Week 3 of the college lacrosse season is shaping up to be a great one, so clear your Saturday afternoon—this is a slate you won’t want to miss. Last week, we split our picks at 2-2, hitting our spreads but missing on the over/under. That puts us at 4-4 overall to start the season. UNC and Hopkins handled their business in their home openers, proving they are teams to watch moving forward. As expected, the early-season pace of play has been slower, but offenses will start to click as teams settle in. With that in mind, let’s dive into the matchups worth keeping an eye on this weekend.
#10 Penn State Nittany Lions (+1.5) vs. #5 Princeton Tigers O/U 24.5
The Princeton Tigers aren’t easing into their season, kicking things off with a high-stakes showdown against Penn State. This matchup is a rematch of one of the most thrilling games of 2023, where Penn State secured a last-minute victory in the opening round of the 2023 playoffs. Expect Princeton to come in motivated, looking for revenge. While Princeton has been practicing, Penn State has already built early-season momentum with convincing wins over Colgate (14-9) and Villanova (15-5). The Nittany Lions’ offense has been reliant on Matt Traynor and Kyle Lehman, who have been producing consistently through two games. On the other side, Princeton’s attack unit is elite. Led by Coulter Mackesy, Colin Burns, and Nate Kabiri, the Tigers will test Penn State’s defense early and often.
If they win their matchups, Princeton has a strong chance to pull off the victory. Penn State has two games under their belt, while Princeton is just getting started. Will that give the Nittany Lions an edge or will Princeton’s fresh legs make a difference? Princeton remembers last year’s loss and will be using that loss as fuel to get them a victory. The game is going to be a cold one, expect a mix of snow and rain with 33-degree temperatures could slow the pace of play, leading to long possessions and a lower-scoring game.
Pick: Penn State +1.5 |Under 24.5
#2 Syracuse Orange vs. #6 Maryland Terrapins (+3) O/U 23.5
Saturday, February 15 | College Park, MD
Buckle up this is the must-watch game of the week. A top 10 battle in February between two of the most storied programs in college lacrosse? It doesn’t get much better than this. This rivalry dates back to 1927, with Maryland holding a 14-6 all-time record against Syracuse. The Terps have won six straight in the series, including three consecutive victories since 2022—but none have come easily. Each of the last three matchups has been decided by four goals or fewer, with last year’s contest needing overtime. The Orange offense is rolling, starting the season 3-0 without facing a real test yet. This will be their first major challenge, and it’s coming against an experienced and battle-tested Maryland squad. The Terps are coming off a gritty overtime win against Loyola, where they struggled to get into an offensive rhythm. If they want to extend their winning streak against Syracuse, they’ll need a more balanced offensive performance. Joey Spallina is the player to watch for the Orange, He is the quarterback of this high-powered offense, but last season against Maryland, he was held to just one goal and two assists. If he wants to lead Syracuse to its first win over Maryland since 2009, he’ll need to find ways to break through the Terps’ veteran-led defense. For the Terps, keep an eye on Eris Spanos. Expect to see him to take control of the Maryland offense, but the midfield unit must step up if the Terps want to keep pace with Syracuse’s firepower.
Syracuse have played all three games indoors so far. This will be their first game outside, and the weather forecast calls for a mix of snow and rain. That could work in Maryland’s favor. Especially when you see the Orange are 0-2 in their last two road games in February in previous seasons. With the bad weather expected for this game, This game is shaping up to be a defensive battle, especially with the expected cold and wet conditions. Maryland’s defense will slow down Syracuse’s attack, and both teams will be methodical on offense. Given the history of close games between these two, expect Maryland to edge out a win by 1-2 goals, with the under hitting due to slower pace and tough defensive play.
Pick: Maryland +3| Under 23.5