The United Football League season got off to a surprising start with two upsets that saw both teams from last year’s championship game going down on the road.
Play gets underway for Week 2 on Friday night in Detroit and concludes on Sunday evening in St. Louis.
Check out my UFL predictions and free betting picks for Week 2.
UFL picks for Week 2
Picks made on 4-4.
Click on each pick to jump to the full analysis.
United Football League predictions and odds for Week 2
All odds courtesy of DraftKings.
Stallions vs Panthers
Friday, 8:00 p.m. ET, FOX
| Stallions | Panthers | |
|---|---|---|
| -2.5 | Spread | +2.5 |
| -135 | Moneyline | +114 |
| Over 38.5 | Total | Under 38.5 |
It was a rough return for 2023 UFL MVP Alex McGough in Week 1, as he threw for only 89 yards on 10 of 23 passing in an 18-11 loss to the D.C. Defenders. Things won’t get any easier for him and the Birmingham Stallions, as they face one of the best defenses in the league from the past season.
The Michigan Panthers are coming off a 26-12 win over the Memphis Showboats in which they allowed only 2.9 yards per rush and forced two interceptions, including a pick six. Meanwhile, quarterback Bryce Perkins was extremely efficient in the passing game by completing 16 of his 19 attempts.
The Stallions are dealing with several injuries as well, with wideout Amari Rodgers, running back C.J. Marable, and starting safety Kenny Robinson Jr. all out. I think the Panthers will get their revenge from last season with a big statement win early in this new season.
Pick: Panthers moneyline (+114 at DraftKings)
Showboats vs Defenders
Saturday, 8:00 p.m. ET, ABC
| Showboats | Defenders | |
|---|---|---|
| +8 | Spread | -8 |
| +310 | Moneyline | -395 |
| Over 37 | Total | Under 37 |
The Showboats played alternating quarterbacks last week with E.J. Perry and Troy Williams, and both struggled with inconsistency. They also had absolutely no run game against a tough defense. With Ken Whisenhunt returning as the head coach this week, it could lead to them deciding on one quarterback rather than the strange switching that occurred in Week 1.
Meanwhile, it was an incredible upset for the Defenders in Week 1 behind some great defense. They recorded eight sacks and allowed only 138 total yards of offense to the defending champs. They also allowed only 38 yards rushing on 12 carries to non-quarterback runs. Neither Perry nor Williams is much of a runner for the Showboats.
This is a big spread, but the Defenders have the defense to keep the Showboats from reaching the end zone more than once. Quarterback Jordan Ta’amu was inconsistent against the Stallions but now he gets a defense that struggled to force any incompletions against Michigan. They should be able to score more points this week and cover this big spread.
Pick: Defenders -8 (-102 at DraftKings)
Roughnecks vs Renegades
Sunday, Noon ET, ESPN
| Roughnecks | Renegades | |
|---|---|---|
| +10 | Spread | -10 |
| +410 | Moneyline | -550 |
| Over 39 | Total | Under 39 |
The Houston Roughnecks looked like they might be the worst team in the league again. They got smoked by the St. Louis Battlehawks at home, 31-6, with their only points coming in garbage time. Quarterback Anthony Brown was dreadful in his debut and their run game was non-existent outside of quarterback scrambles.
Meanwhile, the Arlington Renegades looked to get their groove back after what felt like a cursed season by defeating the San Antonio Brahmas 33-9 at home. They tallied 347 yards of offense against a good defense and had seven tackles for loss on the defensive end. Running back Kalen Ballage looked like a stud, rushing for 110 yards on nine carries.
Last season, the Renegades did not get a win until Week 7 despite several close calls. They let out all their frustrations against one of the league favorites last week and they will ride that momentum to a big win over a team that just looks to be a mess.
Pick: Renegades -10 (-115 at DraftKings)
Brahmas vs Battlehawks
Sunday, 6:30 p.m. ET, FS1
| Brahmas | Battlehawks | |
|---|---|---|
| +7 | Spread | -7 |
| +285 | Moneyline | -360 |
| Over 39.5 | Total | Under 39.5 |
Last season, these two teams battled three times in close contests, where the Battlehawks won both regular season games before the Brahmas pulled off the win when it mattered in the playoffs. Both teams had very different results in this new season with new quarterbacks.
Manny Wilkens was incredible for the Battlehawks with a 102.3 quarterback rating and 43 rushing yards on eight carries with two touchdowns. Kellen Mond struggled, completing only 54.8% of his passes while getting sacked twice for a loss of 24 yards. It may not be smooth sailing for the former NFL draft pick in this league after all.
The Brahmas struggled to stop the run against the Renegades last week, and now they get a run game that totaled 273 yards a week ago. The Battlehawks were a great team last year and would love to get their revenge against a team they felt they were better than last season. The Dome is a tough environment to play in and St. Louis will get a big win here.
Pick: Battlehawks -7 (-110 at DraftKings)
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