We’re just two weeks into the 2023 Premier Lacrosse League season and I’m already looking to bet a few more PLL futures.
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.
Preseason PLL Futures Update
Prior to the season, I gave out six bets to make before PLL Week 1. Let’s take a look at how those bets are doing.
Atlas LC To Win 2023 PLL Championship (+550): Atlas LC started out just 1-1, but their odds are no longer +500. So, even if it wasn’t the start Atlas expected, it appears we got the best of the number.
Archers LC Over 5.5 Wins (+118): Archers LC boast a 2-0 record and holds the top spot in the standings. They need to win just four of their remaining eight games to surpass this win total.
Chaos LC Under 4.5 Wins (-150): Chaos LC started the season 1-1 and while their defense appears to have improved with the addition of Will Bowen, I still think this team will have a hard time winning more than three games. It's too early to make a judgment about this bet, but I still feel good about its chances of cashing.
Chrome LC Over 5.5 Wins (+110): The Chrome have looked solid in their first two games, but their offense hasn’t lived up to expectations. Still, they beat a Whipsnakes team that appears to be a contender and lost to the top-ranked Archers. Now isn’t the time to press the panic button.
Waterdogs LC to Earn a Top-3 Seed (+110): Of all my preseason futures, this is the one that worries me most. Waterdogs narrowly beat Chaos and blew a six-goal lead to Redwoods to start the season 1-1. Their schedule doesn’t get any easier as they’ll face Atlas, Whipsnakes and Archers in their next three games. A top-three seed is still possible, but it will take a much better effort going forward.
Whipsnakes LC Under 6.5 Wins (-125): I’m in a weird spot with this bet. The Whipsnakes’ 0-2 start means they need to lose just two of their remaining eight games for this bet to hit. I’m extremely confident that this bet will cash, but is it crazy to say I actually like the Whips’ chances of winning a title even more now? Thankfully, those two things aren’t mutually exclusive. Stay tuned …
PLL Futures Bets to Place
Bet This PLL Team to Win the Championship
The Whipsnakes have made it to three of the four PLL championships in league history and have essentially been the PLL’s version of the Tom Brady-led New England Patriots. They’re always in the mix and given what I’ve seen through the first two games, I’d argue they’re still a top-three team this season. And thanks to their 0-2 start, their odds to win the 2023 PLL Championship have never been longer. That’s why I like a bet on the Whips to win the title at +700 on bet365.
Yes, the team I told you to bet to stay under its win total is the same team I like to make it back to the title game and win it all.
Coach Jim Stagnitta always has his team in contention and while the Whips’ 0-2 start is less than ideal, they’re very much still alive in a league where seven of the eight teams make the playoffs. Furthermore, they lost by just a goal to two of the other most balanced teams in the league (Chrome and Atlas). If they had won at least one of those games, they might still be the favorites to win it all.
Now is a great time to buy low on a team that still has former MVPs (Matt Rambo and Zed Williams), a 2022 MVP candidate in net (Kyle Bernlohr) and the current rookie of the year favorite (Tucker Dordevic). Get a title future on the Whipsnakes in before their odds drop back down in the coming weeks.
Pick: Whipsnakes to Win 2023 PLL Championship
Bet this PLL Player to Win MVP
The Redwoods are off to a 2-0 start with wins over Atlas LC and the defending champion Waterdogs. While I’m not quite sold on the Redwoods’ championship hopes, it is clear that Rob Pannell could have another MVP-caliber season.
Pannell is tied for the team lead with eight points through two games and has picked up right where his 38-point 2022 season left off. If the Redwoods are able to sustain their early success, Pannell will be in the MVP conversation.
Furthermore, the Redwoods’ remaining schedule makes at least a six-win season likely. They will face the only two teams to finish below them in the 2022 standings — Cannons and Chaos — twice and if they can win four of their next six games, Pannell will undoubtedly be a leader in the MVP race.
Pannell’s odds to win MVP are as short as +1500 at some sportsbooks, but he’s still +2500 on BetRivers after opening at +3000.
Pick: Rob Pannell to Win MVP
Can I Interest You in an MVP Longshot?
So, I may have given out an MVP bet already, but there is another player who ranks ahead of Pannell in points and is tied for the most points in the league. No, I’m not talking about Tom Schreiber (+550) or Jeff Teat (+600).
I’m talking about 250-1 longshot Jackson Morrill.
Yes, Morrill is tied with Schreiber and Teat for the most points through two games and has looked just as good as he did in 2021 when he led Chrome LC in scoring as a rookie. With Brendan Nichtern, last year’s PLL Rookie of the Year, out, Morrill has regained his spot at X on Chrome’s starting attack line. The result? Six goals, four assists and no turnovers through two games.
Morrill’s chances of winning MVP are much longer than those of Schreiber, Teat or Pannell. However, he has the longest MVP odds of any player at BetRivers (+25000) and I think this number is way off. If none of my analysis has sold you, just compare his odds at BetRivers to his price at BetMGM (+2000), DraftKings (+2000) and FanDuel (+2500). Do yourself a favor and bet 0.1 unit on Morrill to win the 2023 PLL MVP before the odds change.
Pick: Jackson Morrill to Win MVP
