Week 16 in the National Lacrosse League starts with a matchup between the Saskatchewan Rush and Halifax Thunderbirds and I have a bet for the weekend opener. Let’s dive into my pick for the game.
Note: The odds presented below are those at the time when Hutton sends his picks out to DubClub subscribers and are subject to change. Subscribe to Hutton Jackson’s lacrosse picks on DubClub so you never miss out on the best odds for these picks. As soon as Hutton places a bet, you’ll immediately get a notification with both the pick and brief analysis. Picks are sent out at least 20 minutes in advance of articles published on Bet On Lacrosse.
Saskatchewan Rush at Halifax Thunderbirds
 Saskatchewan Moneyline/Spread | -142 / -1.5 |
 Halifax Moneyline/Spread | +116 / +1.5 |
| Total | 23.5 |
| Time | Friday · 6 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN+/TSN+ |
Odds via FanDuel
When these teams last faced, the Rush needed a fourth-quarter comeback and overtime winner to secure a win over Halifax. The Thunderbirds played well, but I think the Rush are a much better team at this point in the season.
Halifax’s five-game win streak came to an end last week at the hands of a Toronto team that had just traded away key defensive players. The Thunderbirds streak was mostly smoke and mirrors, considering all their wins came against teams that are currently below .500. Halifax has also been scoring transition goals at an absurd rate, but this kind of offensive success is unsustainable. The Thunderbirds have score a a league-high 41 transition goals, with the next closest teams having only 31 according to Ty Merrow’s advanced stats.
Saskatchewan is average at defending transition, but I expect them to prioritize preventing those odd-man chances. Halifax’s Warren Hill has played better as of late, but he’ll have his work cut out for him against an offense that is equally as efficient as theirs. The real edge for the Rush lies in their defense, which ranks first in defensive efficiency, allowing only 9.677 goals per 85 possessions. I expect the Rush to put the clamp on this Thunderbirds offense and come away with a multi-goal victory.
Trust Saskatchewan to play a complete game this time around and bet Rush -1.5 at +110 on FanDuel.
Pick: Saskatchewan Rush -1.5
Subscribe to Hutton Jackson’s lacrosse picks on DubClub so you never miss out on the best odds for these picks. As soon as Hutton places a bet, you’ll immediately get a notification with both the pick and brief analysis!
