UFL Best Bets: 2025 UFL Championship

RotoBrady provides picks on every spread and O/U for the 2025 UFL Championship.

Just like that, we have reached the climax of the 2025 UFL campaign. I went 2-2 last week--I certainly didn't expect such a stinker of a game from the Battlehawks as they blew yet another opportunity to play for the title in front of 30,000 home field faithfuls. I will be in attendance for this championship clash between the D.C. Defenders and Michigan Panthers--seriously folks, the tickets were so cheap compared to other major (or even average) sporting events, and it should be a blast no matter how many St. Louis residents suck it up and attend.

So far, Bryce Perkins has been named Offensive Player of the Year, and Kedrick Whitehead is Special Teams Player of the Year for Michigan. In contrast, D.C. OC Fred Kaiss and HC Shannon Harris have been named the 2025 UFL Assistant Coach and Coach of the Year (Battlehawks LB Pita Taumoepenu is Defensive Player of the Year). Does this mean that MVP has been reserved for Jordan Ta'amu? Time shall tell. All are very much well deserved--it is more than fair to say that the Defenders bring a coaching advantage into Saturday's matchup.

Michigan will be without RB Matt Colburn, DE Kenny Willekes, and CB Keni-H Lovely--that leaves holes to be exploited by the D.C. offense, but I think the backfield will be fine with Toa Taua and Nate McCrary. WR Ty Scott is back in the fold for the Defenders, but it is hard to estimate exactly what his role will be with Braylon Sanders, Chris Rowland, and Cornell Powell to contend with. So, let's end the 2025 season with a bang and get down to some picks for the UFL Championship.

UFL Championship Picks

D.C. Defenders vs. Michigan Panthers (Saturday, June 14th, at 8 PM ET)

Panthers (-3), -170 ML, O/U 50.5

To state the obvious--these teams squared off in Week 6, and the Panthers handed out an absolute whooping at 38-14 at Ford Field. I think the league would definitely sell its souls to the devil to avoid a score like that in the title game, but some areas of concern: Ta'amu played great--connecting with Rowland all game, and this was still the result. Deon Jackson and Abram Smith were largely held in check, while Perkins passed efficiently, and Perkins/Taua/McCrary combined for 214 yards and three touchdowns on 37 attempts.

Both teams overcame a lot since then--Michigan finally exorcised their Birmingham demons, D.C. continued to own the Battlehawks in the Battledome, and both teams took a loss to Houston to end the regular season. I think the emotional rollercoasters and circumstantial variables are a wash. Coaching advantage? D.C. Rushing? Michigan. Passing? D.C. Defense? Michigan. Special Teams? Michigan. When every area of the game is compared, I think Michigan's defensive playmakers are in more abundance than D.C.'s, and the Panthers have more ways to win this game.

It was very impressive for Harris and Ta'amu to get the Defenders this far. I might not trust Mike Nolan, but Danny Etling will not see the field on Saturday. If he does--you could justify firing Nolan in the middle of the game. This one will be closer, and D.C. very well could cover, but I see a final score range of 26-24 to 30-26 for Michigan--so favor the over, take the Panthers on the ML, and you could even try to thread the needle by taking the Defenders to cover.

Prop of the Week

Jordan Ta'amu to Throw for 300+ Passing Yards and 3+ Passing Touchdowns: +1600

Come on--this isn't a bad prop for Ta'amu on an average day at these odds. The Defenders are playing in the SAME EXACT venue they played in last week, and with the hits taken by the Panthers' secondary, this player special could hit for big rewards even in a loss. It's the last game of the UFL season--let's have some fun with it.

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