Before playing its last game in 1985, the USFL featured some notable players and exciting games. Herschel Walker and Doug Flutie both starred in the original league, but at the time, there wasn’t room for a real competitor to the NFL.
Times have changed, with sports betting driving new interest in spring football. The USFL has returned with eight teams playing a 10-week schedule, plus the playoffs.
Here’s the latest on USFL betting sites in Massachusetts and what the future might hold for the upstart league.
Top MA sportsbook apps for USFL odds
Now that sports gambling in Massachusetts is legal, here are some of the best USFL betting sites in the state.
BetMGM Sportsbook app
As one of the biggest names in sports betting, BetMGM MA Sportsbook offers great features like:
- Competitive odds on USFL point spreads and moneylines
- Individual player and team props bets
- Generous sign-up bonuses for new bettors
DraftKings Sportsbook app
This retail sports betting leader based in Massachusetts provides intriguing odds. DraftKings Sportsbook MA‘s USFL bets include:
- Futures bets on USFL Championship winner
- Betting on spreads/moneylines/totals
- Daily fantasy football options
- Easy-to-use interface
FanDuel Sportsbook app
Get a wide variety of betting options with FanDuel MA Sportsbook, including:
- Excellent choices in same game parlay bets and USFL game lines
- Live betting that keeps you engaged during the game
- Daily fantasy football options
How to bet on USFL games online
First, choose your favorite sportsbook from your computer or phone. While registering for an account, don’t forget to claim the site’s sign-up bonus offer. Next, follow the prompts to enter your name, location and ID verification.
Once you create a new account, make a deposit. Use the secure banking options available to fund your account. Make sure to get any bonus bets and boosted odds promos that come with joining.
Now you are ready to browse today’s USFL odds. Search the sportsbook site for upcoming game spreads. Make a selection, and a betting slip will pop up for you to complete your first bet.
This week’s USFL odds
What teams make up the USFL?
Eight teams divided into two divisions will compete for the inaugural championship. Although there are no USFL teams in Massachusetts, the North Division includes teams in nearby states.
North Division
New Jersey Generals
Veteran head coach Mike Riley, who began his career in Canada, leads the Generals. Riley has guided Winnipeg to two Grey Cup championships. He’s also had tours in the NFL with the Chargers and the college ranks at Oregon State and Nebraska.
QB Ben Holmes grew up in the shadow of the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, New York. The first draft pick of the Generals went seven games without an interception in his senior year. He left Tarleton State with an impressive 23-2 record.
Philadelphia Stars
Bart Andrus also has NCAA head coaching experience with Oregon State and Montana. Andrus won one World Bowl championship in seven seasons with the European league.
Quarterback Bryan Scott led his high school to its first championship in 50 years. After a stellar career with Occidental College, he became the first pick for Philadelphia. Scott completed 63.3 percent of his passes on the way to being dubbed “the Aaron Rodgers of Division III.”
Pittsburgh Maulers
With 36 years of NFL coaching experience, Kirby Wilson leads Pittsburgh. Wilson has two Super Bowl rings and a reputation for developing running backs. This is the first head coaching position for the former CFL defensive back.
The Maulers selected former NFL backup QB Kyle Lauletta with their first pick. Lauletta has seen plenty of practice squad duties, most recently with the Cleveland Browns. Lauletta now has his chance to take the snaps instead of holding a clipboard.
Michigan Panthers
After a six-year absence from coaching, Jeff Fisher takes the reins for Michigan. Fisher has 22 years of NFL head coaching experience and one Super Bowl appearance.
The Panthers used their first draft pick of the USFL to select QB Shea Patterson. After two college seasons at Ole Miss, Patterson switched to the University of Michigan for his final two years. He compiled 6,319 passing yards, 63 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.
South Division
Birmingham Stallions
Son of college football icon Lou Holtz, Birmingham head coach Skip Holtz has 22 years of coaching experience in the college ranks. During his tenure at East Carolina, Skip won two Conference USA championships. At Louisiana Tech, he guided his teams to three division titles.
Former Seattle Seahawks draft pick Alex McGough will take the snaps behind center. McGough threw for 9,091 yards, 65 TDs and 37 INTs in four years at Florida International.
Houston Gamblers
After a stellar college career, Kevin Sumlin will lead the Gamblers as head coach and GM in his return to Texas. Sumlin went 95-63 while coaching in nine bowl games in 13 seasons. Sumlin was twice honored as Conference USA Coach of the Year and once in the SEC.
Former Northwestern star quarterback Clayton Thorson becomes the Gamblers’ signal-caller. Thorson rang up more than 10,000 passing yards before getting drafted by the Eagles in 2019 and saw some NFL snaps with the Giants last year.
