Opening weekend in the Premier Lacrosse League continues with two matchups on Sunday. The second day features the two most recent expansion teams as Waterdogs LC takes on Cannons LC. The second game of the day features the new-look Chrome LC taking on an Archers LC with a few key absences. Let’s take a look at each of these matchups and discuss how to bet them.
If you’re an avid bettor who’s new to lacrosse or a lacrosse fan who’s new to betting, check outmy guide on how to bet on lacrosse for some tips to use when placing a lacrosse bet.
Waterdogs (-1.5) vs. Cannons
| Waterdogs Odds | -165 |
| Cannons Odds | +127 |
| Total | 24.5 |
| Time | Sunday, 1 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN+ |
Odds via Caesars Sportsbook.
The Waterdogs and Cannons played each other twice last season and the result was two vastly different games. In the first meeting, the Cannons defeated the Waterdogs, 13-7, in a game where they shot an incredible 59% compared to the Waterdogs’ 18%. In the second meeting, the Dogs finished on top, destroying the Cannons, 19-7.
Last season, the Waterdogs and Cannons were two of the most inconsistent teams and both teams experienced a high level of variance in those two games. Even Lyle Thompson, the usual model of consistency, went from scoring four points in the first game, to being held scoreless in the second. So, while we can’t gauge much from the past two meetings of these teams, there are a few factors we can consider when looking at this game.
First, Dillon Ward, the Waterdogs' starting goaltender, will be absent to start the season as he is busy trying to win a National Lacrosse League championship with his professional indoor lacrosse team, the Colorado Mammoth. The Dogs will turn to Matt DeLuca, who is a capable goalie, but not on the same level as Ward, the 2014 MVP of the World Games.
We also now know Lyle Thompson was battling a hip injury last season, but is now fully healthy coming off a successful NLL season with the Georgia Swarm. Despite being banged up last season, Thompson averaged 3.5 goals per game through 10 games. While the Cannons lost some pieces due to retirement, the Cannons' offense added more firepower in the form of 2021 All-Star Jake Froccaro, ninth overall pick in the 2022 PLL college draft Asher Nolting and Thompson's teammate in the NLL and previous member of the Chesapeake Bayhawks, Brendan Bomberry.
While the Waterdogs are missing their starting goaltender, they are getting some more firepower of their own in the form of rookie Jack Hannah and last year’s second overall pick Michael Sowers, who had five points in just two games last season.
The Waterdogs have a solid starting defense, but DeLuca should let in a few more shots than Ward typically does. On the flipside, the Cannons defense ranked last in scores against average with 13.3 last year and didn’t do much to improve over the offseason. The team also lacks a pure long-stick middie and their defensive leader, Brodie Merrill, will sit out Sunday’s game.
This should be a high-scoring matchup with the potential for a few two-point goals to hit. So, I’m betting over 24.5 and also betting the over for Lyle Thompson’s points prop of 3.5 on DraftKings.
Pick: Over 24.5, Lyle Thompson Over 3.5 Points
Chrome vs. Archers (-2.5)
| Chrome Odds | +205 |
| Archers Odds | -270 |
| Total | 24 |
| Time | Sunday, 3:45 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN+ |
Odds via Caesars Sportsbook.
The final PLL matchup of the weekend is the toughest to read. While most PLL spreads are 1.5, the Chrome open as 2.5-point underdogs against the Archers. Most sportsbooks have the total listed at 23.5, but Caesars is the lone sportsbook offering a total of 24.
The Chrome experienced the most adverse roster turnover this offseason, losing four key starters at four different positions to retirement. Despite this, they managed to draft Tewaaraton winner and Maryland’s all-time leading scorer Logan Wisnauskas. Their defense, which experienced multiple key injuries, is now fully healthy and features the third overall pick of the 2021 PLL College Draft, JT Giles Harris.
On the flip side, the Archers stayed mostly intact, but will be missing star attacker and 2021 MVP candidate Grant Ament due to injury and former MVP candidate Connor Fields due to his participation in the NLL Finals. They’ll also be without starting defenseman Warren Jeffrey because of his presence in the NLL Finals, but his absence shouldn’t completely hinder a defense that ranked first in the league last year and only allowed 10.6 goals per game.
Interestingly, neither team has a real edge at faceoff either. Chrome will start Connor Farrell, who finished with a subpar 48% last season, while the Archers are rolling out rookie Justin Inacio. While 2.5-point underdogs have been very profitable, going 6-2 against the spread last season, according to the Bet On Lacrosse Report, there is just too much uncertainty surrounding this Chrome team for me to back them on the spread. Instead, I’m expecting a heavy defensive battle between the two teams and a slower tempo on the offensive end as the Chrome’s new offensive pieces attempt to gel and the Archers offense operates without one of its initiators, Grant Ament.
I’m betting the under and doing so at Caesars Sportsbook where you can still get a total of 24.
Additionally, I’m targeting another under in this game in the form of Jackson Morrill’s player prop on DraftKings. Morrill had an excellent rookie season filling in for the injured Jordan Wolf on attack and recorded an average of 2.44 points per game. However, this offseason the Chrome drafted the aforementioned Wisnauskas and Brendan Nichtern, who is another X attackman and started on attack in place of Morrill during the Chrome’s training camp scrimmage.
All signs point to Morrill running out of the midfield and playing a different role in the offense, but that hasn’t been reflected in his points prop. His prop is heavily juiced at -170, sucking a lot of value out of this prop. However, given his expected reduced playing time and different role, it’s worth it to lay the juice and bet under 2.5 points.
Pick: Under 24, Jackson Morrill Under 2.5 Points
