{"id":23933,"date":"2023-05-05T14:36:36","date_gmt":"2023-05-05T18:36:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/?p=23933"},"modified":"2023-05-10T14:55:06","modified_gmt":"2023-05-10T18:55:06","slug":"usfl-week-4-preview-picks-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/usfl\/usfl-week-4-preview-picks-2\/","title":{"rendered":"USFL WEEK 4 PREVIEW & PICKS"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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

Our third week of the second USFL campaign<\/a> might have been the best since the league returned a season ago. We had multiple shootouts and big scores that were very TV friendly as they competed with the XFL playoffs, as well as the NBA and NHL postseason and the first full month of Major League Baseball.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s truly interesting at this point is we have just one team with a perfect record, the 3-0 New Orleans Breakers. You can thank the schedulers for that, creating better match ups early on as well as improvements in a few of the teams that were cellar dwellers back in 2022. It\u2019ll be nice to see some separation start to develop as the year progresses. Parity might be the goal in a 32 team National Football league, but no one wants to see a bunch of 5-5 USFL teams meet up in the postseason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the XFL wraps up, the USFL is heading to its halfway mark and we have the odds, lines and totals<\/a> with which to make watching these contests of athletics that much more interesting. Here\u2019s how things stack up for the USFL\u2019s Week 4 and the game picks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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

It took three weeks, but we have a new power in the USFL as the Breakers delivered a solid beat down on the defending champion Birmingham Stallions last Saturday by double digits after holding Birmingham scoreless in the third quarter. Last week:<\/strong> No. 2<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS (2-1)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A goose egg on the scoreboard in the third quarter handed the Stallions their first loss in nearly a year. Birmingham went down swinging, but still fell by double digits in an entertaining shootout with this week\u2019s new top ranked New Orleans Breakers. Last week:<\/strong> No. 1<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. NEW JERSEY GENERALS (2-1)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Generals got their early season back on track with a big win over the suddenly formidable Michigan Panthers thanks to a defensive performance that held the Big Cats to just three points in the second half. Last week:<\/strong> No. 4<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. MICHIGAN PANTHERS (2-1)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, after two strong weeks of actual professional football, the Panthers fell back to Earth in Week 3. It doesn\u2019t mean the feel good story is over as the season is young, but the disappearance of the offense in the second half of their loss to the New Jersey Generals should be a concern. Last week:<\/strong> No. 3<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. HOUSTON GAMBLERS (1-2)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Houston finally got off the schneid with a little help from the Memphis Showboats, winning an entertaining shootout and holding off a comeback attempt to pick up their first victory of 2023. Last week:<\/strong> No. 6<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. PITTSBURGH MAULERS (1-2)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Pittsburgh Maulers are the worst team in the USFL no more. I have no memory of how long it took the Maulers to pick up their first victory in 2022, but I know for sure it didn\u2019t happen in Week 3 and it absolutely didn\u2019t come against the Philadelphia Stars, last season\u2019s USFL runner up. Last week:<\/strong> No. 8<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

The Stars have gone from the second best team in the league, falling in the USFL Championship a year ago, to being the second worst in the Power Rankings after falling to the formerly hapless (and maybe still hapless, the season is young) Pittsburgh Maulers last Sunday. Last week:<\/strong> No. 5<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS (0-3)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Showboats \u201cshowed\u201d up to play last week against the Houston Gamblers, but unfortunately they skipped a couple of quarters scoring. Memphis roared back in the fourth quarter, but fell just short to remain winless on the 2023 season. Last week:<\/strong> No. 7<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

