PLL Week 5 continues on Saturday with matchups between the Chrome and Cannons and the Atlas and Chaos.
Let’s take a look at my best bets for the Saturday slate.
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Cannons LC (-1.5) vs. Chrome LC
| Chrome Odds | -110 |
| Cannons Odds | -110 |
| Total | 23.5 |
| Time | Saturday · 6 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN2 |
Odds via FanDuel
The first rematch of the season occurs between the Chrome and Cannons. When they last met, the Cannons secured their first win in over a year thanks to a 14-13 victory over the black and chrome.
As a result, the Cannons enter this meeting as 1.5-point favorites, though the game is priced as a pick‘em on the moneyline. The total is 23.5 on FanDuel, despite being 24.5 at every other sportsbook.
As much as I love what we’ve seen from the Cannons — and I believe they can finish at .500 and make the playoffs — this feels like a spot to back a 1-3 Chrome team that has underperformed.
Despite the Chrome’s struggles, I don’t think it’s time to panic just yet.
They beat a talented Whipsnakes team in overtime before losing to the top-ranked Archers, high-powered Cannons and second-place Waterdogs. While turnovers have been a concern, I thought their offense generated some good looks but fell victim to some spectacular saves from Dillon Ward far too many times.
This week, they’ll be getting Jesse Bernhardt and JT Giles-Harris back on defense and they'll see the debut of Jesse King.
Rather than betting the Chrome on the moneyline, I’m looking to back them in a variety of other ways.
First, I think we’ll see their offense finally put it together. They’ll have all three of last year’s starting attackmen in the lineup — Brendan Nichtern, Dylan Molloy and Logan Wisnauskas — for the first time this season.
I also think they can still utilize Jackson Morrill via two-man game play with Nichtern behind the net and high wings with Molloy and Wisnauskas.
Rookie Sam Handley has also been playing better, and I expect Justin Anderson to rebound against one of the weaker defenses in the league.
It’d be foolish to not consider how good the Cannons' offense has been this year. Asher Nolting has led the charge as the team’s playmaker, feeding the likes of Marcus Holman, Ryan Drenner and Matt Kavanagh.
Plus, the Cannons’ dynamic midfielders — Jonathan Donville and Matt Campbell — have helped them become the best power play unit, best transition offense and third-best team from beyond the arc.
I think the Cannons will have some more success against the Chrome given their ability to spread the field. The Chrome’s defense has been solid all season, but the Cannons' ability to spread them out and find the seams helped lead them to their 14-13 victory in the last meeting.
Bet this game to feature a lot of transition offense and for the total to go over 23.5 (-115 on FanDuel).
I also recommend betting the aforementioned Wisnauskas to surpass 3.5 points (+150 on bet365). I’m very high on Wisnauskas this week given the presence of a lefty two-man game partner in King. King thrived with Chrome in 2020 and is no stranger to playing with other elite playmakers.
His presence should open Wisnauskas up to have a big day and gives the Chrome an offensive threat who doesn’t need the ball in his stick to make an impact. Wisnauskas recorded five points in his last meeting with the Cannons and has had four or more points in six of his 14 games, making his true odds to go over closer to +133.
Anderson is another player I think will have a multi-point game. Anderson has been hit or miss this season, but had two points against the Cannons in Week 3 and has recorded two points or more in nine of his last 15 games, making his true odds closer to -150.
You can bet him to go over this number at -120 on DraftKings. Bet Anderson to put up at least two points.
Picks: Over 23.5 | Justin Anderson Over 1.5 Points | Logan Wisnauskas Over 3.5 Points
Atlas LC (-1.5) vs. Chaos LC
| Atlas Odds | -115 |
| Chaos Odds | -110 |
| Total | 24.5 |
| Time | Saturday · 8:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN+ |
Odds via BetRivers
The 1-3 Atlas take on the 2-2 Chaos to wrap up the weekend, with the Atlas entering yet another game as a favorite despite their record.
The total is set at 23.5 at most sportsbooks, but a few are offering 24.5.
No team has underperformed more than the Atlas, and their defense is allowing a league-worst 15.5 goals per game. That’s not what you want to see from a team that drafted two defenders with two of the top three picks.
Building chemistry on defense takes time, though, and the Atlas have had to face four of the top five settled offenses. They're allowing a league-high 1.25 two-point goals per game, too.
Jack Concannon hasn't played well, and the defense has had far too many communication breakdowns.
Gavin Adler has been the lone bright spot, holding his matchups to just 4-for-17 shooting (23.5%) despite drawing the opposing team’s best player each week.
Luckily, this week they’ll face a Chaos offense that's only converting on 24% of their settled possessions, which is the worst in the PLL through four games.
The Chaos have also attempted the second-fewest two-pointers and rank last in overall offensive efficiency. This number is slightly skewed due to their first game — they were lacking a handful of offensive starters — but apart from Josh Byrne, this Chaos offense has relied heavily on their defense
The Chaos have only allowed an average of 11 goals per game and have allowed even fewer when Blaze Riorden is in net (10.3 goals per game). They’re the fourth-most efficient defense in the league and matchup well with an Atlas team that has more feeders and finishers than dodgers.
I like both defenses to be at the top of their games, and I see this total staying under 24.5 (-121 on BetRivers).
I also expect Adler to cover Byrne on Saturday night, and I like him to stay under his points prop of 4.5 (-150 on DraftKings). Byrne has been one of the most consistent players in the league, but he shockingly has had very few games with five or more points recently.
In his last 13 games, he’s only had more than five points in two of them.
If Adler can keep Byrne in check like he has against other teams’ best players, we should expect a low-scoring day for Byrne.
Picks: Under 24.5 | Josh Byrne Under 4.5 Points
PLL Week 5 PrizePicks Entry
Using two player props I mentioned above, we’re also going to build a PrizePicks PowerPlay entry.
I like combining Anderson Over 1.5 Points with Byrne Under 4 Points.
Using their player prop odds on major sportsbooks as a reference, a parlay of these two picks would be +206, which lines up with the +200 odds that PrizePicks essentially offers when betting a two-pick PowerPlay.
Trust Anderson to record at least two points and for the Atlas' defense to prevent Byrne from putting up more than three or four goals.
