With the box lacrosse season heating up in its early stages, the 2026 NLL Championship odds are beginning to shape up online. The Buffalo Bandits are in search of an unprecedented fourth consecutive NLL Cup, but should they be your best bet?
I highlight the updated winner odds, review the top contenders, and share my NLL Championship predictions.
2026 NLL Championship Betting Odds
| TEAM | ODDS |
|---|---|
| Buffalo Bandits | +360 |
| Saskatchewan Rush | +430 |
| Rochester Knighthawks | +450 |
| Halifax Thunderbirds | +700 |
| Vancouver Warriors | +900 |
| Toronto Rock | +1000 |
| Ottawa Black Bears | +1000 |
| Las Vegas Desert Dogs | +1300 |
| Colorado Mammoth | +1600 |
| San Diego Seals | +1600 |
The Buffalo Bandits (+360) are favored to win the 2026 NLL Cup after three straight titles. According to top lacrosse betting sites, the Bandits have a 21.7% implied chance to be the first team in NLL history to win four consecutive championships.
They went down to the wire with the Saskatchewan Rush (+430), who have the second-best odds to win the NLL Championship this season. At +430, the Rush carry an implied probability of about 18.9% to return to the final series and finish the job this time.
Right behind them are the Rochester Knighthawks (+450), whose price translates to an 18.2% implied chance, per the latest National Lacrosse League odds.
After the top three contenders, the numbers start to drift into longshot territory. The Halifax Thunderbirds (+700) are the most likely winner outside of the top clubs, but even at +700, Halifax holds only a 12.5% implied probability of capturing the NLL Cup.
You can find updated NLL odds at BetPlays by navigating to Sport > Lacrosse > Outrights > National Lacrosse League.
2026 NLL Championship Betting Favorites
Before delving into my NLL Championship picks, let’s highlight the top contenders on the field in 2025-26:
Buffalo Bandits (+360)
On the heels of a threepeat, it’s hard not to have the Buffalo Bandits listed as the favorites. The Bandits defeated the Rush in the best-of-three series with a 15-6 victory in Game 3 at home. Home field advantage ultimately played a huge role after the Rush won in Saskatchewan in Game 2.
33-year-old All Star Dhane Smith is back in Buffalo and that’s a huge factor. Smith led the league in assists with 102 a season ago, which was 12 better than the player in second, who was none other than the Bandits’ Josh Byrne. Smith and Byrne finished in a tie for the most points in the league with 134.
That 1-2 combo has simply been too much for opponents to handle. Smith and Byrne are both equally dangerous; Byrne, in particular, finished sixth in league scoring with 44 goals in 2024-25. Through the Bandits’ first six games this season, though, that talented duo hasn’t been able to carry the rest of the team.
Dhane Smith's stick fakes are absolutely elite😮💨🤌 pic.twitter.com/f2V6cSfcYW
— NLL (@NLL) December 29, 2025
Last year, Buffalo went 13-5 in the regular season, good for a 72.2% winning percentage. They dominated offensively, leading the NLL with 242 goals. This year, however, they’re off that pace: they sit at 3-3 and rank fourth in goals scored with 69. With 62 goals against, the Bandits have a goal differential of just +7.
Despite their struggles, the Bandits remain the most dangerous team in the league as long as Smith and Byrne are healthy. They’re likely dealing with a bit of a post–three‑peat hangover right now, but I expect them to get rolling soon.
Saskatchewan Rush (+430)
The Rush came one win away from capturing their second NLL Cup. After a 12–10 nail-biter in Game 1 and an 11-10 victory over Buffalo in Game 2, they simply didn’t have anything left in the tank for Game 3.
In any event, the Rush left it all on the floor and had nothing to be ashamed of. They finished the regular season at 13-5, tying the Bandits in the standings, and the closeness of that race made it no surprise that the finals went down to the wire.
Saskatchewan’s defense was one of the best in the NLL, allowing just 179 goals against, an average of 9.9 per game, second-best in the league. Offensively, the team is in good hands with Zach Manns and Austin Shanks, a pair of physical forwards who consistently create havoc in the offensive zone.
Manns and Shanks each ranked in the top 20 in goals last year, and currently in the top 20 in points this season. In addition to Manns and Shanks, captain Ryan Keenan has been locked in from the get-go. The Oshawa native is in the top 5 in points, as he’s recorded 19 goals and 23 assists through seven games.