HOUSTON GAMBLERS AT PHILADELPHIA STARS (-2, O\/U: 46)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Houston picked up its first win of the year thanks to playing what, at least three weeks in, is the worst team in the USFL. The Gamblers held off a fourth quarter comeback from the Memphis Showboats to win 30-26 last week. Kenji Bahar was relatively sharp at QB, going 22 of 36 for 235 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Mark Thompson rushed 21 times for 81 yards and two scores. TJ Pledger had four carries for 44 yards. Justin Hall hauled in six passes for 90 yards and two TDs. Josh Pederson caught four balls for 63 yards. Donald Rutledge, Jr. racked up 10 tackles and two passes defended. Khalan Tolson had seven tackles and half a sack. Dayan Lake and Roheen Bingham wrapped their day with five tackles apiece, with Bingham recording half a sack and one tackle for a loss. Lake added two tackles for a loss and a pass defense. JT Tyler finished with four tackles, one interception and two passes defended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the Stars are going to make a return to the USFL postseason, they will need to be much less generous with the football. Philadelphia quarterback Case Cookus turned the ball over three times in a 21-13 defeat to the previously winless Pittsburgh Maulers last Sunday. In addition to tossing two picks and losing a fumble, Cookus was 23 of 36 for 238 yards and a touchdown. Matt Colburn II led the team in rushing with a pathetic eight carries for 16 yards. Corey Coleman caught eight passes for 86 yards and a TD. Diondre Overton hauled in six balls for 77 yards. Adam Rodriguez turned in his timecard with eight tackles, two sacks, two tackles for a loss and a pass defense. Denzel Wilkins, Sean Brown and Gabriel Sewell, Jr. all had six tackles apiece, with Wilkins adding a sack and tackle for a loss. Jordan Genmark Heath, whose name sounds like some weird bank out west that\u2019s trying to collapse the economy, had five tackles and one for a loss. LaDarius Wiley and Ali Fayad both ended their evenings with five tackles apiece as well. Fayad added half a sack. Carson Taylor had two tackles, one sack and one tackle for a loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is tough, because Houston could still be hot garbage and their one victory doesn\u2019t really prove anything. Philly was good last year, but looks very much like a steaming pile this season. So, you\u2019ve got your choice between heated refuse. I\u2019m going with the Stars. Stars 23, Gamblers 20<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS AT MICHIGAN PANTHERS (-6, O\/U: 44.5)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Showboats put on their best offensive performance of the season, but it wasn\u2019t enough as they fell 30-26 to the Houston Gamblers last week in spite of a 16-point flurry in the fourth quarter. Cole Kelley was 21 of 38 for 307 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He led the team in rushing with 17 yards. No other runner hit double digits. Ryan McDaniel caught three passes for 71 yards and a score. John Mitchell had two grabs for 56 yards. Kerrith Whyte hauled in two passes for 26 yards and a touchdown. Jay Jay Wilson had only two receptions, but did catch a TD. The awesomely named Lamont McPhatter II recorded eight tackles, an interception and a pass defense. Greg Reaves had eight tackles as well and half a sack. TJ Neal and Aaron Hansford recorded seven tackles apiece, with Neal adding a tackle for a loss. Big Kat Bryant (that\u2019s the name on the roster. I have no clue if it\u2019s on his birth certificate) finished with six tackles and Troy Warner ended his afternoon with five.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After a hot start to the season, Michigan\u2019s offense decided to not come out of the locker room at halftime in their game against the New Jersey Generals. The Panthers were held to just three points in the second half in a 28-13 loss to the Generals last Sunday. Josh Love\u2019s day under center left plenty to be desired. He finished 15 of 31 for 101 yards, no touchdowns and one pick for a 42.5 quarterback rating. Carson Strong took some snaps and he was 4 of 9 for 62 yards and a TD with no picks. So, we might have a QB controversy brewing. Love did add three scrambles for 13 yards. Stevie Scott II led the team rushing with 12 carries for 63 yards. Reggie Corbin had eight carries for 38 yards and five receptions for 27 yards. Trey Quinn caught five passes for 61 yards and a touchdown. James Walker hauled in four for 30. So, yeah, it was that kind of day. Corrion Ballard, Sean Mahone and Noah Dawkins all finished with seven tackles apiece. Lavonta Taylor ended his day with six takedowns. Frank Ginda had five tackles. Garrett Marino had one tackle and a sack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If Memphis ever had a chance to grab a win, it would be facing a Michigan team with some sudden quarterback issues that seemed to revert back to their 2022 form. I don\u2019t trust it, though. Mike Nolan had the Panthers ready to go in the first two weeks. I think they\u2019ll bounce back here. Panthers 23, Showboats 20<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS AT NEW JERSEY GENERALS (+2, O\/U: 43)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Could last week have shown a changing of the guard atop the USFL? The New Orleans Breakers made a serious statement last Saturday, downing the defending USFL Champion Birmingham Stallions 45-31 in Birmingham. The Breakers\u2019 offense was near perfect, putting up scores in every single quarter while the defense was good enough, keeping Birmingham off the scoreboard in the third to build and hold the lead after a 24-24 tie score at halftime. McLeod Bethel-Thompson had himself a day under center, completing 20 of 28 passing for 283 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, posting a 124.6 quarterback rating. As good as that was, Wes Hills at running back did even better, rushing 34 times for 191 yards and three scores of his own. He added three catches for 16 yards. Jonathan