USFL Weekly Preview

The 2023 USFL season is set to begin this weekend, and the league is hoping to build on the success from a season ago. The Birmingham Stallions won the title last year, and that team is hoping to pick up another championship. 

There are two games on both Saturday and Sunday, and that will create excitement throughout the weekend. Here is a look at each of the four matchups this weekend, and a Dunkel pick and prediction is included for each game.

Philadelphia Stars at Memphis Showboats

The Philadelphia Stars begin the season on the road, and they are 2.5-point betting favorites over the Memphis Showboats. Philadelphia went 6-4 a season ago, while Memphis will be making its USFL debut in this game. 

It’s not going to be easy to handicap a Showboats game yet, as they have a lot of new faces on that roster. Philadelphia should pick up where they left off a season ago, though, and they were a team that was hard to stop. 

This game should end up with a double-digit win from the road team, and taking the Stars -2.5 is the way to go.

New Jersey Generals at Birmingham Stallions

The game of the weekend will take place in Birmingham on Saturday, as the Stallions will be hosting the New York Generals. Both teams went 9-1 during the regular season in 2022, and they should be reloaded with talent again this time around. 

Birmingham is a five-point betting favorite in this game, and they were also the champions of the USFL a season ago. New Jersey came up short in the postseason, and they just don’t have the offense to keep up. 

The Stallions are five-point betting favorites in this game, and they are going to start off the season with a win by at least a touchdown.

Michigan Panthers at Houston Gamblers

The Houston Gamblers open up their season at home as slim one-point betting favorites over the Michigan Panthers. It was a rough season for both Michigan and Houston a season ago, but that could end up leading to a great game. 

Michigan gave up 236 points during ten regular season games a season ago, and they just didn’t have an offense capable of keeping up. Houston played in much lower-scoring games last year, and they will likely be looking to continue that trend in this one. 

This game should be tight for the entire time, but taking Houston at -1.0 is the way to go as they pick up a win.

Pittsburgh Maulers at New Orleans Breakers

The final game of the first weekend will feature the Pittsburgh Maulers and the New Orleans Breakers. New Orleans is a 3.5-point betting favorite, and they were the much better team a season ago. 

Pittsburgh was easily the worst team in the league a season ago, but they had an entire off-season to improve the roster and get ready to win some games. The Maulers should be much more competitive this season, but New Orleans is still better.

The Breakers are looking to make another trip to the postseason, and they are going to start this game off by picking up a win by at least six points.

Keep up with your latest NFL news coverage and betting pick previews at The Dunkel Index.

All Media on this page by Associated Press.