The National Lacrosse League season continues with just a pair of games for Week 2. We get another look at the now 1-0 Oshawa FireWolves, while the Halifax Thunderbirds, Saskatchewan Rush and Calgary Roughnecks all make their season debuts. Last week, we went 3-1 for +2.15 units. Let’s take a look at my best bets for both games and see if we can continue our strong start.
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.
Oshawa FireWolves at Halifax Thunderbirds
 Oshawa Moneyline/Spread | +114 / +1.5 |
 Halifax Moneyline/Spread | -145 / -1.5 |
| Total | 22.5 |
| Time | Friday · 6 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN+ |
Odds via DraftKings
Last weekend, we cashed a +130 moneyline bet on the Oshawa FireWolves and we’re looking to bet them as underdogs again this week. Oshawa faces a Halifax team that is largely the same as last year, with he key additions being Brendan Bomberry and Ethan O’Connor. I thought Halifax overachieved last year despite some glaring issues at goaltending and transition defense. That said, I actually think they have the chance to have similar success in the win column this year, despite not addressing the goalie position. Halifax didn’t get better, but they didn’t get worse either.
That said, I think the wrong team is favored this week. Despite defeating the FireWolves 13-9 last year, the Thunderbirds didn’t look great early on in that game. The FireWolves led 9-3 before Halifax ended the game with a 10-goal run starting in the middle of the third quarter. Drew Hutchinson came in relief of starter Warren Hill and blanked the FireWolves for nearly 21 minutes. While Halifax’s offense deserves a lot of credit, I don’t think we’ll see a similar scenario play out this year, and the Thunderbirds will also be missing defender Trevor Smyth.
Oshawa has the benefit of already having a game under its belt and looked solid defensively against Toronto last week. The Oshawa offense looked out of rhythm for most of the game, but I think their playmakers will play much less rusty in their second game of the year, especially as a newcomer like Taggart Clark gets more comfortable in this offense. Bet the Oshawa FireWolves on the moneyline at +114 on DraftKings.
Pick: Oshawa FireWolves ML
Calgary Roughnecks at Saskatchewan Rush
 Calgary Moneyline/Spread | +165 / +1.5 |
 Saskatchewan Moneyline/Spread | -200 / -1.5 |
| Total | 21.5 |
| Time | Saturday · 8 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN+ |
Odds via BetMGM
The second game of the weekend features the Calgary Roughnecks and Saskatchewan Rush. The Roughnecks surprised a lot of people last season, but I credit coaching, veteran leadership and the trade deadline moves they made for their moderately successful season. However, they lost three key veterans in Dane Dobbie (retirement), Curtis Dickson and Jesse King (free agency). Nick Rose also proved to be a rental, heading back to Toronto this offseason, and while Aden Walsh will be an upgrade from previous starter Cam MacLeod, I’m curious to see how he does in front of a weaker defense and don’t trust the offense to do its part even if the defense looks strong this year.
Meanwhile, Saskatchewan is fresh off an NLL Finals run and, with the exception of Mike Triolo, returns the majority of its roster. While Calgary won their preseason matchup by a goal, I expect Saskatchewan to come out stronger and win by multiple goals when the stakes are real. Bet Saskatchewan Rush -1.5 at -135 on BetMGM or DraftKings.
Pick: Saskatchewan Rush -1.5
Week 3 lookahead & NLL Championship Futures to bet
 Colorado Moneyline/Spread | -132 / -1.5 |
 Philadelphia Moneyline/Spread | +108 / +1.5 |
| Total | 22.5 |
| Time | Saturday (December 13) · 1 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN+ |
Odds via FanDuel
With only two games on the slate this week, some sportsbooks already have odds for some Week 3 matchups. One of those games features the 1-0 Colorado Mammoth facing the Philadelphia Wings.
The Wings ended the season losing nine of their last 11 games, and unfortunately for Philly fans, I don’t expect it to get much better this year. Brennan O’Neill is poised for another strong showing, but the loss of Mitch Jones could make things a bit more difficult for him in his second NLL season. While Philly managed to re-sign Chris Corbeil, they lost Mitch De Snoo, Tony Malcolm and Shane Simpson this offseason. Without top draft picks to make an immediate impact, I fear this will be a year with a lot of growing pains.
As for Colorado, they surprised me with a strong win over Vancouver in Week 1. I think I was way too low on Colorado to start the season and while I’m not ready to declare them contenders, they looked like a playoff team last weekend. Ryan Lee was back to his acrobatic self, and the addition of Andrew Kew balanced the floor nicely and allowed Will Malcolm to draw favorable matchups. The most encouraging sign was Dillon Ward seemingly capturing his 2022 NLL Finals MVP form and holding a talented Warriors offense to just seven goals. I think Philly will have their hands full against Colorado and recommend betting Mammoth -1.5 at +118 on FanDuel.
I also don’t think it’s an overreaction to place a small bet on their championship odds at +1800 on BetMGM or DraftKings. We don’t know when Eli McLaughlin will return, but the idea that this offense isn’t even at its full strength means Colorado could look even better as the season progresses. Furthermore, my takeaway from the game was that I undervalued Colorado, not overvalued Vancouver. I still think the Warriors will end up being one of the best teams in the league and for that reason, i also recommend betting them to win the championship at +1200 on DraftKings. This is a great buy-low spot on what I consider a top 3 team still.
Picks: Colorado Mammoth -1.5 (vs. PHI), Colorado Mammoth to win NLL Championship, Vancouver Warriors to win NLL Championship
2025-26 NLL Season Best Bets: 3-1 for +2.15 units
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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