The USFL will be the first Spring football league to complete its second season in a row since the original USFL did that/done that in the 1980’s. It looked like the USFL was going to have two rematches in the post-season from last year. The North division has two new representatives as the Stars and Generals fizzled in crunch time. The Breakers and Stallions will be the rematch in the South division. Can the Stallions repeat as champions? I kicked around both match-ups and came up with a prediction for each championship. Not sure I’ll be right as anything could happen. If I’m right or wrong, I will also have a prediction next week when two teams will be alive in the USFL Spring fling.

PLAYOFFS

NORTH DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP

#2. MICHIGAN PANTHERS (4-6) VS #1.PITTSBURGH MAULERS (4-6)

Head to head record in 2023: Maulers 2-0 Panthers

All-time head to head including 1980’s Panthers 3-2 Maulers

Record since the USFL reboot: Panthers 2-2 Maulers

Playoff history: Never faced each other

Panthers all-time playoff record including 1980’s: (2-1) Won 1983 Championship

Maulers all-time playoff record including 1980’s: (0-0) First ever playoff appearance

Both the Panthers and Maulers are in the post-season despite winning records as the entire division finished under 500. The Maulers won two in a row to win the South division title. Maulers took down the Generals last weekend to officially punch their card in the post-season. Meanwhile the Panthers made a change at quarterback and the move worked as EJ Perry made his first start ever in the USFL, and led his team from behind to get a comeback win over the Stars. Both teams are known for their defenses this season over unpredictable offenses that are more cold than hot. The hottest is lukewarm.

QUARTERBACK MATCH UP

Maulers Troy Williams vs Panthers EJ Perry

Both quarterbacks can move in the pocket and make plays with their legs. Troy Williams was not the day one starter in Pittsburgh when the season started, but has given his team new life. Williams takes care of the football most importantly for this Mauler team. Williams made 8 starts going 4-4. Williams has thrown 6 touchdown passes compared to only 3 interceptions. EJ Perry, with only one start under his belt, has a lot rested on his shoulders. Perry did find the end zone with his legs in the win over the Stars. Perry’s combination through the air and ground had 169 yards total offense for the Panthers.

EDGE: Maulers experience

GROUND ASSAULT

The Panthers have one of the best running backs in the league in the this department. Reggie Corbin had 437 yards on the ground with two touchdowns, a back that can also catch the ball out of the back field. The Panthers also use Stevie Scott III who can come in and get big gainers.

The Maulers quarterback, Troy Williams, is the guy who will get the most yards with his legs. The Maulers then split the load with Madre London and Garrett Groshek, two power backs that can get short yardage gains.

Edge: Panthers

THROUGH THE AIR

The Panthers and Maulers play makers through the air, could be even Steven. Both teams have the security blankets as Panthers uses Trey Quinn for those must-need yards while the Maulers use Bailey Gaither. Then both teams have the home run guy. Panthers have Joe Walker who has three touchdown receptions over 300 yards receiving. The Maulers have Isiah Hennie who also has three touchdown receptions and over 300 yards receiving.

EDGE: EVEN

THE DEFENSE

When it comes to defense, both teams are solid. The Panthers have the sack king of the USFL in Breeland Speaks.

Speaks had 9 sacks in ten games. The Panthers also have Levi Bell on the other side of the field with 4 sacks. Then the tackling machine of Frank Ginda at the linebacker position. Ginda also led the Panthers in interceptions.

The Maulers are like the ’85 Chicago Bears as they are loaded with a ton of defensive talent. The Maulers have 4 guys with at least 3 sacks. Nasir Player at 3.5 sacks, Boogie Roberts at 3.0, Olive Sagapolu at 3.0 and Terry Miles with 3. Then Chris Okoye has two. On the back end are two tackling machines of Reuben Foster and Kyahva Tezino, who may be the defensive player of the year. Arnold Tarpley and Mark Gilbert have 7 interceptions combined. Boogie Roberts is the maestro of this unit.

EDGE: Maulers

I know it’s hard to beat a team three times in one season as the Maulers have swept the Panthers season series. The Panthers came through the crawl space to get in the playoffs and have not won more than one game since opening up the season at 2-0. The Maulers are playing their best football now and have won two straight. I like both coaches of each team, Ray Horton of the Maulers and Mike Nolan of the Panthers. I think the Maulers respond better with Horton as a team better than Nolan and his Panthers. I like the Maulers’ special teams over the Panthers. Troy Williams has more experience than EJ Perry at the quarterback position. Plus, Perry did well versus a bad Stars defense and that being said, the Maulers defense is different animal.

PREDICTION: Maulers win!!!!

