New Orleans Breakers vs. Houston Gamblers Breakdown

As has been the case for each and every Sunday throughout the regular season, the final Sunday before the playoffs features a doubleheader. It starts with a critical game in the South Division.

Breakers in South Division Championship Game with Win

While the Birmingham Stallions already clinched a spot in next Sunday night’s South Division Championship thanks to besting Houston last weekend, their opponent is still to be determined. That piece to the puzzle could be locked in by the final whistle early Sunday evening.

The New Orleans Breakers (6-3) will advance to the divisional title game if they defeat those same Houston Gamblers (5-4) on Sunday. Live coverage of the game begins at 1 pm ET/ noon CT on FOX Sports’ cable network, FS1, this after the league pushed up the start time on Saturday due to thunderstorms in the forecast.

Due to the possibility of severe weather in Memphis tomorrow afternoon, the start time for Sunday’s game between the @USFLGamblers and @USFLBreakers at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium has been changed to 12:00 PM CT / 1:00 PM ET. TV coverage will remain on FS1.

With the…

— USFL (@USFL) June 17, 2023

There is, however, an outside shot for Houston to get into the postseason if results go their way in the early game of the doubleheader. According to the league’s official playoff picture, the Gamblers would still be in-line to clinch their place in the playoffs by way of a tiebreaker, coupled with a Memphis Showboats victory against Birmingham on Saturday afternoon3, since it would create a three-way tie for the No. 2 seed at 6-4 overall and 3-3 against divisional opposition.

This will all be on the pop quiz tomorrow morning. Study up.

It all comes down to this.

Here is the Week 10 playoff picture 🏈⬇️ pic.twitter.com/wCWBWe8YJ1

— USFL (@USFL) June 15, 2023

Stormy Weather Expected in Memphis on Sunday

Last week, the USFL experienced its first lightning delay of the season in Memphis. There could be another suspension in play if the meteorologists’ predictions are accurate.

Current weather forecasts indicate that there is a risk for scattered thunderstorms crossing the region with an afternoon high of 82 degrees. Winds will be out of the south at 11 MPH.

New Orleans Breakers vs. Houston Gamblers Betting Odds

As of Friday afternoon. the oddsmakers have the New Orleans Breakers installed as a -4-point favorite on the spread and a -182 favorite on the money line. Houston counters as a +140 underdog on the line.

Sunday’s over-under is set at 44 1/2 points. If you plan to bet on this or any other game happening in the USFL over the last weekend of the regular season, please wager responsibly.

 When Last They Met…

Week 10’s slate is comprised of rematches from week two of the regular season. Back on April 22, the Breakers emerged victorious, 38-31 in a game which saw New Orleans running back Wes Hills score three touchdowns on 18 carries for 110 yards.

How will the rematch pan out? Let’s break it down.

Look for Eli Stove to Find Daylight

One of the impact players for the New Orleans Breakers, both offensively and on special teams, has been wide receiver/ kick returner Eli Stove. An alum of Auburn University, Stove was out of the sport for over two years before joining the Breakers.

Last week, he had a great day, scoring a 29-yard rushing touchdown on his only carry of the day and returning two punts for 55 yards. If this man finds as little as one lane in the backfield, the Breakers will be in the end zone with regularity on Sunday.

Eli Stove has been a fun player to watch on the field in the USFL this season. Depending upon his performance in the final game of the regular season and any potential playoff games, he could find himself on an NFL roster by this time next month.

Can Breakers Force Bahar Into Making Bad Throws?

New Orleans’ defensive line had a field day a week ago versus the Memphis Showboats. All told, the Breakers picked off three Cole Kelley passes en route to a victory.

Strong safety James Wiggins,  who was just activated two weeks ago by the Breakers, recorded the first two interceptions of his professional football career in the game. Prior to those picks, Wiggins last intercepted a pass his senior year at Cincinnati.

Look for the New Orleans defense to cover the Gamblers’ receiving core. If they’re successful in making Kenji Bahar throw errant passes, they’ll be in the playoffs.

Mark Thompson Looking for Big Game to End Regular Season

Throughout the balance of the season in the USFL, Houston running back Mark Thompson has been one of the most explosive players at his position.

Going into the final weekend of the regular season, Johnson sits in second place with 570 rushing yards, right behind Wes Hills with 659. These two men are squaring off in the backfield.

Thus, the USFL rushing title comes down to Sunday afternoon’s game. A week ago, Thompson was kept in check with just 56 yards on 17 carries.

As we’ve seen time and again, if an opposing defense gives Mark Thompson a little room to run, he can make them pay. Will he overtake Hills for the top spot at halfback?

Soroh Poised to Build off of Breakout Game

Defensively, the Gamblers were buoyed by safety Andrew Soroh. An alum of Florida Atlantic, Soroh spent time with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019 after a stint as an undrafted free agent. He’s a veteran of spring football, having played in the 2020 XFL season with the then-New York Guardians. 

Last weekend, he had one of his best games of the year, notching six tackles (five solo.) Going into Sunday’s season finale, he’s more than doubled his output in tackling from last year with 21 tackles.

If Andrew Soroh can be a nuisance up front, the Gamblers could force the tiebreaker for the No. 2 seed to come into play.

Final Thoughts

Just like the league internally rooted for, the playoff race won’t be over until the final day of the regular season ends. Both teams will treat Sunday’s game like a playoff affair. May the better club win.

Prediction: New Orleans 35, Houston 27.