We’ve made it to the final week of the Premier Lacrosse League regular season! The teams will head out to Herriman, Utah, and Zions Bank Stadium for the Utah Archers homecoming week. The Maryland Whipsnakes have already completed their season, and they’ll be the team with the Week 11 bye. Let’s dive in and take a look at my PLL picks, best bets, and playoff scenarios for Week 11.
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PLL: Premier Lacrosse League Picks, Best Bets and Playoff Scenarios for Week 11
Four teams have officially clinched their playoff berth in the PLL. New York, Maryland, Boston, and Denver are all guaranteed their spots in the postseason. The New York Atlas has all but clinched the Eastern Conference win along with its bye week. New York would have to lose, and Boston would have to win and close the scoring differential by 19 points to take the top spot, while not impossible, highly unlikely.
Philadelphia is the only team eliminated from contention, and the Western Conference remains wide open. California has a long road to get in, they’d need to beat Utah Friday night and have Utah lose again on Saturday and erase the -35 point scoring differential between the two teams. Or win, have Carolina lose, and change the scoring differential by -22.
If Utah can win one of their two games, they are in the playoffs, as simply as that. If they lose twice, they will still hold a large scoring differential over California and -15 over Carolina. Carolina is also in a win and gets in the spot. If California loses, they are also in. Even if they lose and California wins, it’s back to that 22-point margin they currently hold.
The Outlaws of Denver are in no matter what, but they are still chasing that bye week and the Western Conference title. If Utah wins on Friday night, then both Denver and Utah will be 5-4 heading into their game on Saturday. Creating a winner-takes-all Western Conference Championship game essentially.
California Redwoods (+2.5) Vs Utah Archers (-2.5)
These two teams played in Week 7, and it wasn’t much of a match. Utah destroyed California, dropping them 15-7. Utah was led in scoring by 2x all-star Matt Moore (6), who has since gone on IR. Tom Schreiber also had a prolific day, scoring for the Archers with five points of his own.
Both of these teams have a lot to play for, but Utah’s stakes are higher. I’d expect them to show up at home and put a good working over on the Redwoods, chopping them down and eliminating them from playoff contention, setting up a Western Conference Final on Saturday night.
Pick: Archers -2.5 (-120)
Boston Cannons (-1.5) Vs Carolina Chaos (+1.5)
Assuming the Archers win the first game of the day, that won’t leave a lot on the line in this game for the Carolina Chaos. Their playoff ticket will be punched, and they don’t have a shot at winning the Western Conference.
Boston’s shot at the Eastern title isn’t much, but it’ll still be in the air at the time of this game, and the key is the more points they can put between themselves and the Chaos, the better their chances are. Expect Boston to go after it hard and fast.
Pick: Cannons -1.5 (-135)
New York Atlas (-2.5) Vs Philadelphia Waterdogs (+2.5)
This is another interesting game with potentially nothing on the line. If Boston loses it’s all locked up for New York, and Philadelphia is eliminated and has already dismantled their team.
When these two teams played in Week 8 it was a close one with New York winning by just a point 12-11. Either way, this one sets up, it just seems like New York could crush the Waterdogs in their sleep at this point, and the Waterdogs are just ready for the season to be over so I’ll be taking the Atlas to claim the three-point win.
Pick: Atlas -2.5 (-115)
Denver Outlaws (+1.5) Vs Utah Archers (-1.5)
It could all come down to this one, with a winner taking the Western Conference title and that first week of the playoffs bye. For our sake, let’s hope that’s the case because it should be a good one if so.
When these teams played in Week 2, it was the Brennan O’Neill coming out party where he showed up on the scene with nine points, leading the Archers to a one-point overtime win.
I’m a little baffled at Denver being a 1.5 underdog in this game. If Utah loses Friday, they’ll have a lot more to play for than Denver, but either way, the Outlaws should make this a game. I’ll be taking them with the points but also on the money line (+105) for the outright win.
Pick: Outlaws +1.5 (-135)
