By this point in the season, most bettors should be approaching their selections confident they have a feel for the teams they bet most often, particularly if those are some of the nationally-ranked teams we reference in this column most often.
But there are often variables that bettors need to take into account each weekend. One is injuries, and more so often this season, players in COVID protocols. Fortunately, or unfortunately in most cases, most teams that have COVID running through their locker rooms are being forced to postpone games so they’re not typically putting forth a fractured roster.
But as is often the case with injuries, teams are keeping COVID cases pretty close to the vest, so it’s difficult to factor missing players into your bets. Our best suggestion is to wait until closer to game time and check out the Twitter accounts of the participating teams to see if they post line charts so you can know what key players might be missing.
You’ll also see other variables that we’ll talk about in some of the games below. These are known variables that simply takes following a team closely.
The point is try to find out as much information about a team before making your picks.
Going back to last week, wins by Cornell and Michigan tripped up much of our staff (9 out of 10 staffers got each wrong). But if you pulled the trigger on a parlay and got all four games correct, a $100 bet paid $1239.35 (mostly thanks to Cornell +225 upsetting North Dakota).
On to this week.
You can make your selections on the games listed below as well as others in USCHO Pick ‘Em. Go to social.uscho.com to join the fun!
As usual, a disclaimer:
Understand, this is for entertainment purposes only. USCHO.com is not a licensed gambling platform and no money may be wagered through this site or any subsidiary of USCHO.
All games are the first games when they occur in a two-game series, unless noted. Saturday game as marked appropriately.
Enjoy and, if you bet, may you be successful.
* Games marked with asterisks indicates odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook
No. 13 Notre Dame (-125) at No. 16 Ohio State (+105) *
It’s only mid-January, but this is a pretty significant series for both Notre Dame and Ohio State. The top four spots of Big Ten standings are crushed together like an accordion, so if either team takes or loses six points this weekend, there will be significant movement for both.
These teams played once already in South Bend, with the Buckeyes winning the opener, 4-2, and the Irish rebounding with a 5-1 win on night two. Which brings forth a little trend for Notre Dame.
Thus far, four of Notre Dame’s six losses have come on the front side of a two-game series. Is that enough reason to automatically bet the Buckeyes? Probably not, but typically Notre Dame’s best game comes on night two of a series.
No. 18 Harvard (+125) at No. 2 Quinnipiac (-115)
Quinnipiac has lost just once this season, that loss coming in a two-game series split with North Dakota, quite the formidable opponent. So you would think against a Harvard team that has been up and down, they’d be the heavy favorite.
That’s not the case because of one of those “variables” that we discuss off the top. Quinnipiac will have to shake off a lot of rust given that the Bobcats haven’t played a single game since December 11 after each of the last two weekend’s games were postponed due to COVID.
Harvard has also had a game postponed since returning from their break, but they’ve also played twice, winning both of those games.
There is simply no substitute for game play as you can’t simulate the speed and intensity in any sort of intra-squad scrimmage. So we’ll have to see if that impacts Quinnipiac on Friday against a talented Harvard team.
Alaska (+350) at No. 8 Minnesota (-475)
Minnesota against Alaska. A month ago, I would’ve set the line at Minnesota -1200. That’s not an exaggeration. But here comes another one of those “variables.”
After goaltender Jack LaFontaine signed with the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes, the Gophers are left without a single goaltender who has started a college hockey game. Junior Justen Chase has some game experience, seven times over the past two-plus seasons entering games when the starting goaltender was pulled. So expect the crease to be his, at least on Friday.
But Alaska isn’t exactly a slouch, especially of late. The Nanooks have scored 25 goals in their last seven games (3.57 GPG average).
That makes this a pretty interesting game where an upset will provide a hefty payday.
Pick records to date (last week):
Jim Connelly – 37-17 (1-3)
Chris Lerch – 33-21 (2-2)
Dan Rubin – 32-22 (3-1)
Ed Trefzger – 32-22 (1-3)
Paula Weston – 30-24 (1-3)
Matthew Semisch – 31-23 (2-2)
Drew Claussen – 31-23 (2-2)
John Doyle – 29-25 (2-2)
Jack Hittinger – 28-26 (1-3)
Nate Owen – 24-30 (2-2)
