Dopp: I think all four of these playoff teams share the two same perspectives for Week 10: gain as much info as possible about your opponent for next week and avoid injuries. At some point, we may see teams pack it in a little early if it's not conveniently close enough to keep everyone going full tilt. But with home-field advantage still on the line, I could see at least two of these four teams fighting tooth and nail until the final whistle. Speaking of, let's kick this thing off in the XFL Conference.
Willis: Yeah, it's a pretty easy scenario, the winner of the San Antonio Brahmas and St. Louis Battlehawks matchup gets home-field advantage for the XFL Championship Game. The Brahmas are coming off an upset win over Birmingham, while the Battlehawks lost to the Arlington Renegades, but didn't have AJ McCarron. Where do you think these teams stand going into the matchup?
Dopp: I still think the Battlehawks are the superior team and it's not close. McCarron is clearly the better of the two starters in this matchup and I think people haven't forgotten how good this team is with him under center. They've seen Manny Wilkins each of the past two weeks and this team is inherently different with a running QB like Wilkins leading the way. The Battlehawks also have twice as many takeaways as the Brahmas this season, so I think we see that defense come up big and help eliminate some scoring opportunities.
Willis: For me, I'm not going to overthink this. Death, taxes and Brahmas unders. The under has hit in eight of their nine games this season, and it's been even more extreme lately. The past six Brahmas games have gone under by an average of 10.8 points. I'll take the under 42.5 in this game, especially considering McCarron's availability.
Let's go to the other semifinal preview, the Michigan Panthers and the --
Dopp: My Michigan Panthers, you mean.
Willis: Yes of course, your Michigan Panthers and the aforementioned, no-longer-undefeated Birmingham Stallions. No matter who wins, the USFL title game will be in Birmingham because of a schedule conflict at Ford Field. Birmingham gets the top seed as long as they don't lose to Michigan by more than 21 points. Michigan gets it if they beat the Stallions by 23 or more.
Dopp: Wait... the Stallions can't lose by more than 21 and Michigan can get the top seed if they win by 23, so what happens if the Panthers win by 22?!
Willis: Then we get deep into the UFL tiebreakers. I believe next is a watermelon seed-spitting contest. If that's a draw, it goes to a swimsuit competition. From there, it's a staring contest.
Dopp: I assumed they'd just let their kickers duel it out adding five yards to every kick until one of them misses. To be honest, I kind of just want to see that anyway! But back to my Panthers, this is the one team in the UFL that has overachieved based on preseason expectations. Multiple QBs have started, Jake Bates has taken the league by storm, Kai Nacua has shown up big when they've needed him and I'm really proud to see this team succeed the way they have.
Willis: These teams have both had very efficient offenses this season, ranking one and two in yards per play. The Panthers seemed to have found a QB that clicks in Bryce Perkins. Add that to the uncertainty with the Birmingham defense with former defensive coordinator John Chavis no longer with the team. Those make me look to the over 43.5.
Dopp: I'm with you, I'd definitely take the over as well. I think see quite a few points in this one as each team figures each other out without giving too much away ahead of next week.
Willis: Finally, it's what we've all been waiting for. The 1-8 Houston Roughnecks visiting Memphis to take on the 1-8 Showboats. Not all 1-8's are created equal. Houston was up 10 entering the fourth quarter last week over the playoff-bound Panthers. I'm also looking at Memphis and their league-worst -7 turnover differential. Houston's at +1. I'll take the road favorite Roughnecks (-2).
Dopp: Honestly, you had me at -7 turnover differential. That's bad any way you slice it. Neither of these teams are great, but Memphis is dead last in total offensive yards and total yards allowed. Their offense is bad, their defense is bad and they can't take care of the football. Give me Houston all day!
Willis: I'll see you next week for the playoffs, but I'm not ready for the fun we've had this season to come to an end.
Dopp: Same dude, same. But great job as always and a massive thanks to you, Matt, for bringing the good stuff when it comes to UFL stats and analysis.
Don't forget to love each other, be kind to yourself, enjoy the games, and we'll see everyone next week!
If you still want more UFL content on top of this, check out Daniel Dopp, Skubie Mageza and Joe Gioia every Sunday night at 6:30 p.m. ET for the definitive UFL recap show! UFL Today will bring fans the top moments from the weekend, with game highlights, airing live on ESPN's YouTube, Facebook and the ESPN App, in most cases following the last game of the weekend.
Follow Dopp and Willis on X @danieldopp and @WillisOnNascar.
