The 2025 Premier Lacrosse League playoffs are finally here, and I have some best bets for both of the quarterfinal games. We went 12-5 for +5.74 units to end the PLL regular season, bringing our 2025 record to 94-78 for +23.165 units. Let’s continue our run and dive into which teams I expect to advance and some player props I’m betting on Saturday.
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.
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Philadelphia Waterdogs vs. Maryland Whipsnakes
 Philadelphia Moneyline/Spread | -120 / -1.5 |
 Maryland Moneyline/Spread | -110 / +1.5 |
| Total | 24.5 |
| Time | Saturday · 6 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN+ |
Odds via DraftKings
The Philadelphia Waterdogs and Maryland Whipsnakes meet for the third time this year and the fourth time in postseason history. Both teams have had their up and downs and are fairly even on paper, but I personally think the Whipsnakes have the edge in a few areas.
While Jim Stagnitta and Bill Tierney have had incredible coaching careers, the latter’s has come in college and I don’t think he’s fully adapted to the pro game. Tierney is expected to start Matt DeLuca in net on Saturday night, but his handling of the goaltending situation all season. Both DeLuca and Dillon Ward are starting-caliber goalies, but neither has had more than three straight starts, and the flip-flopping between starters has had adverse effects on this defense, in my opinion. Based on this season, I believe DeLuca should get the start, but it’s hard to know what version of him we’ll get on Saturday.
Additionally, the decision not to activate Jake Taylor for the quarterfinal game is a mistake. I don’t necessarily think CJ Kirst should move back to midfield, but Taylor’s presence (whether as an attackman or out of the box) could provide an added wrinkle that the Whipsnakes need to account for, and Tierney is doing Maryland a favor by playing a guy like Mikie Schlosser instead of Taylor. Schlosser is a solid dodging threat, but Philly already has those in Connor Kelly and Jack Hannah.
Furthermore, no defense has been playing better down the stretch than the Whipsnakes and they have the pieces to put the clamps on a talented Waterdogs offense. MVP finalist Michael Sowers will make his presence felt in some way, but I don’t know if it will be enough to win against a Whipsnakes team that could play spoiler again this postseason. As for the other end, Maryland has so many versatile offensive pieces that they can throw a lot of different looks at this Philly defense.
I’m backing Stagnitta and the Whips to win and recommend betting a unit on Maryland Whipsnakes moneyline at -110 on most sportsbooks and a unit on Maryland Whipsnakes -1.5 at +138 on FanDuel.
As for Sowers specifically, I think we’ll see him operate more as a feeder like he did in these teams’ first meeting. Philly is at its best when Sowers is quarterbacking the offense and despite four goals in their last matchup, the Waterdogs’ offense failed to utilize his strengths as a passer. Ajax Zappitello has also done a solid job at defending Sowers despite the stat sheet suggesting otherwise. I expect Zappitello to limit Sowers’ scoring chances and recommend betting Michael Sowers Under 4.5 Shots On Goal at +105 on DraftKings.
As for the Whipsnakes offense, I’m banking on another strong performance from veteran Rob Pannell. RP3 didn’t play in the last game against Philadelphia, but he had a four-point outing against Boston to end the season and has taken advantage of his matchups with more attention being paid to TJ Malone. I expect him to have success against this Philly defense and recommend betting Rob Pannell Over 2.5 Points at +120 on bet365.
As for first quarter goal scorer props, I like a 0.4 unit on Matt Brandau 1st Quarter Goal Scorer at +150 and 0.2 unit on Adam Poitras 1st Quarter Goal Scorer at +370 on FanDuel. Brandau has been a threat all over the field and recorded five points in these teams’ last meeting. I like his odds to score in the opening frame. As for Poitras, he had a goal on four shots in the first game against Philadelphia and two shots on goal in the last. Pannell assisted his first goal against Philly and I think his odds are too long for a player who is always a threat to score off the faceoff wing.
Picks: Maryland Whipsnakes -1.5, Maryland Whipsnakes ML, Michael Sowers Under 4.5 SOG, Rob Pannell Over 2.5 Points, Matt Brandau 1st Quarter Goal Scorer (0.4 unit), Adam Poitras 1st Quarter Goal Scorer (0.2 unit)
Carolina Chaos vs. California Redwoods
 Carolina Moneyline/Spread | +100 / +1.5 |
 California Moneyline/Spread | -122 / -1.5 |
| Total | 23.5 |
| Time | Saturday · 8:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN+ |
Odds via FanDuel
California and Carolina face off in the quarterfinals and while the line isn’t too lopsided, I think Chaos, not Redwoods, should be favored. These teams split their regular-season matchups, but I think Carolina actually matches up well with California, and a handful of Redwoods goals in both games came on fluke plays. This Carolina defense continues to play well, and no goaltender this last decade has a stronger body of work in the playoffs than Blaze Riorden. Trust Carolina to advance and bet two units on Carolina Chaos moneyline at +100 on FanDuel.
Speaking of Riorden, I also like him to go over his saves prop of 14.5. Riorden has gone over this mark in six of 10 games this season and eight of 14 PLL elimination games during his career. He went over this mark in both Redwoods games and California also takes the second-most shots per game this season. Even though the vig has moved from -102 to -114, I still recommend betting Blaze Riorden Over 14.5 Saves at -114 on FanDuel.
Continuing with Carolina, I’m also betting Shane Knobloch Over 3.5 Shots On Goal at +105 on DraftKings. Since returning from injury, Knobloch has gone over this mark in back-to-back games and surpassed this in three of four games this year. California’s defensive midfield unit is one of the weakest in the league, and I expect Knobloch to get plenty of chances to put shots on net.
I’m also betting 0.5 unit on Adam Charalambides 1st Quarter Goal Scorer at +190 on FanDuel. The Carolina attackman has scored in all but one game this season and has five total goals against this Redwoods defense. His odds are too long considering his role on this offense and I like backing him to score in the opening period.
Finally, I’m fading Redwoods attackman Ryder Garnsey. Garnsey had four points against Carolina in their first meeting, but two of them were scored on broken plays where Garnsey happened to be in a great position to scoop the loose ball and score. When looking at a larger sample size of his games against Carolina, his struggles are more apparent. Jarrod Neumann has held Garnsey to just 1-for-16 (6.3%) shooting since 2023 and I don’t expect Neumann’s success guarding Garnsey to magically change on Saturday. Bet Ryder Garnsey Under 2.5 Points at -138 on FanDuel.
Picks: Carolina Chaos ML (2 units), Blaze Riorden Over 14.5 Saves, Ryder Garnsey Under 2.5 Points at -138, Shane Knobloch Over 3.5 SOG, Adam Charalambides 1st Quarter Goal Scorer (0.5 unit)
Bonus Bet for PLL Championship
I’m expecting both top seeds from each conference to meet in the championship this season, but the odds to bet the Denver Outlaws and New York Atlas in most markets are far too short, even considering their first-round byes. I already discussed why I like Maryland and Carolina’s chances of winning their quarterfinal matchup and both have given their respective conference rival trouble this season and last year. I think there’s better than a 5% chance that we get a championship featuring Whipsnakes and Chaos yet again. Bet a little on Carolina Chaos vs. Maryland Whipsnakes to be the championship finalists at +1700 on FanDuel.
2025 PLL Season Best Bets: 94-78 for +23.165 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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