New Orleans Breakers at Birmingham Stallions 6/25/22 - USFL Picks & Predictions
Last Updated: 06/21/2022 at 11:35 PM ET
On Saturday evening, the New Orleans Breakers will play the Birmingham Stallions in the second semifinal game of the USFL playoffs. New Orleans finished the regular season 6-4 and had the most efficient defense in the league. New Orleans allowed an average of only 14.6 points per game. The New Orleans defense has its strength in the secondary and pass rush, as the Breakers give up more on the ground.
New Orleans quarterback Kyle Sloter has passed for 1,798 yards with nine touchdowns and 11 interceptions. The leading rusher for New Orleans is Jordan Ellis with 596 yards and four touchdowns, while the leading receiver is Jonathan Adams with 406 yards and Johnnie Dixon had a team-high four touchdown receptions. Jerod Fernandez is the leading tackler with 86 while Davin Bellamy is the leader in quarterback sacks with 5.5.
The Birmingham Stallions finished the regular season 9-1 and were the regular season winners of the South division. Birmingham was strong during the start of the season but has failed to cover the number in each of the last four. Birmingham has scored the second most points this season but has only scored an average of 16 points per game over the last three games and scored only 10 points three weeks ago against the Breakers. The Stallions are averaging 324.3 yards per game but have reached that number just once over the past month.
Birmingham quarterback J’Mar Smith has passed for 1,573 yards with 10 touchdowns and six interceptions. CJ Marable is the leading rusher for Birmingham with 401 yards and five touchdowns, while the leading receiver is Marlon Williams with 474 yards and four touchdowns receptions. The leading tackler is DeMarquis Gates with 62 and Gates is also the leader in quarterback sacks with 6.5.
Birmingham defeated New Orleans in each of the two games the two played head-to-head this season, but the Stallions won by only one point, 10-9 in Week 8. New Orleans will contain a struggling Birmingham offense that has averaged only 16 points per game over the last three weeks of the regular season, during which they lost their only game 17-15. New Orleans' offense has averaged 19.4 points per game and the defense will keep the Breakers close and force a Birmingham mistake late, for New Orleans to take advantage of and pull off the upset. Final Score Prediction, New Orleans Breakers win and cover ATS 24-23.
