{"id":23874,"date":"2023-04-21T20:02:09","date_gmt":"2023-04-22T00:02:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/?p=23874"},"modified":"2023-04-21T20:02:11","modified_gmt":"2023-04-22T00:02:11","slug":"usfl-week-2-preview-picks-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/usfl\/usfl-week-2-preview-picks-2\/","title":{"rendered":"USFL WEEK 2 PREVIEW & PICKS"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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

Our second spring football league is underway, thanks to the return of the USFL last week<\/a>. While the XFL is wrapping up its regular season, the USFL is just getting started on year two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The biggest issue with last year\u2019s version of the USFL was the quarterback play and, so far, it doesn\u2019t appear like it\u2019s been solved. Sure, there were a handful of solid performances and a couple of guys put up big numbers, but overall it was pretty rough. The main reason the NFL needs the XFL (which did much better with its QBs this season) and the USFL to succeed is for them to become a farm system, especially for signal callers. It\u2019s the value that was lost when the NFL shut down NFL Europe, a league that gave us not one, but two Super Bowl champions in Kurt Warner (Amsterdam Admirals) and Brad Johnson (London Monarchs), as well as Jake Delhomme (Amsterdam Admirals and Frankfurt Galaxy), who took the Carolina Panthers to a Super Bowl. Guys like John Kitna (Barcelona Dragons), Kelly Holcombe (Barcelona Dragons), Jay Fiedler (Amsterdam Admirals), Scott Mitchell (Orlando Thunder) and Shaun Hill (Amsterdam Admirals) all had solid NFL careers as spot starters and back ups. Hey, even Super Bowl winning head coach Doug Pederson took snaps in the NFLE\/ World League as QB for the New York\/New Jersey Knights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We also got some all-  time players at other positions including kickoff returner Dante Hall (Scottish Claymores), kicker David Akers (Berlin Thunder), Super Bowl winning linebacker James Harrison (Rhein Fire) and probably the second kicker to be tabbed for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Adam Vinatieri (Amsterdam Admirals).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We need at least one of these leagues to succeed. Hell, it\u2019d be great if both would and, honestly, I wish the NFL would get more involved in helping them add quality players.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regardless, we have odds, lines and totals<\/a> for Week 2 and some games to pick. So let\u2019s get to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

POWER RANKINGS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS (1-0)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I hope you are sitting down, because last year\u2019s best USFL team, the Stallions, sure look like 2023\u2019s best team too after a blowout victory over the New Jersey Generals in Week 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. PHILADELPHIA STARS (1-0)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Philadelphia held off a late, fourth quarter surge from the Memphis Showboats, but opened their 2023 season, and USFL North title defense, with a victory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS (1-0)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Breakers were a playoff team last season and showed nothing last week to prove they won\u2019t be in the USFL mix in 2023 by cruising to a win over the Pittsburgh Maulers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. MICHIGAN PANTHERS (1-0)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After spending all of last season as one of the worst football franchises on the planet, a coaching change from Jeff Fisher to Mike Nolan has already paid dividends with an impressive Week 1 victory over the Houston Gamblers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. NEW JERSEY GENERALS (0-1)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the Generals are going to make up for the missed opportunity in the playoffs a season ago, they\u2019ll have to put on a better show than they did in Week 1. Last year, New Jersey was one of the league\u2019s top offenses. In Week 1, they scored a measly 10 points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS (0-1)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Todd Haley\u2019s rechristened Tampa Bay Bandits made a game of it, getting within a single score, but the Showboats name didn\u2019t change their late-game fortunes as they opened the 2023 campaign with a loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. HOUSTON GAMBLERS (0-1)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last season, the Gamblers were a mediocre USFL team. After Week 1 of the 2023 season, they look like they\u2019ve taken a real step. Downward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. PITTSBURGH MAULERS (0-1)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In spite of Jeff Fisher coaching the Michigan Panthers, the Maulers were officially the worst team in the USFL a season ago and, therefore, the worst professional football team on planet Earth. While they didn\u2019t look completely worthless last Sunday, they still opened 2023 with a loss. Something Pittsburgh has to be sick of by now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

