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The Michigan Panthers (6-2) travel to meet the Houston Roughnecks (1-7) Sunday at Rice Stadium in Week 9. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. ET (FOX). Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Panthers vs. Roughnecks odds and make our expert UFL picks and predictions.
The Panthers are the hottest team in the UFL after the Birmingham Stallions had their 8-game winning streak snapped Saturday, Michigan has won 4 in a row, while splitting against the spread (ATS) in the span.
Defense has been a major reason for success this season, as the Panthers have allowed just 27 total points in the past 2 games, and Michigan has allowed 20 or fewer points in 7 of 8 games to date.
The offense for Michigan has been much better lately, too. The Panthers averaged just 18.5 points per game (PPG) in the first 4 outings, scoring 18 or fewer points in 3 of those games. In the 4-game win streak, Michigan is averaging 27.3 PPG.
The Roughnecks have been eliminated from the postseason chase, but they looked interested in playing last week at Birmingham. Houston fell just 35-28 on the road as 16.5-point underdogs as the Over cashed, and the 28 points marked a season high. The Over cashed, snapping a 4-0 run to the Under.
These teams played back in Week 3 at Ford Field, with the Panthers posting a 34-20 win as a 2-point favorite as the Over (38.5) easily connected.
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Panthers at Roughnecks odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday at 11:24 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Panthers -190 (bet $190 to win $100) | Roughnecks +160 (bet $100 to win $160)
- Against the spread: Panthers -3.5 (-120) | Roughnecks +3.5 (+100)
- Over/Under (O/U): 40 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Panthers at Roughnecks key injuries
Panthers
- RB Larry Rountree (undisclosed) out
- QB J’Mar Smith (undisclosed) out
- WR Isaiah Zuber (undisclosed) out
Roughnecks
- TE Woody Brandom (leg) injured reserve
- RB Ezra Gray (undisclosed) out
- QB Jarrett Guarantano (wrist) out
- WR Brian Hightower (undisclosed) out
- TE A.J. Lewis (undisclosed) out
- RB Ezra Lewis (undisclosed) out
- RB Kirk Merritt (wrist) injured reserve
Panthers at Roughnecks picks and predictions
Prediction
Panthers 24, Roughnecks 15
Moneyline
The Panthers (-190) will cost you nearly 2 times your potential return, and that’s quite risky.
The Stallions game against the Brahmas should serve as a cautionary tale why you should never bet heavy favorites straight up, especially on the road.
PASS.
Against the spread
The PANTHERS -3.5 (-120) are a strong play on the road at Rice Stadium. Michigan has clinched a playoff spot, while the Roughnecks +3.5 (+100) have long since been eliminated from the postseason.
Houston scored a season-high 28 points last week in Birmingham, as it hasn’t waved the white flag despite the fact it no longer can qualify for the postseason. The Roughnecks offense moved the ball well on the Stallions last week, but it won’t have that kind of success against the Panthers, though.
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Over/Under
UNDER 40 (-110) is the lean in Week 9, but go with a half-unit play at most.
The total has gone low in each of the past 2 games for Michigan, with the D allowing just 13.5 PPG. For Houston, it has managed 12 or fewer points on offense in 3 of the past 4 games, and the Under is 4-1 in the previous 5 outings.
While the Over cashed in the first meeting between these teams in Week 3, that’s when Houston still had hope, and wasn’t yet eliminated.
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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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