The New York Atlas face the California Redwoods in the first Sunday Premier Lacrosse League game of the weekend. Following a 3-0 start, New York is a 2.5-point favorite and the total is as high as 26.5 at most sportsbooks. Let’s take a look at my three best bets for Sunday afternoon.
New York Atlas vs. California Redwoods
| New York (-2.5) Odds | Moneyline: -250 |
| California (+2.5) Odds | Moneyline: +198 |
| Total | 26.5 |
| Time | Sunday · 12:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | ABC |
Odds via FanDuel
The Atlas are the only undefeated team left in the PLL even with no team playing more than three games. They’ll take on a Redwoods team that has only one game under their belt. Historically, 2.5-point favorites have not fared well in the league, but I’m not convinced California has the roster to hang with New York.
California is still without last year’s second overall pick, defender Owen Grant, and while the defense only held Carolina to 12 goals last weekend, I was not too impressed with that performance against a Chaos offense that has struggled with unforced turnovers and still finished shooting 36.4%. While California's young defense certainly has potential, I want to fade them against New York's high-powered offense.
California struggled to defend off-ball last weekend and was targeted from the left wing in particular. Unfortunately for them, this week they face lefty Jeff Teat and a unit that has picked defenses apart with their ball movement through three games. While New York’s defense does have some cracks that have been overshadowed by how well its offense has played, I don’t expect California to be able to test it enough to keep up with New York’s scoring output. The time to fade an overvalued Atlas is coming… but it isn’t this weekend.
I trust New York's offense to carry this team to another win and expect them to do so by margin. Bet Atlas -2.5 at +100 on FanDuel.
I’m also targeting two player props in this game, with the first being former Atlas attackman Chris Gray. Gray will make his Redwoods debut after being traded to California in the offseason. While the revenge game narratives are always fun, this is a good spot to bet Gray to underperform against his former team.
Gray was listed as a midfielder on the gameday roster and while I still expect we’ll see him get some runs at attack or and chances to invert, I don’t think he’ll enjoy the same opportunities that he had when he was a member of the Atlas —at least not today.
Fellow righty Wes Berg is far too valuable on attack to run out of the box and the result could be fewer touches for Gray. Even considering Gray’s output last season, he stayed under his current points prop of 3.5 in seven of 11 games last year. Bet Gray to stay under 3.5 points against New York at +120 on DraftKings.
The other prop I’m betting on is Rob Pannell’s points prop of 4.5.
Much like our fades of Tom Schreiber and Josh Byrne yesterday, we’re betting RP3 to stay under a line that is a point too high. Pannell is still the main driver of this offense, but New York will prioritize limiting his impact and I expect Atlas defender Gavin Adler to be up to the challenge. Pannell has stayed under 4.5 points in 11 of his last 13 games and I expect him to do so again on Sunday. Bet Pannell to go under 4.5 points at -130 on ESPN Bet.
