{"id":22141,"date":"2022-04-15T23:17:37","date_gmt":"2022-04-16T03:17:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/?p=22141"},"modified":"2022-04-15T23:17:39","modified_gmt":"2022-04-16T03:17:39","slug":"usfl-season-and-week-1-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/nfl\/usfl-season-and-week-1-preview\/","title":{"rendered":"USFL SEASON AND WEEK 1 PREVIEW"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

BY ADAM GREENE<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to the USFL, I will admit to you that I have gone full Jon Snow from Game of Thrones<\/em>. I know nothing<\/a>. I\u2019m coming in almost blind and considering the odds for Week 1, I am not alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They say in football playing at home is worth three points and that\u2019s where pretty much every game sits considering they\u2019re all being played at the same place. There are exceptions, the New Orleans Breakers have been publicly shamed as a -2 favorite and the Tampa Bay Bandits are obviously the juggernaut of the USFL as -4 favorites. With the Breakers, I can only take it as a personal indictment of hilariously named head coach Larry Fedora and the roster they\u2019ve cobbled together from NFL castoffs, Subway Sandwich Artists and guys that were just few hours away from earning their real estate licenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This should be a league boasting guys like Johnny Manziel, Colin Kaepernick, Tim Tebow and eventually Baker Mayfield and\/or Sam Darnold. Instead we get guys like Case Cookus and Alex McGough, two guys you could not have convinced me yesterday were real people. Case Cookus? Really?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, hey, it\u2019s football. Real football of a sort and if the last two shots at a minor league NFL are any indication, we should get some good action (and potential NFL quarterbacks) out of this league. And make some money wagering while we\u2019re at it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The USFL will play 10 weeks, all in Birmingham, Ala. There\u2019ll be a four-team playoff held in Canton, Ohio at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium beginning on June. 25. Now we just have to figure out who\u2019ll make it there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NORTH DIVISION<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

MICHIGAN<\/strong> PANTHERS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Head Coach:<\/strong> Jeff Fisher (NFL Record: 178-171-1)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Projected Record:<\/strong> 7-3<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Championship Odds:<\/strong> +450<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Notable players:<\/strong> Paxton Lynch – QB, Quincy Adeboyejo \u2013 WR, Jeff Badet \u2013 WR, Marquel Harrell \u2013 OG, Sean Pollard \u2013 OL, Cameron Scott \u2013 RB, TJ Carter \u2013 DT, Joseph Putu – CB<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With all these teams coming in fresh and with very few of these guys playing actual football in a while, the defenses should have the early edge in some low scoring games. No one has coached in more low scoring games than Fisher, who never once saw a 17-14 final score with which he didn\u2019t fall madly in love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The irony of picking Fisher\u2019s team to win seven games is that just so happens to be where he topped out in his last stint in the NFL with the Los Angeles\/St. Louis Rams. And while I do think the Panthers will be the best team in the north, nothing would be funnier than Fisher, in the USFL, finishing at .500 or below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NEW JERSEY GENERALS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Head Coach:<\/strong> Mike Riley (College Record: 112-99, NFL Record: 14-34, CFL Record: 40-32, WLAF Record: 11-9, AAF Record: 5-3)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Projected Record:<\/strong> 6-4<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Championship Odds:<\/strong> +700<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Notable Players: <\/strong>Luis Perez – QB, Toby Johnson \u2013 DT, Trae Elston \u2013 CB, Cameron Echols-Luper \u2013 WR, J\u2019Mon Moore \u2013 WR, Kavonte Turpin \u2013 WR, Chrisitan Tutt \u2013 CB, Bryson Young – DE<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No man in history has coached more meaningless games than Mike Riley. As such, he should be more prepared than anyone to put a ragtag group of misfits together and make a run at the first 21st<\/sup> Century USFL title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Riley\u2019s AAF squad, the San Antonio Commanders, was one of the best in that league before it folded. He should have better players a few more resources to work with in the USFL.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PITTSBURGH<\/strong> MAULERS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Head Coach:<\/strong> Kirby Wilson (No Head Coaching Experience)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Projected Record:<\/strong> 5-5<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Championship Odds:<\/strong> +600<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Notable Players:<\/strong> Isaiah Battle \u2013 OL, Kyle Lauletta \u2013 QB, Jeff Thomas \u2013 WR, Ajene Harris \u2013 CB, Vadale Alexander \u2013 OL, Nico Falah \u2013 OL, Madre London \u2013 RB, Carlo Kemp \u2013 DE,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is Wilson\u2019s first shot at running a team after serving as the running backs coach for seven NFL teams since 2002.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So why the .500 prediction? This isn\u2019t the worst roster. And the fact that Wilson has consistently kept NFL jobs, learning from some of the best (Mike Tomlin, Kliff Kingsburty) and worst (Jon Gruden, Hue Jackson) head coaches in the NFL means that he\u2019s seen it all. Plus, he\u2019s got a couple of Super Bowl rings with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (XXXVII) and Steelers (XLIII) in the process. This is a guy that could have probably landed an NFL job, something none of these other guys can say. Instead, he chose to be a head coach in the USFL to prove he has the chops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PHILADELPHIA<\/strong> STARS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Head Coach:<\/strong> Bart Andrus (College Record: 6-4, Junior College Record: 2-8)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Projected Record:<\/strong> 3-7<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Championship Odds:<\/strong> +600<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Notable Players:<\/strong> Devin Gray \u2013 WR, Jahir Jones \u2013 OL, Diondre Overton \u2013 WR, Bradley Sylve \u2013 CB, Blake Camper \u2013 OT, Brennan Eagles \u2013 WR, Michael Barnett \u2013 DT, Te-Von Coney \u2013 LB, Gus Cumberlander \u2013 DE, Channing Stribling – CB<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Riley might have coached more meaningless, games, no one has been an assistant coach in more forgettable football contests than Andrus. His last NFL job was in 2013 with the St. Louis Rams. Since then he\u2019s coached for such revered institutions as Feather River College, the Ottawa Gee-Gees and, I kid you not, the 2019 version of the XFL\u2019s practice squad. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

