UFL Best Bets: Conference Championship Games

June 6, 2025

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

Here we are, already at the 2025 UFL postseason. We wait all year for the season to start, and the end is almost near. Also, I just have to mention again what a disservice it is to the league and fans everywhere that the venues for these games were decided weeks ago outside of the standings. My Parlay of the Week hit last week, but I ended up 4-5. Thanks to the Houston Roughnecks, I still ended up making money.

We saw versions of these games recently, and we have to try to ignore those. For one, this is a very different Battlehawks squad from their Week 3 loss to D.C., and a game between those two in Week 10 doesn't mean a whole lot. Birmingham is 2-0 over Michigan in 2025, and indeed, the Panthers haven't beaten the Stallions since the 1980s. I can definitely ignore a stake-less Week 9, and it is a tall order for Birmingham to secure a 3-0 sweep on the road in front of what should be a really good crowd.

Unlike in past Spring Football seasons, this is truly a postseason where you could see either of the four teams win it all. I mean, if Houston and Arlington had made the playoffs, you could probably still have said the same thing. This season has felt a little more corporate than past years, but league parity and perceived business security have been good, and expansion is on the horizon. Now, let's dive into these conference championship picks.

XFL Championship Picks

D.C. Defenders at St. Louis Battlehawks (Sunday, June 8th, at 6 PM ET)

Battlehawks (-2.5), -148 ML, O/U 46.5

Both of these teams have gotten themselves healthy and ready to go for the postseason, and full strength is what you want to see. They played to a 13-8 St. Louis win last week at Audi Field--but again, we can't put too much stock in that. The D.C. offense has been rolling all year behind probably MVP Jordan Ta'amu, WR Chris Rowland, and RB Deon Jackson. The defense has been a rollercoaster, while they have some key playmakers in that department, I think St. Louis has more pressure, and Pita Taumoepenu will be vital on Sunday.

Max Duggan hasn't had to be a prolific passer--though he is capable. The Battlehawks' ground attack of Duggan, Jacob Saylors, and Jarveon Howard has been so stout, and Hakeem Butler has been their best receiver, ranking 12th in yardage with four TDs. This being in the Battledome and having Rodrigo Blankenship would be a tiebreaker, but as it currently stands, St. Louis just has more ways to win this game, whether it be high or low-scoring. Give me a final score of 23-21 to 30-27. Play the over, but this week--forget spreads--the money lines are where it is at.

USFL Championship Picks

Michigan Panthers at Birmingham Stallions (Sunday, June 8th, at 3 PM ET)

Stallions (-1.5), -120 ML, O/U 46.5

DE Kenny Willekes & CB Adonis Alexander have been limited this week for the Panthers' defense. Ricky Person Jr. has been limited for Birmingham. Most important: though he has been limited, Bryce Perkins appears set to play, and that really might be all that I needed to hear to conclude that Michigan will break this longstanding drought against the Stallions. Not that Birmingham has gotten lucky, but they have gotten by on some pure J'Mar Smith magic in some close contests, and I think they might have run out of that particular currency.

With a full Perkins season, he would be the UFL MVP. The Michigan defense always comes ready to disrupt, and their offense has been very well-rounded with Nate McCrary and Toa Taua ranking in the top six in rushing, and Siaosi Mariner and Malik Turner anchoring the receiving core. It hasn't been the same Birmingham squad, even with their two wins over Michigan. Birmingham still has the coaching advantage, but in front of five-digits of excited fans, I think Michigan finally gets over the hump by a score of 21-18 to 26-24. Here, I say go under.

Parlay of the Week

Panthers ML and Battlehawks ML: +235

Two teams who have enjoyed very comfortable home-field advantages in 2025. If Bryce Perkins is good to go--that is enough for me here to take the Panthers as a slight underdog, as the destiny points with Smith on final drives have to run out at some point. Maybe it is the conspiracy theorist in me, but the UFL has a lot to gain by St. Louis making it to the championship. This is a year where the Battlehawks are actually the more well-rounded team than D.C., and this is a very different squad than the one that the Defenders beat in Week 3.

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