Empty stadium with a shiny piece of hardware… very USFL-like. USFL does what no other Spring football league has done in some time. Finish regular season. That means Summertime post-season play which means something when it comes to the gridiron. The USFL games have moved on from the state of Alabama where they played all regular season games. Post-season in the USFL will be played in Canton, Ohio at Tom Benson Hall of Fame field. Canton is the home of the Football Hall of Fame.

First round features two division championship games. The winners go on to meet in the USFL Championship for all the marbles. As the peanut gallery, we will throw in our two cents into the ring and predict each game in each division championship. We even went back in the past and dug out some dirt on the original USFL league in the 1980’s to see if any history will repeat itself.

GHOSTS FROM THE USFL PAST

Many times, history does repeat itself. In the current USFL, the Philadelphia Stars, New Jersey Generals, Birmingham Stallions, and the New Orleans Breakers have made the post-season. The Breakers are the only team from the original 80’s league that never played in post-season while the Stallions, Stars and the Generals all have played more than one post-season game in the original.

Breakers originated in Boston, Portland, and New Orleans in the original league.

BREAKERS POST-SEASON RECORD: 0-0

The original Generals were owned by Donald Trump!!! Trump did not make the USFL great.

GENERALS POST-SEASON RECORD: 0-2

Generals lost both post-season games they played in to the Stars.

The Stallions were able to get out of the first round when they made the post-season.

STALLIONS POST-SEASON RECORD: 2-2

Stallions are yet another team for whom both losses came from the Stars.

The Stars played in Philadelphia and Baltimore during the first stint of the USFL.

STARS POST-SEASON RECORD: 7-1

Stars made every championship, winning two out of the three played in the original league. The Stars’ only loss came from Michigan in the very first USFL championship game.

GAME #1.

#1. NEW JERSEY GENERALS (9-1) VERSUS #2. PHILADELPHIA STARS (6-4)

Regular season play: Generals 2-0 Stars

ADVANTAGES:

Quarterback: Stars

Offense: Stars

Defense: Generals

Coaching: Generals

THE GENERALS

The Generals are the hottest team in the league winning 9 straight.

Generals defense has allowed the fewest points in the division.

Generals offense produced the most yards per game in the entire USFL at 349.4.

Generals ground attack averages 160.9 yards per game.

Generals defense only allows a stingy 18.2 points per game.

THE STARS

The Stars are the highest scoring offense in the playoffs who average 26.2 points per game.

Case Cookus in six starts has completed 62.5% of his passes with 12 touchdown strikes to only 5 interceptions.

The Stars defense is one the best at forcing turnovers.

What will doom each team?

Generals: Head coach Mike Riley has had dueling quarterbacks most of the year. If both De’Andre Johnson and Luis Perez are available, Riley could pick the wrong one to take the most snaps.

Stars: The Stars have the worst defense out of all the teams in post-season. If the Stars defense can not get the key turnover, it could be a bloodbath.

PREDICTION: GENERALS 25-17 STARS

Mike Riley won coach of the year leading these Generals to 9 straight. Look for Riley to make his mark in the playoffs and he will be king of Spring football leagues. I like the two-headed monster at running back for the Generals with Trey Williams and Darius Walker in the back field. The Stars defense may try to stop the run, but that leaves the USFL MVP wide receiver, Kavante Turpin, to make a big play in the passing game.

Turpin had 44 catches & 540 yards with 4 touchdowns. Case Cookus is the best quarterback in the league, but struggled a little at the end of regular season. It’s very hard to get that hot hand once again. Generals are well-balanced and will move on.

GAME #2.

#1. BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS (9-1) VERSUS NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS (6-4)

Regular season play: Stallions 2-0 Breakers

ADVANTAGES:

Quarterbacks: Stallions

Offense: Stallions

Defense: Breakers

Coaching: Stallions

THE STALLIONS

The Stallions have the top scoring offense in the South Division.

The Stallions defense hold opponents to only 16.9 points per game which is second best in the entire USFL.

The Stallions can kill the quarterback, which they are the best in the league at with 27 sacks.

THE BREAKERS

The Breakers have the best defense in the entire league holding teams to a stingy 16.4 points per game.

Kyle Sloter is ranked number two in the league in passing yards.

The Breakers have the lowest scoring offense in the post-season only averaging 19.6 points per game.

What will doom each team?

Stallions: Not having home field advantage. Stallions played every game at home as the entire USFL played every game in Birmingham Alabama creating their own bubble. Playoffs will be in Canton, Ohio.

Breakers: Mistakes by Kyle Sloter who is second in the league in interceptions.

PREDICTION: BREAKERS 17-14 STALLIONS

This game will be a defensive struggle. DeMarquise Gates may be the best defensive guy on the field as he racked up 62 tackles with 6.5 sacks for the Stallions. I think the Breakers defense was the best with a slew of guys that can put the Denver Boot on any opposing offense. Stallions were very sloppy down the stretch. I think not having the fans will haunt this team whether they may travel.

The Stallions routine will be out of whack. When Kyle Sloter was right, the Breakers had glimpses of the best team in the league. Kyle Sloter has played through multiple injuries. Look for the quarterback to have a solid game and help his team move on.