HOUSTON GAMBLERS AT NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS (-6.5, O\/U: 38.5)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, if you hoped that 2023 could look different for the Houston Gamblers, last week\u2019s 29-13 blowout loss to the formerly hapless Michigan Panthers was a serious wake up call. Kenji Bahar had a rough day under center, finishing 13 of 22 for 109 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions. He added two scrambles for 16yards. TJ Pledger rushed 16 times for 41 yards and two scores. Josh Pederson led the receivers with a rough two catches for a paltry 23 yards. Khalan Tolson ended his night with eight tackles and one for a loss. Nick Grant and Chigozie Nnoruka finished with six tackles each. Nnoruka added a tackle for a loss. Reggie Walker had four tackles and a sack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New Orleans proved itself to be one of the top USFL teams a year ago, making the postseason in its inaugural (at least, for the USFL 2.0 version) season. They look as if they\u2019re ready to make another run after an impressive 22-15 Week 1 win over the Pittsburgh Maulers last Sunday. McLeod Bethel-Thompson put up some solid numbers at quarterback in his 2023 debut, going 23 of 41 for 302 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. He added four carries for 16 yards. The team was led by Anthony Jones on the ground, who rushed 19 times for 46 yards. He added six catches for 29 yards and a score. Sam Surrat caught five passes for 85 yards. Jonathan Adams had five receptions for 70 yards. Lee Morris grabbed three receptions for 51 yards and Johnnie Dixon hauled in three balls for 44. Greg Eisworth II finished with eight tackles and one for a loss. Alex Thomas and Vontae Diggs ended the game with five tackles apiece. Thomas added a pass defense. Keonte Schad recorded two tackles, one sack and one tackle for a loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Houston again looks like they\u2019ll be swirling around the bottom of the league. New Orleans did what they needed in Week 1 to get a victory. I think they\u2019ll do the same in Week 2. Breakers 23, Gamblers 13<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS AT BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS (-7.5, O\/U: 44.5)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A fourth quarter comeback fell just short for the Showboats last Saturday. In the team\u2019s 2023 debut, Memphis fell 27-23 to last year\u2019s USFL North champion Philadelphia Stars. Brady White had a passable curtain raising for the Showboats, going 16 of 29 for 182 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He scrambled four times for 29 yards. Cole Kelley got a handful of snaps at QB, finishing 2 of 5 for 16 yards. Alex Collins rushed 14 times for 63 yards and one TD. Rashard Davis caught two passes for 75 yards and a score. Ryan McDaniel hauled in four passes for 44 yards and a touchdown. On defense, Troy Warner recorded seven tackles. Antonio Reed and Stephen Griffin had six tackles apiece. Anthony Butler, Jeff McCulloch and John Atkins ended their afternoon with five tackles each.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Birmingham opened its USFL title defense in impressive fashion, taking out the New Jersey Generals 27-10 to open their 2023 campaign. J\u2019Mar Smith finished 10 of 15 for 160 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Alex McGough split time at quarterback, going 7 of 11 for 68 yards and a TD. McGough led the Stallions with six rushes for 51 yards and a score. Jace Sternberger caught five passes for 62 yards and a touchdown. Austin Watkins caught one pass for a 61-yard TD. Christian McFarland posted 12 tackles. Nate Holley and Nate Brooks had six tackles each, with Brooks adding a pass defense. Lorenzo Burns and TJ Green finished with five tackles apiece.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a tough draw for Memphis after taking a close loss, but Birmingham already looks in midseason form. They should be too much for the West Tennessee crew. Stallions 24, Showboats 17<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

