Week 19 in the National Lacrosse League continues with four more games on Saturday night. I have best bets in two of those games, with a bet on a favorite on the spread and underdog on the moneyline.
Let’s take a look at my favorite NLL bets for Saturday.
If you’re an avid bettor who’s new to lacrosse or a lacrosse fan who’s new to betting, check out my guide on how to bet on lacrosse for some tips to use when placing a lacrosse bet.
Rochester Knighthawks vs. New York Riptide
| Rochester (-1.5) | ML (-150) |
| New York (+1.5) | ML (+110) |
| Total | 25.5 |
| Time | Saturday · 7 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN+ |
Odds via bet365
Just when it looked like the Rochester Knighthawks could turn their season around and sneak into the playoffs, they drop two straight games and their normally high-powered offense fails to score more than nine goals in back-to-back losses.
New York hasn’t looked as great either but still possesses one of the best offenses in the NLL that's capable of beating Rochester in a shootout. At +110 on the moneyline at bet365 and Caesars, there’s value in betting the Riptide as underdogs.
The Jeff Teat-led Riptide offense ranks first in offensive rating and second in experimental offensive efficiency, according to LaxMetrics.
Rochester’s only hope of winning games and overcoming its league-worst defense has been to win in high-scoring games — something New York is more than capable of preventing.
The Riptide defense hasn’t been entirely impressive of late, but their ability to take care of the ball on offense should allow them to edge out an inefficient Knighthawks squad.
Bet the Riptide to win outright at plus-money.
Pick: New York Riptide ML
Albany FireWolves vs. Toronto Rock
| Albany (+1.5) | ML (+150) |
| Toronto (-1.5) | ML (-190) |
| Total | 22.5 |
| Time | Saturday · 7 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN+ |
Odds via Caesars Sportsbook
The Albany FireWolves host the Toronto Rock in a game that could determine which team secures the top seed and home-field advantage in the playoffs. Toronto is a 1.5-point favorite at most sportsbooks, while the total sits at 22.5.
Toronto has allowed the lowest opposing shooting percentage at 15.9% and has the best goal differential at +38. The Rock also boast the fifth-highest offensive rating of 15 NLL teams.
Meanwhile, Albany ranks ninth in offensive rating, eighth in opposing shooting percentage and has relied heavily on goaltender Doug Jamieson, who along with Toronto netminder Nick Rose, has made the most saves over expectation, according to LaxMetrics.
Another area that Toronto could edge out Albany is in transition. The Rock are tied for fourth in breakaways generated, and the FireWolves have allowed the third-most breakaways.
Now, Toronto has allowed a concerning amount of transition goals itself, but Albany hasn’t shown as strong of a desire to push transition this season. In fact, it's generated the second-fewest breakaways in the league.
While Jamieson has done well to stifle many breakaway chances, expect the Rock to put away more than a few goals in transition.
Bet Toronto to pick up the win and cover the 1.5-point spread at -130 at Caesars.
Pick: Toronto Rock -1.5
