Who Ya Got? NLL Week 8 Fan Picks

Calgary Roughnecks, Colorado Mammoth, Edmonton Rush, IL Indoor, Minnesota Swarm, National Lacrosse League, Philadelphia Wings, Pick 'Em, Rochester Knighthawks, Washington Stealth

Who Ya Got? NLL Week 8 Fan Picks

February 20th, 2013 by Allison Bridgman

The Edmonton Rush and Minnesota Swarm face off twice this weekend in a home-and-home series (Photo: Perry Nelson, mnswarm.com)

We’re entering the half-way point of the 2013 season of the National Lacrosse League.

In a battle of the division leaders, the Toronto Rock, who were trailing at the end of the first quarter, got a flurry of goals and a convincing win in the second matchup against the Calgary Roughnecks this season. The Washington Stealth and Edmonton Rush both have a road win in previous meetings this season; on Friday, the Rush got the win (and their first home win this season) in the third and final face-off between the pair this season. An eight goal third quarter wasn’t enough for the Minnesota Swarm who lost their first home game this season to the Calgary Roughnecks. After an embarrassing week 6 loss, the Buffalo Bandits went to Rochester looking for a win; the Bandits moved into second in the east division Saturday with a win over the Knighthawks. Riding a high, Edmonton picked up their second win of the weekend against the Colorado Mammoth.

There are five games on the schedule in week 8. In the first game of their home-and-home series this weekend, the Minnesota Swarm (2-4) travel north to take on the Edmonton Rush (3-4). On Saturday, in a rematch of their week 6 game which saw the Knighthawks stun the Wings 20-10, Rochester (3-4) host Philadelphia (2-3) in the first of Philly’s two game weekend. Later on Saturday, in their first game of the season, second place in the West, Washington Stealth (4-4) host division leaders Calgary Roughnecks (5-3). On Sunday afternoon, the Swam play home-and-home hosts to the Rush. Also on Sunday, the Wings return from Rochester to host the Colorado Mammoth (2-4). With both the Toronto Rock and Buffalo Bandits with a bye this week (and then facing each other next week), wins from Rochester and Philly this weekend, can make the east division pretty close going into week 9. A win for the Stealth would see them and the Roughnecks with 5-4 records.

Seems the fans and I seem to come out of the weekend with similar records. Picking with my heart, while fun, proved victorious in only 2 games (Toronto on Friday and Edmonton’s second game). Fans also correctly picked the winning team in 2 of this past weekend’s 5 games; narrowly choosing Toronto over Calgary (134 votes to 131) on Friday, and Calgary over Minnesota (153 to 96) on Saturday, bringing the season tally to 12-13-6.

In a weekend that will see three first time match-ups this season, I’m a bit torn (what else is new?). So fans, who ya got?