Week 19 in the National Lacrosse League features five games and I have best bets for three of those matchups. Let’s take a look at the three underdogs I’m betting this weekend.
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.
Las Vegas Desert Dogs at Colorado Mammoth
 Las Vegas Moneyline/Spread | +160 / +1.5 |
 Colorado Moneyline/Spread | -210 / -1.5 |
| Total | 24.5 |
| Time | Friday · 9 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN+ |
Odds via DraftKings
The Las Vegas Desert Dogs and Colorado Mammoth meet for the second time this season. In the first meeting, the Desert Dogs held a 7-5 lead after one half of play and battled back and forth with the Mammoth early in the second half. Las Vegas tied the game at 9-9 early in the fourth quarter before a missed shot clock violation gave Colorado an unsettled possession and a quick goal. Las Vegas unraveled after that point, with Colorado scoring three more unanswered goals. Yet, Las Vegas rallied back and pulled within a goal with just under three minutes to go and nearly tied it with a minute left, before ultimately falling 13-12.
The Desert Dogs have the ability to win this rematch and the +160 odds they’re getting are disrespectful, even if I think Colorado is a slightly better team. Las Vegas has also won three straight and while the Knighthawks twice and Roughnecks don’t exactly make up a “murderer’s row” of opponents, they’ve been playing really well down the stretch. Since that last game, veteran Kevin Crowley has joined the right side and helped lessen the loss of Chase Fraser. Alex Buque has also started in net in their past three games and it’s not a coincidence that those have all been wins.
Meanwhile, the Mammoth have come back to earth a bit, going 3-3 since beating the Desert Dogs and have an even goal differential during that span. I don’t think they’ll be able to run away with this game against a Las Vegas team that has played in a ton of close games and doesn’t quit late in games.
I love the odds to bet Las Vegas to give Colorado another close game and recommend betting a unit on Las Vegas Desert Dogs +1.5 at +114 on DraftKings and a half unit on Las Vegas Desert Dogs moneyline at +160 on BetRivers or DraftKings.
Picks: Las Vegas Desert Dogs +1.5, Las Vegas Desert Dogs ML
Rochester Knighthawks at Halifax Thunderbirds
 Rochester Moneyline/Spread | +115 / +1.5 |
 Halifax Moneyline/Spread | -140 / -1.5 |
| Total | 24.5 |
| Time | Saturday · 6 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN+ |
Odds via BetMGM
We go from a game with a disrespected underdog to a game where the wrong team is the underdog in my opinion. Rochester stopped the bleeding a bit last week, securing their first win under new head coach Randy Mearns. I don’t have a ton of confidence in the Knighthawks, even if they make the postseason, due to their defense. Yet, for this game, they match up well with Halfiax.
The Thunderbirds offense has the fourth-lowest goals per game average and is the second-least efficient offense just barely behind the leaugue’s worst Philadelphia Wings. I don’t think this Randy Staats-less Halifax offense can keep up with Rochester, even considering how bad the Knighthawks’ defense has been playing.
Rochester also took advantage of plenty of transition opportunities against Oshawa last week, generating plenty of quality scoring chances and chasing in on many of them. Halfiax has been atrocious at defending transition for some time now and will likely have a tough time defending the Knighthawks’ fast break on Saturday.
Expect the underdog to win outright and bet the Rochester Knighthawks moneyline at +115 on BetRivers, BetMGM or TheScore Bet.
Pick: Rochester Knighthawks ML
Vancouver Warriors at Buffalo Bandits
 Vancouver Moneyline/Spread | +104 / +1.5 |
 Buffalo Moneyline/Spread | -136 / -1.5 |
| Total | 20.5 |
| Time | Saturday · 7 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN+ |
Odds via BetRivers
The rematch between the Buffalo Bandits and Vancouver Warriors is another situation of the wrong team being favored in my opinion. I assume the sportsbooks are giving Buffalo a slight edge due to home floor advantage, but we saw Vancouver beat the Bandits in Buffalo just last season and there are plenty of Warriors used to winning on the road in Banditland. I love that we’re getting Vancouver as an underdog and they’re even plus money at BetRivers.
This last game between these teams was close, but I was more impressed with Vancouver, even considering that they didn’t run away with the game. The Warriors did a great job of getting their shooters on an island with Buffalo’s defenders and were surgical on offense. Vancouver’s defense also forced Buffalo into a high amount of low-percentage shots that made it easy for goalie Christian Del Bianco to track and save. Buffalo was also the beneficiary of a couple of rebound goals, which CDB doesn’t usually give up.
Buffalo’s offense has looked better since adding Joe Resetarits, but Vancouver has been extremely efficient on defense and ranks second in fewest goals allowed per game. While it’s just a minor factor in this matchup, it’s still important to note that Bandits faceoff specialist Connor Farrell is listed as questionable and was a scratch in the last game. He posted his third-highest win percentage against Vancouver’s Max Adler in this last meeting, despite the Bandits losing. Since that point, Adler hasn’t faced off worse than 53.6% and has been getting better at securing the Warriors extra possessions. If Adler doesn’t have to face Farrell or is at least able to make it more 50-50, that’s another slight edge in favor of Vancouver.
Trust the better team to come away with a win and bet Vancouver Warriors moneyline at +104 on BetRivers.
Pick: Vancouver Warriors ML
2025-26 NLL Season Best Bets: 55-45 for +14.1 units (+14.02% ROI)
All bets are to win 1 unit or more (i.e. 1.2 units at -120, 1 unit at +120) unless otherwise specified.
