Back on November 21, 2021, the USFL announced the revival of the defunct football league from 1986. Now, the league stands moments away from kicking off its inaugural season. The USFL will play its season opener on Saturday, April 16, then play the other three games on Sunday. With another attempt at spring football, let’s look at the Week 1 USFL schedule.
USFL Week 1 Schedule | How to watch, live streams, and more
So, who plays who and when? The USFL has already announced all the games in their inaugural season will be played in Birmingham, Alabama. Here are the matchups for Week 1 of the USFL season.
New Jersey Generals vs. Birmingham Stallions
- Start time: 7:30 PM ET, April 16
- Channel: FOX, NBC
- Live stream options: Peacock, FuboTV
- Odds: (Odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook)
- Spread: Stallions -3
- Moneyline: Stallions -165, Generals +145
- Over/Under: 42.5
The New Jersey Generals take on the Birmingham Stallions in the USFL’s first game Saturday night. Skip Holtz leads the Stallions onto the field as head coach, while Mike Riley debuts for the Generals. As the only true home team, the Stallions get a bit of the edge in the books as 3-point favorites. Holtz hopes to keep the USFL Championship trophy in Birmingham one more year.
Houston Gamblers vs. Michigan Panthers
- Start time: 12 PM ET, April 17
- Channel: NBC
- Live stream options: Peacock, FuboTV
- Odds: (Odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook)
- Spread: Panthers -3
- Moneyline: Panthers -165, Gamblers +145
- Over/Under: 43.5
The Houston Gamblers send former Houston and Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin out for his first game with the franchise. Meanwhile, longtime NFL coach and Super Bowl XX champion Jeff Fisher makes his first appearance for the Panthers. Will the first overall pick from the 2022 USFL Draft, QB Shea Patterson, prove to be the league’s best signal-caller?
Philadelphia Stars vs. New Orleans Breakers
- Start time: 4 PM ET, April 17
- Channel: USA
- Live stream options: Fubo TV, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, Sling
- Odds: (Odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook)
- Spread: Breakers -3
- Moneyline: Breakers -150, Stars +130
- Over/Under: 44.5
Former UNC head coach Larry Fedora leads the Breakers out for their Week 1 USFL debut. While Fedora has a new staff around him, the Stars look primed to make an immediate statement. Head coach Bart Andrus and third overall pick Bryan Scott worked with each other in The Spring League. Could the Stars make a quiet run at the championship with other fellow Spring League players surrounding Scott?
Tampa Bay Bandits vs. Pittsburgh Maulers
- Start time: 8 PM ET, April 17
- Channel: FS1
- Live stream options: Fubo TV, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, Sling
- Odds: (Odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook)
- Spread: Bandits -4
- Moneyline: Bandits -195, Maulers +165
- Over/Under: 41.5
The final game of the USFL’s Week 1 schedule sees the Tampa Bay Bandits taking on the Pittsburgh Maulers. The Maulers should be in good hands under Kirby Wilson’s direction after 22 years of NFL coaching experience. However, he’s facing off against another longtime NFL assistant in former Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley. Haley’s Bandits have QB Jordan Ta’amu under center, whose mobility outside the pocket could be a game-changer for Tampa Bay.