2025 NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Title Futures: Bet, Wait or Pass
No. 1 Cornell: Wait
Longest Available Odds: +450 on BetRivers
The decision to bet or wait on Cornell solely depends on who you expect to win this weekend when the Big Red face the Orange. I personally think Syracuse will get the win, so I would wait to bet Cornell at slightly longer odds after this weekend.
That said, I bet Cornell at +700 on DraftKings three weeks ago, so I’m less inclined to add to my position. The Big Red have the sixth-highest net efficiency, are strong on both sides of the ball and will close out conference play with winnable games against Harvard and Dartmouth. They’re true contenders and we’ll likely not see their odds get shorter than +350 or longer than +550 ahead of the NCAA Tournament whether you decide to bet now or wait.
No. 2 Ohio State: Wait
Longest Available Odds: +600 on BetRivers
The Buckeyes, like Cornell, have a big matchup against Maryland this weekend and whether to bet them now or wait is also dependent on your expected result this weekend. Ohio State ranks 13th in adjusted offensive efficiency and 3rd in adjusted defensive efficiency. While their RPI rating is lower than most teams in the Top 10, they have a high probability of making the tournament even if they fail to win the Big Ten’s automatic qualifier.
I suggest waiting since their odds won’t get drastically shorter with a win over the Terps and there’s a better chance they get a little longer with a loss. Yet, the Buckeyes are primed for another deep postseason run and should be on every futures bettors’ radar.
No. 3 Princeton: Wait
Longest Available Odds: +900 on Caesars, DraftKings and FanDuel
Princeton is flying under the radar a little from a futures persepctive, but they have the highest RPI right now, which means an at-large bid is very likely even if they don’t win the Ivy League tournament. Faceoffs have been an issue for the Tigers (47.8% adjusted faceoff percentage) and could hold them back from a deep run, but their offense and defense are both Top 15 in adjusted efficiency and if they draw a favorable path in the tournament, they could find themselves back in the Final Four.
I’m personally not betting the Tigers for the sole reason that I’m in New Jersey and most of my title futures bets are voided or default to the runner-up (depending on the sportsbook) if Princeton or another New Jersey team wins the championship. Yet, if you’re in a state outside New Jersey, I still think there’s a benefit to waiting to see who they draw in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament first. I don’t expect their odds to fluctuate much based on their upcoming results, though their odds are more likely to get longer than shorter given they’ll be favored in all three of their remaining conference games. The Tigers have championship potential, but their odds right now are spot on.
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No. 4 Syracuse: Bet Now
Longest Available Odds: +600 on BetRivers
The time to bet the Orange would have been last week before their upset over the Irish (or months ago when I gave them out at +1100), but I still think it’s a good time to invest in the Orange. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a team more balanced than Syracuse, ranking fourth in adjusted offensive efficiency, defensive efficiency and faceoff percentage.
If I had to pick a team to win it all right now, I’d pick Syracuse. Their offense continues to get contributions all over the field and the way they picked apart Notre Dame was encouraging to see, considering their earlier struggles against good defenses. However, their defense has been the most impressive area of this team, allowing just 8.27 goals per game.
That’s not to say potential rematches with Maryland or Notre Dame or games against North Carolina or Army won’t be tough, but the Orange have the ability to beat anybody in the nation and their roster is experienced enough to make it back to the Final Four. Bet Syracuse at +600 on BetRivers or +550 on DraftKings.
No. 5 Army: Bet Now
Longest Available Odds: +1500 on Caesars and BetRivers
I touched on Army earlier, highlighting their nation-leading net efficiency, but they also might be the best value among the Top 10 teams as well with odds as long as +1500. They’re balanced on both offense and defense, play fast enough to catch good teams off gaurd and are getting Will Coletti back at the faceoff dot at the right time.
One thing that has plagued the Black Knights’ tournament hopes in the past has been their strength of schedule that rarely opens the door for an at-large bid. Their win over North Carolina could go a long way if the Tar Heels continue to rack up wins and move up in the polls, opening the door for Army to make the tournament even without a Patriot League title.
The risk of them losing in the Patriot League tournament and missing the postseason doesn’t outweigh the reward of betting them right now at their current odds. Even if you bet them with me at +6000 to start the season, I’d still add a bit more on Army to win the National Championship at +1500.
No. 6 Maryland: Wait
Longest Available Odds: +480 on FanDuel
The Terps have had a Jekyll and Hyde season so far, securing big wins over Notre Dame and Syracuse, while losing to Michigan and Rutgers has big favorites. Their odds right now are too short, even if I expect them to make it back to championship weekend. Their odds could also get longer very soon, depending on how their game against Ohio State goes this weekend.
If you bet them with me at +1100 at the beginning of the season, then there’s no need to add any time soon and I still think a game-by-game approach until we see the tournament field is probably best if you don’t have a title future on them. Their defense is currently the second-best in the nation and their offensive ranks 11th in adjusted offensive efficiency even despite some poor showings. I do worry that they’ve been too reliant on their defense and generating scoring in transition, so, while I’m still very high on the Terps, it’s best to wait right now.
An angle to bet them right now, given their strong defense and slow pace, could be betting their unders, even at low totals of 21.5 and 20.5. The sportsbooks are hesitant to post totals any lower than those, but games featuring the Terps have stayed under 21.5 goals in nine of 10 games and have yet to surpass 22 goals this season. The average total in their games has been 18.6, so while you shouldn’t blindly bet their totals, an under in any Maryland game higher than 20.5 should at least be considered.
