If you bet both underdogs in the XFL and USFL championship games last week, your bankroll got a lot bigger. It’s probably the least expected matchup in this weekend’s UFL Championship game. The Michigan Panthers, who had never beaten Birmingham in UFL play, finally found a way to get it done and beat the Stallions 44-29 in last week’s USFL title game.

In the XFL Division championship game, the DC Defenders pulled the second upset of the weekend with a 36-18 win over St. Louis, the team favored to win the 2025 UFL championship. The Battlehawks finished the regular season 8-2 and were installed as the betting favorites to win this weekend’s UFL championship game.

Whether it’s the UFL of the upcoming NFL season, ScoresandStats is your one-stop location for the best previews, game analysis, picks, and predictions. Our experts have reviewed the entire season and developed a game plan for success for the 2025 UFL championship game.

Part of that success will be based on the Panthers and Defenders matchup way back in Week 6 of the regular season. We’ll take a deeper look at that game later. For now, buckle up and let ScoresandStats provide you with everything you need for this weekend’s UFL Championship game.

Where Is the UFL Championship Game?

The 2025 UFL Championship game will be played at the home of the St. Louis Battlehawks. That would be The Dome at America’s Center located in downtown St. Louis, which served as the home of the NFL’s St. Louis Rams prior to their relocation.

When Is the UFL Championship Game?

The 2025 UFL Championship game will kickoff around 8pm ET on Saturday, June 14. The championship game follows the division round games which will be held the week before.

How to Watch the UFL Championship Game?

Once again, the UFL title game will be broadcast on ABC. The 2025 UFL Championship game channel will vary depending upon your local market and television provider.

Check Out The Best

Handicapping Membership
For More UFL Picks!

Get Free Trial

UFL Schedule

• Regular Season: March 28 – June 1
• Playoffs: June 8 – June 14
• Semifinals: June 8
• Championship: June 14

UFL Championship Odds

Check out the latest UFL Championship odds courtesy of the best sports betting sites:

It’s no surprise the Panthers are the favorite to win the 2025 UFL Championship game. The Panthers were 6-2 and in control of the USFL Division until they faltered late and ended up second behind Birmingham.

As mentioned, Michigan had never beaten the Stallions in UFL play. Finally, the sixth time was the charm as QB Bryce Perkins and the Panthers offense rolled to a big, easy victory. The Panthers have an explosive offense, but they clearly have the better defense.

Regardless of the Panthers defense, the books see a higher-scoring game this weekend. Most game totals in the UFL hover around 40. Higher-scoring games typically have totals around 45 or 46. A total of 49.5 points to a shootout. It makes sense as these are the top two scoring teams in the UFL this season.

UFL Championship Game Matchup

These two teams played each other on May 4. The game was at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. The Panthers won rather easily, 38-14. Michigan totaled 401 yards of offense. The Panthers ran for 213 yards and the defense held DC to just 75 yards on the ground.

That’s kind of been the story for DC all season. The offense is outstanding, but the defense leaves a lot to be desired. DC finished the regular season 6-4 but had a point differential of just +1. The Defenders gave up 22.4 points per game. If not for the offense, DC might not have finished over .500.

The Panthers have won seven of 11 games this season but are only 5-6 ATS. With their high-scoring offense, seven of their 11 games have gone Over the total. It’s a similar story for DC. They went 5-6 ATS and the Over was 7-4 in their 11 games this season.

UFL Championship Predictions

Check out our predictions for the 2025 UFL Championship game:

Michigan Panthers Outlook

What’s not to like about the Panthers? They entered the 2025 season as one of the leading contenders to challenge defending champion Birmingham. The Panthers went 6-2 in their first eight games. One of the two losses came against the Stallions.

After the strong start, Michigan then had a chance to take control of the USFL Division in Week 9 at Birmingham. The Stallions beat the Panthers for the fifth consecutive time in UFL play, 26-22. Michigan then lost a meaningless game to Houston in the final week of the regular season.

The Panthers are led by Perkins, the likely league MVP. Perkins passed for 1,342 yards and nine touchdowns. He also averaged a team-high 5.7 yards per carry, gained 269 yards rushing, and added five more scores.

In last week’s USFL championship game, Perkins threw for 238 yards and a touchdown. He also ran 8 times for 34 yards and another score. The Panthers have scored 25 or more points in eight of their 11 games this season. The offense is equally good on the ground and in the air. Michigan averaged 127.8 rushing yards per game and 327.1 via the air.