SOUTH DIVISION<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

TAMPA<\/strong> BAY BANDITS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Head Coach:<\/strong> Todd Haley (NFL Coaching Record: 19-27)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Projected Record:<\/strong> 7-3<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Championship Odds<\/strong>: +400<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Notable Players:<\/strong> Derrick Dillon \u2013 WR, Jarron Jones \u2013 OT, Eli Rogers \u2013 WR, Jordan Ta\u2019amu \u2013 QB, Quenton Meeks \u2013 CB, Adam Shuler \u2013 DE<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Haley\u2019s best run in the NFL came with the Arizona Cardinals as their offensive coordinator, teaming with Kurt Warner for an NFC Championship. After he flamed out as head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, he had a solid run as the playcaller for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He made the mistake of joining Hue Jackson\u2019s staff in Cleveland as offensive coordinator and that was it for him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Haley can call a professional offense, but his Cleveland faceplant is the reason he\u2019s in the USFL instead of working in the NFL. The Bandits should be able to play offense and score points. If Haley could do that in Cleveland under Jackson, he should be able to do it anywhere. Plus, it doesn\u2019t hurt the mojo that this was the team originally owned by Burt Reynolds in the USFL\u2019s first go-round.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HOUSTON<\/strong> GAMBLERS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Head Coach:<\/strong> Kevin Sumlin (College Record: 95-63)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Projected Record<\/strong>: 6-4<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Championship Odds:<\/strong> +750<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Notable Players:<\/strong> Tyler Simmons \u2013 WR, Mark Thompson \u2013 RB, Clayton Thorson \u2013 QB, Micah Abernathy \u2013 CB, Ryan White – CB<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sumlin\u2019s collegiate career flamed out in Arizona after an 0-5 start in 2020. In his previous stints with Texas A&M and Housotn, he\u2019d only coached in one losing season and hit double digit wins three times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a league where everyone\u2019s on the same talent level and there\u2019s no recruiting, Sumlin should be able to shine. If these minor leagues can serve as training ground for NFL players, a guy like Sumlin can use it to get back into the NCAA ranks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NEW ORLEANS<\/strong> BREAKERS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Head Coach<\/strong>: Larry Fedora (College Record: 79-62)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Projected record:<\/strong> 4-6<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Championship Odds:<\/strong> +450<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Notable Players:<\/strong> Sal Cannella \u2013 TE, Johnnie Dixon \u2013 WR, Taywan Taylor \u2013 WR, Kyle Sloter \u2013 QB, Adonis Alexander \u2013 CB, Shareef Miller – DE<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fedora didn\u2019t have the college career and success that Sumlin can boast, but it wasn\u2019t bad. A flame out at North Carolina brings him to the USFL and an opportunity to rehab his career and land back in Division I.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, his roster doesn\u2019t hold a lot of promise and he doesn\u2019t quite have the chops of some of his fellow coaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BIRMINGHAM<\/strong> STALLIONS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Head Coach:<\/strong> Skip Holtz (College Record: 152-121)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Projected Record:<\/strong> 2-8<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Championship Odds:<\/strong> +800<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Notable Players:<\/strong> Tony Brooks-James \u2013 RB, Osirus Mitchell \u2013 WR, DeMarquis Gates \u2013 LB, Tyree Robinson \u2013 Safety, Scooby Wright – LB<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skip Holtz finds his way to the USFL courtesy of his own NCAA crash and burn. He had a decent run at Louisiana Tech, but two straight losing seasons sent him to the unemployment line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Holtz, the son of Lou Holtz, is used to building rosters from players no one else wants, having never coached at any school that mattered. But, hey,  somebody\u2019s got to finish last and I\u2019m picking him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PROJECTED CHAMPION:<\/strong> Tampa Bay Bandits<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The odds favor the Bandits and if Haley can\u2019t get it done against these coaches, he should hang up his whistle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WEEK ONE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SATURDAY<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

NEW JERSEY GENERALS AT BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS (-3, O\/U: 42.5)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Generals and Stallions kick off the league in the Saturday featured game. Generals 24, Stallions 13<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SUNDAY<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

HOUSTON<\/strong> GAMBLERS AT MICHIGAN PANTHERS (-3, O\/U: 43)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jeff Fisher will probably enjoy his largest TV audience as a head coach since his time with the Tennessee Titans. Panthers 17, Gamblers 13<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

PHILADELPHIA<\/strong> STARS AT NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS (-2, O\/U: 43)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By my reckoning, these are two of the worst teams in the league. But since I\u2019m Jon Snow, they could end up playing for the title. Stars 20, Breakers 17<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

TAMPA<\/strong> BAY BANDITS AT PITTSBURGH MAULERS (+4, O\/U: 42)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, we have Haley\u2019s Bandits, the team the odds like the best and so do I. This would be a great time to trip face first into a bucket of horse manure for old Todd, but I\u2019m rolling with him. This looks like the best game of the week. Bandits 31, Maulers 24<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter @TheFirstMan<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Connect with us our socials on Twitter<\/a> and Instagram<\/a> for the latest sports news, viral moments, betting odds and the occasional memes.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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