The second season of the USFL is finally back, giving fans a chance to get in on the spring football action.
As the USFL 2023 season kicks off, this weekend marks the beginning of the second season of spring football. This year, each player of the winning USFL Championship team will earn $10,000 in addition to their salary. Here are the latest favorites to win the USFL 2023 Championship.
Will Case Cookus and the Philadelphia Stars Retain their Title?
After having a brief term with the Los Angeles Rams, Case Cookus, also known as the Chef, is now back with the Philadelphia Stars and ready to take the Championship title again. Last season, he threw 12 touchdowns and five interceptions in seven starts for the Stars. Cookus’s return to the Stars is a key reason why the team has the best odds (-143) to win the USFL 2023 Championship.
Another top quarterback to look out for is McLeod Bethel-Thompson, who was part of the Toronto Argonauts, and recently signed with the New Orleans Breakers. Bethel-Thompson won two CFL Grey Cup Championships and is also a two-time CFL East All-Star, who brings plenty of big league experience.
As a result, the New Orleans Breakers are the fourth most-likely team to win the USFL 2023 Championship with +500 odds. The second and third teams with the best odds to win the title and the top prize are the Birmingham Stallions and the New Jersey Generals, tied at +300. However, these odds are subject to change as the season progresses.
What’s New in the USFL 2023 Championship?
Football fans will see plenty of changes this USFL season. For instance, this year, USFL teams will play in more hub cities, apart from the traditional Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama. Games will also be in Detroit, Memphis, and Canton. The USFL 2023 Championship game will be at Canton’s Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium on July 1.
Another major change is that most USFL teams have new management and coaches, with the most notable change being Mike Folan, who replaces Michigan Panther’s previous coach, Jeff Fisher. Folan has moved on and become the defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys.
Curtis Johnson and Ray Horton are also making headlines as they debut in this year’s USFL with Houston Gamblers and Pittsburg Maulers. Johnson replaces Kevin Sumlin, who led the Gamblers to a 3-8 record, while Horton replaces Kirby Wilson, who led the Maulers to 1-9 last season. This is Horton’s first head coach role, despite having plenty of experience as an NFL coach assistant. Johnson was Tulane’s head coach for three years.
North Orleans Breakers also have a new coach, John DeFlippo, who replaces Larry Fedora. John DeFlippo previously served as the assistant coach to the Chicago Bears. This change could either work in favor of or against this team’s winning odds, but they are currently among the top contenders for the USFL 2023 Championship.
