USFL Betting in Pennsylvania
USFL Betting in Pennsylvania
If you can remember the last time you watched a USFL game being played, then, well, you’re getting old. The United States Football League returns to action in 2022, a mere 37 years after the league originally closed up shop and called it quits.
In the eyes of sportsbooks, that means a new league ripe for wagers in the months following the Super Bowl. Here in Pennsylvania, not only can you bet on the USFL at legal and regulated sportsbooks, but you also have two of the initial eight teams: The Philadelphia Stars and the Pittsburgh Maulers.
Below find out how to bet on the USFL here in Pennsylvania including live USFL odds from PA online sportsbooks and a look at the teams, players and playoff format.
Best USFL betting sites in PA
Top PA sportsbooks for USFL odds
Here in Pennsylvania, the top sportsbooks are posting odds for the newest iteration of the USFL in 2022.
DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, PointsBet and Unibet all currently offer USFL odds and will add more markets as the season unfolds. Expect more betting apps to add USFL markets to their menus as well.
Latest USFL odds at PA online sportsbooks
See below for live USFL betting odds as provided by PA online sportsbooks. Click on any odds to go directly to the sportsbook, claim your bonus and get started.
How to bet USFL games online
If you’re new to online sports betting, opening an account with a legal and regulated Pennsylvania sportsbook is completely free. There is far too much competition out there for new customers for any sportsbook to do anything but offer up the least amount of hassle possible.
They want you to sign up, so they make it simple. There are no rules or regulations that prevent you from having as many accounts as you’d like across the available sportsbooks, although you are limited to one account per sportsbook.
If you’re not sure which sportsbook you’re most interested in, check out the sportsbook reviews. We break down the pros and cons of each as well as the available bonuses for new account holders.
Once you’ve picked a sportsbook, simply click through any links above to start the registration process. You will be asked to enter personal information such as your Social Security number, address, birth date and more.
Once you accept the sportsbook’s terms and conditions (which we recommend you read through before you’re able to download the app), you can claim your bonuses.
Once you’ve received your credit or made a deposit, you’re free to start checking out USFL betting lines and making your wagers.
What teams are in the USFL?
For the inaugural USFL season there will be eight teams in two divisions: the North Division and the South Division.
In the North Division, you’ll have the following four teams:
- Michigan Panthers
- New Jersey Generals
- Pittsburgh Maulers
- Philadelphia Stars
In the South Division, you’ll find these four teams:
- Birmingham Stallions
- Houston Gamblers
- New Orleans Breakers
- Tampa Bay Bandits
In season one the USFL will play all of their games in a single city. All of the games will be played in Birmingham, Alabama, at Protective Stadium and Legion Field.
The USFL head coaches are:
- Kirby Wilson of the Pittsburgh Maulers
- Bart Andrus of the Philadelphia Stars
- Larry Fedora of the New Orleans Breakers
- Jeff Fisher of the Michigan Panthers
- Todd Haley of the Tampa Bay Bandits
- Skip Holtz of the Birmingham Stallions
- Mike Riley of the New Jersey Generals
- Kevin Sumlin of the Houston Gamblers
USFL betting vs. NFL betting: Key differences
First and foremost, the quality of football will obviously be less impressive than the NFL, but that’s not necessarily a complete negative. These teams aren’t made up of multi-million dollar athletes who are the absolute best in the business. But they aren’t going to be a bunch of nobodies, either.
What you can expect is a different breed of football. The offenses and defenses will likely have a bit more of a college feel to them, and the scoreboard should light up a bit more than their NFL counterparts. That’s just the reality of not having a superstar athlete at every position on the field.
That being said, the quality of athlete will still be superior to that of a collegiate program. These players often had their foot in the door in the NFL ranks but just weren’t able to stick it out for the long run. What that means for fans is plenty of quality football, lots of big hits and a nice heap of scoring on top of it all.
On the betting front, you should see most of the odds available as you would in the NFL and college football. It’s quite possible we’ll see more props for these games, and some of them will continue to range from the absolute wacky to the extremely serious.
What is certain though is there will be football to bet on during the spring and summer months. For bettors, that means the sport of football becomes far more sustainable for year-round wagering.
Does the USFL have the same rules as the NFL?
If you’re wondering if there will be any differences between the USFL and NFL in terms of the rules of the game, the answer is yes.
One change is the option for a three-point try following a touchdown being scored. Just like in the NFL, teams in this new league have the option to go for a single point after attempt with a kick at the 15-yard line. They can also go for a two-point conversion from the two-yard line.
The newest addition is a three-point try, which a team can attempt starting at the 10-yard line. If they score, they will have put together a nine-point scoring drive.
Another rule will allow for teams to try to keep possession without having to recover an onside kick. While the onside kick will remain an option for teams that want to go that route, they can now choose to attempt to retain possession by going for a play starting at their own 33-yard line. They have to get 12 yards or more to retain possession of the football. If they fail to do so, the other team will be awarded the ball.
Two other rule changes have to do with the play clock and overtime.
