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USFL Week 6 Best Bets, Lines and Future Odds

Bets and analysis for Week 6 of the USFL, plus updated future odds.

Frankie Taddeo

We witnessed history in Week 5 as the only winless team—Pittsburgh—won its first game, while for the first time bettors observed all four games hit the over.

We still only have one undefeated team in Birmingham, accompanied by three teams above .500 in New Jersey, New Orleans and Tampa Bay.

After seeing favorites go 2-2 straight-up (SU) and against the spread (ATS), bettors now find favorites holding the edge overall by posting a 13-7 SU (65%) and 11-9 ATS (55%) mark. Meanwhile, after the first clean sweep of the over-adjusted totals by oddsmakers, unders now only maintain a slim 11-9 advantage (55%) advantage.

The kicking game continues to improve as the eight clubs are 49 for 78 (62.8%) combined in field goals over the 20 games. However, teams have made significant progress over the last two weeks by hitting 28 of 38 (73.6%) field goals.

In regards to special teams on overall two-point conversions, teams have converted 6 of 12 (50%) attempts. Over the last three weeks, the Michigan Panthers are a perfect 4 for 4 on two-point conversion attempts. However, in Week 5 we saw the lowest two-point attempts (0-1) by all clubs. Only one team the Philadelphia Stars in Week 2 have attempted and successfully converted a three-point extra try following a touchdown.

The new USFL consists of eight teams playing a 10-week regular-season schedule. The 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.

Odds to Win 2022 USFL Championship

Birmingham Stallions +200
New Jersey Generals +275
New Orleans Breakers +300
Tampa Bay Bandits +450
Philadelphia Stars +900
Michigan Panthers +2000
Houston Gamblers +3000
Pittsburgh Maulers +4500

Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports

Week 6 Lines

Saturday, May 21

Tampa Bay Bandits vs. Philadelphia Stars
Records: TB (3-2 SU; 3-2 ATS) / PHI (2-3 SU; 2-3 ATS)
Spread: TB -2.5
Moneyline: TB -161 / PHI +125
Total: 40
When: Saturday, May 21, 2022 / 1 p.m. ET
TV: NBC
Steam: Total 38.5 up to 40

Michigan Panthers vs. Birmingham Stallions
Records: MICH (1-4 SU; 1-4 ATS) / BIRM (5-0 SU; 5-0 ATS)
Spread: BIRM -6.5
Moneyline: BIRM -333 / MICH +220
Total: 37.5
When: Saturday, May 21, 2022 / 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: NBC
Steam: BIRM -7 to BIRM -6.5

Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports

Sunday, May 22

Pittsburgh Maulers vs. New Orleans Breakers
Records: PIT (1-4 SU; 2-3 ATS) / NO (3-2 SU; 3-2 ATS)
Spread: New Orleans -7.5
Moneyline: NO -400 / PIT +275
Total: 35.5
When: Sunday, May 22, 2022 / 12 p.m. ET
TV: FS1
Steam: Total 34 up to 35.5

New Jersey Generals vs. Houston Gamblers
Records: NJ (4-1 SU; 3-2 ATS) / HOU (1-4 SU; 2-3 ATS)
Spread: New Jersey -6.5
Moneyline: NJ -333 / HOU +220
Total: 38.5
When: Sunday, May 22, 2022 / 4 p.m. EST
TV: FOX
Steam: Total 38 up to 38.5

*ALL games this week will be played at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Ala.*

Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports

Week 6 Respected Plays

New Jersey -6.5

The top investment for respected money in Las Vegas involves a squad that is rounding into one of the best all-around teams in the USFL— New Jersey. The Generals, after dropping their Week 1 game to Birmingham, have ripped off four consecutive wins to take a commanding two-game lead in the North Division.

New Jersey, who possess a league-best ground game (180.2 rushing yards per game), have also scored a league-high 10 rushing touchdowns. On Sunday afternoon, the Generals will face a Houston defense that has surrendered the second-most points (116). Respected money is fading a team that just allowed a winless—and many times dysfunctional—Pittsburgh Maulers club to earn their first win of the season. New Jersey also has one of the stingiest defenses, allowing a league-low 13.3 points per game. The Generals will roll to their fifth win of the season in Week 6.

Tampa Bay / Philadelphia OVER 40

Respected money’s second wager in Week 6 involves backing an over for the second consecutive week. The Bandits (3-2) have shown flashes on offense over the last several games scoring 64 points (21.3 points per game) in their last three games.

On Saturday, Tampa Bay faces the league’s worst defense in Philadelphia who has allowed a league-high 125 points this season (25 points per game).The wise guys in the desert envision Case Cookus guiding the Stars to put up enough points to hang in there against Jordan Ta’amu and the Bandits in a game that originally opened with a 38.5 point total. Hopefully, we are able to cash over investment in the third quarter for the second straight week. Light up that scoreboard boys!

USFL RECORD: 5-5 ATS
USFL BEST BET: 3-2 ATS
USFL EXOTICS: 0-1

LEAGUE LEADERS

Passing: Kyle Sloter (TB), 1,226 passing yards
Rushing: Mark Thompson (HOU), 400 rushing yards
Rushing: Darius Victor (NJ), 5 rushing touchdowns
Receiving: Tre Walker (PIT), 287 receiving yards
Receiving: Isaiah Zuber (HOU), 4 receiving touchdowns

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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Frankie Taddeo
FRANKIE TADDEO

Frankie Taddeo is a successful high-stakes fantasy football player who created the first-ever DFS program offered in a Las Vegas sportsbook. Besides contributing NFL fantasy analysis with a Vegas slant, Frankie primarily performs as Sports Illustrated's Senior Betting Analyst providing his significant experience and resources in the sports betting scene. 

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