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The residents of Michigan surely have reasons to be thrilled as their football team holds the coveted No. 1 draft pick and boasts a coach with Super Bowl experience.
Certainly, the subject of discussion is not the Detroit Lions but rather the Michigan Panthers in the USFL revival, who possess both of those qualities.
Sports enthusiasts in Michigan are likely filled with anticipation to fully immerse themselves in the upcoming league set to commence in April. However, the unfortunate truth remains that they are currently unable to do so, at least for the time being.
USFL taking steps toward legal betting in Michigan
As of now, the Michigan Gaming Control Board solely grants authorization for sports betting within Michigan limited to the National Football League and Canadian Football League.
Mary Kay Bean, a communications specialist at the MGCB, confirmed that a request to include the USFL as a new league in their sports wagering catalog has been received. The request is currently under review, and there is no specified timeline for when the review will be completed.
On February 15, the USFL was included in the “Pending Approval” section of the MGCB Sports Wagering Catalog.
The league has been given the green light for betting in fifteen additional states.
Sportradar and the USFL have formed a foundational partnership, signaling a significant move towards sports betting approval for the league.
Under the terms of the multi-year agreement, the USFL has designated Sportradar as its official partner for sports data provision and integrity.
Edward Hartman, USFL Executive Vice President of Business Operations, expressed his excitement about the USFL’s inaugural data and integrity partnership with Sportradar. In a press release, Hartman emphasized the importance of this collaboration, particularly since over 60% of American adults reside in states where sports betting is now permitted. He stated that it was crucial for the new USFL to align with the industry leader in integrity solutions, and Sportradar is regarded as the benchmark for all sports information enterprises.
Sportradar has entered into an agreement to create innovative data collection and delivery systems for the league and its associated enterprises. This encompasses media and gaming sectors. Additionally, Sportradar is authorized to supply data to betting operators who promote their services during USFL telecasts.
The task of conducting bet monitoring and reporting through its Universal Fraud Detection System will also fall under the responsibility of Sportradar.
What the USFL will look like in 2022
After a hiatus of 36 years, the USFL is set to make its comeback on April 16, 2022.
The eight teams of the league have been divided into two divisions.
South Division
- Birmingham Stallions
- Houston Gamblers
- New Orleans Breakers
- Tampa Bay Bandits
North Division
- Michigan Panthers
- New Jersey Generals
- Philadelphia Stars
- Pittsburgh Maulers
Each of the eight teams will have a 38-player active roster and a seven-player practice squad. Players will receive a basic salary and have the opportunity to earn bonuses for victories.
In 2022, every team is set to compete in a 10-game schedule. This entails facing all division rivals twice, as well as encountering each non-division opponent once.
All games will be played at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, and the season will continue until July 3.
The games will be broadcasted on a range of television networks and streaming platforms, such as FOX, FS1, NBC, USA, and Peacock.
Jeff Fisher leading Michigan Panthers
The Michigan Panthers aim to bring a level of success on the football field that Detroit Lions fans are not familiar with.
Jeff Fisher was officially named the head coach and general manager of the franchise on January 27th. With an impressive tenure of 22 seasons as an NFL head coach, Fisher achieved a record of 173-165-1. Notably, he guided the Tennessee Titans to the Super Bowl XXXIV, unfortunately resulting in a defeat against the St. Louis Rams.
The Panthers had an eventful Thursday as they unveiled their new uniforms. Shortly after, they received exciting news that they had emerged victorious in the USFL Draft Lottery. This means that the Panthers will have the privilege of making the first overall pick in the upcoming 2022 USFL Draft on February 22nd.
The drafters utilized it for selecting Shea Patterson, the former quarterback from Michigan.
Coaches who are joining Fisher in the USFL include:
- Larry Fedora: New Orleans
- Skip Holtz: Birmingham
- Kirby Wilson: Pittsburgh
- Mike Riley: New Jersey
- Todd Haley: Tampa Bay
- Kevin Sumlin: Houston
- Bart Andrus: Philadelphia
