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- What: Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) Quarterfinal Playoffs
- When: September 2, 2024
- Where: Boston, MA
- Watch: ESPN+ (4 p.m. ET)
The Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) is down to its premier event of the season. The PLL Playoffs are about to get underway.
It all starts on Monday, September 2, with PLL quarterfinal action on two fronts. In one game, the third-seeded Boston Cannons are playing host to the No. 6 seeded Carolina Chaos. In the second game, it’s the No. 4 Maryland Whipsnakes tangling with the No. 5 Denver Outlaws.
Winners will advance to the semifinals. Division winners the New York Atlas (Eastern) and Utah Archers (Western) both earned byes into the semifinals.
At the leading online betting sites, both of the lower-seeded squads are being given the nod as favorites in the quarterfinal matches. Boston is the -200 chalk at home against Carolina, while Maryland is being set as a -135 betting choice against Denver in a game that will also be held in Boston.
| PLL Quarterfinal Odds | The Pick |  |  |  |
| Carolina Chaos vs Boston Cannons | Cannons | -200 | -200 | -200 |
| Denver Outlaws vs Maryland Whipsnakes | Whipsnakes | -135 | -135 | -135 |
Betting tips for 2024 PLL Playoffs
The Whipsnakes are two-time PLL champions (2019, 2020) but they haven’t played in the PLL Championship game since 2021. It was the Chaos who beat them in the 2021 final and who also lost in the 2022 title game.
The Archers are the reigning playoff champions. Utah was also the best regular-season team in 2023, although this season, that honor went to the Atlas. Utah was the first regular-season champion in three years to follow up by winning the playoffs as well.
Before placing any bets on the PLL playoffs, we recommened that you check out the free bets and promotions available from the top US betting sites that are all listed on the My Top Sportsbooks web page. It would also be worth your while to take a gander at the handy how to bet guides offered there.
Cannons Will Cause Chaos Fits
These two teams met in the final game of the regular season, in which Boston would squeak out an 11-10 overtime victory over Carolina, failing to cover the spread. Should you read anything into that outcome as you prepare to wager on this quarterfinal rematch?
Probably not much. It didn’t hold any bearing in the season standings and both teams were likely holding back, not wanting to risk suffering any key injuries on the eve of the PLL postseason.
Boston is a solid offensive team. The Cannons were fourth in the PLL with 12.6 scores per game and it’s a balanced attack. Boston’s Asher Nolting was third among attack players with 39 points. Matt Campbell finished third among midfield players with 25 points.
If you thought it was loud the last time we played at home, just wait until next week! 😏
We’re back on home turf at Gillette Stadium next Monday at 4pm ET. pic.twitter.com/NoWIExV95B
— Boston Cannons (@PLLCannons) August 26, 2024
The Chaos rely on the calming presence of their team defense to keep things in control. Carolina allowed a PLL-low 11 scores against per game this season. Offensively, though, they were the PLL’s least potent club. Carolina only accounted for 100 scores in 10 regular-season games, an average of 10 per game.
Making matters worse, the air-tight defense of the Chaos is awaiting updates on the injury status of goalie Blaize Riordan and defender Jack Rowlett. If that wasn’t bad enough, Boston is the second-best defensive squad in the PLL, allowing just 11.5 scores against per game.
Game 1 Pick: Boston can match Carolina defensively, but the Chaos can’t score at the pace of the more powerful Cannons. Take Boston at -200 and maybe play the under on the total of 22.5 scores at -115.
Whipsnakes to Arrest Outlaws in PLL Quarterfinal
The Whipsnakes were a solid 16-9 victor over the Outlaws the last time these two teams squared off and it’s Maryland that the oddsmakers are also liking in this PLL quarterfinal game. Maryland fields an active offensive squad.
The Whipsnakes were No. 2 in the league with 44 shots per game. Maryland also was an effective scoring team. The club was second during the regular season in scoring offense, netting 13.5 scores per game.
Attackman T.J. Malone, the PLL rookie of the year favorite, accounted for six points during the regular-season meeting between these two teams. He’s collected four or more points in six of 10 games so far this season. Zed Williams, a finalist for the Eamon McEneaney Attackman of the Year award, has accounted for 31 points this season.
On the attack the whole season! Zed Williams is a @PremierLacrosse finalist for Attackman of the Year! 😤 pic.twitter.com/f7O5ck3gJc
— Maverik Lacrosse (@MaverikLacrosse) August 22, 2024
Denver generates plenty of shots. The Outlaws sit third behind the Whipsnakes with 43.6 shots per game. What Denver struggles to do is converting those shots into tallies. The Outlaws sit fifth in the league with 11.7 scores per game.
Even though Denver can boast of the league’s No. 3 power play, clicking at 39.1%, they probably shouldn’t be counting on getting much traction from the power play in this game. Maryland is the PLL’s top penatly-killing club. In fact, the Whipsnakes display a perfect 100% kill rate when shorthanded this season.
Denver is the PLL’s fourth-best defensive club. The Outlaws are allowing 12.1 scores against per game. However, two key defensive stalwarts – Jesse Bernhardt and Greg Weyl – are questionable for this game due to injury. They’ve also been getting inconsistent goaltending from Owen McElroy. Maryland’s shooting percentage of 28.6% is the third-best in the PLL.
Game 2 Pick: Even though they are the fourth betting pick in PLL Championship outrights at +650, there’s a buzz among league insiders who think the Whipsnakes could be a sleeper team for the title. Certainly, Maryland does have a championship pedigree in PLL history. Take the Whipsnakes at -135 all day long in this game.
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