Week 8 of the UFL continues with Saturday night’s Roughnecks vs. Stallions matchup at 8:00 p.m. ET. With the Stallions listed as a 16.5-point home favorite and the total sitting at 43, what’s the best bet for tonight’s matchup?
Showboats vs. Stallions Event Information
Houston Roughnecks (+16.5) at Birmingham Stallions (-16.5); o/u 43
8:00 p.m. ET, Saturday, May 18, 2024
Protective Stadium, Birmingham, AL
TV: ESPN2
Roughnecks let one slip away against Brahmas
Houston’s defense dominated play for three quarters against San Antonio, but Brahmas head coach Wade Phillips changed quarterbacks from an ineffective Quinten Dormady to Kevin Hogan, which gave his team the spark needed to pull off a 15-12 comeback victory. With the loss, the Roughnecks were eliminated from playoff contention.
Brahmas kicker Ryan Santoso hit the game-winner — a 51-yard field goal as time expired. San Antonio trailed 12-3 with 12:37 remaining, as Houston took the lead on the strength of four JJ Molson field goals, including one from 62 yards out.
However, on Hogan’s first series, he marched San Antonio 67 yards on 18 plays in a drive that took over 10 minutes. RB John Lovett capped the drive with a 1-yard rushing score before the Brahmas tied the game on a 3-point conversion play, with Gogan finding tight end Cody Latimer over the middle.
On the ensuing possession, San Antonio’s Bryce Thompson forced Houston return man Reggie Roberson to fumble, with Brahmas CB Teez Tabor recovering the ball at the Roughnecks’ 43-yard line, setting up Santoso’s heroics.
Stallions receive toughest test of season
The Birmingham Stallions received their toughest test of the 2024 UFL season in Week 7, grinding out a 30-26 comeback win over the visiting St. Louis Battlehawks on Saturday at Protective Field.
The Stallions overcame some adversity in a game that had six lead changes, including three in the fourth quarter. Birmingham’s Drue Chrisman had a punt blocked at midfield with the game still in the balance, but the Stallions defense responded by keeping a potent St. Louis out of the end zone to seal the win
Stallions return man Isaiah Zuber also muffed a punt that St. Louis recovered on Birmingham’s 7-yard line. The Battlehawks turned that miscue into a touchdown catch by Jacob Saylors.
“Even with all the mistakes, to score 30 points against that defense — which has been giving up 222 yards per game — I was really proud of our players and the way they fought,” Birmingham head coach Skip Holtz said.
Stallions QB Adrian Martinez was the offensive catalyst for Birmingham, once again. The dual-threat signal-caller completed 21 of 33 passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns, with no interceptions. He also added a game-high 60 yards on the ground.
Roughnecks vs. Stallions Prediction
Take the over. Birmingham will score tonight, that we know. The Stallions have scored 201 points this season, which is the most in the UFL. While the Roughnecks have scored the fewest amount of points in the UFL, they’ll be dragged into a pace today that they’ll need to keep up. We shouldn’t need many points from Houston in order to cash this over.
Roughnecks vs. Stallions Week 8 UFL Prediction: OVER 43
