We get five National Lacrosse League games before the new year and I have picks for three of them. Let’s take a look at my three best bets for NLL Week 5.
Note: The odds presented below are those at the time when Hutton sends his picks out on the Action App and are subject to change.
Philadelphia Wings at Ottawa Black Bears
 Ottawa Moneyline/Spread | -130 / -1.5 |
 Philadelphia Moneyline/Spread | +100 / +1.5 |
| Total | 21.5 |
| Time | Saturday · 7 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN+ |
Odds via Caesars
The Philadelphia Wings travel to Ottawa to face the Black Bears and, despite their 1-2 record, I think Ottawa is a much better team.
Ottawa beat a strong Saskatchewan team and narrowly lost to solid San Diego and Las Vegas squads. Philadelphia got a nice win over Colorado, but was outmatched by Rochester last week. I trust Ottawa netminder Zach Higgins and this Black Bears defense to give this Wings offense more trouble.
This is a great spot to bet a favorite to win by multiple goals. Last year, Ottawa beat Philly 13-5 and while Nick Damude has played better this season, the Wings roster as a whole is much weaker. The odds have already moved from +125, but I still like Ottawa Black Bears -1.5 at +115 on Caesars.
Pick: Ottawa Black Bears -1.5
Las Vegas Desert Dogs at Toronto Rock
 Las Vegas Moneyline/Spread | +150 / +1.5 |
 Toronto Moneyline/Spread | -185 / -1.5 |
| Total | 22.5 |
| Time | Saturday · 7 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN+ |
Odds via BetMGM
Both Las Vegas and Toronto entered the season with elevated expectations and both have mostly looked the part in the small sample size we have. I’d make the Rock a slight favorite in this one, but I was surprised with the disparity between sportsbooks with how much Toronto is favored in this matchup.
The Desert Dogs offense has plenty of weapons now with Chase Fraser, Chris Cloutier and Mitch Jones on the roster and Jonathan Donville has played really well so far too. Toronto’s defense played well against Oshawa and Calgary, but I’d put Las Vegas in a tier above those offenses and Toronto’s offense didn’t fully capitalize on either of those defensive performances.
Toronto’s offense also has many weapons, but has still been too reliant on individual effort and transition scoring chances for me to expect them to handily outscore Las Vegas. I don’t fully trust Desert Dogs goalie Landon Kells, but the Las Vegas defense played well against an equally talented Ottawa unit and should do enough to keep this game close throughout.
Toronto is too big a favorite in this one, so I’m ready to bet a big underdog that could win outright. I recommend betting a half unit on Las Vegas Desert Dogs +1.5 at +105 and a half unit on Las Vegas Desert Dogs moneyline at +150 on BetMGM. I’d still play it at +140 on BetRivers, DraftKings or FanDuel as well.
Picks: Las Vegas Desert Dogs +1.5 (0.5 unit), Las Vegas Desert Dogs ML (0.5 unit)
Georgia Swarm at Colorado Mammoth
 Georgia Moneyline/Spread | -110 / +1.5 |
 Colorado Moneyline/Spread | -110 / -1.5 |
| Total | 21.5 |
| Time | Saturday · 9 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPNU |
Odds via FanDuel
Georgia and Colorado meet for their first of two meetings in the next three weeks. These teams are fairly evenly matched, so I’m targeting the total of 21.5 in this game.
Goaltenders Brett Dobson and Dillon Ward are third and sixth in highest save percentage and fourth and second in goals against average among starters so far this season, and the defenses in front ot both of them deserve credit as well. Colorado held a talented Vancouver offense to just seven goals and Philadelphia to just eight in their second game. Dillon Ward has been in peak form lately, and I think he’ll have success against a Swarm offense that has struggled to generate quality chances consistently. Georgia’s defense has been just as impressive. After allowing 14 goals to the defending champions, Brett Dobson and the Swarm have allowed just 11 total goals through two games (excluding empty-net goals).
Furthermore, Andrew Kew is listed as doubtful, and his absence has already affected both teams this year. Georgia has sorely missed the former Swarm forward on offense this season and his new team in Colorado struggled against Philly with him out of the lineup. Georgia’s defense has been aggressive on the perimeter and the lack of Andrew Kew (as well as former Mammoth forwards Zed Williams, Connor Robinson and Connor Kelly) makes Colorado overreliant on Ryan Lee and Will Malcolm.
I expect another low-scoring game featuring these teams and recommend betting Under 21.5 at -110 on FanDuel or TheScore Bet.
Pick: Under 21.5
2025-26 NLL Season Best Bets: 7-7 for -0.1 unit
All bets are to win 1 unit or more (i.e. 1.2 units at -120, 1 unit at +120) unless otherwise specified.
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