USFL Week 5 Best Bets, Lines and Future Odds

Best bets for Week 5 USFL action, plus updated future odds.

USFL Betting Trends

Through four weeks of action on the gridiron in the USFL, we find only one undefeated team (Birmingham) and two teams above the .500 mark (New Jersey and Tampa Bay). After seeing underdogs dominate the betting outcomes in Week 3, USFL favorites returned to their winning ways In Week 4 posting a 3-1 straight-up (SU) and 2-2 mark against the spread (ATS).

The one constant that remains for bettors is profiting from investments in low-scoring contests as wagering on under the projected total by oddsmakers was victorious in three of the four games in Week 4.

Overall, favorites still hold the edge overall posting a 11-5 SU and 9-7 ATS mark, while the under has cashed in 11 of the 16 games (69%).

The kicking game continues to be slightly better than a coin flip as the eight clubs are just 37-for-63 (58.7%) combined in field goals over the 16 games. However, we should note that in Week 4 teams showed some progress hitting 16 of 23 (69.5%) field goals.

In regards to special teams on overall two-point conversions, through four weeks of action teams have converted 6-of-11 (54.5%). Over the last two weeks, the Michigan Panthers are a perfect 4 for 4 on two-point conversion attempts. Thus far, USFL fans have seen only one team (Philadelphia Stars, Week 2) attempt and successfully convert a three-point extra try following a touchdown.

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Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports

Week 5 USFL Best Bets

New Jersey-New Orleans OVER 36.5

The first investment of Week 5 for respected money in Las Vegas involves two of the best teams thus far in the USFL. New Jersey and New Orleans are both 3-1 this season thanks to possessing two of the best offenses in the league. The Generals, who possess the USFL’s second-best ground game (178.3 rushing yards per game), are averaging 19.8 points per game. In Week 5, New Jersey faces the league’s leading passer in Kyle Sloter, who pilots a New Orleans offense that is averaging a second-best 23.3 points per game. Respected money believes that due to USFL games going under the posted totals at a 69.5% clip, this line has been lowered too much—leading to strong value in backing the over of 36.5.

Houston -5.5

Respected money‘s second wager in Week 5 involves fading the worst team in the USFL. The winless Pittsburgh Maulers will face a 1-3 Houston Gamblers squad. Pittsburgh surprisingly waived quarterback Josh Love after he started the first three games of the season and started backup Kyle Lauletta in Week 4, who struggled immensely with his accuracy. Bettors should not be surprised by player moves from this club, after the Maulers previously cut a player who refused to eat chicken salad. Houston has only one win thus far, but they have scored the fourth-most points (87) of any team in the USFL through four weeks. The Gamblers have lost three games by a combined 13 points (4.3 points per loss) - and seven of those came in the final seconds of last week’s loss to New Orleans. The wise guys in the desert see this as a massive mismatch and are laying the points.

🗣 And STILL undefeated

The @USFLStallions take down the Bandits and improve to 4-0 on the season 🐎🐎🐎 pic.twitter.com/wRfiQK9wXT

— USFL (@USFL) May 8, 2022

Odds to Win 2022 USFL Championship

Birmingham Stallions +200
New Orleans Breakers +220
New Jersey Generals +500
Tampa Bay Bandits +620
Philadelphia Stars +725
Michigan Panthers +1400
Houston Gamblers +1600
Pittsburgh Maulers +4000

Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports

Week 5 Lines

Friday, May 13

Tampa Bay Bandits vs. Michigan Panthers

Records: TB (2-2 SU; 2-2 ATS) / MICH (1-3 SU; 1-3 ATS)
Spread: TB -2.5
Moneyline: TB -150 / MICH +115
Total: 33.5
When: Friday, May 13, 2022 / 8 p.m. ET / USA
Steam: Total 35 down to 33.5

Saturday, May 14

New Jersey Generals vs. New Orleans Breakers

Records: NJ (3-1 SU; 2-2 ATS) / NO (3-1 SU; 3-1 ATS)
Spread: New Orleans -3
Moneyline: NO -161 / PIT +125
Total: 36.5
When: Saturday, May 14, 2022 / 3 p.m. ET / Fox
Steam: NO -2.5 to NO -3

