2023 Premier Lacrosse League Quarterfinals Betting Odds & PLL Picks: Waterdogs vs. Whipsnakes Best Bets

The second Premier Lacrosse League Quarterfinals matchup features the Waterdogs and Whipsnakes and is expected to be the most competitive of the opening round playoff matchups.

This is the third straight PLL postseason to feature a matchup between these two teams, and each of the last two featured the underdog winning outright. Let’s take a look at the best bets to make in this rivalry game.

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.

Waterdogs LC (-1.5) vs. Whipsnakes LC

Odds as of Saturday via FanDuel

The Waterdogs enter as 1.5-point favorites this time around, and the total is as high as 25.5 at some sportsbooks. Both teams had their share of injuries when they last faced, with both Whipsnakes starting goalie Kyle Bernlohr and starting attackman Matt Rambo leaving the game early due to injury. Other notable names that missed the earlier matchup are Michael Ehrhardt, Matt Dunn and Chris Sabia — all key defenders with their respective teams.

With both teams presumably at full force for this matchup, I expect another tight defensive battle between the two teams. Prior to this year’s 16-13 win by the Waterdogs, every game between these two teams since 2021 has had 24 goals or fewer. Both defensive units (goalie and starting defensemen) have largely stayed the same for the past three seasons, and I anticipate we’ll see another low-scoring affair especially with Bernlohr, Dunn, Ehrhardt and Sabia back in the lineup. Bet this game to stay under 25.5 total goals at -120 on FanDuel.

While I expect the total to stay under 25.5, I do recommend betting the over on three player props. Another notable absence from the Whipsnakes lineup in Week 5 was midfielder Brad Smith. Smith has game-breaking ability, and in the five games he’s suited up this season, he’s had three or more points in three of them. The Waterdogs defense will already have their hands full with Rambo, Zed Williams, Jackson Morrill and Will Manny, which will leave more opportunities for Tucker Dordevic, Mike Chanenchuk and Smith — who I think will benefit the most. Smith had three points in all three games against the Whipsnakes last season and +145 on DraftKings is a great price to bet him to do so again on Monday.

I also recommend betting Michael Sowers to surpass 1.5 goals at +114 on FanDuel. Sowers has scored two or more goals in 15 of 22 games over the past two seasons. He’s also scored at least two goals in each of the Waterdogs’ last three games against the Whips and had a hat trick in two of them, which is why I also recommend betting a 0.25 unit on him to score 3+ goals (+470 on FanDuel) as well.

Picks: Under 25.5, Brad Smith Over 2.5 Points, Michael Sowers Over 1.5 Goals (1 unit) & 3+ goals (0.25 unit) 

Read my other PLL Quarterfinals betting previews here.