The Birmingham Stallions were the class of the USFL for most of the regular season but are trying to regain their focus for Saturday's USFL semifinals in Canton, Ohio. The Stallions started 8-0 but lost to 17-15 to Houston in Week 9 and managed a sloppy 21-18 win against Tampa Bay last Saturday. They finished 9-1, along with the New Jersey Generals, and those teams could meet in next Sunday's USFL Championship Game. But first, they must win Saturday's USFL Playoffs 2022 semifinal matchups. Birmingham is the top seed in the South Division and will face the New Orleans Breakers (6-4), while North top seed New Jersey will take on the Philadelphia Stars (6-4).

Saturday's playoff action begins with the Generals vs. Stars at 3 p.m. ET. New Jersey is a 4.5-point favorite and the Over/Under is 47.5 in the latest Stars vs. Generals odds at Caesars Sportsbook. The Stallions vs. Breakers matchup kicks off at 8 p.m. ET, and Birmingham is a 5-point favorite in the latest Breakers vs. Stallions odds from Caesars, with an Over-Under of 44 points.

The new league requires bettors to really dig into the rosters and matchups to cash in on any bets. Fortunately, SportsLine experts have been doing their homework, so before you make any USFL Playoffs 2022 bets, you definitely want to see what SportsLine football expert Emory Hunt has to say. 

Hunt is the founder and CEO of Football Gameplan, which has been supplying analysis of all levels of football since 2007. He is a former running back at Louisiana-Lafayette and knows the game from a player's perspective. Hunt is 23-17 on his USFL selections this season and has gone 11-5 over the past four weeks.

The expert knows the Stallions beat New Orleans 22-13 in Week 3, then eked out a 10-9 victory in Week 8. Now, they won't have the home-field advantage, with the USFL moving from Birmingham, Ala. to Canton's Hall of Fame Stadium for the playoffs. The Generals haven't lost since a 28-24 setback to the Stallions in Week 1, and they could get a chance at revenge in the final. They swept the Stars in the regular season, winning 24-16 in Week 3 and closing out with 26-23 victory last Saturday.

Hunt has broken down both matchups from every angle to make his USFL picks. He has locked in STRONG plays for both semifinal games, and he sees an underdog you really have to back that has a strong defense that will keep the game close! You ABSOLUTELY need to see his picks before making any of your own.

Which teams should you be backing in the 2022 USFL Playoffs semifinals? And which team is a MUST-BACK because of a defense that will keep it closer than oddsmakers expect? ... Join SportsLine right now to see who wins and covers each USFL semifinal game, all from the football expert who has examined these teams from every angle!