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Birmingham Stallions Favored Over Houston Roughnecks in Sunday UFL Clash
– The Birmingham Stallions are 5.5-point favorites as they host the Houston Roughnecks this Sunday in UFL Week 7 action.
– Birmingham topped Houston 23-16 earlier this season in Week 4.
– Get the latest predictions, picks, and best betting odds below.
Sunday’s UFL slate continues with a special Mother’s Day doubleheader, beginning with a USFL Conference showdown between the Birmingham Stallions and the Houston Roughnecks. The Stallions, currently at the top of the conference, are favored by oddsmakers, but their recent quarterback situation suggests they may not be the sure thing they appear to be.
Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 PM ET and will be televised on ESPN and streamed via ESPN+.
Houston Roughnecks vs Birmingham Stallions: Betting Odds
As of May 9th, the Stallions are favored by 5.5 points with a moneyline of -265, while the Roughnecks sit at +215 underdogs. The over/under for the game is set at 38.5 points. Birmingham came away with a seven-point win in their previous matchup, but this time around, a key change at quarterback could shake things up.
QB Outlook & Team Form
Matt Corral led the Stallions to victory in that Week 4 meeting, but he’ll be unavailable on Sunday due to a hip injury. In his place, Case Cookus steps in under center. Cookus has struggled, completing only 55% of his passes and throwing for fewer than 170 yards in each of his past two starts. While he’s added some mobility—98 rushing yards on 11 carries—most of that production came in a single outing.
Complicating matters for Birmingham is a lackluster run game. The team doesn’t have a single running back averaging over 3.8 yards per carry, and their three most productive rushers are quarterbacks.
Houston’s Defense Brings the Heat
The Roughnecks boast one of the top defenses in the league. They’re third in scoring defense, first in forced fumbles, and also rank near the top in takeaways, tackles for loss, and sacks. With an anemic Birmingham ground game and an underwhelming substitute quarterback, Houston’s defense is poised to take advantage.
Stallions Defense: Strong Against the Run, Vulnerable Through the Air
On the flip side, Birmingham leads the UFL in scoring defense and rush defense, allowing just 3.4 yards per carry. However, their pass defense has been suspect, ranking second worst in terms of yards and completions allowed. That could open the door for Houston’s high-efficiency passing attack.
Jalan McClendon could be the difference-maker. He’s completed an impressive 70.3% of his passes and has led the Roughnecks to back-to-back wins. The matchup against Birmingham’s secondary favors his skillset.
Key Offensive Weapons
McClendon’s go-to target is Justin Hall, one of the most productive receivers in the league. Hall tallied six receptions last week, including a touchdown and a two-point conversion. He currently leads the UFL in total catches and thrives on short-to-intermediate routes that fuel his quarterback’s high completion rate.
Roughnecks vs Stallions: Best Bets
– Pick: Houston Roughnecks +5.5 (-112 at DraftKings)
Like Birmingham, Houston’s rushing attack leaves much to be desired. Still, their aerial game is strong enough to keep them competitive. Given the Stallions’ shaky quarterback situation with Cookus and the defensive strength of the Roughnecks, the 5.5-point spread feels a bit generous to Birmingham. Expect a tightly contested game that could go down to the wire, with Houston in position to cover—or even pull off the upset.
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