We’re three weeks into the 2024 Premier Lacrosse League season, and we’ve reached the league-wide bye. This gives the teams a chance to take a breath after the initial three weeks of the season, regather themselves, and get a game plan in place moving forward. For us as bettors, this is a great opportunity to reassess the Premier Lacrosse League championship odds and see what the best bets at this point are.
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PLL: Updated 2024 Premier Lacrosse League Championship Odds and Best Bets
The New York Atlas is the only undefeated team in the leagues and Eastern Conference standings with a perfect 4-0 record. In the Western Conference, the Utah Archers are the top team with a 2-1 record. Most shockingly, the Philadelphia Waterdogs are 0-3 after losing both games in their homecoming last week. The California Redwoods are also winless at 0-2.
A reminder of the playoff format for the PLL. The top team in each of the Eastern and Western Conferences gets a first-round bye, while the worst teams on each side are eliminated from the playoffs.
The quarter-finals will feature the fourth overall seed taking on the fifth overall seed and the third overall seed battling the sixth overall seed. So, just three weeks into the action, all eight teams are very much alive to win the PLL Championship in 2024.
2024 Premier Lacrosse League Championship Odds
New York Atlas +200
Utah Archers +500
Boston Cannons +500
Carolina Chaos +650
Maryland Whipsnakes +800
Denver Outlaws +1000
Philadelphia Waterdogs +1000
California Redwoods +1800
The Atlas leads the way in the championship odds market for obvious reasons. Undefeated through four matches, they’ve won each game by at least three points and an average of 4.75 points across the four victories. They easily lead the league in scoring with an average of 17.75 points per game, with the next-best Utah Archers only averaging 12.66 points per game.
The Atlas also lead the league in scoring difference with an amazing 19-point difference, while the Archers are second in this category with a difference of just two. Led by Jeff Teat, Connor Shellenberger, and Dox Aitken, this team is going to be a tough one to beat.
The Archers of Utah check in next in the odds market. Statistically, they are the next-best team. Their Short-Stick Defensive Midfield may be the only one in the league that can give the Atlas a run for their money. Their goalie, Brett Dobson, continues to make amazing saves each game.
The Cannons are the same 5/1 as the Archers at 2-1 as well. After a tough-fought win over arch-rival Philadelphia Waterdogs, Boston coach Brian Holman stressed, “We’ve been preaching having a no-fear mentality for overtime – keeping a loose grip on the stick.”
He also mentioned how this team is special and “plays for each other” and said, “We have guys that care.” Is that enough to beat the Atlas down the road? It might just be, and at 5/1, this is the first future I’m taking a bite of.
2024 Premier Lacrosse League Championship Best Bets
The Carolina Chaos are the only 2-2 team in the league. They currently sit second in the Western Conference. The Chaos are one of only three teams (Atlas & Archers) who have a positive scoring differential (+2) through three weeks. After starting the season 2-0 the Chaos have dropped their next two games against the Atlas and Archers. There have been some serious growing pains for their offense. Blaze Riorden returning from his knee injury and snagging 11 saves is a good sign for the team going forward.
The Maryland Whipsnakes are the first team on the board, with a losing record of 1-2. They lost their first two games against the Archers and the Cannons but put their nose to the grindstone in Week 3 to take down the Waterdogs. While that was a great win in overtime, they are just an overtime away from being 0-3.
The Denver Outlaws were beaten handily by the Chaos in Week 1 but fought back in Week 2 to take down the Archers. Number one overall draft pick Brennan O’Neill shined through big time in that game. When Logan Wisnauskas returns to play alongside O’Neill, this team could be dangerous. They’ve already shown us in a small sample size that they can take down a top team.
It’s been a rough start for the Waterdogs in 2024. The 2022 champions, who lost in 2023 by a single point, have suffered two overtime losses. Their face-off strategy is the biggest issue for the Waterdogs. The team still hasn’t signed a specialist. At 10/1 odds, though, for the team who’s been there the last two seasons, I’ll put a little faith in new coach Bill Tierney to right the ship in Philly.
The California Redwoods round out the odds as the only other winless team in the League. While they did put up more points against the Atlas in Week 3, they also gave up more points than anyone else has to a team. Their odds speak for themselves as by far the longest shots to win the title.
Best Bets:
Boston Cannons +500
Denver Outlaws +1000
Philadelphia Waterdogs +1000
Yes, the Atlas looks amazing so far. But so many things can happen over the next eight weeks of play. Give me one of the next-tier favorites who seem to have that dog mentality, along with two long shots. One of them is a perennial title contender who just needs to find themselves.
The other is led by a young nucleus and rising superstar who could make a magical run. This gives you ⅜ of the league and a very manageable price for the information we have after three weeks.