The USFL Championship Game is approaching Saturday, as the Birmingham Stallions look to defend their league crown against the Pittsburgh Maulers from Canton, Ohio.
Read our USFL Championship Game best bets article to find the top ways to wager on the title clash.
We’re now approaching the penultimate week of the USFL 2023 season, and with all eight teams still alive for playoff spots, the championship futures leaderboard is still relatively tight.
For the final time this regular season, we’ll examine the favorite, top contenders, and one sleeper to consider.
USFL Champion Odds 2023
USFL betting lines from DraftKings Sportsbook as of Tuesday, June 5, at 2 p.m. ET.
Now let’s see how the market is listing the betting odds for USFL winner:
- Birmingham Stallions (+250)
- New Orleans Breakers (+400)
- Philadelphia Stars (+475)
- Houston Gamblers (+550)
- Memphis Showboats (+600)
- Michigan Panthers (+1000)
- New Jersey Generals (+1200)
- Pittsburgh Maulers (+2500)
The defending champion Stallions have progressively righted their ship, and with three straight wins and a league-best 6-2 mark, rightfully sit atop the leaderboard.
However, oddsmakers are notably giving more credence to the Breakers and Stars, which have struggled with consistency of late, than the red-hot Showboats, which have won five straight.
The Generals also have exponentially shorter odds than the Maulers despite having lost five consecutive games, with the fact New Jersey’s point differential is only -9 playing a part.
USFL Champion Best Bet
Memphis Showboats (+600)
The Showboats are an enticing option at their current price given their hot streak, although questions persist regarding young quarterback Cole Kelley’s ability to carry the offense on his shoulders against some of the league’s top squads.
For the moment, however, a running game led by Kerrith Whyte is helping keep Memphis’ offense balanced, and big-play receiver Derrick Dillon gives the air attack some home-run juice.
The Showboats defense has also shown marked improvement over the course of the season and leads the league in both interceptions (11) and sacks (20), making them our USFL bet of the day.
USFL Championship Odds Favorite
Birmingham Stallions (+250)
As alluded to, the Stallions are starting to fire on all cylinders. Quarterback Alex McGough, a legitimate MVP candidate, is a big reason why.
The FIU product now boasts 1,615 passing yards and a 16:3 TD:INT along with 337 rushing yards and another four scores on the ground. Running back C.J. Marable has been an ideal complement with 630 total yards and three touchdowns, and the team’s pass-catching corps is diverse and deep.
Birmingham’s run defense still needs to be shored up, but with plenty of players from last year’s championship squad on the roster, there’s good reason for Skip Holtz’ squad to carry the shortest odds.
USFL Championship Contender
New Orleans Breakers (+400)
Oddsmakers are still propping up the Breakers despite the team’s recent three-game losing streak, which it did snap with a narrow 24-20 win over the Panthers in Week 8.
McLeod Bethel-Thompson and top pass catchers Johnnie Dixon, Jonathan Adams, and Sage Surratt are a force to be reckoned with, and while running back Wes Hills has been slowed some after a blistering start to the season, he remains a capable dual threat.
The defense has been effective overall and is near the top of the leaderboards with eight interceptions and 19 sacks, making New Orleans a team that should have a chance against any squad that stands between it and a title.
USFL Championship Sleeper
Philadelphia Stars (+475)
There are plenty of holes to poke in the Stars’ resume, beginning with the fact their 4-4 record is accompanied by a -29-point differential.
However, Case Cookus has found his groove after an uneven early portion of the season, and there are weapons galore on offense in the form of Dexter Williams, Matt Colburn, Corey Coleman, and Devin Gray, to name a few.
The defense is opportunistic (seven interceptions) but vulnerable at times, which makes Philly more of a wild card than its odds would suggest.
Nevertheless, given the offensive arsenal on hand, this is a team that could catch fire at the right time and perhaps garner the title it came so close to capturing last summer.
