The 2024-25 National Lacrosse League season is just days away and there are a handful of odds for both the 2025 NLL Championship and playoffs. Let’s take a look at my favorite futures to bet ahead of the 2024-25 NLL season.
2025 NLL Finals Favorites to Bet Now
For this tier of teams, we’re going to look at last year’s semifinal teams: the Albany FireWolves, Buffalo Bandits, San Diego Seals and Toronto Rock.
Once again, I’m high on this Toronto Rock team and expect them to finish with 11+ wins again. With the exception of TD Ierlan’s injury a week ago, Toronto isn’t dealing with any notable absences and Latrell Harris is set to make his long-awaited return. Toronto won a league-high 15 games last year on the backs of an elite Nick Rose-led defense and versatile offense. The Rock’s kryptonite in the playoffs continues to be the Buffalo Bandits, but there’s still a good chance they could avoid their arch-rivals in the playoffs and I still like Toronto’s chances to get over the hump if these teams do meet in the playoffs for the fourth straight postseason. Bet a unit on Toronto to win the 2025 NLL Championship at +650 on FanDuel.
In fact, in addition to their championship odds, I also recommend betting them to make the playoffs even at -320 (76.19% implied probability). For comparison, CoolBet Canada has Toronto’s odds to make the playoffs at -1250 (92.59% implied probability) and while I think those odds are too short, I project that Toronto’s chances at making the playoffs again are closer to 85%. Don’t fear the juice, and bet Toronto to appear in the playoffs again this year.
I also like the San Diego Seals’ chances at winning a title. The Seals underwent another roster overhaul this offseason, shipping Curtis Dickson back to the Roughnecks and letting free agent Dane Dobbie join him in Calgary. Austin Staats’ off-field issues will keep him sidelined indefinitely as well, but somehow San Diego managed to fill the massive holes left by those three forwards. Veteran forwards Rob Hellyer, Ben McIntosh and Ryan Benesch all signed with San Diego in free agency. Arguably, the biggest acquisition is transition player Zach Currier, who joins an already well-balanced squad. While it could take a few games for this unit to gel, trust San Diego to make it back to the NLL semifinals and potentially win it all. Bet a unit on San Diego to win the 2025 NLL Championship at +600.
Despite seeking their third straight NLL Championship, the Buffalo Bandits are a team I’m not ready to bet right now at +600 given a tough stretch of games to start the season. I still expect the back-to-back NLL champions to make the postseason, but don’t see any value on their title odds (right now) or odds to make the playoffs. Considering their much more favorable schedule in the second half of the season, I think we’ll see a similar trajectory as last year, with a modest start to the season before going on a run starting in March.
As for Albany, the surprise factor is no longer there. Last year’s NLL Finals run wasn’t a fluke, but the sportsbooks are pricing them appropriately so, leaving little value on them in the playoff odds and championship futures market.
Instead, I recommend waiting to bet Albany as well, though likely not nearly as long of a wait as Buffalo. Saskatchewan should give Albany another good game in their season opener and I expect the FireWolves to drop their second game to Toronto on the road. After their game against the Rock is the optimal time to potentially bet Albany’s championship odds and hopefully it will be at a number longer than or still close to +900.
