USFL PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND PREVIEW & PICKS

BY ADAM GREENE

Look at us. For the first time in three tries we’ve made it all the way through a spring football season to an actual playoff (the AAF folded and COVID-19 halted the last XFL attempt). Whether we’ll make it two in a row (or three with the return of the XFL next year, who can say?).

But the playoffs ares a good thing, because we’ve got odds, spreads and totals with which to make some cash.

PHILADELPHIA STARS AT NEW JERSEY GENERALS (-4.5, O/U: 47.5)

We get this game two weeks in a row as just a eight days before, in their meaningless Week 10 match up, the Generals outlasted the Stars 26-23.

In a losing effort for Philadelphia, Case Cookus was again mediocre, completing 57.6 percent of his passes for 244 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He added 33 yards on the ground. Matt Coburn II also rushed 10 times for 39 yards and a touchdown. Bug Howard caught five passes for 101 yards. Jordan Suell also hauled in a touchdown.

For the Generals Luis Perez was razor sharp, going 14 for 18 for 138 yards, three touchdowns with no picks. De’Andre Johnson was just as good in split time, going 8 of 10 for 112 yards. Trey Williams had 11 carries for 114 yards and a TD. J’Mon Moore had seven grabs for 84 yards and two touchdowns. Darrius Shepherd caught six balls for 79 yards.

Last week’s game was a good one and I see this one going the same way. That means that spread is a tad too big, so let’s go with New Jersey to win but not cover. Generals 27, Stars 24

NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS AT BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS (-4.5, O/U: 44.5)

The Breakers took a hard “L” in their regular season finale, losing 20-3 to the Houston Gamblers, a team that had all of two victories before last week. With nothing on the line, the Stallions bounced back from their own loss to the Gamblers, taking out the Tampa Bay Bandits 21-18.

Last week, New Orleans got absolutely nothing from Shea Patterson at quarterback. He did go 10 of 15 for only 47 yards. Frankly, no one on offense did much of anything, which is how you end up with just three points.

Alex McGough did most of the work at QB for the Stallions last week, completing 56 percent of his passes for 183 yards, a TD and a pick. He rushed for 30 yards and a touchdown. CJ Marable carried the ball eight times for 47 yards and a score. Sage Surratt had three receptions for 60 yards.

Birmingham is absolutely begging to be knocked out of the tournament early and if they’d switched up the seeds, making the South No. 1 play the North No. 2 for instance, we could have had something. Instead, New Orleans won’t be able to do much against the Stallions defense and this game will be a hard watch. Stallions 23, Breakers 10

Last week

Straight up: 2-2

Against the spread: 2-2

Season

Straight up: 25-15

Against the spread: 19-21

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter @TheFirstMan.

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