Welcome back to another week of Top Shelf Spreads. What a beautiful opening weekend of college lacrosse we had. We got to see Utah upset Ohio State, Hopkins looked great against Denver, and we have the rest of the teams suiting up this weekend. Let’s dive into the games to keep an eye on, we enter week 2 with a 2-2 record.
#15 Michigan Wolverines (+2.5) vs. #16 North Carolina Tar Heels | O/U 24
Saturday, February 8 | 12 PM
The Tar Heels kick off their season with a compelling Big Ten-ACC clash as Michigan heads to Chapel Hill. Joe Breschi made significant moves in the transfer portal this offseason, reloading UNC’s roster with key additions. Meanwhile, returning stars Owen Duffy and Dom Pietramala will look to elevate their production and lead the Tar Heels’ attack. Michigan, fresh off a dominant 14-1 win over Marquette, showcased an impressive, balanced offense with nine different goal scorers—but no player netting more than two. Their depth is clear, but do they have a go-to guy who can take over when needed? The main issue for this game is, will UNC’s first-game rust be a factor? Michigan already has a game under its belt, and early-season jitters could play a role for the Tar Heels. However, with UNC’s high-end talent and Duffy’s playmaking ability, expect the Heels to find their footing quickly. While Michigan’s balanced attack is impressive, UNC’s individual talent and overall upside give them the edge to cover. The over 24 is also in play, given Michigan’s offensive rhythm and UNC’s 12-goal-per-game average last season.
Pick: UNC -2.5 | Over 24 goals
10 Georgetown Hoyas (+1.5) vs. #8 Johns Hopkins | O/U 22.5
Saturday, February 8 | 1PM
The Blue Jays have wasted no time proving they’re a force to be reckoned with this season. After an impressive season-opening win against Denver, they followed it up with a gritty 11-10 victory over in-state rival Towson. Now, they return home for what should be an electric home opener against #10 Georgetown. Russell Melendez has emerged as the offensive leader for Hopkins, tallying 7 points (4G, 3A) across the first two games. On the other side, Georgetown is built around its high-powered offense, and their defense looked dominant in a 13-6 win over Loyola. The question is whether the Hoyas can maintain that defensive success against a battle-tested Hopkins squad or if their offense will need to step up to relieve the pressure. For the Blue Jays, fatigue could be a factor—this will be their third game in just eight days. Let’s breakdown the line for this game. The Jays have been averaged 12 goals a game so far, and the Hoyas put up 13. Unless a team has a stellar defensive performance, the over looks like the play. While fatigue is a concern, Hopkins has the depth and home-field energy to keep their momentum rolling to a 3-0 start to the season.
Pick: Hopkins -1.5 | Over 22.5 goals
Week 2 of the college lacrosse season is shaping up to be another exciting slate of matchups. With teams settling into their rhythm, we’re starting to see which programs are ready to contend and which still have question marks to answer. Hopkins looks to stay hot, and UNC aims to shake off any early rust to get their season started off right. As always, keep an eye on the little details—faceoffs, special teams, and defensive adjustments—as these factors often separate winners from losers. Whether you're betting the spreads or just enjoying the action, this weekend promises plenty of drama on the field.
Stay tuned for more breakdowns next week, and as always, bet smart and enjoy the games