SOUTH DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP

#2.NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS (7-3) VS #1.BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS (8-2)

Head to head record in 2023: Breakers 1-1 Stallions

All-time head to head record including 1980’s + playoffs: Stallions 8-2 Breakers

Note: Breakers played in 3 cities in the 1980’s: Boston, New Orleans, & Portland

Record head to head since the reboot: Stallions 4-1 Breakers including playoffs

Playoff history: Last season Stallions beat Breakers 31-17 in the South Division Championship game

Breakers all-time playoff record including 1980’s: (0-1)

Stallions all-time playoff record including 1980’s: (4-2) Won 2022 USFL Championship

The Breakers and Stallions will have a rematch from last year’s South Championship which the Stallions won. The Breakers gave the Stallions their first loss of the season by putting 45 points in the first meeting of the year. Then in week 7, Stallions got their revenge winning a close one over the Breakers. The Stallions have won 5 straight and clinched their second South division title. The Breakers were the last unbeaten team in the USFL this season, but they lost in week 5 after starting 4-0 which included the win over the Stallions. The Breakers went through some hard times losing three in a row. Since their last loss to the Stallions, the Breakers have won three straight to take the second seed in the South division. The South division, by far the toughest in the USFL as every team was 500 or had a win unlike the North in which every team had a losing record.

QUARTERBACK MATCH UP

This match-up between the Breakers and the Stallions features the two best quarterbacks in the USFL. McLeod Bethel-Thompson’s stats: 220-336 for 2,433 passing yards, 65.5 % completion percentage with 14 touchdown passes and 8 interceptions.

Alex McGough’s stats: 180-267 for 2,105 passing yards, 67.4 % completion percentage with 20 touchdown passes and only 5 interceptions. McGough on the ground stats: 70 rushes, 403 yards and 5 touchdowns.

EDGE: Stallions stats do not lie.

GROUND ASSAULT

At one point, Will Hills looked like the best running back in the league for the Breakers. Hills had the most rushing yards in the entire USFL, only 25 yards more than Gamblers Mark Thompson who played two games less. Hills had 680 yards on the ground and ten touchdowns as he averaged 3.8 a carry. The Stallions’ lead rusher was CJ Marable who gained 524 yards on the ground and averaged 4.4 yards a carry. Marable can catch the ball out of the back field. The Stallions also use the legs of McGough in the running game. Hills has fumble isssues.

EDGE: Stallions

THROUGH THE AIR

Both the Breakers and the Stallions have a slew of play makers that can catch the ball. The Breakers and Stallions each have two guys that went over 500 yards receiving. The Breakers’ security blanket is Sage Surratt who had 50 grabs for 552 yards with one touchdown. Then not talked about a lot, is Jonathan Adams for the Breakers. He’s a big target in the passing game, a guy that can jump in the air and bring in those overthrown passes. Adams had 41 grabs for 511 yards with two touchdown passes.

Let’s not forget about Johnnie. Johnnie Dixon had 33 grabs for the Breakers for 463 yards with 5 touchdown catches. The Stallions’ Davion Davis led the team with receptions and receiving yards with 39 grabs for 575 yards.

The Stallions also have the best tight end in the league with Jace Sternberger who had 33 grabs for 533 yards with 7 touchdown catches.

EDGE: Breakers

THE DEFENSE

Both the Breakers and Stallions can do some good things on the defensive side of the ball. The Breakers have two guys that can kill the opposing team’s quarterback. Keonte Schad had 7.5 sacks this season for the Breakers and his partner in crime, Anree Saint-Armour, had six sacks.

The Stallions have two guys with 4 sacks each, in Dondrea Tillman and Willie Henry, that lead their team killing the quarterback.

The Breakers as a team have recorded 28 sacks and can force turnovers as they have 12 interceptions as a group. The Stallions defense have recorded only 19 sacks and tallied up six interceptions. Last year, the Stallions had Scooby Wright who was the anchor of that defense. The Breakers have their Scooby in Vontae Diggs, a linebacker that can do it all.

EDGE: Breakers

When it comes to the Breakers, Head Coach John DeFilippo has done a very nice job in year one as the man. The Stallions guy, Skip Holtz, has won coach of the year this season and has a championship under his belt. The Stallions get the edge in special teams, as Deon Cain is one of best returners in the USFL. This game should be close no matter what. It will be either a defensive struggle or an offensive shoot out. The way Alex McGough is playing the game right now and the entire season, you have to go Stallions on this one. McGough can come back if the team is down. McGough rebounds quickly from any mistakes he makes. The Breakers can score with the best of them in this league, as their offense is deadly. The Breakers are prone to make too many mistakes that will cost them the game and their chance to advance to the championship.

PREDICTION: Stallions win!!!