We are officially past the halfway point of the 2018 National Lacrosse League season. The theme for Week 10 is “double-headers”! The Bandits, Swarm and Knighthawks all play on consecutive nights.
The push to the playoffs begins now!
NLL staff members Andy McNamara, Tyson Geick, Pat Gregoire, Ashley Docking, and Brian Shanahan deliver their game predictions every week.
Send us your picks @NLL on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook using the specific game hashtags for each match-up below.
Buffalo Bandits (4-3) at New England Black Wolves (4-2) – Friday, 7:30pm ET
Andy
New England has had a long bye week to think about the smackdown they received in Toronto at the end of January. This is a quality club that can play with anyone in the league. That being said, Buffalo has quietly rattled off back-to-back wins and are right in the thick of an East Division title race. The Bandits squeak out a “W”.
Pick: Bandits
Tyson
Buffalo is starting to heat up, roll with them.
Pick: Bandits
Ashley
Pick: Black Wolves
Pat
This one is tough. Buffalo has been hotter than the wings the city is famous for, but New England is unbeaten this year at the Casino. I think it’s a close one but the Black Wolves take it.
Pick: Black Wolves
Shanny
Pick: Black Wolves
Tweet @NLL your prediction using #BUFvsNE
Georgia Swarm (3-3) at Buffalo Bandits (?-?) – Saturday, 7:30pm ET
Andy
I took the Bandits in their first of two games this weekend. However, a fresh Georgia crew rolling on two straight victories is primed here.
Pick: Swarm
Tyson
Georgia is figuring out their game and putting a tough start to the season behind them.
Pick: Swarm
Ashley
Pick: Bandits
Pat
Back-to-back wins for Georgia with 15+ goals, I think we are starting to see the Championship caliber Swarm team heat up. Swarm take this one and it’s a tough weekend for the Bandits.
Pick: Swarm
Shanny
Pick: Swarm
Tweet @NLL your prediction using #GAvsBUF
Toronto Rock (4-3) at Rochester Knighthawks (2-5) – Saturday, 8pm ET
Andy
After scoring at an unworldy pace over four games the Rock came back down to earth against Calgary this past Saturday. It wasn’t so much what Toronto did wrong as much as what the Roughnecks did right.
The Knighthawks are riding the waves of a young group trying to find it’s way. I like the Rock to rebound on the road.
Pick: Rock
Tyson
The Rock had a weak performance the last time out, they’ll rebound this week.
Pick: Rock
Ashley
Pick: Rock
Pat
After winning four straight while averaging 20 goals a game, the Rock were shutdown by the Roughnecks last week. Maybe we don’t see 20 goals from Toronto, but I expect an offensive explosion for the red,blue and white on Saturday night.
Pick: Rock
Shanny
Pick: Rock
Tweet @NLL your prediction using #TORvsROC
Colorado Mammoth (4-2) at Calgary Roughnecks (2-5) – Saturday, 9pm ET
Andy
Maybe it’s recency bias, but Christian Del Bianco may have come of age a future rock star goaltender in the NLL. Calling the game I felt the Roughnecks collective confidence grow as the game progressed. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if Colorado won because they’re a darn good team. I’ll roll with the Riggers at home
Pick: Roughnecks
Tyson
I think Calgary has hit a turning point. They’ll mix things up in the West with a win over Colorado.
Pick: Roughnecks
Ashley
Pick: Roughnecks
Pat
Welcome to the Christian Del Bianco era. I think CBD and the Calgary defence builds off that great performance and knocks off a very strong Colorado club.
Pick: Roughnecks
Shanny
Pick: Roughnecks
Tweet @NLL your prediction using #COLvsCGY
Saskatchewan Rush (7-1) at Vancouver Stealth (1-7) – Saturday, 10pm ET
Andy
If you just look at the record it screams no brainer that the Rush should squash Vancouver. However, the Stealth keep playing the green and black attack close. Can the home club avoid the season sweep? No….I just don’t feel Vancouver is where they need to be from a complete game perspective to down a quality unit like SASK.
Pick: Rush
Tyson
Saskatchewan’s a scary team to play against. They’ve cooled off a bit, but I see them getting a big win in this one.
Pick: Rush
Ashley
Pick: Rush
Pat
It’s very tough to beat a team three times, but when you’re the Saskatchewan Rush, everything seems much easier. I know we’ve seen Vancouver play Saskatchewan close twice already, but I think the Rush complete the season sweep.
Pick: Rush
Shanny
Pick: Rush
Tweet @NLL your prediction using #SASvsVAN
Rochester Knighthawks (?-?) at Georgia Swarm (?-?) – Sunday, 6:05pm ET
Andy
This is interesting as both teams are playing in the second of back-to-backs. Rochester fell 14-11 in Georgia on Dec. 30th, and although their record doesn’t reflect it, the K-Hawks have the horsepower to beat anyone.
The Knighthawks lock down an upset win and make the East Division even more interesting.
Pick: Knighthawks
Tyson
A 2-0 record this weekend for the Swarm will make things really interesting in the East.
Pick: Swarm
Ashley
Pick: Swarm
Pat
Like I said before, I think the high powered offence is back in Georgia and the bad luck continues for Rochester.
Pick: Swarm
Shanny
Pick: Swarm
Tweet @NLL your prediction using #ROCvsGA
Make sure to check out my 1-on-1 interview with NLL commissioner Nick Sakiewicz here: https://t.co/qnoXZjpFFo
Andy McNamara has been a play-by-play commentator for the NLL on TSN, NLLTV.com, and world lacrosse tournaments since 2011. He’s also a sport talk host and anchor on TSN 1050 sports radio. Follow Andy on twitter @AndyMc81.
