For the second-straight season in USFL's modern era, the Birmingham Stallions are your champions. In a 28-12 finish, the Stallions took down the Pittsburgh Maulers. Birmingham's Alex McGough, the season's MVP, threw for four touchdowns to earn the title. McGough has signed with the NFL's Green Bay Packers this offseason. The Stallions finished the regular season with a 8-2 overall record, topping the league and clinching the South division.
1. The USFL regular season is 10 games. The USFL postseason is two.
— RJ Young (@RJ_Young) July 13, 2023
2. That's 12 games—same as regular season in CFB.
3. McGough passed for 3,208 yards, rushed for 551 yards, accounted for 34 total TDs in 12 games.
4. Think what he's do with five more regular season games https://t.co/oains5N2Pp
We’re in the dreaded lull of the NFL and college football offseasons and life without weekly excitement on the gridiron is rather drab. Good news for you and your coveted betting app, though! The USFL championship matchup is set and kick off is this weekend!
Visit our weekly picks to see who we're rolling with for the final showdown!.
In Week 4, the Stallions beat the Maulers 24-20 in Canton. Will history repeat itself in the #USFLChampionship on Saturday? pic.twitter.com/aoGztO2gym
— USFL (@USFL) June 27, 2023
According to a variety of online sportsbooks, the Birmingham Stallions have been favorites to win the USFL championship all season long. Keep scrolling to find a complete USFL championship odds breakdown.
USFL Odds: Who Is The 2023 Betting Favorite?
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Birmingham Stallions | -278 |
| Pittsburgh Maulers | +210 |
Odds as of June 27
Why are the Birmingham Stallions favored to win uSFL Championship?
A year ago, the Stallions topped the South Division with a 9-1 mark and won two playoff games to claim the championship.
Now, the Stallions (9-2) are back where they want to be. After keeping up with a tight South, they clinched the first playoff spot and ended the regular season on a five-game win streak, earning 65 points in their final two games.
The @USFLStallions are the first team to clinch a spot in the 2023 playoffs 🥳👏🐎pic.twitter.com/Ap2LuQl4RO
— USFL (@USFL) June 11, 2023
In the South Division finals, New Orleans didn't stand a chance. Birmingham popped off, pocketing a 47-22 win. With J’Mar Smith out for the season with a finger injury, second-stringer Alex McGough has slid in to replace him smoothly. The 27-year-old helps his team lead the league with 20 passing touchdowns and piled on another four in his first playoff performance. He helps Birmingham top the standings earning 332.6 yards per game.
No cameras were harmed in the making of this video ⚠️🎥 pic.twitter.com/pdrNL7EZTr
— USFL (@USFL) June 26, 2023
The Stallions met the Maulers in Week 4 and pushed past for a 24-20 win. But, this was before McGough began playing out of his head and meshing perfectly with his offensive unit.
Value pick: Pittsburgh's Defense Hopes to stop defending champs (+210)
The North was rough and somehow the Maulers (4-6) snuck into the playoffs and now find themselves prepping for the championship meeting.
Pittsburgh did enough to earn a 31-27 victory over the Michigan Panthers in the North Division final. Signal-caller Troy Williams looked decent, tossing just over 200 yards for a single score -- but, he's no McGough.
Our first overtime of the season did not disappoint 👏 pic.twitter.com/qkxDhYv6Lf
— USFL (@USFL) June 25, 2023
What separates the Maulers from the Stallions is their defense. In the final two games of the regular season slate, Pittsburgh gave up just 13 points. The bench allows the second-fewest 17 PPG and finished with the best turnover plus/minus (+8) and most takeaways (20).
Hitting our stride at the right time 💪📈 pic.twitter.com/vSaGsjekhY
— Pittsburgh Maulers (@USFLMaulers) June 26, 2023
If the defensive unit can hold Birmingham, the offense better take advantage to earn crucial points. It's the only way Pittsburgh can finish on top.
Related News
USFL FAQ
What Is The USFL Playoff Format?
This year, the postseason is set to kick off on Saturday, June 24. The playoff format for the league is simple. The top two teams from the North and South division will go head-to-head in a semifinal matchup. The winners of each game will then meet to compete in the championship game scheduled on July 2, 2023.
Who Won The USFL Championship In 2022?
With a close scoreboard of 33-30, the Birmingham Stallions defeated the Philadelphia Stars to win the USFL championship in 2022. Birmingham entered as 4.5-point favorites with the total set at 45 points. The Stallions didn’t cover and the matchup went OVER. The meeting was held in Tom Benson Hall Of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio.