New Orleans Breakers
A successful 32-year college career led Larry Fedora to the top job in New Orleans. He coached at Southern Miss and North Carolina before becoming Baylor‘s offensive coordinator, helping the Bears to last year’s Big 12 Championship.
Then, Kyle Sloter gets his opportunity to guide the offense at quarterback. The former Minnesota Viking also spent time on the Raiders‘ practice squad. Sloter is also a Southern Miss alum and familiar with Fedora.
Tampa Bay Bandits
Rounding out the USFL coaching fraternity is former Chiefs head coach Todd Haley. The Bandits get 22 years of NFL coaching experience with Haley at the helm. Much of his success has come as an offensive coordinator.
Tampa Bay drafted quarterback Jordan Ta’amu in the first round. The former Ole Miss star completed 64.5% of his passes while compiling 5,00 yards, 30 TDs and 12 INTs. Ta’amu then starred in St. Louis with the XFL before getting another shot in the NFL with Kansas City.
Which former NFL & NCAA players are in the USFL?
- Generals defensive end Tyshun Render got a private look from Bill Belichick;
- Birmingham picked up TE Sage Surratt, who caught 66 passes for 1001 yards in only nine games at Wake Forest;
- Outside linebacker and former Pittsburgh Steeler Travis Feeney brings edge rush prowess;
- Running back T.J. Logan is another star who played under Larry Fedora at North Carolina.
How is USFL betting different from NFL betting?
Looking for a home edge will be challenging at the best USFL betting sites. Each team will play all scheduled season games at a central location of Alabama’s Legion Field. Teams will trade opportunities to play as the home team in Protective Stadium every week. Crowd noise might be less of a factor for visiting offenses, so scoring could be rampant and fun to watch.
Basics of football betting
There are three basic ways to bet on USFL games if you are new to the practice. Sportsbooks will show USFL betting lines for the spread, moneyline and over/under. There are other options that we’ll go over below.
- Point Spread – A game that lists New Jersey at Birmingham -3.5 is an example of point spread betting on USFL games. In this case, Birmingham is a 3.5 point favorite. If you choose them, Birmingham must win by four points or more for you to win.
- Moneyline – The moneyline is a straightforward win-or-lose USFL betting option. For example, Houston at +130 is an underdog bet to win the game.
- Over/under – These bets are on the combined total score of each game. Let’s say the Panthers play the Maulers with 49.5 as the over/under. The score goes over if both teams combine for 50 points or more.
Props and futures
With each game, there are a variety of bets other than scores. Betting on props allow you to go deeper into the game and select how players perform. Prop bets may include:
- Passing yards by a quarterback
- Running back total yards
- Defensive player sacks
You can predict the eventual winner of the USFL Championship with a futures bet. The best online betting sites are posting USFL betting odds for each team now.
- Michigan Panthers +400
- Tampa Bay Bandits +550
- New Jersey Generals +700
In-game betting
DraftKings is one of the betting sites that will offer live sports betting during the game. Bets can be made on the game as it happens. USFL betting sites will have their own rules regarding in-game point spreads and prop bets.
For more information on the different wagers available, check out our beginner’s guide to sports betting page.
USFL Playoffs and Championship
Two semi-final playoff games will be contested at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. The top two teams in each division will play for a chance at the championship the following week.
Playoff games generally attract more prop betting options. However, USFL point spreads will still be posted for the playoffs and championship.
USFL betting partnerships
The league has partnered with the Sportradar data company to maintain betting integrity. Sportradar works with several notable leagues and has a solid reputation.
USFL betting is available in 15 states where sports betting is legal.
Sportsbook rules for betting on USFL
Be aware that live sports betting odds can change without notice during a game. Sanctioned USFL betting sites will post specific rules about parlay bets and final outcomes.
Have there ever been USFL teams in MA?
There has never been a USFL team from Massachusetts—in the old USFL or in this new version. There have been no formal announcements yet about expansion plans.
That said, four players were taken from the Massachusetts Pirates indoor football team in the USFL draft.
- Offensive lineman Marquis Lucas – New Orleans Breakers
- Center Jordan McCray – Birmingham Stallions
- Center lineman Jared Thomas – New Orleans Breakers
- Defensive lineman Toby Johnson – New Jersey Generals
Five interesting numbers/facts about USFL
- $850: the amount paid to each member of the winning team each week;
- USFL players and staff can enroll for free in Strategic Education‘s Strayer University and Capella University;
- NBC and FOX will broadcast the league opener, making it the first scheduled sporting event to air on competing broadcast networks since Super Bowl I;
- $45,000: the salary for each active player in the USFL;
- 32 referees will come from the NFL’s Officiating Development Program.