The USFL rules will have the clock stop following a first down during the final two minutes of the second and fourth quarters. The idea is to get in more plays and create a more exciting atmosphere.
If the two teams in a game end up tied at the end of regulation, each offense will get the ball at the opponent’s two-yard line. A shootout will be played in a best-of-three format. If the teams are still tied after the three attempts, then the game will go into sudden-death overtime, much like the NFL.
The basics of USFL betting
When it comes to sports betting in PA and the United States, football is the king of the sportsbooks. The NFL sits atop the throne as the top sport receiving wagers and the sheer amount of money bet on the league. Right behind the pros have been college football.
Where will the USFL fit into it all? Odds are it will see a quick spike in popularity at the sportsbooks. Part of that will be because of the novelty of a new professional league starting up, but another aspect will most definitely be the fact that it is a new brand of football being played.
Below we take a look at some of the different sports bet types you’re going to come across while wagering on the USFL in Pennsylvania. For more information on any of these, you can read our in-depth look at each of them here on our website.
Point Spread – Moneyline – Totals
These three bet types are the most popular in all of sports betting. They are fairly simple to comprehend and have a lot of focus on them from both experienced and new bettors alike. You can find explainers for any of these that get quite thorough, and you will find these bet types at every Pennsylvania sportsbook.
The point spread features the favorite and a number of points oddsmakers expect them to win by. You wager if they will win by that much or if the underdog will be able to beat the spread.
Moneyline wagers give you two options, typically, to choose from. You pick which will win and if you’re right you’ll get paid out based on the odds that were in play when you made your bet.
Totals bets, also known as the over/under, have a combined number of points both teams that are playing in a game are expected to score. You decide if the final tally will be over or under that point total.
Props and Futures
These two bet types are two of the harder to prepare for. Because futures bets are wagered on things that haven’t happened yet — like the USFL Championship winner, the league MVP and more — you can find yourself with a distinct lack of information about what you’re placing your money on.
There is a nice little risk-vs-reward scenario with futures wagers. The earlier you bet, the better your payout is likely going to be — but then, of course, you don’t have as much information as you possibly could. The more that information becomes available, the less the sports betting odds will work in your favor.
Prop bets are also notoriously hard to research and prepare for. Some of them are just goofy at times, like how long the national anthem will last, or what color sports drink will be dumped on the winning coach. Others are more serious, such as over/unders on performances and more. In Pennsylvania, you can only bet on outcomes taking place within the field of play, like team and individual stats for the season or a specific game.
Make sure to approach prop bets carefully. It is an easy way to spend a lot of money without having a great way to be confident in your bets.
In-game USFL betting
As you’re aware, sports betting has been in a bit of a growth spurt in North America over the past few years, and while that mostly has to do with a change in federal law that allows states to determine the legality of the hobby within their borders, it also has a lot to do with access to sportsbooks thanks to technology.
Online sportsbooks and sportsbook apps not only make betting super convenient, but they have also allowed for much more in-game, or live, betting while a game is being played.
That means you can bet on events while they are happening, with odds shifting and changing constantly and the action staying pretty fast and furious at times.
Many of the bets are prop-style bets, as well as some over/under opportunities, and the popularity of in-game betting hasn’t slowed down a bit.
Expect to see this as an area of growth in the sports betting world, as well as one of the many bet types you’ll likely come across when wagering on the USFL in Pennsylvania.
What is the format for the USFL Playoffs and Championship?
The regular-season format will find the eight teams playing over 10 weeks before the playoff rounds begin. The current format has the USFL playoff games all being played in Canton, Ohio, at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, a 20,000-seat facility that is part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
For the inaugural season, the top two teams in each division will play against one another in the first week of the postseason. The winners of those games will advance to play in the USFL Championship game the following week.
Who was Picked in the 2022 USFL Draft?
Below we have a list of the first player drafted by each of the eight teams in the inaugural USFL Draft. In the format for the new league, they went through 35 rounds of drafting with every team selecting the same positional player in their specific rounds.
Following that, there were another 10 rounds of open supplemental draft picks that were not restricted to specific positions.
Round 1 (Quarterbacks)
- Michigan Panthers: Shea Patterson (University of Michigan)
- Tampa Bay Bandits: Jardan Ta’amu (Mississippi)
- Philadelphia Stars: Bryan Scott (Occidental College)
- New Jersey Generals: Ben Holmes (Tarleton State)
- Houston Gamblers: Clayton Thorson (Northwestern)
- Birmingham Stallions: Alex McGough (Florida International)
- Pittsburgh Maulers: Kyle Lauletta (Richmond)
- New Orleans Breakers: Kyle Sloter (Northern Colorado)
The positions selected by each round are as follows:
Round 2: Edge/DE
Round 3: Edge/DE
Round 4: Edge/DE
Round 5: Offensive Tackle
Round 6: Offensive Tackle
Round 7: Offensive Tackle
Round 8: Cornerback
Round 9: Cornerback
Round 10: Cornerback
Round 11: Cornerback
Round 12: Quarterback
Round 13: Wide Receiver
Round 14: Wide Receiver
Round 15: Wide Receiver
Round 16: Wide Receiver
Round 17: Wide Receiver
Round 18: Safety
Round 19: Safety
Round 20: Center
Round 21: Inside Linebacker
Round 22: Guard
Round 23: Guard
Round 24: DT/Nose Tackle
Round 25: DT/Nose Tackle
Round 26: DT/Nose Tackle
Round 27: Running Back/Fullback
Round 28: Running Back/Fullback
Round 29: Outside Linebacker
Round 30: Outside Linebacker
Round 31: Outside Linebacker
Round 32: Kicker
Round 33: Punter
Round 34: Tight End/H-Back
Round 35: Long Snapper
Rounds 36-45: Supplemental
Are there any former NFL players on the Maulers or Stars?
