Only two more weeks remain in the National Lacrosse League season and playoff spots are on the line. NLL Week 20 features five games on Saturday and I have best bets for two of today's games.
Read below for my NLL picks for Saturday of Week 20.
Toronto Rock vs. Rochester Knighthawks
| Toronto (+2.5) | Moneyline (-265) |
| Rochester (-2.5) | Moneyline (+205) |
| Total | 23.5 |
| Time | Saturday · 7:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN+ |
Odds via FanDuel
While the Rochester Knighthawks still control their own destiny when it comes to securing a playoff berth, their path isn’t easy and features a matchup with the top-seeded Rock. Toronto is a 2.5-point favorite at home and I expect them to cover this number on Saturday night.
Doug Buchan has played well since becoming Rochester’s starter and franchise goalie Rylan Hartley is now back from injury, but I don’t think it will matter much who the Knighthawks start in net.
Rochester is dead last in both opposing shooting percentage allowed at 20.4% and goals allowed at 13.3 per game. Their usually high-powered offense has also recently stalled, failing to score more than nine goals in three straight games.
Their offense will have another tough time on Saturday, facing Toronto’s defense that boasts the best opposing shooting percentage allowed at 15.4% according to LaxMetrics. The Rock offense is also near full-strength with Challen Rogers back in the lineup and shouldn’t have any trouble winning by margin on Saturday.
Bet Toronto -2.5 at -105 on FanDuel.
Pick: Toronto Rock -2.5
Buffalo Bandits vs. Calgary Roughnecks
| Buffalo (-1.5) | Moneyline (-205) |
| Calgary (+1.5) | Moneyline (+160) |
| Total | 23.5 |
| Time | Saturday · 7:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN+ |
Odds via BetRivers
The Buffalo Bandits host the Calgary Roughnecks on Saturday night with playoff implications for both teams. Buffalo has yet to win three straight games this season and is again a heavy favorite against a comparable team.
Buffalo is 4-10 against the spread this season as a favorite and all seven of their losses have come as a favorite, including four losses as a 2.5-point favorite or greater. While Caesars is no longer hanging a 2.5, there’s still value in betting Calgary as a 1.5-point underdog.
Calgary’s settled offense has struggled recently, but they should be able to have success against a Buffalo defense that ranks bottom-five in opposing shooting percentage according to LaxMetrics.
Furthermore, if Buffalo tries to play fast and push in transition, that could benefit Calgary. The Roughnecks have generated the most breakaways (54) and breakaway goals (21) in the NLL by a wide margin.
As far as defense is concerned, Buffalo’s offense ranks near the top but is facing a Calgary defense that ranks second in opposing shooting percentage allowed. The Roughnecks match up well with the Bandits and this price is too good to not bet them on the spread and moneyline.
Bet a full unit on Calgary +1.5 at +110 and a half unit on the moneyline at +160 on BetRivers.
Pick: Calgary Roughnecks +1.5 (1 unit) & Calgary Roughnecks ML (0.5 unit)
