis took a lead in second quarter and managed to hold it the rest of the game, pulling their record over .500 for the first time season with an impressive 23-20 victory over the Houston Gamblers last Sunday. Cole Kelley didn’t play great, but he was good enough, finishing 12 of 24 for 146 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Kerrith Whyte rushed 19 times for 81 yards. Derrocl Dillon caught two passes for 71 yards and a touchdown. Daniel Helm had three receptions for 42 yards. Vinny Papale caught three as well for 23 yards and a score. Delrick Abrams, Jr. ended his evening with eight tackles and two for a loss. Stephen Griffin had seven tackles. Anthony Butler and TJ Neal both posted six tackles, with Butler adding a pass defense and Neal getting a tackle for a loss. John Atkins and Antonio Reed both recorded four tackles, with Atkins adding two sacks and two tackles for a loss with five passes defended. Reed had a pass defensed.

Last season the Generals posted the second best record in the USFL on their way to a regular season USFL North title. This season, they’ve lost four in a row and are tied for the worst record in the league after a 25-22 loss to the Michigan Panthers, a team that had lost four in a row coming into last Sunday’s contest. Kyle Lauletta was again complete garbage at quarterback for New Jersey, finishing 9 of 16 for 112 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions (this time). DeAndre Johnson, who was the unquestioned starter a year ago, was 9 of 14 in his action for 89 yards and a TD with no picks. He added four scrambles for nine yards. Darius

 Victor led the team with eight carries for 52 yards. He added four receptions for 29 yards and a score. Alonzo Moore caught six passes for 63 yards and two touchdowns. Cam Echols-Luper hauled in two passes for 43 yards. Mike Bell, Jr. ended his night with eight tackles. Paris Ford had six tackles and a pass defense. Dravon Askew-Henry had five tackles and one for a loss. Toby Johnson and Treston Decoud finished with four tackles apiece with Johnson notching a tackle for a loss. Kenneth Randall had three tackles, one sack and one tackle for a loss.

This game is basically a coin flip and, God help me, I’m going with Memphis. New Jersey has been in a death spiral all season and it’s time to end it now in Week 8. Showboats 20, Generals 16

MICHIGAN PANTHERS AT NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS (-3.5, O/U: 43.5)

The New Jersey Generals pulled within three in the final minutes, but couldn’t overcome the Panthers, who ended a four game skid with a 25-22 victory last Sunday. Josh Love had his best day under center of the season, finishing 16 of 29 for 264 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions for a 120.5 quarterback rating. Reggie Corbin carried the ball 20 times for 78 yards. J Walker had a day at receiver, hauling in five passes for 121 yards and a touchdown. Trey Quinn caught three balls for 61 yards and a score. Cole Hikutini caught one 23-yard touchdown. On defense, Kai Nacua and Frank Ginda posted eight tackles apiece, with Ginda adding a tackle for a loss. Corrion Ballard and Breeland Speaks finished with four tackles each. Levi Bell recorded two tackles, one sack and one tackle for a loss.

The offense made it interesting with an 11-point fourth quarter while the defense held the Birmingham Stallions out of the end zone in the final period. Still, it wasn’t enough as the Breakers fell for the third consecutive week, 24-20. McLeod Bethel-Thompson was 24 of 42 for 279 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Wes Hills rushed 20 times for 77 yards. Johnnie Dixon and Jonathan Adams wrapped their afternoon with six receptions each, with Dixon notching 97 yards and Adams 88. Sage Surratt caught five passes for 64 yards. Lee Morris caught three passes for 16 yards and a score. Vontae Diggs ended his day with 10 tackles and half a sack. Derrion Rakestraw had six tackles, a tackle for a loss and a pass defense. Keonte Schad and Jerod Fernandez had five tackles apiece, with Schad adding 1.5 sacks and a tackle for a loss. Fernandez posted half a sack. Justus Reed had four tackles and half a sack.

New Orleans is in a tailspin that has to end sometime. Michigan finally got out of their skid last week, but I find it hard to believe they’ll find their mojo two weeks in a row. Breakers 24, Panthers 21

Last week

Straight up: 2-2

Against the spread: 2-2

Season

Straight up: 11-9

Against the spread: 10-10

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter @TheFirstMan.

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