Welcome to Week 3 of the Premier Lacrosse League! This week, it’s off to Villanova, Pennsylvania, for the Philadelphia Waterdogs homecoming weekend. They’ll host six of the other teams for their home stand, while the Denver Outlaws will have their bye week. Let’s dive into Week 3’s Premier Lacrosse League picks and best bets.
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PLL: Premier Lacrosse League Picks and Best Bets for Week 3
Last week the New York Atlas came out on top in Charlotte, winning their game against the California Redwoods to leave them as the only unbeaten team in the league at 3-0. They lead the Eastern Conference. In the Western Conference, it’s currently the Carolina Chaos on top with a 2-1 record.
Boston Cannons (+1.5) vs Philadelphia Waterdogs (-1.5)
The home team will open up the weekend on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. ET on ABC. The Waterdogs are 0-1 after losing the 2023 championship rematch in Week 1 against the Utah Archers. They had an early bye last week while the teams were in Carolina. A week off could be just what the doctor ordered for new coach Bill Tierney to install what’s needed after a game to assess.
The Cannons dropped their Week 1 match with the New York Atlas but righted the ship in Week 2, claiming victory over the Maryland Whipsnakes. The Cannons looked like a much-improved team in Week 2, working more effectively on both sides of the ball. Goalie Colin Kirst only allowed nine goals while saving 14 shots on the day.
While Boston’s Week 2 recovery was nice, it was against a Whipsnakes team that hasn’t looked very good in 2024. The Waterdogs lost Week 1 but held strong against a tough opponent. With a week off, coach Tierney should have things in line. When these two teams played last, it was a Waterdogs win by a score of 17-6.
whatever that was, let’s do it AGAIN! 🤭🔁
last time we played the cannons, we dropped 1️⃣7️⃣ goals on ‘em, and FIVE players finished with 4P+ 🤯 pic.twitter.com/aTVSCFVo37
— Philadelphia Waterdogs (@PLLWaterdogs) June 12, 2024
Pick: Philadelphia Waterdogs -1.5 (+120)
Utah Archers (-1.5) vs Carolina Chaos (+1.5)
The Archers took down the defending champion Waterdogs in Week 1. In Week 2 they lost to the Denver Outlaws last year’s worst team. The Archers had a 14-7 lead at one point, but #1 overall pick Brennan O’Neill carried the Outlaws back and forced overtime, where the Archers would fall to the Outlaws.
Carolina kicked the season off with an easy win against the aforementioned Denver Outlaws. In Week 2, the Chaos played two games in their homecoming week. They won an ugly game against the California Redwoods in the first match and fell to the undefeated New York Atlas in game two.
This is another pick for a clear favorite here. Yes, the Archers lost to the Outlaws last week, but that was after getting complacent and a rookie phenom going off against them. This Carolina team hasn’t looked that great this season so far for being 2-1. Archers roll.
Pick: Utah Archers -1.5 (-105)
California Redwoods (+2.5) vs New York Atlas (-2.5)
Sunday’s first game features the first line bigger than 1.5 on the season, with the undefeated New York Atlas taking on the 0-1 California Redwoods. The Atlas have opened the season a cool 3-0, winning each game by an average margin of 4.6 points. They are led by a stellar attack group: Jeff Teat (22 points), Xander Dickson (12), and rookie Connor Shellenberger (11).
The Redwoods had the weird Week 1 bye that no team really wants to have, but they were the unlucky one this season. Redwoods fans have a lot to be excited about after rookie Garrett Degnon’s stellar performance in his debut. This New York team is just going to be too much for the Redwoods, don’t be scared of the number, just bet the Atlas.
Pick: New York Atlas -2.5 (+100)
Maryland Whipsnakes (+1.5) vs Philadelphia Waterdogs (-1.5)
The week opens with the Waterdogs and closes again with the Waterdogs as the host team. In both games, Philadelphia is favored by 1.5. This time, they’ll take on the Whipsnakes of Maryland. Maryland is the only 0-2 team in the league this season, losing both matches by four points. Saturday against the Boston Cannons, the Whipsnakes went 22 minutes and 32 seconds without scoring a goal.
Only the Redwoods (+1100) and the Whipsnakes (+950) have longer odds to win the title now. It’s pretty easy to argue Maryland has simply looked like the worst team thus far this season. Philadelphia will have the crowd behind them. It’s a chalky week, but we’ve learned enough from the first two weeks to feel good about it. Dogs roll again.
Pick: Philadelphia Waterdogs -1.5 (-105)