What separates Michigan from DC is its defense. The Panthers were one of four teams that gave up less than 20 points per game. The Panthers had the No. 1 run defense in the UFL, giving up 81 rushing yards per game.

That run defense may not be enough though. Michigan also had the UFL’s worst passing defense. DC, of course, has the UFL’s top passing game.

DC Defenders Outlook

DC was an early favorite to contend for the UFL championship. The Defenders had Jordan Ta’amu returning at quarterback. Ta’amu was the early favorite to win the league’s Player of the Year award, something he could still claim. Ta’amu led the UFL in passing with 2.143 yards and 17 touchdowns.

The Defenders would start the 2025 season on fire. They ripped off three straight wins before losing to San Antonio in Week 4. That would turn out to be the Brahmas only win of the season.

The problem for DC all season long has been its defense. The Defenders gave up the third-most points in UFL play during the regular season. DC finished fifth in both rushing and passing defense. Interestingly, the Defenders wound up sixth in total defense for the season. That was one spot behind Michigan.

The offense carried the Defenders this season. They led the UFL in total offense with 345.4 yards per game. Led by Ta’amu, the offense averaged 22.5 points per game. The Defenders seem to have a magic number. If they reach 30 points, forget it. DC’s last four wins saw the offense score 36, 33, 32, and 37 points.

Who Wins the UFL Championship?

Neither of these two teams were expected to be here. Both have explosive offenses built around their quarterback. Ta’amu led the league in passing, but he did have some issues with completion percentage. He only completed a little over 54 percent of his passes.

The Defenders didn’t run the ball all that effectively which might not be a big issue. Michigan had the UFL’s best run defense. The Panthers also had the league’s worst pass defense. That could be a problem.

However, in Week 6, Michigan held Ta’amu to 19 completions in 36 attempts. The Panthers allowed the Defenders just 75 rushing yards and ended up never being challenged in a 38-14 victory.

In championship games like this, oftentimes it comes down to preparation and experience. The Panthers have been to the UFL postseason. The Defenders have not. Mike Nolan is a veteran head coach who has won championships.

Shannon Harris was appointed the Defenders interim head coach after Reggie Barlow took the head job at Tennessee State University. DC will have to slow down the Michigan offense. That has not been a specialty of the Defenders defense. Championship games come down to defense and Michigan’s is better.

Bet: Michigan -162, Michigan -3 (-112), Under 49.5 (-105)

Best Bets for the UFL Championship

Check out our best bets for the UFL Championship game:

• Michigan (-162)
• Highest Scoring Half – 2nd (+100)

It is typical in championship football games for the second half to be higher scoring than the second. That is usually the case in the NFL’s Super Bowl. Offenses start slowly as they feel out the opposing defense.

Offensive coordinators make adjustments that usually lead to more points in the second half of the game. The perfect example is last year’s UFL title game. Birmingham led San Antonio 8-0 at the half.

The Stallions then scored 17 more points in the second half to win the championship. The same happened in each of this year’s semifinal games. DC and St. Louis scored 26 first-half points only to score 28 in the second half. Michigan and Birmingham put on a show, scoring 35 in the first half and 38 more in the second. ‘

If you have followed us all season long, you know that individual $100 wagers on each best bet would profit $61.73 on Michigan to win and $100 on the second half being the highest-scoring half.

Bettors could also put together a same-game parlay with these two bets. The bettor wagers $100 and if both legs cash, the profit is $223.

2024 UFL Championship Game

Birmingham won the USFL championship in 2022 and 2023 and they rode that success to a 9-1 finish in the inaugural UFL season in 2024. The Stallions got the home playoff game in Round 1 and hosted second-place Michigan in the first round of the postseason. Birmingham won easily 31-18, the Stallions third win over the Panthers in 2024.

The Stallions would earn a rematch with the only team that gave Birmingham a regular season loss – San Antonio. The Brahmas won the XFL Division by upsetting St. Louis on its home turf in its semifinal game, but any thoughts of a UFL title were quickly dashed. Birmingham rushed for 210 yards and grabbed an 8-0 lead when they scored just before the end of the first half.

Then, the Stallions scored on their first two possessions of the third quarter to go ahead 22-0 and the game was essentially over. They would tack on a field goal to set the final 25-0 and record the UFL’s first and only shutout of the 2024 season.