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Football is back! Action in the USFL kicks-off this weekend. For those of you looking to bet on the action look no further than the options at PointsBet.
For those of you not familiar with the league, it is a professional football league that originally burst on the scene in 1983. For those who may be wondering, there is no legal connection between the new and old USFL and no principals from the former USFL are involved in the reboot.
The return features eight teams playing in a 10-week season. Rosters are filled with primarily players and coaches you may recognize from the NFL or college football.
The USFL does feature a few wrinkles designed to make the games more fan friendly. For example, after a touchdown you can go for a 1,2, or 3-point conversion. Onsides kicks are not a part of the USFL. Instead, a team can elect to “go for it” on 4th and 12 from their own 33-yard line. If the team converts the drive continues.
Coming into the season the Tampa Bay Bandits are the +400 favorite to win it all at PointsBet. They are followed by the Michigan Panthers at 5:1. The Panthers are coached by long-time NFL head coach Jeff Fisher.
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New Jersey Generals vs. Birmingham Stallions (-2.5) Total: 42.5
Today’s game features the New Jersey Generals vs. the Birmingham Stallions. Birmingham opened as a 2.5point favorite. Currently at PointsBet that number is juiced to -115. Since all USFL games will be played in Alabama the Stallions are the only team with a true home-field advantage (or because all teams play in Birmingham is the Stallions’ advantage in name only?).
The New Jersey Generals will be an interesting team to watch. They are coached by Mike Riley who has coach the San Diego Chargers and the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Riley will start Luis Perez at quarterback but look for dual threat QB De’Andre Johnson to also see some work. Former Ohio State running back Mike Weber should also see significant work in the backfield.
The Stallions are led by Head Coach Skip Holtz. Holtz last coached at Louisiana Tech. Former Florida International quarterback Alex McGough will look to former UCF wide receiver C.J. Marble to keep the offense moving.
As you can imagine handicapping this league will be tough in the beginning. I would advise bettors to go easy in the early going. The Total in today’s game opened up at 55. That number has since been steamed down to 42.5. I hate to back the worst of the number but expect defenses to be ahead of offenses in the early going.
Edge: Under 42.5
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