Houston Roughnecks at Birmingham Stallions odds, picks and predictions

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The Houston Roughnecks (1-6) travel to meet the Birmingham Stallions (7-0) Saturday at Protective Stadium for a Week 8 battle. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET (ESPN2). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Roughnecks vs. Stallions odds and make our expert UFL picks and predictions.

The Roughnecks are tied with the Memphis Showboats for last place in the USFL Conference, and Houston has already been eliminated from the postseason chase. Houston has a league-low 96 points, and it’s a dismal 1-3 straight-up (SU) in 4 road games.

The Roughnecks enter just 1-4-2 against the spread (ATS) this season, while going 0-2-1 ATS in the past 3 outings. The Under is on a 4-game run, too.

These teams already met at Rice Stadium in Houston back in Week 5, with the Stallions coming away with a 32-9 win as 8.5-point favorites as the Under (41.5) came in at most shops.

Birmingham is a perfect 7-for-7 straight up, while going a healthy 5-2 ATS. The Over has cashed in back-to-back games for the first time this season, and the offense has scored 30 or more points in each of the past 3 contests. The defense has allowed 23.5 PPG in the past 2 games, too.

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Roughnecks at Stallions odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10 a.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Roughnecks +1000 (bet $100 to win $1,000) | Stallions -2000 (bet $2,000 to win $100)
Against the spread: Roughnecks +16.5 (-110) | Stallions -16.5 (-110)
Over/Under (O/U): 42.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)

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Roughnecks at Stallions key injuries

Roughnecks

RB Tiyon Evans (undisclosed) out
LB Reuben Foster (ankle, elbow) out
QB Jarrett Guarantano (wrist) probable
RB Kirk Merritt (wrist) injured reserve
OT Na’Ty Rodgers (knee) out
TE Clint Sigg Jr. (ankle) probable
CB Kiondre Thomas (ankle, foot) out

Stallions

CB CJ Marable (undisclosed) out
QB J’Mar Smith (undisclosed) out
WR Isaiah Zuber (undisclosed) out

Roughnecks at Stallions picks and predictions

Prediction

Stallions 36, Roughnecks 15

Moneyline

The Stallions (-2000) will set you back 20 times your potential return, and that’s too much risk for not nearly enough reward. You would have to risk $100 for every $5 won. There’s no value in that, no matter how much of a sure thing it likely is that Birmingham gets the W.

PASS.

Against the spread

The STALLIONS -16.5 (-110) are laying a giant number at home, but Birmingham is worth playing.

Birmingham worked over the Roughnecks +16.5 (-110) by 23 points at Rice Stadium just 3 weeks ago, and there is no reason to believe the results will be any different with the Stallions playing on their home field.

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Over/Under

OVER 42.5 (-115) is worth a look in this Week 8 rematch.

The Stallions dropped 32 points on the Roughnecks in the first meeting, and Birmingham’s offense has piled up 30 or more points in 3 in a row, and 4 of the past 5 outings.

The B-Ham defense has displayed some holes in the past 2 games, too. While allowing 26 to the Battlehawks last week is excusable, this team also let a poor Memphis team hang 21 points on them in Week 6.

Houston has really scuffled on offense, and it is the biggest reason there is any concern about playing the Over. The Roughnecks have cobbled together just 29 points of offense, or 9.7 PPG, in the past 3 games. But the defense has allowed 22 or more points in 4 of the past 6 contests, including 32 points allowed to Birmingham.

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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

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