Despite the popularity of American Football, there have been multiple notable and significant issues over the last few decades regarding the development of minor league football. College football enjoys a considerable market share; in some cities and States, it is even more popular than the NFL.

A model that works is critical, and the USFL is still in its early stage and going through a teething process. There’s a market for minor league football, but it needs to be harnessed and given time to develop. When examining the top eight teams set to challenge for this year’s championship, the current landscape followed a similar blueprint to last year.

Houston Gamblers, Pittsburgh Maulers & Memphis Showboats

Despite what the name suggests, Houston Gamblers are not the bookies’ favorite. Usually, the sportsbooks are a great indicator of the outcome of any outright markets, and the Stallions lead this market, yet again looking to retain their title. The Gamblers is a distant fifth with most bookies, so you can get some fantastic prices on them if you think they could spring an upset.

Given that the USFL is open to gambling markets and following a March 2022 announcement that States with favorable gambling markets have opened up their books for the USFL, you’d think this would be an excellent way to generate interest and profit.

Then again, the gambling industry has become so colossal that you can find markets on NFL games, USFL games, and even professional gaming. Dota 2 esports betting with Thunderpick is just one example of an emerging market in this hugely popular gambling niche. So while you can still find odds for your favorite USFL games and outright markets, there’s much more to explore in the digital gambling world.

The only two teams looking less likely than the Houston Gamblers to challenge for the championship this season are the Maulers and the Showboats, who have had forgettable

campaigns, to put it lightly.

 Last Year’s Championship

Canton, Ohio, was the location for last year’s big finale – and the Philadelphia Stars put up an extremely spirited effort when they challenged the Birmingham Stallions. But, ultimately, the Alabama-based team was too much, and they have also taken that form into this season’s campaign.

There were plenty of reasons to be optimistic; with a stadium full of fans and a high standard of play, the USFL is an idea that could work if given time to flourish. Victor Bolden Jr was the stand-out player on the day, and although he no longer wears the red and white of the Stallions, they have managed to continue their excellent run of form without him and look just as strong.

 Who Will Stop The Stallions?

Only the New Jersey Generals or the New Orleans Breakers can put up any sort of fierce competition against The Stallions. However, they are firing on all cylinders again this season and going into the championship end of the campaign. They look like they have a highly focused unit and are ready to perform in the most crucial stage of the season.

The Breakers stand the best chance of besting the Stallions in this year’s championship. Although they haven’t been as consistent as they would have liked this season, they have turned the dial-up over the last few months and dominated the power rankings as we head into the biggest game.

The Stallions should still have enough to pass the New Orleans Breakers on paper. However, football isn’t just about ability and who the better team looks on paper. If it were, it would be a pretty dull and predictable game. Still, as we all know, we love football so much, irrespective of whether it is the big leagues or the minor leagues, because it is full of unpredictable twists and turns, and nobody truly knows how it will pan out.

 Will The Stallions Make It Two Titles?

Teams have gone into deciding games at much shorter odds than the Stallions and came out short. This is especially true regarding championship games, as the serial winners in each team will come out when it matters most and perform to the best of their ability.

If The Breakers can head into the big game with the same form that has rocketed them to the top of the power rankings, then this game will be highly competitive. So long as they avoid any significant injuries to any of their key men, this game could go right down to the wire and has plenty of potentials to be a much closer affair than last year’s championship game.

However, once we weigh all the negatives and positives for each team and the variables that could act as deciding factors, you’d have to say the Stallions have enough to retain their title. If the USFL can establish itself as a popular minor league, then there’s no reason why the Stallions can’t go on to win more championships over the next few years.