USFL WEEK 3 PREVIEW & PICKS

BY ADAM GREENE

Hey, we have good news. While the ratings took a nosedive for the USFL’s second week of action, they did not take as bad a nosedive as the AAF league two seasons ago. So, chances are good that we’ll get a full season in. I’m glad, because we actually had two pretty good football games sandwiched between two dumpster fires last week.

One of the big problems with the USFL so far is the lack of star power. And, sure, there’s no way you’re getting a guy on an NFL roster to purposefully play spring football, but the fact that Fan Controlled Football, which I can not find on my TV package, boasts Johnny Manziel and a 50 year old Terrell Owens while the USFL trots out Case Cookus and Brady White seems like a real problem to me.

Call up Josh Freeman. How about Vince Young? Jake Locker? Where’s DeShone Kizer or Christian Hackenberg? Seriously, where are they? People have been asking who’s going to cover their next shifts at Carrabba’s.

But, hey, some of us are glad there’s spring football, if for no other reason than to bet on the games.

SATURDAY

TAMPA BAY BANDITS AT HOUSTON GAMBLERS (+1.5, O/U: 39)

The Bandits and Gamblers both took hard losses last week. Houston went down in a shootout, losing 33-28 to the Birmingham Stallions. Tampa Bay never got into the end zone, falling 34-3 to the New Orleans Breakers.

Clayton Thorson completed just 48.1 percent of his passes 141 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions in the loss. Mark Thompson rushed 16 times for 93 yards.

The Bandits’ Jordan Ta’amu had an equally bad day throwing the football, completing only 44.4 percent of his passes for just 62 yards and one pick.

With both these teams in the South Division with what appears to be the young league’s best team (the Breakers), falling two games back at this point could turn out to be insurmountable.

I thought Tampa’s lack of a run game would hurt them last week and it did. I see it getting no better for Burt Reynold’s old squad Saturday. Gamblers 23, Bandits 16

BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS AT NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS (-4, O/U: 44.5)

Speaking of the Breakers, they get the nightcap on the USFL’s Saturday slate and the largest total since the opening week lines (when none of us knew what the hell to expect). New Orleans has, for consecutive weeks, looked like a real football team and cruised to a 34-3 win over the Bandits last Sunday.

Birmingham too, in front of the only home fans in the USFL, has put on an offensive show, winning two shootouts in a row. Last week, they blasted by the Gamblers 33-28.

Kyle Sloter had a legit day for New Orleans, finishing 25 of 39 for 266 yards and two touchdowns. Jordan Ellis rushed 21 times for 64 yards and Jonathan Adams caught five passes for 95 yards.

For Birmingham, J’Mar Smith was 20 of 30 for 229 yards, two touchdowns and a pick. C.J. Marable carried the ball 16 times for 76 yards and a score. Breakout USFL star Osirus Mitchell had three catches for 48 yards and a TD and Marlon Williams caught three for 88 yards and a touchdown.

The Stallions can score, but don’t seem able to stop anyone. These are the league’s two best squads from the looks of it, but the Breakers look more complete on both sides of the ball. Breakers 31, Stallions 27

SUNDAY

PITTSBURGH MAULERS AT MICHIGAN PANTHERS (-2.5, O/U: 38.5)

While Saturday ends with the USFL’s two best teams, our Sunday of action begins with the two worst. The Pittsburgh Maulers at least put up a fight before falling 30-23 to the Philadelphia Stars. The Michigan Panthers, on the other hand, looked every bit like a Jeff Fisher coached team, losing 10-6 to the New Jersey Generals in what might be the worst game of professional football played in the last two years.

Josh Love had a mediocre day for the Maulers, which was pretty good by USFL standards. He finished 21 of 39 for 236 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Garrett Groshek rushed 18 times for 77 yards and Bailey Gaither, by my accounting, is the first USFL receiver to eclipse 100 yards receiving, hauling in seven catches for 117 yards and a score.

Shae Patterson was predictably garbage for the Panthers, completing 48.3 percent of his passes for 124 yards. Paxton Lynch never saw the field. Well, he saw it, sure as long as he wasn’t blindfolded, gagged and tied up back in the locker room. He never set foot on the playing surface is what I’m saying.

The Maulers seem to be able to put up a fight. The Panthers look in every way like a team of Jeff Fisher superstars. They might not win a game. Maulers 24, Panthers 10

NEW JERSEY GENERALS AT PHILADELPHIA STARS (-1, O/U: 40.5)

Someone will be King of the North after Sunday as the only two North Division teams with victories face off in the final game of the weekend. The Stars knocked off the Maulers 30-23 last Saturday and, if you can be embarrassed by a victory, the Generals should be, holding on to a 10-6 win over the pathetic Panthers Friday night.

Louis Perez and De’Andre Johnson split time at QB again for the Generals. Perez finished 13 of 19 for 97 yards and a pick. Johnson was 5 of 6 for 48 yards passing and added 27 yards on the ground.

Bryan Scott was the best QB of the week, completing 72.2 percent of his passes for the Stars for 272 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Maurice Alexander caught eight passes for 87 yards and two touchdowns.

If the Generals can only manage 10 points against the Panthers, I’m not sure how they can score with the Stars. Stars 33, Generals 17

Last Week

Straight up: 4-0

Against the spread: 4-0

Season

Straight up: 5-3

Against the spread: 5-3

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter @TheFirstMan.

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