Pittsburgh Maulers vs. New Jersey Generals Breakdown

Now, for the good news: Entering the 10th and final weekend of the regular season, three playoff spots are still up for grabs. This time last year, all four playoff spots had already been clinched.

With three of the four playoff spots having gone unclaimed through week nine, it’s a must-win scenario for every team in the North Division, including the sides versing one another in Saturday’s first game.

Maulers and Generals Clash Saturday in Canton

Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton is the site of the first game of the weekend on Saturday. It’s also the site of the USFL Championship Game on July 1. Week 10 kicks off with an elimination game between the Pittsburgh Maulers (3-6) and the New Jersey Generals (3-6).

Both teams will clinch a spot in the North Division Championship Game next Saturday with a win. According to the official USFL playoff picture, the winner of the Pittsburgh/New Jersey contest secures the No. 1 seed in the divisional championship game with a Philadelphia Stars loss to the Michigan Panthers on Sunday night.

For the final time this season, NBCUniversal-owned USA Network will carry a game on Saturday at 1 pm ET/ noon CT. As with all  NBC/USA games, this one is streamed live on Peacock.

BIG weekend ahead! 🤩

Who will make it to the playoffs? pic.twitter.com/22Fy8xWFs4

— USFL (@USFL) June 14, 2023

A Sun-Splashed Saturday Expected in Canton

On occasion over the past week, Northeast Ohio  received much-needed showers to end a three-week drought. While the USFL experienced its first lightning delay of the season last Saturday in Memphis, no weather concerns are expected for Canton this week.

Current weather forecasts indicate that it’ll be a dry afternoon for some football, with sunny skies prevailing throughout. Temperatures at kickoff will be  73 degrees, increasing to 74 by the final whistle. Highs are expected to reach 76 degrees with no threat of rain and a north-northwest breeze at 12 to 13 MPH.

Pittsburgh Maulers vs. New Jersey Generals Betting Odds

As of Thursday evening, the oddsmakers have the New Jersey Generals installed as a -3 1/2-point favorite on the spread and a -175 favorite on the money line. The Pittsburgh Maulers counter as a +135 underdog on the line.

Saturday’s over/under is set at 40 1/2 points. If you plan on betting on this or any other game happening in the final weekend of the USFL’s regular season, please wager responsibly.

When Last They Met…

As has been the case throughout several weekends this year, all games this week are rematches from earlier on in the schedule. Week 10 sees rematches of games from week two. Back on April 23, New Jersey bested Pittsburgh 20-3 on a raw afternoon in Canton.

That day, Generals halfback Darius Victor rushed for 71 yards on 15 carries and one touchdown. How will the rematch pan out?

Maulers Need to Get Tre Walker Open

Last Saturday afternoon, the Maulers had their best 60 minutes of the season in all facets of the game. Pittsburgh’s receiving corps showed up and showed out in a major way, including Tre Walker.

Now at the end of his second season with the Maulers organization, the San Jose State alum had his best game of the season last week, catching three passes for 66 yards and no touchdowns. It was Walker’s fourth game with at least three receptions this season.

Expect Tre Walker to have a banner day to close out the regular season. If he has a sliver of daylight, he can easily turn it into a first down.

Look for Pittsburgh’s D-Line to Bring the Lunch Pail

On the defensive side of the pigskin, the Maulers pressured Michigan quarterback Josh Love to the tune of a season-high five sacks. Pittsburgh’s line had a brilliant afternoon in a ballgame that they needed to win.

10 weeks ago, if you told somebody that the Maulers would head into the last game of the year with a 3-6 record and still have a shot at playing in the division championship, the reaction would be one of disbelief. Now, that chance at suiting up again next weekend has become reality.

For the Maulers to play on beyond this Saturday, they’ll have to bring the aggression up front. If not, the players will be watching the North Division Championship on TV.

Can Darrell Stewart Have a Big Day?

New Jersey’s offense was anchored last Sunday night against Philadelphia by wide receiver Darrell Stewart. The onetime Michigan State Spartan, who turns 27 years of age on July 14, eclipsed the 100-yard plateau with three grabs for 109 yards and no touchdowns.

Last Sunday’s contest was only his second appearance for New Jersey after having been inactive for the bulk of the regular season. Prior to joining the Generals ahead of the 2023 campaign, he last played in a football game during Michigan State’s 2019 Pinstripe Bowl appearance at Yankee Stadium in New York City.

It goes without saying that Stewart is a man who wants to make up for lost time. Can he put up good numbers again? Tune in and find out.

Watch for D’Juan Hines to Cause Disruption Up Front

Much like the Maulers had done against the Panthers, the Generals defense brought the lunch pail with them to the job site versus the Stars. New Jersey linebacker D’Juan Hines turned in a great night last week, securing nine total tackles (six solo) for the second ballgame in a row.

Hines has been known to be a problem for opposing offenses in the league over the last two years. With NFL training camp looming in about a month, scouts all over the latter league are going to be watching on Saturday afternoon to see if there are any players who can fit into their club’s scheme.

Another decent performance from Hines might be enough for him to get a call from an NFL team in a few short weeks.

Final Thoughts

It’s do or die time. Expect Saturday’s Pittsburgh vs. New Jersey contest to be quite the battle. Its winner will have truly earned a playoff spot.

Prediction: Pittsburgh 31, New Jersey 20.