Can anyone tame the Stallions?
Birmingham enters this weekend’s USFL semifinal round as defending champions, and they take on the Breakers in a rubber match to cap off the weekend of football in the league’s revival sophomore year.
In Week 3, New Orleans handed the Stallions their first loss of the season, a 41-35 drubbing. In that matchup, the Breakers controlled the clock in a big way: They dominated time of possession (36:36 to 23:24) and put up 483 total yards of offense on the Stallions defense, including 200 rushing yards in the victory.
The Stallions got their win back later in the season, despite losing the head-to-head in those major categories. This time, Birmingham capitalized on three New Orleans turnovers to eke out a 24-20 win.
MORE: Watch the USFL playoffs with Fubo (free trial)
In the North Division, the Maulers and Panthers kick off the weekend with the division championship on Saturday. Both the Maulers and the Panthers finished the 2023 season at 4-6 (while the whole North Division finished under .500, too), and their matchup might be too close to call entering the weekend.
Here’s how to catch this weekend’s semifinal matchups:
USFL playoff schedule: What games are on this weekend?
USFL North Division championship
Date
Matchup
Kickoff (ET)
TV channel
Saturday, June 24
Pittsburgh Maulers vs. Michigan Panthers
8 p.m.
NBC
USFL South Division championship
Date
Matchup
Kickoff (ET)
TV channel
Sunday, June 25
Birmingham Stallions vs. New Orleans Breakers
7 p.m.
Fox
USFL playoff game TV channels, live stream
Maulers vs. Panthers
Date: Saturday, June 24
Start time: 8 p.m. ET
TV channel: NBC
Live stream: Fubo
Key to the game: Both Michigan and Pittsburgh are almost mirror images of one another. The Panthers and Maulers are both operating at a point deficit this season:
The Maulers finished the regular season -1 in point differential, while the Panthers weren’t much better at a -44 point differential. The Maulers finished the season scoring 17.7 points per game, while the Panthers offered just 17.1 points per game. It might be a defensive struggle, but more of it may be struggling offenses.
It’s a true toss-up game in any form or fashion, so look to the home record: The Panthers are 3-2 on the road this season, while the Maulers are 2-4 at home. That may be the deciding factor, in a razor-thin matchup.
Stallions vs. Breakers
Date: Sunday, June 25
Start time: 7 p.m. ET
TV channel: Fox
Live stream: Fubo
Key to the game: It’s a battle of two high-powered offenses, so this game may come down to who can make the big play on defense. The Breakers may be better positioned to make that happen. New Orleans has forced 17 turnovers in 2023, including 12 interceptions, which is second best among remaining playoff teams (the Maulers rank first with 13 INTs).
Birmingham QB Alex McGough will give the Breakers opportunities; his five INTs tossed rank sixth in the USFL — but still three picks behind Breakers QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson, who has eight this season.
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