The Tampa Bay Bandits tackle the Pittsburgh Maulers throughout the USFL‘s opening weekend, hoping to increase the joy of opening night time between the Stallions and the Generals. The Birmingham Stallions stole a last-minute win in entrance of a house crowd on Saturday night time. What are the chances and predictions for the Bandits at Maulers in Week 1?
Tampa Bay Bandits vs. Pittsburgh Maulers decide and prediction | Week 1 USFL
- Unfold: Bandits -5
- Moneyline: Bandits -220, Maulers +180
- Over/Underneath: 40.5
The Bandits
The Tampa Bay Bandits boast an attention-grabbing roster, beginning with the quarterback room.
QB Jordan Ta’amu has been on fairly the journey. Ta’amu performed for Ole Miss and took over because the starter when fellow USFL QB Shea Patterson acquired damage. Patterson transferred to Michigan, and Ta’amu took over the beginning position full-time. In his senior 12 months, he was second in SEC passing yards solely to Tua Tagovailoa at Alabama.
He signed as a free agent with the Houston Texans in 2019 earlier than transferring to the XFL. Ta’amu was the beginning QB for the St. Louis Battlehawks and did sufficient to re-sign within the NFL after the XFL folded. Ta’amu then frolicked with the Chiefs, Lions, Panthers, and Washington. He was drafted second general within the USFL Draft by the Bandits.
The Bandits roster additionally contains the extremely touted security Obi Melifonwu. The Oakland (now Las Vegas) Raiders drafted Melifonwu within the second spherical of the 2017 NFL Draft. Nonetheless, hip surgical procedure minimize his tenure quick. He was then part of the New England Patriots’ roster that beat the LA Rams in Tremendous Bowl 53. Melifonwu bounced round a number of organizations, however in the end harm points price him his professional profession. Nonetheless, he could possibly be a star within the USFL. The Lions drafted his youthful brother, Ifeatu, in 2021.
Keep in mind WR Vinny Papale? His father, Vince Papale, is the person famously identified for signing with the Philadelphia Eagles. His story is captured by the Mark Wahlberg film ‘Invincible.’
And John Franklin III, who you’ll acknowledge from the favored TV collection Final Probability U, is on the Bandits’ apply squad.
The Maulers
The Maulers are led by QB Kyle Lauletta, who the New York Giants drafted within the fourth spherical of the 2018 NFL Draft.
Lauletta threw skilled passes in only one sport, coming in for Eli Manning in a blowout win towards Washington. Lauletta completed that sport with 0 completions, 1 interception, and a passer score of 0.0.
He’ll be seeking to show himself within the USFL after spending time with 5 completely different NFL groups. Lauletta was the seventh general decide of the USFL Draft and the primary decide for the Maulers.
Kirby Wilson leads the Maulers, who was a well-respected operating backs coach within the NFL for greater than 20 years, together with a protracted stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Decide and Prediction
This Bandits roster seems to be loaded to me. I feel Ta’amu is likely one of the higher QBs drafted within the USFL, and there’ll be room for him to showcase his skills on this sport. We noticed some offensive line struggles on opening night time, because the rosters haven’t but had a lot time collectively. Ta’amu can escape a pocket and take off if he must. That ought to serve him nicely.
I’ll take Ta’amu and the Bandits on this one, and I wish to see Vinny Papale go for 200 yards and three touchdowns…
Bandits at Maulers Rating Prediction: Bandits 42, Maulers 24
