The Premier Lacrosse League returns this weekend for another season of action! It’ll all start in Albany, New York, for the New York Atlas homecoming on Saturday, June 1st. Let’s take a look at the Premier Lacrosse League picks and best bets for Week 1.
The Utah Archers will play the Philadelphia Waterdogs in the first match, a rematch of last season’s championship game. It will take place on ESPN+ on Saturday, June 1st, at 1:00 p.m. ET. The weekend will wrap up Sunday with the Maryland Whipsnakes taking on the New York Atlas for the Atlas’ second game of the weekend.
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Week 1 Premier Lacrosse League Picks and Best Bets
Utah Archers (+1.5 -160) vs Philadelphia Waterdogs (-1.5 +124)
The Archers only have two of their six starters from last season’s championship defense available to start this weekend, with their lead man Matt McMahon being the most notable absence after his retirement. Luckily for the Archers, they have defensive coordinator Tony Resch in charge, who remains one of the game’s top defensive minds.
For the Waterdogs, who have been to back-to-back championship games, winning it all in 2023. It’s now a new era at head coach. Andy Copelan resigned after the championship game loss, and USA Lacrosse Hall of Famer and seven-time NCAA champion Bill Tierney stepped in to take over the team. Tierney has been very successful at the collegiate level but hasn’t been a head coach in the pros before.
There are many changes and questions about both of these teams heading into Week 1. New head coach Bill Tierney steps right in and feels comfortable in game one, and the Waterdogs avenge their title game loss in the first game of the 2024 PLL season.
Pick: Philadelphia Waterdogs -1.5
Boston Cannons (-1.5 +100) vs New York Atlas (+1.5 -130)
The Boston Cannons went from just one win two seasons ago to seven wins in 2023 and a trip to the semifinals in the playoffs. They’ll look to continue the climb behind second-year star Asher Nolting, who put together MVP-like play in the second half of his rookie season.
New York’s Atlas will play the first of their two games in their homecoming weekend. The Atlas went just 2-8 in 2023, then lost their star defenseman and captain Tucker Durkin to retirement. They were the first team since 2019 to select a goalie in the first round of the PLL Draft.
They’ve also done their best to recreate some of that Virginia Cavaliers success from college, having three former Cavs offensive stars, Xander Dickson, Connor Shellenberger, and Payton Cormier, all on the team.
While New York is the host team here, they are trying to rebuild and find themselves. Asher Nolting and the Boston Cannons take care of business in this matchup, and getting them to cover at even money is a nice bonus.
Pick: Boston Cannons -1.5
Carolina Chaos (-1.5 +124) vs Denver Outlaws (+1.5 -160)
The Carolina Chaos have never won the opening game of the season, mostly due to missing players who play in the NLL for the Buffalo Bandits. Luckily for the team this season, they won the championship early and wrapped the season up on May 18th. This will lead to a full opening day roster for the Chaos. The Chaos are switching the offensive scheme up and trying to shift to more of a positionless offense.
Chrome LC was the worst team in the PLL in 2023, going just 1-9. Now known as the Denver Outlaws they’ll return one of the lacrosse capitals of the world in Denver to big expectations to live up to.
The old Denver Outlaws never had a losing season and only finished at .500 one time. Luckily for them, the #1 overall pick in the PLL Draft could be just the answer the city of Denver needed. Enter Duke’s Brennan O’Neill, who has the ability to be a Lebron James type of player for this club.
Brennan O’Neill’s points on Underdog are set at 2.0, smash the higher than and give me the Outlaws on the Moneyline. They are going to come out fired up for their new look and, behind a strong performance from O’Neil, take down the Chaos to open the season 1-0.
Pick: Denver Outlaws ML -110
Maryland Whipsnakes (-1.5 -110) vs New York Atlas (+1.5 -120)
The Atlas play their second match of homecoming week as they take on the Whipsnakes of Maryland. The Whipsnakes won two of the first three PLL championships but have fallen on harder times.
After a 4-6 season in 2023, head coach Jim Stagnitta blamed age and lack of hunger for the team’s woes. He’s opened up the position battles this season. The team brought in free agent Colin Heacock, who looks to bounce back from a rough 2023 season.
This is the game where the home team gets a victory for their fans. Don’t count the Whipsnakes out in 2024; it may just take a little time for them to find themselves. The Atlas will get into the groove on Saturday and come hungry on Sunday.
Pick: New York Atlas +1.5