Sunday, May 15

Philadelphia Stars vs. Birmingham Stallions

Records: PHI (2-2 SU; 2-2 ATS) / BIRM (4-0 SU; 4-0 ATS)
Spread: BIRM -6
Moneyline: BIRM -300 / PHI +200
Total: 36.5
When: Saturday, May 15, 2022 / 12 p.m. ET / NBC
Steam: BIRM -5.5 to BIRM -6

Pittsburgh Maulers vs. Houston Gamblers

Records: PIT (0-4 SU; 1-3 ATS) / HOU (1-3 SU; 2-2 ATS)
Spread: Houston -5.5
Moneyline: HOU -250 / PIT +188
Total: 33.5
When: Sunday, May 15, 2022 / 4 p.m. EST / Fox
Steam: HOU -4.5 to HOU -5.5

*Please note ALL games will be played at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Ala.*

Through 4 Weeks, the @USFLBreakers lead the USFL in all three major offensive categories 🌊 🌊 🌊

Which player has impressed you the most? pic.twitter.com/z8MBp8Wuo1

— USFL (@USFL) May 11, 2022

USFL Week 4 Review

Michigan Misses GW 21-Yard Field Goal, Falls to Philadelphia

Philadelphia quarterback Case Cookus stepped right in for the injured Bryan Scott and led the Stars to a 26-25 win over Michigan. Cookus, making his first start of the season, threw for 190 yards and two touchdowns connecting with wideouts Devin Gray and Diondre Overton.

Michigan’s defense, which posted the first shutout in USFL history in Week 3, shockingly couldn’t hold down a Stars’ club on their second-string signal caller. However, the club still had a chance to win the game as time expired, but Michael Carrizosa hit the left upright on a 21-yard field-goal attempt.

Sloppy play, which resulted in six turnovers and short fields, took down one of the two bets shared here by respected money in Vegas - as the under 37.5 (which closed at 32) went soaring over the total with a Week 4 high of 51 combined points.

Players of Note

MICH- QB - Shea Patterson - 67 pass yards; 1 pass TD; 3 INTs; 72 rush yards; rush TD
MICH- RB - Reggie Corbin - 152 rush yards; rush TD
MICH- WR - Joe Walker- 3 rec / 28 rec yards; rec TD
PHI- QB - Case Cookus - 190 pass yards; 2 pass TDs; 35 rush yards
PHI - RB - Paul Terry - 62 rush yards
PHI - WR - Devin Gray - 4 recs / 73 rec yards; rec TD
PHI - WR - Diondre Overton - 7 recs / 70 rec yards; rec TD

BETTING RESULTS: PHI ‘PK; OVER 33

New Jersey Wins Third Straight Game; Fails To Cover Biggest Spread

New Jersey relied upon the league’s best running game amassing 200 rushing yards, averaging 8.3 yards per rush and two touchdowns in earning their third consecutive victory. The Generals helped the Pittsburgh Maulers remain the USFL’s only winless team who have now only amassed a league-low 39 points.

Generals running back Darius Victor led the ground game with 57 rushing yards and a touchdown, which helped the Generals dominate the time of possession battle 34:37 to 25:23. Victor now leads the USFL with four rushing touchdowns.

Former New York Giants quarterback Kyle Lauletta made his first start of the season for Pittsburgh, throwing for 169 yards but struggled with his accuracy completing just 46.9% of his passes against the New Jersey defense. For all DFS players, a player to keep an eye is wide receiver Tre Walker. The speedy wideout hauled in nine of 17 targets from Lauletta for 110 receiving yards.

Despite winning the game 21-13, New Jersey burned bettors by failing to cover the biggest point spread we have seen thus far in the USFL. By kickoff, the Generals closed as 10-point favorites at SI Sportsbook.

Players of Note

NJ - QB - De'Andre Johnson - 98 pass yards; pass TD; 14 rush yards
NJ - QB - Luis Perez - 102 pass yards
NJ- RB- Darius Victor - 57 rush yards; rush TD; 3 rec / 21 rec yards
NJ- WR- KaVontae Turpin - 37 rush yards; rush TD; 6 recs / 28 rec yards
NJ- WR- Alonzo Moore - 3 rec / 104 rec yards; rec TD
PIT- QB- Kyle Lauletta - 169 pass yards
PIT- RB - Madre London - 43 rush yards
PIT- RB - Garrett Groshek - 37 rush yards; rush TD; 1 rec / 12 rec yards
PIT - WR - Tre Walker -9 recs / 110 rec yards

BETTING RESULTS: PIT +10; UNDER 35

Birmingham Remains Lone Undefeated Team; Perfect 4-0 ATS

The Stallions extended their winning streak to four consecutive games after defeating the Tampa Bay Bandits 16-10 in Week 4.

