Last weekend the USFL kicked off with the Birmingham Stallions and New Jersey Generals. The matchup was supposed to be followed-up with a tripleheader on Easter. That being said, weather stepped in and we saw the Bandits/Maulers game bumped to Monday night.
This week, the league has their first Friday night game of the year, and is also being teased as a rivalry week for the new franchises.
As an added bonus, Saturday night will be NASCAR Night. You’ll have a chance to meet Tyler Reddick and Ty Dillion. You can also get your picture taken with a Cup show car and more.
Join the fun on Saturday night as the @USFL presents @NASCAR Night! Meet Tyler Reddick and Ty Dillon, take your picture with a Cup show car and enter for a chance to win tickets to the #GEICO500. Kids under 15 are free!
Get your tickets here » https://t.co/1JgDfyLPf2 pic.twitter.com/figzyMECvd— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) April 21, 2022
Curious how to tune in this week? Want to know the matchups? We got you covered, we’ll breakdown all of the games below with information on how to watch or attend in person.
The Northern Duel: Michigan Panthers at New Jersey Generals
Friday – 8PM EST – USA – Stream – Tickets
The first game up is the first Friday night game of the season. Both teams are coming into this matchup looking for their first win. Unlike the NFL, it’s guaranteed that we see a winner with the USFL’s overtime rules. Essentially, if the game is tied after regulation, it goes to a shootout with each team getting five tries at the end zone.
Last week the Generals looked like they were going to pull it out over Birmingham, but the Stallions rallied late to get the win. The Panthers had some equipment problems, forcing Patterson out of the game. With Shea potentially in for all 4 quarters, they may have a shot at coming out on top.
The Keystone State Battle: Pittsburgh Maulers at Philadelphia Stars
Saturday – 12PM EST – FOX – Stream – Tickets
The second game of the weekend is potentially the biggest rivalry. We’re set to see the Pittsburgh Maulers and Philadelphia Stars battle it out to earn the pride of Pennsylvania. The Keystone State Battle will kickoff Saturday at 12pm EST on FOX. With the network broadcast, there’s surely to be a lot of eyes on this game.
Similar to the last matchup, both teams are coming in without a win. Last week the Maulers looked slow on offense and defense, you can bet Coach Wilson is working behind the scenes to get this squad in shape. The Stars looked competitive against the Breakers last weekend, but the New Orleans defense was too much for them to handle. This week they’re looking to regroup, and expand upon the things that worked in week 1.
The Double Down Derby: Birmingham Stallions at Houston Gamblers
Saturday – 7PM EST – FS1 – Stream – Tickets
Rounding out the double header on Saturday is the hometown Birmingham Stallions going head-to-head against the Houston Gamblers. So far, every team in the south division is undefeated, that streak ends here.
Last weekend both teams had their ups and downs, but both will be looking to continue with what worked. The Gamblers defense looked strong for Coach Sumlin, so we can expect to see them lean into that. Coach Holtz will need to monitor the QB situation, with McGough coming out last week with a minor knee injury. Smith was able to bring home the victory for the Stallions, so it should be a fun situation to watch.
The Breaker Bay Brawl: New Orleans Breakers at Tampa Bay Bandits
The Breaker Bay Brawl: Sunday – 3PM EST – NBC & Peacock TV – Stream – Tickets
Once again the Tampa Bay Bandits will host the last game of the weekend. This time around they’re taking on the New Orleans Breakers. This is surely set to be a close matchup. Both teams looked solid on offense and defense last weekend, with the Breakers possibly taking the edge on defense.
Jordan Ta’amu looked like he hasn’t missed a beat, but Coach Fedora seems to have a solid relationship with his squad and that can go a long way. One things for sure, one team is walking away with their first loss of the season.
There’s a lot on the line, and we’re only in week 2. In the north, each team is looking for their first win. In the south, the four teams are hoping to continue the undefeated streak.
Which USFL matchup are you looking forward to the most this week? Let us know down in the comments below or join the conversation on Discord.