Can anyone shut this guy down? That's a hat trick in THREE STRAIGHT games for Ryan Keenan!@PlayNowSK pic.twitter.com/K2bqCH5Lhk
— Saskatchewan Rush (@SaskRushLAX) January 18, 2026
Overall, the Rush lead the NLL with 88 goals for, averaging 12.6 goals per game. They also sit atop the standings with a 6-1 record. It’s still early, but the Rush look motivated and clearly have the talent to make another deep run in 2026.
Rochester Knighthawks (+450)
The Rochester Knighthawks shouldn’t be overlooked in their push for a fifth NLL Cup. They three-peated from 2012 to 2014 and returned to the championship series in 2018.
Last season fell short of expectations, as they stumbled to a 10-8 finish. In 2025-26, however, they’ve rebounded with a solid 4-2 start through six games.
Rochester’s offense has been sharp. Their 81 goals rank third in the NLL, and forward Connor Fields leads the league with 20 goals, while sitting tied-second in points with 44. With Ryan Lanchbury also in the top 10 in scoring, the Knighthawks feature a strong offensive punch.
Connor Fields opened the floodgates with a 2nd quarter hatty 🧢@RocKnighthawks pic.twitter.com/sd3y9VpkYj
— NLL (@NLL) January 18, 2026
My chief concern with the Knighthawks is their defense. The back end can get complacent, and without the offensive depth of the Rush and Bandits, high-scoring shootouts are unlikely to favor Rochester down the stretch.
From a betting standpoint, +600 would be an appealing number on the Knighthawks to win the championship. At the current price of +450, there isn’t enough value to justify backing Rochester.
2026 NLL Championship Longshot Bets
Two dark horse teams are attractive options for your NLL betting picks this season. Consider adding these teams as small wagers to win the NLL Cup:
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1. Vancouver Warriors (+900)
If you are interested in a lockdown defense that doesn’t give up much room, then the Vancouver Warriors are worth a look at +900. The Warriors like to hit hard and get physical to win games. They lean heavily on defensive tactics to win low-scoring, grind it out matchups.
Teams like Vancouver can be the most frustrating lacrosse teams to play against. While the offense leaves a lot to be desired, they keep games close enough with a chance to win at the end of regulation.
The Warriors lead the NLL with 46 goals against, for an impressive 9.2 allowed per game after finishing first in defense last season. Despite the offensive failing to show much so far, I’m optimistic that they’ll start to figure it out. At +900 odds, the Warriors are a solid longshot pick to win the NLL Cup.
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2. Colorado Mammoth (+1600)
The betting public hasn’t caught up to the Colorado Mammoth’s strong start to the 2025-26 campaign. They’ve opened up a 4-2 start to the year and are playing with plenty of confidence. The Mammoth have had a well-balanced attack through six games, as they’ve scored 56 goals and allowed 51 this season.
Will Malcolm is off to a quick start for the Mammoth with 16 goals and 19 assists to rank 11th in points. He’s going to need more help offensively if the Mammoth are truly going to shock the league and win the NLL Cup.
That could come from Ryan Lee, who notched 36 goals and 59 assists a season ago. He’s off to a slightly slow start, but there is plenty of time for him to come around. Given their solid start and the team hasn’t exactly reached their stride yet, the value is undeniable on the Mammoth at +1600!
2026 NLL Championship Predictions and Betting Pick
The Bandits are the most popular NLL Championship pick, and understandably so after winning three straight titles. However, the Rush have all the betting value at +430.
Saskatchewan is a real contender and were only one win off from winning last season. Now, after three straight championships, I sense some complacency setting in for the Bandits. No team has won four straight for good reason. It’s really tough to keep that killer instinct for that long.
The motivation factor is directly in the Rush’s corner. They’ve fired out of the gates, and I expect them to maintain their form throughout the season. The playoffs will be tough, but at +430, the Rush are a fantastic bet to win the 2026 NLL Cup!
Where to Bet on the NLL Championship?
Betting on the National Lacrosse League is only available at select online bookies. As one of the leading lacrosse sportsbooks, BetPlays has futures and matchup odds from the start to the end of the 2025-26 season.
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