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Pittsburgh Maulers vs New Jersey Generals – Analysis, Tips, and Predictions
With one weekend left in the USFL regular season, the Pittsburgh Maulers (3-6) and New Jersey Generals (3-6) will face off on Sunday with a playoff berth on the line. The winner will advance to the playoffs regardless of what else happens this weekend; the loser will have played the last game of their season.
Pittsburgh Maulers vs New Jersey Generals Odds
Below are the odds for Pittsburgh Maulers at New Jersey Generals available on BetMGM as of Thursday, June 15:
- Moneyline – Pittsburgh +140, New Jersey -165
- Spread – New Jersey -3.5
- Total – 40.5
Head-to-Head – Pittsburgh Maulers vs New Jersey Generals
It’s been a tough season overall for the Maulers and Generals, but both teams gave themselves a chance to make the playoffs with wins last week over the Michigan Panthers and Philadelphia Stars, respectively.
Pittsburgh Maulers
The Maulers are coming off a 19-7 victory over the Panthers, where the defense asserted dominance, intercepting Panthers quarterback Josh Love four times.
The Maulers gave up several yards to A.J. Richardson and Cole Hikutini but otherwise clamped down the Panthers’ offense. Kyahva Tezino – who’s been among the premier defensive players in the USFL all season – led the way with two interceptions, three pass defenses, and a tackle for loss.
Still, it’s hard to look past the Maulers’ main weakness, which they won in spite of. Even with a substantial edge in time of possession, their passing offense accounted for a paltry 129 yards.
Troy Williams threw for only 166 yards, completed fewer than 60 percent of his 24 passes, and was sacked six times. The team’s lone touchdown came on their opening drive – which only had to travel 29 yards after (another) highlight kickoff return from Josh Simmons.
The four possessions Pittsburgh gained off turnovers added up to a field goal and three punts.
New Jersey Generals
The Generals offense – on the other hand – looked hot last weekend, averaging 7.0 yards per play in their 37-33 victory over the Stars.
The game opened with an 85-yard kickoff return from Cam Echols-Luper to put the Generals on the board from the first play. De’Andre Johnson gained 213 yards through the air while completing 15 of 20 passes, including three successful targets to Darrell Stewart that gained 109 yards.
Darius Victor had a strong performance as well, gaining 51 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns on only 11 rushing attempts.
Of course, the Generals’ biggest victory in the game was in turnover differential. Their offense played a clean game, while the defense successfully recovered three of four fumbles from the Stars’ offense.
Hercules Mata’afa had an impactful defensive game, forcing a fumble on each of two sacks on the Stars’ last offensive drive.
In their earlier matchup this season, the Generals routed the Maulers 20-3. The Maulers’ offense committed three turnovers in the affair, including two lost fumbles in the fourth quarter that were recovered by Mata’afa.
How to Bet on Pittsburgh Maulers at New Jersey Generals
The Maulers and Generals will release more information pertaining to their injury status and player availability as kickoff approaches. Odds on various lines and props in the game may be affected; bettors should take note of how these updates impact the game forecast in order to make informed decisions when betting on the game.
Additionally, bettors will find that the odds and available props change depending on what sportsbook they view. It’s important for bettors to compare available options to find the best odds for the bet they want to make.
USFL odds are not available at every online sportsbook however many premier books to over them including FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM.
Expert Predictions
Neither team has looked great for extended stretches this season, but several experts would advise betting on offense rather than defense.
Even in their best games this season, the Maulers’ offense has been reliant on their defense and special teams to carry them to victory; they’ve shown little ability to win a game by themselves.
If the Generals have a bad offensive showing this weekend, it’s possible that the Maulers will win. If they look as good offensively as they did this past week, it’s difficult to envision the Maulers keeping up.
