PLL: Updated odds and best bets from the 2024 Premier Lacrosse League Championship

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 catch their breath after the first three weeks of the season, come together and create a game plan for the future. For us as bettors, this is a great opportunity to reassess the Premier Lacrosse League Championship odds and see what the best bets are at the moment.

VIEW THE DAILY BEST BETTS FROM SPORTS GAMBLING PODCAST

PLL: Updated odds and best bets from the 2024 Premier Lacrosse League Championship

The New York Atlas are the only undefeated team in the leagues and the 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 at home last week. The California Redwoods are also winless at 0-2.

A reminder of the playoff format for the PLL. The best team in each of the Eastern and Western Conferences receives a bye in the first round, while the worst teams on each side are eliminated from the playoffs.

In the quarterfinals, the fourth overall seed will face the fifth overall seed and the third overall seed will compete against the sixth overall seed. So, just three weeks into the action, all eight teams are alive and well to win the PLL Championship in 2024.

2024 Premier Lacrosse League Championship Odds

New York Atlas +200
Utah Archers +500
Boston guns +500
Carolina Chaos +650
Maryland Whipsnakes +800
Denver Outlaws +1000
Philadelphia Water Dogs +1000
Redwoods +1800

The Atlas leads the championship odds market for obvious reasons. They are undefeated in four games and have won every game by at least three points and an average of 4.75 points over the four wins. They easily lead the league in scoring with an average of 17.75 points per game, with the second-best Utah Archers only averaging 12.66 points per game.

The Atlas also lead the league in score difference with an astonishing 19 points 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 will be tough to beat.

The Archers of Utah are next to enter the odds market. Statistically, they are the second best team. Their short-stick defensive midfield is perhaps the only one in the league that can give the Atlas value for money. Their goalkeeper, Brett Dobson, continues to make great saves every game.

The Cannons are also the same 5/1 as the Archers at 2-1. After a hard-fought win over arch-rival Philadelphia Waterdogs, Boston coach Brian Holman emphasized, “We preach having a ‘no-fear’ mentality in overtime – keeping a loose grip on the stick.”

He also talked about how special this team is and “plays for each other” and said, “We have guys who care.” Is that enough to beat the Atlas in the long run? That might just be possible, and at 5/1 this is the first future I’m taking a bite of.

Best Bets on the 2024 Premier Lacrosse League Championship

The Carolina Chaos are the only 2-2 team in the league. Currently they are second in the Western Conference. The Chaos are one of only three teams (Atlas & Archers) to have a positive score 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’s return from a knee injury to make 11 saves is a good sign for the team’s future.

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 noses to the grindstone in Week 3 to take down the Waterdogs. While that was a great overtime win, they are still one overtime away from going 0-3.

The Denver Outlaws were defeated 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 really shined in that game. When Logan Wisnauskas returns to play alongside O’Neill, this team could be dangerous. They’ve already shown us with 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 by one point in 2023, have suffered two overtime losses. Their confrontation strategy is the biggest problem for the Waterdogs. The team still has not signed a specialist. But at 10/1 odds for the team that’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 scored more points against the Atlas in Week 3, they also gave up more points than anyone else to any team. Their chances speak for themselves: they have by far the longest shots to win the title.

Best bets:

Boston guns +500
Denver Outlaws +1000
Philadelphia Water Dogs +1000

Yes, the Atlas looks great so far. But so many things can happen in the next eight game weeks. Give me one of the following favorites that seems to have that dog mentality, along with two long shots. One of them is a perennial title contender who just needs to find himself.

The other is led by a young core and rising superstar who could make a magical run. This gives you ⅜ of the competition and a very manageable price for the information we have after three weeks.