Maulers vs Breakers Week 9 Game Info
2023 USFL Regular Season'Game
Pittsburgh Maulers (0-0) vs.'New Orleans Breakers (0-0)
Date:' Sunday, Apr. 16, 2023
Time:'6:30 p.m. ET
Venue:'Protective Stadium – Birmingham, Alabama
Coverage:'FS1
The 2023 USFL season kicks off this weekend, including a pair of exciting matchups on Sunday, April 16. The second showdown of the day features the Pittsburgh Maulers taking on the New Orleans Breakers at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, AL.
Each team had a different experience during the 2022 campaign. On one hand, the Maulers finished at the bottom of the USFL with an abysmal 1-9 record. On the other, the Breakers qualified for the postseason with a 6-4 record but were ultimately eliminated in the opening round by the eventual champions, the Birmingham Stallions.
Can the Maulers prove they're better than they showed last season? Or will the Breakers be the team to begin the new schedule 1-0?
Maulers vs Breakers Odds & Spread
Moneyline:'PIT (+155) | NO: (-180)
Spread:'PIT: +4.5 (-110) | NO: -4.5 (-110)
Total:'37.5 -Over: (-110) | Under: (-110)
The Breakers enter this contest as clear home favorites on the moneyline and spread on FanDuel Sportsbook's odds. This 6:30 p.m. ET matchup also features an over/under of 37.5 with both sides sitting at -110 odds.
Maulers vs Breakers Prediction & Pick
The Breakers are ready to pick up from where they left off last year, but that's going to take some time. After all, this is John DeFilippo's first-ever head coaching gig after spending 23 years bouncing around the NFL and NCAA in various assistant/coordinator roles.
Meanwhile, the Maulers also have a new head coach in the form of Ray Horton. The 63-year-old has about 25 years of NFL experience under his belt as an assistant/defensive coordinator, but hasn't had a football gig since he was the then-Washington Redskins defensive backs coach in 20 19.
Four years out of the game is a lot and Horton has a tall test in front of him, especially after the Maulers averaged a USFL-worst 14.7 PPG in 2022. The Breakers weren't nearly that bad and even though they have a new coach, they at least have somewhat of an identity.
Final Score Prediction:'Breakers: 18 | Maulers: 16
Maulers vs Breakers Best Bet
As for the best bet, I'm going with the under on the 37.5-point total. The Maulers and Breakers owned two of the USFL's three worst offenses l ast season, only averaging a combined 34.3 PPG. I don't see either team seriously improving on those numbers just yet, especially with two new head coaches behind the bench in Week 1.