The club started Alex McGough under center for the first time since he suffered an ankle injury in the season opener. The switch was a bit perplexing after backup J’Mar Smith had guided the club to impressive wins during his absence.

McGough rewarded the decision by head coach Skip Holtz accounting for 145 total yards of offense and a rushing touchdown.

Birmingham’s defense shut down the Tampa Bay ground game, holding the Bandits to just 53 total rushing yards (2.6 yards per rush), while also sacking quarterback Jordan Ta’amu three times in a game that stayed way under the 41 point total projected by oddsmakers.

Players of Note

BIRM- QB - Alex McGough - 126 pass yards, 39 rush yards; rush TD
BIRM- RB - CJ Marable - 55 rush yards; 1 rec / 7 rec yards
BIRM- WR - Victor Bolden Jr.- 5 recs / 61 rec yards
TB- QB- Jordan Ta’amu- 125 pass yards; pass TD; 34 rush yards
TB- WR- Cheyenne O’Grady -2 rec / 35 rec yards

BETTING RESULTS: BIRM -3.5; UNDER 41

New Orleans Scored Game-Winning Touchdown In Final Seconds

Respected money in Las Vegas found a split in their USFL investments in Week 4 when Kyle Sloter found Jonathan Adams for a game-winning 29-yard touchdown with only :16 seconds remaining in the contest.

The Breakers, who closed as 6.5-point favorites, covered the spread after earning the 23-16 victory over Houston. Sloter, who did throw three interceptions, threw for a career and USFL high 397 passing yards and now leads the league by a wide margin in passing yards. The strong-armed quarterback has thrown for 1,053 passing yards this season, well ahead of Tampa Bay’s Jordan Ta’amu who stands second among all signal callers at 627.

New Orleans, who owns sole possession of second place in the South, received another superb rushing effort from running back Jordan Ellis. The bruising back ran for 104 yards and a touchdown and now leads the USFL in rushing with 347 yards through four weeks.

The most impressive feat in the victory was displayed by New Orleans’ defense who held the league’s second leading rusher Mark Thompson to a paltry 10 total rushing yards on 14 carries (0.7 yards per rush).

Players of Note

HOU- QB - Clayton Thorson - 127 pass yards, pass TD
HOU- RB - Mark Thompson - 10 rush yards
HOU- WR -JoJo Ward - 2 recs / 31 rec yards; rec TD
HOU- WR - Isaiah Zuber - 5 recs / 46 rec yards
NO QB -Kyle Sloter - 397 pass yards; 1 pass TD; 3 INTs
NO- RB - Jordan Ellis- 104 rush yards; rush TD
NO- WR - Jonathan Adams - 6 recs / 101 rec yards / rec TD
NO- WR - Taywan Taylor - 4 recs / 112 rec yards

BETTING RESULTS: NO -6.5; UNDER 39.5

2022 USFL BETTING RESULTS

USFL RECORD: 4-4 ATS
USFL BEST BET: 2-2 ATS
USFL EXOTICS: 0-1

The new USFL consists of eight teams playing a 10-week regular-season schedule. The eight clubs are separated into two divisions: the North Division and the South Division. Making up the North are the New Jersey Generals, Philadelphia Stars, Michigan Panthers, and Pittsburgh Maulers. Meanwhile, the South consists of the Houston Gamblers, New Orleans Breakers, Birmingham Stallions, and Tampa Bay Bandits.

Frankie Taddeo is a successful high-stakes fantasy football player who created the first-ever DFS program ever offered in a Las Vegas sportsbook. Frankie is SI Betting's Senior Analyst and provides his significant experience and resources in the sports betting scene. You can follow Frankie on Twitter @Frankie_Fantasy for his latest betting and fantasy insights from Las Vegas.

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