Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium takes the stage on Saturday afternoon in the professional football world. The 2023 USFL season begins with doubleheaders on both Saturday and Sunday, with the first matchup of the campaign held in Memphis. The Philadelphia Stars visit the Memphis Showboats in the first week, as Philadelphia aims to recapture the magic that helped the team reach the championship game last season. Memphis is in its first season after taking over for the Tampa Bay Bandits, though there is a strong foundation for the club.
Caesars Sportsbook lists Philadelphia as the 2.5-point favorite for this 4:30 p.m. ET kickoff. The total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, or the over/under, is 39.5 in the latest Stars vs. Showboats odds. Before making any Showboats vs. Stars picks or USFL predictions, see what SportsLine expert Emory Hunt has to say.
Hunt is the founder and CEO of Football Gameplan, which has been supplying analysis of all levels of football since 2007. He is a former running back for the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns and knows the game from a player’s perspective. Hunt’s dedication to analysis of all levels of college and professional football helped him start the USFL season 24-18 last year and he’s also off to a fast 21-11 start on his XFL spread picks this season.
Now, Hunt has set his sights on Stars vs. Showboats. You can head to SportsLine to see his picks. Now, here are several USFL betting lines for Stars vs. Showboats:
Stars vs. Showboats spread: Stars -2.5
Stars vs. Showboats over/under: 39.5 points
Stars vs. Showboats money line: Stars -145, Showboats +125
Stars vs. Showboats picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Stars can cover
Philadelphia is capable of creating some havoc on defense, producing 25 sacks last season. The Stars also have arguably the best defensive back in the league in Channing Stribling, who led the USFL with seven interceptions. Despite shaky yardage metrics on defense, Philadelphia led the league with a +8 turnover margin, and part of that can also be attributed to an elite offense.
The Stars have a high-powered passing offense that led them close to a title last season. Quarterback Case Cookus was excellent after taking the reins during the season, and he is flanked by Jordan Suell and Corey Coleman. Suell ranked in the top 10 of the USFL in receiving yards and receptions last season, with Coleman arriving with immense pedigree and speed as a former first-round pick in the NFL. Philadelphia also has a tremendous running game behind Matt Colburn, who ranked second in the USFL with eight rushing touchdowns.
Why the Showboats can cover
Memphis has an immediate local connection after the move from Tampa Bay. The team’s starting quarterback will be University of Memphis product Brady White, who threw for more than 10,000 yards at the college level. The Showboats also return their top four receiving options from last season, giving White some comfort on the outside. In addition, Philadelphia gave up the third-most points in the league (21.5 per game) and that could give Memphis a leg up.
On the defensive side, Memphis posted a top-four mark in the USFL in allowing fewer than 300 total yards per game, and that includes the third-best mark in passing defense, yielding only 173.2 yards per contest. While operating in Tampa Bay, the Showboats produced 21 sacks, and Memphis allowed only 19.1 points per game to opponents.
How to make Stars vs. Showboats picks
Hunt has analyzed this matchup and while we can tell you he’s leaning Over on the point total, he has discovered a critical X-factor that has him jumping all over one side of the spread. He’s only sharing what it is, and which side to back, at SportsLine.
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