No. 7 North Carolina: Bet Now
Longest Available Odds: +1200 on DraftKings
Other than Army, North Carolina is my favorite future to bet right now. While I still want to see how they fare against stiffer competition, the Tar Heels’ advanced metrics are some of the best in the nation. They’re fifth in adjusted offensive efficiency, ninth in adjusted defensive efficiency and have the highest adjusted faceoff percentage at 69.4%!
While they haven’t played the toughest schedule, I like their chances at a deep playoff run. Their balance rivals Syracuse and they get contributions from a lot of different players. While they still have to face Syracuse and Notre Dame, I’d be surprised if their odds get drastically longer than +1200 following potential losses in those games and you can bet they’ll get a lot shorter if they beat one or both of those teams. Kudos to those who grabbed UNC at odds north of +3500 at the beginning of the season, but I’m content buying the Tar Heels right now even at their current price. Bet North Carolina’s title odds at +1200.
No. 8 Penn State: Wait
Longest Available Odds: +2000 on Caesars and BetRivers
The Nittany Lions are in an interesting spot. There’s value right now on their future odds and they have a great chance at an at-large bid even without winning the Big Ten tournament. That said wins over Johns Hopkins or Rutgers aren’t going to turn any heads and you can probably wait to see what happens in the Big Ten tournament before betting them.
I’d rather bet Penn State against the spread on a game-by-game basis. They’re 7-2-1 against the spread this season, with only ATS losses coming against the Buckeyes and Terps. Target the Nittany Lions from an individual game persepctive rather than bet their title odds right now.
No. 9 Notre Dame: Wait
Longest Available Odds: +700 on FanDuel
With three losses, the back-to-back champs are in danger of missing the tournament completely. While I still think this team is too good to have +700 odds, betting them right now isn’t worth the risk of them missing the tournament. Their odds will go back down a bit with a win over Virginia, but their game against North Carolina will likely be a big swing game when it comes to making the tournament.
I still like the Irish to win out and have a chance at the three-peat, but I need to wait to see how their next three games go. Their offense is still the most efficient in the nation and their faceoff unit led by Will Lynch ranks eighth, but their 24th-ranked defense has shown some cracks and will need to play better if they want to win out.
If you don’t have any Notre Dame futures and want to bet them at +700, I won’t try and persuade you otherwise. I’m still bullish on the Irish as a Final Four team, but I think it’s best to wait to bet their championship futures right now. If you want a good buy-low bet on the Irish, then +240 (FanDuel) to win the ACC tournament is a better look.
No. 10 Harvard: Pass
Longest Available Odds: +6000 on on BetRivers
Harvard has been a sneaky good team this season, ranking third in adjusted offensive efficiency, which has been enough to overcome their 41st-ranked defense. Still, their defense isn’t even their biggest weakness this season.
The Crimson currently have the seventh-worst adjusted faceoff percentage at 39% and while they’ve overcome that disadvantage during their 8-2 start, it’s going to rear its ugly head against better teams in the NCAA Tournament. Even at odds as long as +6000, Harvard is a complete pass in the futures market.
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Remaining Top 20 Teams
Of the remaining Top 20 teams, there aren’t any I would bet right now. Duke is in a position where they could still be one of the ACC teams to earn an at-large bid, but with three losses already and games against North Carolina, Syracuse and Virginia remaining, they could find themselves with five or six losses before the ACC tournament starts and with no automatic qualifier aren’t a great bet right now even at +4000 on DraftKings.
Richmond (+6000 on BetRivers), St. Joe’s (+25000 on Caesars) and Fairfield (+25000 on BetRivers) all meet our contender criteria and the Spiders in particular are a team I think could make a deep run, having bet them earlier in the year at 150-1. But all are “wait to bet” teams given they need to win their conference to secure a spot in the tournament. Richmond and St. Joe’s are fighting for that Atlantic 10 title (though UMass could also play spoiler) and their odds won’t drastically drop once the tournament field is set. It’s best to wait and see who represents the A10 and what their first-round matchup is before betting a future on them.
The CAA has been even more competitive with Towson, Delaware, Hofstra and even Stony Brook all with the ability to challenge the Stags for the CAA automatic qualifier. Furthermore, there’s a high probability the CAA representative finds themselves facing a No. 3 or No. 4 seed in the first round of the NCAA tournament, making their path to a championship tough from the start. Even at odds these long, I’d wait.
Michigan is an interesting one, finding themselves right below our contender threshold with time to improve on offense. They’re a “wait to bet” team right now as far as championship futures go. I still have concerns with their offense and they’re currently facing off at below 50%. They’ll likely be a better team to back game-by-game against the spread than in the championship futures market. However, if you’re in a state currently offering Big Ten Tournament odds, I do like a small bet on Michigan to win the Big Ten Tournament at +1900, especially if you joined me in betting Ohio State at +1200 earlier in the season.
I’m not as high on the Wolverines as a team, but this is a misprice considering they’re 2-1 in Big Ten play with a chance to still secure a first-round bye if they beat Rutgers and Ohio State. Even if they end up playing in the first round of the Big Ten tournament, we’ve seen the Wolverines get hot late and win back-to-back Big Ten tournaments as a lower seed. 19-1 is a great price to bet them to do it again.
As for Georgetown, Boston U, Rutgers, Johns Hopkins and Dartmouth, they should all just enjoy their spot in the Top 20 media poll. Barring massive improvement, they’re not contenders this year and all will need to win their conference tournament just to secure a spot in the postseason. Pass on betting any of these teams in the futures market.
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