USFL Week 4 Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions (Sunday)
Week 4 in the USFL features teams from the North Division facing teams from the South Division. Sunday’s first contest has the leaders of their respective conferences locking horns. And the week’s final game pits the defending USFL champions against the 2022 season’s basement dweller.
USFL Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions: Week 4 (2023)
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
New Jersey Generals vs. New Orleans Breakers
The Generals are tied atop the North Division but have the tiebreaker over the also 2-1 Panthers after beating them last week. Meanwhile, the Breakers are the last undefeated team after steamrolling the defending USFL Champion Stallions last week. It’s a battle of heavyweights with formidable offenses.
The Breakers lead the USFL in points (105). Conversely, the Generals have scored only 58 points. However, their scoring has grown weekly from 17 points to 20 and 28. These clubs haven’t had any issues moving the ball. The Breakers are first in passing yards per game (263.7) and are second in rushing yards per game (129.3). Sadly, the Generals are seventh in passing yards per game (159.7). They’re a run-first club, though. New Jersey leads the USFL in rushing yards per game (169.0).
In addition, the Generals are efficient. New Jersey is third in passing yards per attempt (7.3) and first in rushing yards per attempt (5.7). The Breakers are efficient as well. Moreover, they run a ton of plays, ranking second in pass attempts and rush attempts. Furthermore, New Orleans’ special teams are aiding the offense, leading the USFL in kickoff return average (29.3).
The defenses are rock-solid for both teams, but the new kickoff rules have provided teams with excellent field possession these potent offenses can take advantage of. I liked the over when the game’s total was 47.5 points earlier this week. I’m over the moon now that it’s dipped to 44.5 points.
Pick: Over 44.5 Points (-110)
Pittsburgh Maulers vs. Birmingham Stallions
The Maulers got in the victory column last week by beating last year’s North Division representative in the USFL Championship game. Pittsburgh smothered Philadelphia’s pass-happy attack by overwhelming their porous offensive line. Yet, the Maulers also scored their first and only offensive touchdown last week. Thus, Pittsburgh’s offense remains a trainwreck.
The Breakers blew out the Stallions in Week 3. Nevertheless, the Stallions scored 31 points. Birmingham has hung 27, 42 and 31 points on the scoreboard this year. Their defense has largely been excellent, too. They held the Generals to 10 points in the opener and clowned the Showboats in Week 2, allowing only two points on a safety.
Pittsburgh’s offense is less potent than New Jersey’s and Memphis’s. As a result, the Stallions’ defense should get back on track this week. The Maulers’ defense is legit. They’ve allowed the third-fewest points (18.3) and the third-fewest yards per game (271.7). However, the Maulers benefited immensely from New Orleans’s inability to punch the ball in the end zone from the red zone in Week 1. The Breakers had 332 total yards but scored only one touchdown in five trips to the red zone in their opener.
The Stallions have arguably the second-best offense in the league. They’ve scored the second-most points (100), tallied the second-most passing yards per game (240.3) and recorded the fifth-most rushing yards per game (101.7). The Maulers are outgunned. So, the Stallions should get back to their winning ways. And since they handily defeated their first two opponents, it’s not uncomfortable laying the 8.0 points on them this week. They know how to keep their foot on their opponent’s throat.
Pick: Birmingham Stallions -8.0 points (-110)
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.