Who is favored to win the USFL Championship game between the Birmingham Stallions and the Pittsburgh Maulers?

The Birmingham Stallions are favored to win the USFL Championship game against the Pittsburgh Maulers. The odds have Birmingham favored by 7.5 points.

How did Birmingham and Pittsburgh reach the championship game?

Birmingham advanced to the championship game by defeating the New Orleans Breakers 47-22, while Pittsburgh needed overtime to defeat the Michigan Panthers 31-27.

Who are the key players on the Birmingham Stallions' offense?

Quarterback Alex McGough is a key player for the Stallions, as he accounted for five touchdowns in their playoff win over New Orleans. Tight end Jace Sternberger and wide receiver Davion Davis are also important contributors in the passing game.

How does the Pittsburgh Maulers' offense compare to other teams in the USFL?

The Pittsburgh Maulers' offense is not considered strong compared to other teams in the USFL. They were one of the lowest-scoring teams during the regular season. Quarterback Troy Williams threw for only six touchdowns, and their focus is on playing safe and relying on their defense.

What are the odds for the USFL Championship game between Birmingham and Pittsburgh?

The odds for the USFL Championship game have Birmingham favored by 7.5 points. The total on the game is set at 46 points.

USFL Championship Odds: Stallions Big Favorites Over Pittsburgh

Maulers' League-Leading Defense to be Tested by Birmingham

June 28, 2023 160 3 minutes readNFL Picks & Parlays

USFL Championship Odds: Stallions Big Favorites Over Pittsburgh — Mercedes Oliver/USFL/Getty Images/AFP

The Birmingham Stallions have spent the majority of the season as the top-ranked team in the USFL. The USFL Championship odds have Birmingham favored by 7.5 points over the Pittsburgh Maulers. The total on the game is 46.

Birmingham advanced to the title game by demolishing the New Orleans Breakers 47-22. The Stallions led 40-7 after three quarters and coasted to the victory. New Orleans defeated Birmingham earlier in the season and outplayed the Stallions in the other game. But when it mattered most, it was all Birmingham. The Stallions outgained New Orleans 553-352 and were 4 for 4 in the red zone.

The Maulers needed overtime to defeat the Michigan Panthers 31-27. The USFL odds had Pittsburgh -3. Pittsburgh’s defense, which allowed the fewest points in the league, was lit up for 410 yards. It could have been worse, but the Panthers turned the ball over three times. The Maulers won despite being outgained 410-291. Pittsburgh had an 11:28-minute advantage in time of possession.

Birmingham Stallions vs Pittsburgh Maulers

Date, time: Saturday, July 1, 8 p.m. ET
Location: Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium (Canton, Ohio)
Streaming: Peacock

Birmingham Stallions

Offensively, the Stallions are led by quarterback Alex McGough, who accounted for five touchdowns in the playoff win over New Orleans. He threw for 310 yards and rushed for 84 more in a one-man show. He may have played himself into an NFL training camp invite, although another big game here would certainly help his chances.

Tight end Jace Sternberger had 50 receptions and seven touchdown receptions for the Stallions during the regular season. Wide receiver Davion Davis led the team with 58 receptions. CJ Marable led the Stallions in rushing, with McGough second on the team.

Defensively, the Stallions allowed the third-fewest points in the league. The USFL betting news saw the return of Scooby Wright against New Orleans. He had been sidelined since Week 4 and is a key player for the Stallions. The Stallions do a good job of getting to the ball and playing team defense.

Pittsburgh Maulers

Pittsburgh isn’t a very good offense team, the playoff game against Michigan notwithstanding. The Maulers and Panthers were the two lowest-scoring teams in the USFL during the regular season. Pittsburgh’s job offensively is to play it safe and let the defense win the field position battle. Pittsburgh quarterback Troy Williams threw for just six touchdowns during the regular season. He was also the team’s leading rusher with 341 yards.

Kyahva Tezino was the team’s leading tackler and he was second in the USFL with 94 tackles and nine tackles for loss. The Maulers don’t allow many points. But they can’t afford to, as the offense isn’t good enough to outscore the opposition. Pittsburgh isn’t always pretty defensively, but the Maulers are effective.

Handicapping the Game

The USFL Championship odds of Birmingham -7.5 have to be taken into consideration when handicapping the game. You’re not only asking the Stallions to win, but asking them to win by two scores, which isn’t always easy in the USFL. Birmingham defeated Pittsburgh 24-20 in Week 4 of the regular season. The Maulers had a 311-281 yardage advantage, but two fourth-quarter touchdowns by the Stallions sealed the win.

But that was several months ago and it’s hard to deny how well the Stallions have played down the stretch. Birmingham has won five straight games, although a few of them were close wins. But you could say the same thing for the Maulers, who captured a must-win game in Week 10 to reach the playoffs and found a way to defeat Michigan last week.

The USFL Championship odds are about where they should be. The Stallions were 8-2 compared to Pittsburgh’s record of 4-6 during the regular season. The Maulers can’t keep up with the Stallions on offense, so expect Pittsburgh to try and slow the game down and run some time off the clock. That could lead to an under, as the Stallions look to win their second straight USFL title.