We are at the All-Star Break for the PLL season, so what better time to check in on the updated championship odds than right now. It’s been an exciting and unpredictable season so far, and it’s only going to get better.
Archers (3-2)
Opening Odds: +550
Current Odds: +450
There’s still a lot of juice for the Archers sitting at +450. They bumped down 100 points, but it’s still a great option. The Archers have been gelling together nicely with Grant Ament out, but the inconsistency is still there. We’re calling them the best offense in the league, yet they’ve scored 9 and 10 goals in their last two games, that’s not a lot. Maybe we see Grant Ament return after this All-Star break but if not, you may want to stay away from the Archers with that much inconsistency.
Atlas (4-1)
Opening Odds: +550
Current Odds: +350
The Atlas seem to be what Paul Rabil wanted them to be in their inaugural season: a wagon. The Atlas are rolling this year and aren’t showing any signs of slowing down. They are young, energetic, and have some of the best young talents out on that field. It wouldn’t be too shocking if Trevor Baptiste is an MVP finalist with how much he is dominating the face-off X. Their offense is second best in the league, and defensively they are in the middle of the pack. If they can tighten up defensively, we think the favorites have a great chance at winning the championship. They take on the Redwoods, Archers, Waterdogs, Whipsnakes, and Chaos to end the season. It’s not going to be an easy road for the Atlas but they can definitely do it. They were in close battles with the Archers and Whipsnakes this year when they lost, and it’ll be their first games against the Waterdogs and Chaos. Those two teams are very unpredictable, and the Atlas could find themselves in a trap game. If they want to be the champs, they’ll have the games to prove it. The line has good value, but we’re just not completely sold on them.
Cannons (1-4)
Opening Odds: +1400
Current Odds: +1200
The Cannons are the first team that you should stay away from. They are dead last in defensive stats, despite being surprisingly ranked second in goaltending. Offensively and face-off-wise they are in the middle of the pack, which isn’t great when you have the last ranked defense. Lyle Thompson is a huge piece of the puzzle for the Cannons, and Asher Nolting has been having a great rookie year. But they just don’t have a chance to win it all this year in our opinion. They are consistently building and improving their team, but we suggest staying away this year.
Chaos (1-4)
Opening Odds: +450
Current Odds: +750
The first half of the season has not been kind to the Chaos to say the least. The NLL finals overlap really messed them up. They were missing their star players for the first three weeks, and then had to play with only a couple days of rest. That being said, the Chaos were 2-4 heading into the All-Star break last year and found themselves in the championship game. We are not doubting that the Chaos can find their way back to the playoffs and make a run. This could be a good bet to throw a couple dollars on, but it’s not a bet that we would count on. This is our suggested fun-but-don’t-throw-a-lot-on-it pick. It’s always fun to root for Andy Towers and his Chaos squad.
Chrome (4-1)
Opening Odds: +2000
Current Odds: +475
If you took the Chrome in the beginning of the year, good for you. The Chrome were given the lowest chances to winning it all, and now they are tied for first place. This revamped Chrome team looks to have the blueprint for a successful PLL team. Their goaltending stats are in the bottom two, but they rank top 3 in every other statistical category. They have looked great all year long and should continue that through the end - the rest of their season doesn’t look too difficult. They are scheduled to play the Waterdogs, Whipsnakes, Chaos, Cannons and Redwoods to end the year. They’ve already beaten the Waterdogs, Cannons, and Redwoods this year. If they can avoid having to make their fourth quarter comebacks and play a complete game, we like the Chrome’s chances and think it’s a good play given they are now +475.
Redwoods (1-4)
Opening Odds: +500
Current Odds: +1000
It’s no secret that the Redwoods have taken a massive step backwards compared to last season. On paper, this roster looked like it would be competing for the title, but they are struggling big time. The Redwoods are last in offensive and goaltending stats, and are middle of the pack in defense and face-offs. The suggestion here is to not go near these odds – we expect them to continue getting worse. Sure, they can always turn around the season, but it’s going to be a tough challenge to do that. They have a lot of work to do and it’s not certain that it is going to get done.
Waterdogs (2-3)
Opening Odds: +350
Current Odds: +650
We’re not too sure how or why the Waterdogs were the favorites to win it all at the beginning of the year, but they were. The Waterdogs are a mystery: they’ll take down the best team in the league one week, then struggle to compete the next week. They by no means have an easy schedule to finish the season: they play the Chrome, Cannons, Atlas, Redwoods, and Archers. Every single one of these teams will be fighting tooth and nail to secure that playoff spot. We think we’ll see the Waterdogs in the playoffs again, but they are nowhere close to being a championship contender as of this moment, unless Mikey Sowers has big things to say about it. Stay away from this future because there’s little to no hope for it.
Whipsnakes (4-1)
Opening Odds: +400
Current Odds: +450
Last but not least, the Whipsnakes. These guys have dominated the league since they’ve arrived, and don’t plan on stopping. Even though the Atlas are the favorites, we’re not sleeping on the Whipsnakes. They need to get their offense moving because they are in the bottom three there. They’ve been missing one of their biggest pieces in Zed Williams for a couple games, but we think they start finding that rhythm and take over the league yet again. The rest of their schedule is going to be a gauntlet, and will show us who is going to have a shot at the title. Chaos, Chrome, Archers, Atlas, and the Cannons are who they finish this season with. We would pay attention to every one of these games, because the implications are going to get significant. The Whipsnakes have the championship experience: they know what they have to do better to get back to the big game, and we think they do just that. Take the Whipsnakes if you’re looking for a solid chance at winning.
There are a lot of teams to go with, but only one is going to pay off. Make sure you make the right choice. As we mentioned above, you should stay away from the teams at the bottom of the pack. The Whipsnakes have a solid shot with their experience, and the Atlas have the youth to run the table. The Chrome and Archers control their own destiny for the rest of the season, and it all depends on how they want to play. Make sure you think about who you think about skill, standings, and future matchups before placing your bets, and may the odds be forever in your favor.
