Oilers Flip from Underdogs to Favorites at Multiple Sportsbooks Ahead of Cup Final

• Oilers flip from underdogs to favorites at multiple sportsbooks ahead of Cup Final
• Public backing Edmonton heavily with 65% of bets and 78% of money at DraftKings
• Home-ice advantage and revenge narrative driving the line movement

Just days after opening as slight underdogs, the Edmonton Oilers have become betting favorites to win the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at multiple sportsbooks. The line movement reflects heavy public backing for Connor McDavid and company to get revenge against the Florida Panthers.

BetMGM now lists the Oilers at -120, while FanDuel has them at -118. The Panthers sit at +100 and -102, respectively. Interestingly, DraftKings still has both teams at equal -110 odds, though that hasn’t stopped the public from hammering Edmonton.

Let’s dive into the updated Panthers vs Oilers odds and examine why the betting market has shifted toward Edmonton.

Updated Panthers vs Oilers Odds

The Oilers are as short as -120 at MGM despite opening at near plus-money on DraftKings. This represents a significant shift from our initial report, where Florida was favored at -115.

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Odds as of May 30, 2025. Claim the DraftKings promo code to bet on the Cup Final. Edmonton residents can place a bet with the Bet99 promo code.

Public Hammering Oilers in Early Betting

The betting public has spoken loudly, backing Edmonton to capture their sixth Stanley Cup title. At DraftKings, despite the even odds, the Oilers have drawn 65% of total bets and a whopping 78% of the money wagered on the series winner.

BetMGM has seen more balanced action after shortening Edmonton’s odds to -130, with the Panthers actually receiving 53% of bets and 57% of the money. However, the initial line movement clearly favored the Oilers.

Game 1 betting has also tilted toward Edmonton, with 66% of the money backing the Oilers’ -120 moneyline at BetMGM. The puck line ranges from +1.5 goals at DraftKings (+190) to consensus 1.0-goal favorites (+153) across books.

Revenge Narrative Fueling Oilers Support

The primary driver behind Edmonton’s favoritism is the revenge factor after last year’s heartbreaking seven-game loss. The Oilers mounted a historic comeback from a 3-0 deficit, outscoring Florida 18-5 over three games, before falling 2-1 in the decisive Game 7.

“I think we’re better for going through last year,” Connor McDavid said after eliminating Dallas. “It’s a great learning experience and really driven us all year.”

History supports teams seeking revenge in consecutive Finals. Wayne Gretzky’s Oilers lost to the Islanders in 1983 before winning in 1984. Sidney Crosby’s Penguins fell to Detroit in 2008 before claiming victory in 2009. Both teams had home-ice advantage in their redemption years, just like Edmonton this season.

Home Ice Proves Pivotal

Perhaps the biggest change from last year is Edmonton’s home-ice advantage. The Oilers earned it with 101 regular-season points compared to Florida’s 98, giving them Games 1, 2, 5, and a potential Game 7 at Rogers Place.

Last year’s Game 7 in Florida proved the difference. Now, McDavid and company get that crucial deciding game on home ice if necessary. The cross-continent travel and raucous Edmonton crowd create additional challenges for the defending champions.

Statistical Edges Favor Oilers

The Oilers’ transformation goes beyond narrative. They lead the playoffs with 4.06 goals per game and boast the world’s best player in McDavid, who leads all scorers with 26 points. Leon Draisaitl adds 14 points after winning the Rocket Richard Trophy with 52 regular-season goals.

More importantly, Edmonton has shored up their defense. Stuart Skinner has been spectacular since reclaiming the starting job, posting a 6-2 record with a 1.73 GAA and .931 save percentage. That’s a massive improvement from his 0-2, 5.10 GAA performance in Round 1.

The advanced metrics also favor Edmonton. The Oilers lead in high-danger chances for percentage (56.84%) and maintain a slight edge in expected goals (54.42%). Their power play clicks at 30%, which will test Florida’s league-leading 87.9% penalty kill.

Panthers Still Dangerous Defending Champs

Despite the line movement, dismissing the Panthers would be foolish. Florida has the deepest roster in hockey, with 21 different players recording points this postseason. Sergei Bobrovsky remains elite with a 2.11 GAA and three shutouts.

The Cats also excel defensively, allowing just 2.29 goals per game. Captain Aleksander Barkov leads with 17 points, while Sam Bennett provides physicality with 10 goals. Their top-ranked penalty kill could be the difference-maker against Edmonton’s explosive power play.

Series Props Expect Another Marathon

Bettors overwhelmingly expect another lengthy series, with 98% of the money at BetMGM backing over 6.5 games. The exact score props show Edmonton 4-2 (+425) and Edmonton 4-3 (+425) as co-favorites, followed by Florida 4-2 (+425).

For individual honors, McDavid leads Conn Smythe Trophy odds at +100, followed by Bobrovsky at +250. The superstar center won playoff MVP last year despite the loss, becoming just the sixth player to achieve that feat.

Final Thoughts on Line Movement

The line flip from Florida -115 to Edmonton -120 is a notable shift in a series expected to be neck and neck. Public money’s clearly pushing the odds. As Leon Draisaitl put it, “They’re a really good team and we’re a really good team.” Couldn’t be more even.

If you’re still thinking about betting on the Panthers, it might pay off to hold off a bit longer if more public money keeps pouring in for Edmonton. On the flip side, if sharp bettors are backing Florida, that could calm the line down, since oddsmakers are careful about making big adjustments. A good example is how MGM dropped the Oilers back to -120 after initially moving them to -130.

The 2025 Stanley Cup Final promises to deliver drama worthy of a Hollywood script. Two elite teams, a revenge storyline, and the best player in the world chasing his first championship. Game 1 drops Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET in Edmonton.