It’s a quick and dirty picks blog this week. I do have to gloat one more time, however, for having picked Notre Dame to beat Boston College.
Last week’s picks: 11-3-1
Season: 19-7-2
I’m lousy with the math but adding ties in as draws, I believe that’s a .750 success rate. Being honest and just looking at the games I called correctly, I think it’s .679. I do believe I like the former rather than the latter.
When I first looked at this week’s schedule, I thought, “Who’s not playing?” Old 12-team habits die hard.
Everyone’s in this week. Michigan State has the only nonconference action, hosting Alabama-Huntsville for two. Two series are home-and-home.
BGSU at UAF. The Nanooks return from MSU disappointed with two points from a shootout “win,” while the Falcons are riding a three-game win streak, having beaten St. Lawrence twice on the road. UAF has a streak of its own going: nine straight wins at the Carlson Center going back to Feb. 5. The teams have split the last six meetings. UAF 3-2, BGSU 3-1.
LSSU at Miami. The Lakers beat Colgate twice at home week; the RedHawks beat up NMU twice at home. With all respect for the rest of the teams in the league, I do not see Miami losing again this calendar year — unless, of course, the RedHawks are No. 1 when they host Notre Dame the first weekend in December. Miami 3-2, 4-1.
OSU at NMU. The Wildcats will want to make a statement after being outscored 13-1 in Oxford last weekend, and who better than to do that against than the Buckeyes, a team Yoopers love to hate? OSU split on the road against FSU. NMU is 24-11-2 all-time against OSU in Marquette. NMU 3-1, 4-3.
UM vs. FSU. Each team split last weekend against a CCHA or former CCHA foe. The Wolverines rebounded nicely from a 4-2 to visiting UNO with a resounding 6-1 win, while the Bulldogs dropped a Saturday decision to the Buckeyes. UM has a 4-2-0 edge in the last three seasons against FSU, and those losses have come in Big Rapids where Friday’s game is being played. I’ll be at Yost for Saturday’s game, so please say hello if you see me. FSU 3-2, UM 4-1.
WMU vs. ND. The Broncos are riding a five-game undefeated streak into South Bend tonight, where the Irish will try to prove that Saturday’s win over the defending national champions wasn’t a fluke. This should be a dandy series. Last year, WMU swept ND in Kalamazoo, outscoring the Irish 11-3, but the Irish have taken their last six home games against the Broncos. ND 2-1, WMU 3-2.
UAH at MSU. The Chargers are looking for their second win of the season, having beaten FSU Oct. 8 and no one since. In their five losses, UAH was outscored 25-9. Junior Jamie Easton leads UAH in scoring (3-1–4). Freshman Clarke Saunders (4.47 GAA, .869 SV%) has played the most in net. The Spartans took four points from visiting Alaska last weekend. I’ll be at tonight’s game, so please say hello if you see me. MSU 4-1, 4-1.
