Most people associate professional American football exclusively with the NFL, but other leagues exist. One such league is the United States Football League (USFL), which has recently returned after a thirty-year hiatus.
This revival has caught the interest of both football fans and sports bettors.
In this article, we will explore the USFL, how to place bets on it, betting tips to use, and how to bet on USFL games online.
What is the USFL?
The USFL is a professional football league in the United States with ten teams divided into two divisions. These teams compete to become the league champion.
The USFL season runs from late spring to early summer, offering fans another opportunity to enjoy and bet on American football outside of the NFL. It also provides new opportunities for fans. They can watch experienced players aiming for a comeback and follow young talents trying to make a name for themselves.
Though the revived USFL is still in its early days, it has quickly become popular with fans. High attendance at games shows strong spectator interest, helped by rule changes like moving kickoffs to the 20-yard line, allowing for double-forward passes. Additionally, fans enjoy seeing familiar faces from the NFL and college football.
The USFL has also gained traction in the betting world. Sportsbooks now offer various betting options for USFL games, including moneyline bets, point spreads, and player prop bets.
How to Place Bets on the USFL
There are various ways to bet on the USFL, but the three most popular methods are the moneyline, point spread, and total bets.
Moneyline
The moneyline bet is like any other sport: you predict the winner of the match. In this kind of bet, teams are typically represented by positive or negative numbers. The negative indicates the favored team, while the positive indicates the underdog. The higher the number, the stronger the favorite or underdog.
For instance, in the Panthers-Maulers game, the Maulers are favored with -150 odds, while the Panthers are the underdogs with +130 odds. To win $100 on the Maulers, you’d need to wager $150, whereas a $100 bet on the Panthers could win you $130.
Point Spread Bet
In a point-spread bet, you predict the margin of victory or defeat. For example, if the sportsbook sets a 3-point spread for the Panthers-Maulers game, the Maulers must win by more than three points to cover the spread, while the Panthers must either win or lose by less than three points.
Total Bet
Lastly, the total bet involves predicting the combined score of both teams. For example, if the Panthers-Maulers game’s total is 38 points, you bet on whether the combined score will be over or under that number.
Prop Bets
Prop bets allow you to bet on specific events or player performances during the game. You can wager on who scores first, whether it’s a touchdown or a field goal, player stats, and more, adding to the excitement of the match.
Prop bets in the USFL may cover various aspects, such as:
- The passing yards accumulated by a quarterback
- The number of sacks made by a defensive player
- Total yards gained by a running back
Future Bets
Also, if you’re looking to predict the winner of the USFL Championship in advance, you can place a futures bet. Many top online betting platforms are already providing USFL betting odds for each team:
- Tampa Bay Bandits: +400
- Michigan Panthers: +550
- New Jersey Generals: +700
Parlay Bets
Parlays involve placing multiple bets on USFL games combined into one larger bet. This increases the potential payout because each bet’s odds are multiplied. However, the entire bet is lost if even one part of the parlay is lost. Therefore, all your picks must win for the parlay to be successful.
Live Betting
Live betting allows you to place bets while a USFL game progresses. This is perfect for those who missed the start of the game but still want to participate. The odds and markets update based on the game’s action in real-time, allowing you to find valuable bets as the game unfolds.
In-game Betting
You can engage in in-game betting during the game. It allows you to place wagers on various aspects of the game as it unfolds. However, USFL betting sites may have specific rules regarding in-game point spreads and prop bets.
USFL Betting Odds
USFL betting odds are usually shown in the American odds format. Here’s a simple explanation of how it works:
If you place a bet with +100 odds, you win $100 for every $100 you bet. Think of it as a percentage: a $10 bet at +100 gives you your $10 back plus another $10.
For different odds, like +200, a $10 bet would return your $10 stake plus 200% of that amount, giving you $20.
Betting Strategies on USFL Games
To increase your chances of winning bets on the USFL games, you can consider these few strategies;
Firstly, assess how teams have been performing lately. Teams on winning streaks are likely to continue their success, while those struggling might find it hard to turn things around.
Keep an eye on injuries as well. If a team’s star player is out, it can significantly impact their performance.
Examining the history between two teams can also be insightful. Past matchups can inform your betting decisions, especially for moneyline, point spread, and total bets.
How to Bet on USFL Games Online
Follow these steps if you want to place a bet on USFL games online;
- Go to your most preferred sportsbook
- You can take advantage of the site’s sign-up bonus when you register after providing your name, location, and ID verification.
- After setting up your account, deposit using the secure banking options available. Don’t miss out on any bonus bets or boosted odds promotions that come with signing up.
- Next, you can check out the current USFL odds. Look for upcoming game spreads on the sportsbook site.
- Choose your bet, and a betting slip will appear for you to complete your wager.