Getting Caught Up on the 2023 USFL Futures Odds and Picks

• The USFL is an eight-team league beginning their second season in April.
• Odds for the championship range from +300 to +700.
• The Birmingham Stallions and New Jersey Generals lead the way as favorites.

MEMPHIS – The USFL’s second season is set to begin in April between the Philadelphia Stars and the Memphis Showboats. In the inaugural season, the Birmingham Stallions won the championship over the Stars by a score of 33-30.

The reigning champion Stallions unsurprisingly lead the way in preseason championship odds captained by QB Alex McGough and former NFL RB Bo Scarbrough. Legal betting sites have issued odds to win it all for each of the eight teams, which may be subject to change after the draft.

USFL Preseason Championship Odds

• Birmingham Stallions +300
• New Jersey Generals +300
• Memphis Showboats +500
• Philadelphia Stars +500
• New Orleans Breakers +500
• Houston Gamblers +600
• Michigan Panthers +650
• Pittsburgh Maulers +700

While the odds are generally pretty close, the clear leader is the Stallions along with the Generals at +300. This is despite the Stallions losing 2022 USFL scrimmage yards leader and championship MVP Victor Bolden Jr., who is now a member of the Denver Broncos in the NFL.

Similarly, the Generals are tied with the Stallions for the shortest odds, but did lose 2022 USFL MVP KaVontae Turpin, who has become a Pro Bowl returner in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys. The Generals did however keep coach of the year Mike Riley, who serves as both their GM as well as coach.

Both the Stallions as well as the Generals finished last season with a 9-1 record, tied for the best in the league. The Generals importantly held onto offensive player of the year Darius Victor, who led the USFL in rushing touchdowns last year and figures to be a key player in the pursuit of a championship.

A particularly interesting pick would be the New Orleans Breakers, who finished last season with a league-leading six All-USFL players and have been given +500 odds by legal sportsbooks. But they did lose their starting quarterback Kyle Sloter, who is now a member of the XFL and is likely the reason they are not among the more favored teams in the league.

With the USFL draft looming, we could see a lot of turnover and parity within these odds, but consistency is of the utmost importance. With this approach, it seems like the New Jersey Generals should be the team to wager on due to having the reigning coach of the year as well as last year’s offensive player of the year.

While many of the other USFL teams may be trying to figure out what to do and how to improve, the Generals are already quite well prepared and have been able to keep most of their important franchise cornerstones. With a dangerous ground-and-pound offense and the USFL’s most experienced coach, it would be wise to bet on the proven commodities that have managed to keep many of the players that made them such a great team last year.