NEW JERSEY GENERALS AT PITTSBURGH MAULERS (+5, O\/U: 36.5)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was supposed to be a chance for the Generals to right a wrong. To prove that their stumble in the 2022 USFL North Championship game against the Philadelphia Stars was a fluke and that New Jersey was the team that should have done battle with the Birmingham Stallions in the USFL title game. Instead, they were humiliated on opening day by those same Stallions, losing 27-10. Dakota Prukop took the majority of snaps at quarterback for Jersey, going 13 of 17 for 148 yards, no touchdowns and no picks. He did scramble four times for 12 yards and a touchdown. De\u2019Andre Johnson was an ineffective 4 of 13 for just 29 yards. He did add seven rushes for 45 yards. Darius Victor had a day at running back, carrying the ball just eight times, but gaining 89 yards. That\u2019s 11.1 yards per carry and, while he did have one scamper for 48 yards, that still means he averaged 5.8 yards per carry outside of that. Cam Echols-Lupor caught five passes for 54 yards. Braedon Bowman grabbed three receptions for 40 yards. Chris Orr ended his night with nine tackles and two for a loss. Mike Bell, Jr. and Dravon Askew-Henry recorded five tackles apiece.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the Maulers kept the final result within a single score, they still did that thing they did so well a season ago \u2014 lose. Pittsburgh fell to the New Orleans Breakers 22-15 last Sunday. James Morgan was awful at quarterback, going 6 of 15 for 40 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions. Troy Williams was just as bad, finishing 4 of 12 for only 23 yards. That\u2019s right. We had a total of 81 yards passing between two guys who combined for a nauseating 37 completion percentage. Duane Gary led all rushers with three (yes, three) carries for 34 yards. Trey Walker caught three passes for 42 yards. On defense, former San Francisco 49er Reuben Foster led the team with 12 tackles. Mark Gilbert had seven tackles. Kyahva Tezino finished with six tackles and a defensive touchdown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New Jersey is smarting from an embarrassing Week 1 loss. Pittsburgh has to be used to embarrassing losses by now. I think they\u2019ll be handed another one. Generals 27, Maulers 16<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

MICHIGAN PANTHERS AT PHILADELPHIA STARS (-3, O\/U: 46)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What a difference a year can make. Mike Nolan made his USFL debut in impressive fashion, leading the Panthers to a 29-13 beat down over the Houston Gamblers last Sunday. Josh Love took the majority of snaps at quarterback, going 18 of 20 for 215 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. Coming off the bench, Carson Strong was an impressive 5 for 5 for 34 yards. Stevie Scott III rushed 12 times for 61 yards and a TD. Joe Walker caught six passes for 105 yards and a score. Ishmael Hyman hauled in five receptions for 32 yards. Trey Quinn caught three for 32 and a TD. Marcus Baugh had two grabs for 28 yards and a touchdown. Breeland and Frank Ginda picked up seven tackles each. Speaks added three sacks and two tackles for a loss. Noah Dawkins and Sean Mahone posted six tackles apiece. Dawkins added a pass defense and an interception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Stars picked up right where they left off in 2022, ruining the debut of the Memphis Showboats, 27-23, last Saturday. Case Cookus had an incredible day behind center, finishing 20 of 29 for 212 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. He led Philly with seven rushes for 31 yards. Matt Colburn II carried the ball five times for 30 yards and caught two passes for 14 yards and a touchdown.. Dexter Williams rushed nine times for just 11 yards, but scored a touchdown. Devin Gray caught seven passes for 77 yards and a TD. Former Cleveland Browns first round pick Corey Coleman had four receptions for 65 yards. Chris Rowland hauled in three balls for 31 yards and a score. Amani Dennis, Cody Brown and Te\u2019Von Coney all finished with six tackles. Dennis had a pass defense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We can all get excited about what we saw from Michigan last week, but Philadelphia is a proven commodity and I\u2019m going with them for now. But, hey, Panthers. I\u2019m rooting for you. Stars 23, Panthers 17<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last week<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Straight up:<\/strong> 3-1<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Against the spread:<\/strong> 2-2<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Season<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Straight up:<\/strong> 3-1<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Against the spread:<\/strong> 3-1<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Connect with us our socials on <\/em>Twitter<\/em><\/a> and <\/em>Instagram<\/em><\/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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