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Week 1 of the first season of the new UFL wraps up on Sunday as the Memphis Showboats face the Houston Roughnecks. Kickoff is at 3 p.m. ET at Rice Stadium (ESPN). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Showboats vs. Roughnecks odds and make our expert football picks and predictions.
The Showboats come from the USFL and finished 5-5 last season. But coach Todd Haley was replaced by John DeFilippo, who coached the USFL New Orleans Breakers last season. Their starting QB is Case Cookus, who led the Philadelphia Stars to the USFL championship game two seasons ago.
The Roughnecks went 7-3 in the USFL last season but lost to Arlington in the division championship. QB Jarrett Guarantano, who started 4 college seasons at Tennessee and spent a preseason with the Arizona Cardinals in 2022, is their starter this season.
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Showboats at Roughnecks odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 2:15 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Showboats +100 (bet $100 to win $100) | Roughnecks -120 (bet $120 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Showboats +1.5 (-110) | Roughnecks -1.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 39.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Showboats at Roughnecks key injuries
Showboats (link)
- DL Conner Christian (calf) out
- CB Jeff McCulloch (shoulder) probable
- TE Sage Surratt (hamstring) probable
- RB Trey Williams (calf) probable
Roughnecks
- TE Woody Brandom (calf) out
- S Jamari Brown (abdomen) out
- DE Chris Odom (calf, hamstring) out
- RB Mark Thompson (knee) out
Showboats at Roughnecks picks and predictions
Prediction
Showboats 21, Roughnecks 17
Moneyline
Houston is missing several key players to injury, including Thompson, who was the No. 2 rusher in the USFL last season.
DeFelippo was once on the verge of getting an NFL head-coaching job and has the more experienced quarterback.
With little else to go on in a league with no preseason, that is where the edge goes this week.
BET SHOWBOATS (+100).
Against the spread
Expecting the underdog Showboats to be victorious at even-money odds, that is the better bet than taking them +1.5 at -110.
Both of Saturday’s games were decided by 2 or more points.
In the Saturday game in which the underdog covered the spread, it was an outright 18-16 win by Michigan (+6.5) over St. Louis.
PASS.
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Over/Under
Both of Saturday’s games stayed Under the projected total. With no preseason to get an offensive rhythm, especially where there are new coaches and quarterbacks, don’t expect a lot of points.
BET UNDER 39.5 (-110).
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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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