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This week marks the approaching midpoint of the regular season for the USFL.
However, are Michigan sports bettors already losing interest in the league?
Can the league regain popularity at the betting window within the next month, as oddsmakers suggest it currently lacks interest?
USFL’s positive start fades quickly at Michigan sportsbooks
The USFL sparked initial interest, particularly in Michigan.
The Michigan Panthers’ representation of the state amongst the eight teams sparked additional interest.
The season opener between the Panthers and the Houston Gamblers on April 17 was the most heavily bet USFL game of the season in Michigan, as stated by Caesars Sportsbook MI. This particular game attracted 68% more wagers compared to any other USFL game this season.
Nevertheless, the league’s betting activity has been dwindling and has had minimal impact on a national scale.
Since April 16, the USFL has only contributed to 0.4% of all bets placed in the state of Michigan for Caesars.
PointsBet Sportsbook MI noted that the USFL is struggling to find significant betting interest, drawing a parallel to WNBA betting which has also faced similar challenges. However, PointsBet highlighted that the popularity of WNBA betting is on the rise, whereas the betting trends for the USFL are currently declining.
While there is still some interest in USFL betting at BetMGM Michigan, it has significantly taken a back seat to the ongoing NBA and NHL playoffs.
Low betting numbers may be attributed to sportsbooks highlighting the absence of sufficient roster knowledge, reliable injury reports, and trends as possible reasons.
USFL TV audience plateaus in recent weeks
The USFL has been fortunate to receive dedicated exposure from prominent networks, and this has been a positive aspect for the league.
All games were broadcasted nationally, live on either FOX or NBC’s various channels and streaming platforms.
On Saturday, April 16, the season opener of the Birmingham Stallions versus the New Jersey Generals was simulcasted on both FOX and NBC.
According to Programming Insider’s report, the game attracted an average of 2.95 million viewers in total. Additionally, it obtained a 0.4 rating within the 18-49 age group.
Likewise, ABC’s airing of the NBA Playoffs on that particular evening garnered an average viewership of 2.76 million, accompanied by a 0.8 rating in the coveted 18-49 demographic.
The Michigan vs. Gamblers game, which was broadcasted on NBC on April 17, attracted an audience of 2.153 million viewers and achieved a rating of 0.69.
In the subsequent weeks, the ratings experienced a decline and then stabilized at a certain level.
- In Week 2, the Philadelphia vs. Pittsburgh game aired on FOX on Saturday, April 23 and attracted a high viewership of 1.056 million with a rating of 0.34. On April 22, Michigan’s game against New Jersey was televised on USA and had significantly lower viewership, with only 363,000 viewers and a rating of 0.12.
- During Week 3, the match between Birmingham and New Orleans was televised on FOX on April 30th, attracting a viewership of 1.144 million and obtaining a rating of 0.22. On May 1st, the game between Michigan and Pittsburgh was broadcasted on USA, garnering 292,000 viewers and achieving a rating of 0.05.
- The most-watched game of Week 4 was the Houston vs. New Orleans matchup on Sunday, which aired on NBC and garnered 1.159 million viewers. On Friday night, the game between Michigan and Philadelphia attracted 207,000 viewers, earning a 0.04 rating.
Similar trend to past leagues
Unsurprisingly, the USFL seems to be emulating the previous leagues that attempted to establish themselves in recent years when the NFL is on hiatus.
In 2020, the XFL made an endeavor to relaunch their league, but unfortunately, their plans were disrupted by the pandemic in the middle of the season.
The season opener of the show attracted an audience of 3.3 million viewers, but its viewership declined significantly to an average of less than 1 million by Week 5.
In 2019, the Alliance of American Football made an ambitious attempt to launch its first season. Unfortunately, the league faced financial struggles and ultimately had to file for bankruptcy during the middle of its debut season.
In February 2019, the AAF kickoff game aired on CBS and attracted an audience of 2.9 million viewers. However, by Week 4, the league’s viewership drastically dropped to an average of only 425,000 viewers while being broadcasted on the NFL Network.
Panthers off to slow start
The relaunch of the USFL gave Michigan football fans plenty of reasons to feel excited.
The Panthers were considered one of the top contenders to win the league as the season began.
Despite their efforts, the team has only won one out of their first four games. As a result, the Panthers are now ranked among the teams with the lowest chances of winning the first-ever championship.
Up until now, Jeff Fisher’s team has conceded the fewest points in the league (53). However, their offensive performance has been less impressive, with an average of just 16.8 points per game.
The league is currently facing a concerning problem with its offense. In the first week of games, oddsmakers predicted an average total of 43 points for each game. However, as we approach Week 5, the totals have significantly dropped, reaching a maximum of only 37 points.
At present, the league’s games have an average combined score of 38.1 points.
The Panthers may not be generating much interest among local football fans as all their games are being played in Birmingham, Ala. Apart from its name, the team lacks any significant ties to the state.
Due to this, leaguewide attendance figures have been exceptionally low. Although the league’s kickoff game managed to attract over 17,000 attendees, recent matches have witnessed a significant lack of fan presence.
