2025 NLL Lacrosse Championship Betting Odds and Predictions

Buffalo Bandits (+260)

The Buffalo Bandits have shown no characteristics of a team that is in a hangover from winning consecutive championships. They are continuing to roll, with no ill effects from their latest title run in 2024.

It can be difficult for squads to keep the energy levels and momentum up, but the Bandits are in top form still. And, if you want to look at how stout their defense has been this season, they are playing even better lacrosse than a season ago.

Forever in the rafters. 🏆#LetsGoBandits | @NLL pic.twitter.com/KelYziUYBn

— Buffalo Bandits (@NLLBandits) December 31, 2024

In 2023-24, the Bandits leaned on a quick-strike offense to lead them to back-to-back titles. Buffalo led the NLL, with 13.2 goals per game. The defense, however, was rather mediocre for 10th-best in the NLL. They buckled down in the playoffs, and it’s had an impact this season, too.

Currently, Buffalo is first in the league, yielding an average of 8.25 goals per game. Matt Vinc has been solid in the crease, but the defense has really risen to the occasion. Most notably, Paul Dawson’s shot-blocking has paid off nicely for Buffalo. The defenseman is third in the NLL with 11 shots blocked this season.

The Bandits’ offense has been in good order, too. It’s been a well-balanced attack, with three Bandits having scored at least nine goals. They do not depend too heavily on one or two players, so depth continues to be a plus in Buffalo.

Ian MacKay was playing for something more than himself on Friday night in his 5-goal, 3 assist game for @NLLBandits. He led all runners with 13 shots on goal!

MacKay highlights 👀 pic.twitter.com/WBqd0IM7Ma

— NLL (@NLL) January 11, 2025

Currently, Ian Mackay leads the Bandits with 13 goals through four matchups. Dhane Smith has been a terrific set-up man for Mackay, as he ranks second in the NLL with 29 assists.

Buffalo already had offense last season and now the defense is coming around to match that output. The Bandits remain the team to beat, and still have betting value in their NLL Championship odds at +260!

San Diego Seals (+700)

The San Diego Seals had another standout campaign in 2023-24. They recorded a record of 13-5 in the regular season following a 14-4 campaign a year earlier. San Diego is in just their sixth year as an organization and already threatening for a championship.

This is a terrific home squad, so having to go on the road in the postseason will be a chore for any opponent. Last season, the Seals went 8-1 and a mediocre 5-4 on the road. Patrick Merrill’s Seals have been up and down through the first stretch of the regular season.

They’ve conceded 66 goals while netting 67 on offense. The Seals are eighth in the standings, with a mark of 3-3, which pretty well aligns with their output statistically! San Diego hasn’t done anything markedly better than a season ago. In fact, the start is a disappointment for the Seals up to this point.

Forever in the rafters. 🏆#LetsGoBandits | @NLL pic.twitter.com/KelYziUYBn

— Buffalo Bandits (@NLLBandits) December 31, 2024

As long as Wesley Berg stays healthy, I’m not overly concerned with the offense. However, the defense needs a shot of confidence because trading goals isn’t a winning formula. In any event, the Seals have the second-best 2025 NLL Playoff odds to win the championship, so there is support behind them picking it up soon!

Georgia Swarm (+900)

The Georgia Swarm are a game up on the Seals in 2024-25 but aren’t within striking distance of the Bandits. They’re a few steps behind competing with a stacked team like Buffalo. Nevertheless, public sentiment is reasonably high on Georgia.

The Swarm won the NLL title in only their second year of existence in 2017. Head coach Ed Comeau remains the bench boss for the Swarm. He’s been running the ship since Georgia’s first year in the league.

If the Swarm don’t make a dent in these playoffs, you have to question if they’ll make a coaching change. They’ve finished sixth, sixth, and fifth over the last three years after top 3 finishes, including the championship, from 2016 to 2020.

Tweets by GeorgiaSwarmLAX

Following the canceled COVID-19 season, the Swarm haven’t been able to match that same intensity. They’ve won four games in six attempts but can’t maintain their current effort and continue above .500.

The Swarm are averaging 11 goals per game while yielding 11.83 on the defensive side. The defense ranks in the bottom quarter of the NLL, which isn’t a strategy for success. I can’t recommend backing the Swarm for your NLL Championship picks at +900 on offshore sportsbooks!

Saskatchewan Rush (+900)

The Saskatchewan Rush are on my watchlist for contenders to look out for in the 2025 NLL Playoffs. The two-time NLL champions had plenty of success in franchise history. Similar to Georgia, the Rush came out swinging with titles in 2016 and 2018.

However, the Rush haven’t qualified for the postseason in three straight years. They are on the heels of three consecutive seasons with a record of 8-10 in the regular season. Rush fans have reason to feel optimistic about the 2025 playoff campaign, though.

Saskatchewan is 4-1 and playing fundamentally sound lacrosse on both ends of the floor. The defense has been doing the heavy lifting for the Rush. They’re allowing an average of 10 goals per game through five matchups. Additionally, Saskatchewan’s offense has held up well thus far, averaging 11.8 goals per match.

That being said, they can’t hold a candle next to the high-powered offenses like the Colorado Mammoth and Rochester Knighthawks. The offense ranks in the bottom quarter of the NLL, so the defense must play elite lacrosse in the playoffs. If leading goalscorer Zach Manns suffers an injury, the Rush are unlikely to survive either way, though.

The Manns of the Hour!

Zach Manns leads the charge (3G, 5A), helping the @SaskRushLAX move to 4-1 beating Vegas 15-9.

Roll the Manns Highlights 👀 pic.twitter.com/vQXKoGwsle

— NLL (@NLL) January 12, 2025

The offense runs exclusively through Mann. He is fourth in the league in scoring, but the only Rush player in the top 30! Saskatchewan can shock a few people in the playoffs. However, everything will have to go right for an NLL Championship.