Adams hauled in six receptions for 75 yards and a TD. Dee Anderson caught three balls for 66 yards and a touchdown. Sage Surratt caught four for 51 and Lee Morris had just one catch, but it went for a 40-yard touchdown. Greg Eisworth II finished with eight tackles. Vontae Diggs had seven takedowns and half a sack. Anree Saint-Amour and Jerod Fernandez recorded five tackles apiece, with Saint-Amour adding a sack and a tackle for a loss while Fernandez had an interception and a pass defense. Justus Reed picked up three tackles, one sack and one tackle for a loss. Keonte Schad had two tackles, one sack and a tackle for a loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Did the Generals rediscover the team that handily won the USFL North in the 2022 regular season? They looked pretty sharp last Sunday, defeating the actually formidable Michigan Panthers 28-13. De\u2019Andre Johnson didn\u2019t have to pass much, but he was efficient, going 10 of 15 for 180 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. He led the team rushing with 10 carries for 98 yards and a TD. Darius Victor did work on the ground as well, carrying the ball nine times for 68 yards and a score. He added a single reception that he took 51 yards into the paint for six. Alonzo Moore caught just one pass as well, but it was for a 72-yard touchdown. D\u2019Juan Hines notched 11 tackles and two passes defended. Chris Orr had 10 tackles. Draven Askew-Henry, whose last name sounds like someone used a thesaurus to come up with an insulting nickname about his eyebrows, had seven tackles. Trae Elston finished with six tackles, one for a loss and one pass defended. Tyshun Render had five tackles, one sack, one for a loss and two passes defended. DJ Daniel ended his night with three tackles, one interception and one pass defended. Toby Johnson had two tackles, a sack, a tackle for a loss and a pass defense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s good to see New Jersey playing real football, but New Orleans is hot right now. Of course, that usually is the recipe for a faceplant, but I\u2019m sticking with the team from the Big Easy this week. Breakers 27, Generals 24<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS AT PITTSBURGH MAULERS (+8, O\/U: 43)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Birmingham put on an offensive show of their own last weekend, but a scoreless third quarter doomed them to their first loss of the season, falling 45-31 to the New Orleans Breakers. Alex McGough had a fine day passing, going 17 of 26 for 238 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. CJ Marable led the team with six rushes for just 24 yards, but did score a TD. He added two receptions for 19 yards. Davion Davis caught five passes for 123 yards and a score. Jace Sternberger had three grabs for 29 yards and a touchdown. On defense, Tyree Robinson and Bobby Holly each recorded 10 tackles, with Robinson notching a pass defense. Christian McFarland had eight tackles. Rashad Smith and TJ Carter had seven tackles apiece, with Smith adding a tackle for a loss. Donnie Lewis II had three tackles, an interception and a pass defense. Deon Cain returned eight kicks for a massive 236 yards and scored on an 82-yard touchdown return to open the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After a nearly a full calendar year of futility, the Maulers actually won a game in impressive fashion, knocking of last season\u2019s USFL runner up the Philadelphia Stars 21-13 last Sunday. To be fair, they did win a single game last season, so they have now officially doubled their franchise win total. So, you know, pop that Champagne. Or, maybe crack an Iron City, I guess, especially since they defeated the other Pennsylvania team. Troy Williams wasn\u2019t great at quarterback in spite of the victory, going 10 of 18 for just 96 yards and a touchdown. He, at least, did not throw an interception and led the team rushing with seven carries for 65 yards. Garrett Groshek rushed 15 times for 40 yards. Mason Stokke led all receivers, and I hope you are sitting down, with two catches for 35 yards. Bailey Gaither caught four balls for 30 yards and a touchdown. It won\u2019t shock you to learn, since Pittsburgh won the game, that the defense forced multiple turnovers and short fields. Reuben Foster ended his day with 11 tackles, two for a loss, one interception and two passes defended. Bryce Torneden and Kyahva Tezino both picked up seven tackles apiece. Will Miles and Olive Sagapolu had five tackles each and both guys picked up a sack. Miles added a tackle for a loss. Tre Walker ended his afternoon with two tackles, one pick and one pass defended. Vaughn Taylor, Jr. had one tackle, one sack, one tackle for a loss and one pass defended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Maulers\u2019 defense single-handedly, and I do mean single-handedly won them their first game of the season. Facing a Birmingham team coming off its first loss in many a moon is a bad recipe. This line is probably safe. Stallions 32, Maulers 13<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Straight up:<\/strong> 1-3<\/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":"

BY ADAM GREENE Our third week of the second USFL campaign might have been the best since the league returned…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":23934,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[165],"tags":[166],"class_list":["post-23933","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-usfl","tag-usfl"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23933","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23933"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23933\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23935,"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23933\/revisions\/23935"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23934"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23933"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23933"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23933"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}