USFL Week 7 odds, picks, schedule: Stallions cover biggest gap of season against Maulers

Another 3-1 ATS week for me on USFL picks and what I believe was my first straight 4-0 week as well. I left Week 6 with a bad taste in my mouth as I feel DeAndre Johnson’s injury cost me a win against the ATS. But Luis Perez at least succeeded with the direct W in the last play of the game.

The games I had ATS were the Philadelphia Stars upsetting the Tampa Bay Bandits, 35-28, the Birmingham Stallions using a big fourth quarter to defeat the Michigan Panthers and New Orleans Breakers barely covering against the Pittsburgh Maulers. As I noted last week, Vad Lee has this Maulers team on the right track! He will be tasked with covering the biggest gap in the USFL this season on Sunday afternoon.

We have a good thing going. Let’s jump into the peaks.

USFL ATS record: 14-10
USFL direct record: 14-10

All odds are via Caesars Sportsbook

New Jersey Generals (-3.5) vs. Tampa Bay Bandits

Saturday, 12 p.m. ET (USA Network)
ATS Records: Generals (3-3), Bandits (2-4)

I can’t bet on this game without knowing the status of Generals quarterback DeAndre Johnson. He left last week’s game early due to injury and was replaced by Perez, who scored the game-winning touchdown but didn’t do enough to cover the spread. If Johnson is still injured, I’ll take the Bandits +3.5.

New Jersey is No. 2 in our most recent power rankings while Tampa Bay is No. 5. The Bandits were crushed by their three turnovers last week against the Stars, but I like their chances if it’s Jordan Ta’amu against Perez.

The choice : Bandit +3.5
Projected score: Generals 24-21

New Orleans Breakers (-6) vs. Michigan Panthers

Saturday, 9 p.m. ET (FS1)
ATS Records: Breakers (4-2), Panthers (1-5)

The Panthers are perhaps the worst team in the USFL. Their only win of the season came against the Maulers, and that was before Pittsburgh had a serviceable quarterback. You have to credit Michigan for keeping things close with Birmingham undefeated last week heading into the fourth quarter, but both of its turnovers hurt.

The Breakers aren’t my favorite team, but I think they can cover six points. They lead the league in points allowed (99), yards per game (214.2) and third down percentage (43.7%). New Orleans scared us last week against Pittsburgh, but I’ll put the six with Kyle Sloter and Co.

The choice : Circuit breakers -6
Projected score: Circuit breakers 24-14

Birmingham Stallions (-12) at Pittsburgh Maulers

Sunday, 2 p.m. ET (Fox)
ATS Records: Stallions (6-0), Maulers (2-4)

Wow, our biggest spread of the 2022 USFL season. The Stallions are hard to go with as they are undefeated straight up and against the spread. I feel like we’re going to sweat that bet no matter which side we choose. The way I see things playing out potentially, the Stallions take a small lead which they hold until the second half. Maybe they build on that lead with a third-quarter touchdown while the Maulers come in later for backdoor coverage.

Of the five losses suffered by Pittsburgh, two have lost at least 14 points. With new quarterback Vad Lee, the Maulers are 1-1 and lost by 10 points to the Breakers last week. The Stallions are of course 6-0, and their last two wins have been by at least 13 points. You also gotta love what Bo Scarbrough brought to this offense. I will throw the points with the favorites.

The choice : Stallions -12
Projected score: Stallions 30-16

Philadelphia Stars (-4.5) at Houston Gamblers

Sunday, 6 p.m. ET (Peacock)
ATS Records: Stars (3-3), Gamblers (3-3)

The Stars are 2-1 ATS over the past three weeks under Case Cookus, with both covers earning upset wins. I’m starting to like this team. As for the Gamblers – get this – they lost back-to-back games in the final game of the game. In fact, they lost four games in a row in the final seconds! I used that as evidence to bet against them last week, but Johnson’s injury helped them cover the spread. I’ll take the Stars to win and cover this week.

The choice : Stars -4.5
Projected score: Stars 27-20