Both the New Orleans Breakers and the Tampa Bay Bandits won their debut in Week 1 of the USFL’s maiden season. The two face off on Sunday to see who will stay undefeated.
The Breakers defeated the Philadelphia Stars on Sunday while the Bandits nearly shut out the Pittsburgh Maulers on Monday. Now, the Bandits have the task of shutting down the Breakers, who scored the third-most points of any of the eight teams in Week 1.
Oddsmakers like the Bandits, making them the favorite in this game, but the Breakers looked impressive last week, and are looking to do it again. Can the Bandits put the clamps defensively on the Breakers, or will New Orleans pull off the upset?
Find out with our free USFL betting picks and predictions for Stars vs. Breakers on Sunday, April 24.
Breakers vs Bandits odds
| New Orleans Breakers | Tampa Bay Bandits | |
|---|---|---|
| +2.5 | Spread | -2.5 |
| +120 | Moneyline | -140 |
| Over 39.5 (-110) | Total | Under 39.5 (-110) |
Odds courtesy of bet365 as of April 24, 2022.
The Bandits come into the game with the Breakers as the -2.5 favorite, and that line has not moved. The Breakers are +120 on the moneyline, while the Bandits are -154. The total opened at 40.5 and has stayed at that number.
Breakers vs Bandits predictions
Predictions made on 4/23/2022 at 1:30 p.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
If you're signing up for a new sportsbook for the USFL season, here are two of the best bonuses* available:
A) New users can bet $20 and get $200 in free bets with Caesars! Sign Up Now
B) New users can get two risk-free bets up to $2,000 at PointsBet! Sign Up Now
*Eligible USA locations only
Breakers vs Bandits game info
• Location: Protective Stadium, Birmingham, AL
• Date: Sunday, April 24, 2022
• Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
• TV: NBC, Peacock
Breakers at Bandits betting preview
Weather
The weather should be perfect on Sunday with partly cloudy skies at kickoff, but no rain in the forecast. The temperature is predicted to be 83 degrees at game time with winds blowing from the south at 10 mph.
Key injuries
Breakers: E.J. Bibbs TE (Out), Jonathan Adams WR (Questionable), Jordan Ellis WR (Questionable), Shawn Poindexter WR (Questionable), Kyle Sloter QB (Questionable), Chad Williams WR (Questionable).
Bandits: Rashard Davis WR (Questionable), De'Quan Hampton TE (Questionable), Eli Rogers WR (Out).
Breakers vs Bandits 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
After the first week of the debut season, these two teams appeared to be the best of the eight. Both won their games, though the New Orleans Breakers had a bit of a sweat.
There was no such anxiety for the Tampa Bay Bandits. They manhandled the Pittsburgh Maulers, 17-3, limiting Pittsburgh to the lowest points total of any of the teams. The Bandits’ defense was impressive, but let’s not get too excited.
Tampa limited the Maulers, who might be the weakest of all the teams in the USFL, with 161 yards in total offense, but New Orleans will present a much tougher challenge.
The Breakers gained 321 total yards, including 171 on the ground. The running back tandem of Jordan Ellis and T.J. Logan Jr. is proving to be the most effective rushing attack in the league. Ellis had 89 yards on 18 carries and Logan picked up 56 yards on 15 carries.
Even quarterback Kyle Sloter scampered for 30 yards on four carries. As much credit as Tampa Bay got for its defense, the real test is on Sunday, and I don’t think they will be up for it.
Prediction: Breakers +2.5 (-110 at FoxBet)
Over/Under analysis
The Under hit in three of the four games last week and again in Friday’s Michigan Panthers-New Jersey Generals game. As offensively proficient as both New Orleans and Tampa Bay is, I am going to stick with the Under here as well.
The big reason for that is the defense for both the Breakers and the Bandits. The Bandits' Defensive Coordinator Pepper Johnson employed a 3-4 defense with Zac Dawe, Reggie Howard, and Daylon Mack upfront, shutting down the Maulers’ plan to run the ball. They will face another team that likes to run the ball but has the weapons to do it.
With Logan and Ellis, they should keep Tampa Bay busy on Sunday. More importantly, they will chew up the clock, always a friend to Under bettors. The Breakers’ defense will have to put pressure on Bandits’ quarterback Jordan Ta'amu.
Ta’Amu had 185 yards last week, and if New Orleans can get pressure on him, he is prone to mistakes. Tampa Bay scored 17 points last week, while New Orleans had 23.
Those totals, however, were against weaker teams. The defense should be the focus here and will produce a low-scoring contest.
Prediction: Under 40.5 (-110 at bet365)
Best bet
As effective as Tampa Bay’s defense was, I’m not sold on them yet. They are going to face a fairly balanced offense on Sunday and won’t be nearly as impressive as they were last week against Pittsburgh. The Breakers’ defense hasn't gotten nearly enough credit.
Led by linebacker Vontae Diggs and defensive end David Bellamy, New Orleans wreaked havoc on Philadelphia last week. Bellamy had three sacks on Stars’ quarterback Bryan Scott and was named the league’s Defensive Player of the Week. Diggs had 10 tackles in that game, as well as an interception he ran back 37 yards for a touchdown.
Another defensive player who was a big contributor is inside linebacker Jerod Fernandez, who posted 12 total tackles against the Stars. The linebackers will have a big task of slowing down Bandits’ tight end Cheyenne O’Grady. O’Grady was a big reason for Tampa Bay’s win last week, with eight catches for 86 yards.
Ta’Amu has shown he can make mistakes, however. Under moderate pressure in the Bandits’ first game, he threw two interceptions. With the harassment that New Orleans can provide from Bellamy, Ta’Amu might throw some INTs, and if he does, the Breakers can pull off the upset.
Pick: Breakers ML (+120 at FoxBet)
Did you know that if you parlayed our USFL Breakers vs. Bandits predictions, you could win $70.18 on a $10 bet?
Use our parlay calculator to create your own parlays and see their potential payouts.