There are several players on both teams who had stints in the National Football League, though not all of them actually saw the field. Below we list each player and their former NFL teams.
Pittsburgh Maulers Former NFL Players
- Kyle Lauletta (Richmond), QB: New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars
- Isaiah Battle (Clemson), OT: St. Louis Rams
- Carlo Kemp (Michigan), Edge: Green Bay Packers and Denver Broncos
- Nasir Player (East Tennessee), Edge: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Chidi Okeke (Tennessee State), OL: Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Miami Dolphins
- Terrell Bonds (Tennessee State), CB: Baltimore Ravens and Miami Dolphins
- Jeffery Thomas (Miami), WR: New England Patriots
- Bailey Gaither (San Hose State), WR: Green Bay Packers
- Branden Mack (Temple), WR: Denver Broncos
- Nico Falah (Southern California), Center: Las Vegas Raiders
- EJ Ejiya (North Texas), LB: Baltimore Ravens
- Vadal Alexander (LSU), G: Oakland Raiders
- Olive Sagapolu (Wisconsin), DT: Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons
- Boogie Roberts (San Jose State), DT: Los Angeles Rams
- De’Veon Smith (Michigan), RB: Miami Dolphins
- Matt Seybert (Michigan State), TE: Los Angeles Chargers
Philadelphia Stars Former NFL Players
- Blake Alan Camper (South Carolina), OT: Los Angeles Chargers
- Case Cookus (Northern Arizona), QB: New York Giants
- Darnell Holland (Kennesaw State), RB: New Orleans Saints
- Matthew Colburn II (Wake Forest), RB: Los Angeles Rams
- Devin Gray (Cincinnati), WR: Atlanta Falcons
- Brennan Eagles (Texas), WR: Dallas Cowboys
- Bug Howard (North Carolina), TE: Indianapolis Colts
- Jake Burton (Baylor), OT: New York Giants
- Blake Camper (South Carolina), OT: Los Angeles Chargers
- Freedom Akinmoladun (Nebraska), DE: Cincinnati Bengals, New York Giants, Tennessee Titans, and the New York Jets
- Carroll Phillips (Illinois), DE: Jacksonville Jaguars, Indianapolis Colts, Washington Redskins and Atlanta Falcons
- Michael Barnett (Georgia), DT: New England Patriots
- Josh Banderas (Nebraska), LB: Denver Broncos
- Te’von Coney (Notre Dame), LB: Las Vegas Raiders
- Channing Stribling (Michigan), CB: Los Angeles Chargers
- Jack Tocho (NC State), S: Minnesota Vikings
- Mazzi Wilkins (South Florida), CB: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Ryan Navarro (Oregon State), LS: Oakland Raiders and Washington Redskins
5 USFL players who went on to star in the NFL
There are quite a few players and coaches who spent time in the first iteration of the United States Football League back in the 1980s who went on to play or work in the NFL ranks. Out of those, a few stand out among the rest.
Two quarterbacks played in the 1984-85 season and went on to not only be absolute monsters in NFL backfields, but also managed to get enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Jim Kelly is known for his time as the signal caller for the Buffalo Bills, but he spent a season as the quarterback for the Houston Gamblers first and was named the league MVP that year. In 2002, he was inducted into the HoF.
Steve Young is another former USFL player who went on to make a name for himself as a quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers. He played his single season for the USFL with the Los Angeles Express. In 2005, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Running back Herschel Walker was a wrecking ball in the NFL and spent his career picking up hard-earned yards for the Cowboys, Eagles, Giants and Vikings. Prior to that, he played for the New Jersey Generals and was named the league MVP in 1985.
Defensive end Reggie White was known as the “Minister of Defense” in the NFL. He made a name for himself as a dominant force on the edge for the Philadelphia Eagles before surprising the entire NFL by taking a contract with the then-struggling Green Bay Packers. White played the 1984-85 season with the Memphis Showboats before moving on to the NFL. In 2006, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Gary Zimmerman is an offensive tackle who played for the Minnestota Vikings and the Denver Broncos over his 12-year NFL career. In 2008, he was selected to the Hall of Fame for the work he did down in the trenches. In the 1984-85 season, however, Zimmerman was part of the USFL as a member of the LA Express.