Justin Ivey, NLL Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©
Weeks 1-9: 25-19
Week 10: 4-2
Week 11: 2-1
Week 12: 4-0
Week 13: 3-1
Week 14: 4-2
Week 15: 4-3
Week 16: 2-2
Week 17: 4-1
Week 18: 1-5
Season Total: 53-36
I had the worst week of the season with last week’s picks. It’s ok though. The weekend was full of great lacrosse, close games and highlight goals. The season is winding down. The East playoff teams are set with only a few possibilities of shifting positions. The West four seed is still up for grabs and could be determined this weekend! One game Friday and four games Saturday.
Colorado Mammoth (6-10) at San Diego Seals (9-7)
Friday, April 19 at 10:30 PM EST
Rookie of the Year candidate Austin Staats is done for the season with a torn ACL. The phenom put the league on notice this year with his excellent play. The team is full of veterans though and they still have a chance to end their surprising first season with a great playoff run. Colorado can clinch a playoff spot if they win this game, and frankly, who doesn’t feel good visiting beautiful San Diego? Colorado wants to win to join the playoffs; San Diego wants to find winning ways without Staats. Which team can come together quicker in this game? Colorado lost to Rochester in a close game last week, while San Diego relinquished the one seed in their loss to Saskatchewan. I am going with the home team.
My Pick: San Diego
Score: Colorado-10, San Diego-12
Philadelphia Wings (3-14) at Georgia Swarm (12-5)
Saturday, April 20 at 7:05 PM EST
Philadelphia lost on Saturday and Sunday last week but showed flashes of a team that has huge offensive potential. Georgia is in a race for the East one seed and a win would put them closer to achieving that goal. I really don’t see this as a contest. The Wings are 0-8 on the road. Georgia lost a one-goal game to Calgary last week and will show off that they are playoff ready.
My Pick: Georgia
Score: Philadelphia-9, Georgia-14
Vancouver Warriors (5-11) at Rochester Knighthawks (5-11)
Saturday, April 20 at 7:30 PM EST
Honestly this game could go either way. Both teams have struggled this year, and neither is riding any sort of hot streak coming into this game. Rochester is eliminated from the playoffs, while Vancouver still has a small chance…Very small. In fact, if Colorado wins Friday, that chance is already gone. They need to win out. The Warriors are only 2-6 on the road. Rochester is 3-4 at home. In their second to last game as the Knighthawks, Rochester wins a close game.
My Pick: Rochester
Score: Vancouver-11, Rochester-13
New England Black Wolves (8-8) at Buffalo Bandits (12-4)
Saturday, April 20 at 7:30 PM EST
New England is set as the fourth seed in the East while Buffalo is fighting for the one seed. This could be a possible playoff preview! The Black Wolves need the practice on the road. Currently they are 1-6 away from Mohegan Sun Arena. Buffalo is 6-2 at home. The first matchup between these two teams was in Connecticut, and the Bandits won 15-5. I am calling this as my upset this week. New England shocks the league and wins a physical road game.
My Pick: New England
Score: New England-14, Buffalo-11
Saskatchewan Rush (10-6) at Calgary Roughnecks (9-8)
Saturday, April 20 at 9:00 PM EST
The Rush have looked much better than their early season record struggles, and Calgary also has had a strong season. This rivalry game is sure to have fireworks. The edge must go to the home team here with a late season game and the struggle for home playoff games. Roughnecks win a close game.
My Pick: Calgary
Score: Saskatchewan-12, Calgary-13
Justin Ivey, NLL Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©