After severe weather postponed it for a day, the Tampa Bay Bandits and Pittsburgh Maulers will cap off the opening weekend of the USFL tonight, instead of the regularly scheduled Sunday night.
Tampa Bay is led by head coach Todd Haley, a longtime NFL offensive coordinator who has found success at the highest levels of the sport. The Bandits are the current favorite at most sportsbooks to take home the inaugural championship.
The Maulers are led by longtime running backs coach Kirby Wilson and are expected to finish near the bottom of the standings.
Check out our free USFL picks and predictions for the Tampa Bay Bandits and Pittsburgh Maulers on Monday, April 18.
Bandits vs Maulers odds
| Tampa Bay Bandits | Pittsburgh Maulers | |
|---|---|---|
| -4.5 (+100) | Spread | +4.5 (-120) |
| -210 | Moneyline | +175 |
| Over 41.5 (-110) | Total | Under 41.5 (-110) |
Odds courtesy of FanDuel as of April 15, 2022.
Tampa Bay is the biggest betting favorite of the weekend, but the point spread is only -4. This total is set at 42 at most books, but 41.5 is also available.
Bandits vs Maulers predictions
Predictions made on 4/15/2022 at 7:00 a.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
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Bandits vs Maulers game info
• Location: Protective Stadium, Birmingham, AL
• Date: Monday, April 18, 2022
• Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
• TV: FS1
Bandits at Maulers betting preview
Weather
After heavy rainfall and thunderstorms postponed the game from Sunday night, Monday's weather looks much better for kick-off, with temperatures around 62 degrees, no expected precipitation, and wind blowing NNW around 12 mph.
Key injuries
Bandits: No injuries to report.
Maulers: No injuries to report.
Bandits vs Maulers picks and predictions
Our side and total predictions are based upon our analysis of the line and total in this game. Our best bet is our favorite pick across all markets.
Spread analysis
The Bandits are expected to be one of the top teams in the first season of the USFL. As difficult as it is to predict future outcomes in a makeshift league like this, it’s easy to see why this team is garnering hype.
Tampa likely has the best quarterback in the league in former Ole Miss standout Jordan Ta’amu. He’s an athletic dual-threat QB who got a cup of coffee in the NFL before having success in the XFL. Quarterback play is a huge uncertainty for most teams in this league, but it’s a clear strength for the Bandits.
Head coach Todd Haley has coached successful offenses in the NFL, most notably with Big Ben in Pittsburgh. He was last seen having a falling out with Hue Jackson in Cleveland and spent the last few years coaching high school ball.
Don’t let that fool you — Haley is a bright offensive mind with a higher coaching pedigree than many in this league. That being said, he’s clashed with other coaches and has had locker room issues in the past, which is something to keep an eye on this season.
The Maulers are the only team in the USFL with a first-time head coach, an automatic red flag. Kirby Wilson is a lifetime running backs coach, and he’s openly stated his desire to pound the rock with running backs Garret Groshek and Madre London. Groshek experienced moderate success at Wisconsin, while London was named the MVP of the European League of Football last season.
Kyle Lauletta, a former fourth-round pick by the New York Giants coming out of Richmond, is the quarterback. His receivers include the highly-skilled but problematic Jeff Thomas, deep-threat Bailey Gaither, and 6-foot-5 Brenden Mack from Temple.
The Bandits are the deserving favorite. There aren’t many clear positives for the Maulers — they’re a team of unknowns. Meanwhile, the Bandits have arguably the best quarterback in the league and are the betting favorite to win the championship (+425 at DraftKings).
Prediction: Bandits -4 (-110 at bet365)
Over/Under analysis
We expect this opening weekend of games to be low-scoring. Offenses are still working out the kinks and most offensive lines around the leagues will be underwhelming. That expectation is reflected in low totals across the board.
The Bandits should be able to sling the ball around the yard led by Ta’amu, but the Maulers will look to keep the ball on the ground as often as possible. Kirby Wilson has been coaching running backs every year but one since 1997 and this is his first-ever game as head coach. We can expect conservative play calling on his side, which will help drain the clock and keep the number of possessions low.
We originally expected the weather to play a key factor, as thunderstorms and heavy rainfall were expected last night, but now the playing conditions should be a touch cleaner on Monday. Even without a soggy field, we're still leaning toward the Under.
Prediction: Under 42 (-120 at DraftKings)
Best bet
The Maulers have made it clear what their identity will be: Keep the ball on the ground offensively and try to maul you, staying true to their name.
With a ground-heavy approach from Pittsburgh — and poor overall offensive line play expected in this league — we’re putting our chips on the Under.
Pick: Under 42 (-120 at DraftKings)
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