Last week:
Dan: 4-8-2
Chris: 5-7-2
On the season:
Dan: 43-40-14 (.515)
Chris: 50-33-14 (.588)
This Week’s Picks
Friday, December 1 and Saturday, December 2
Niagara at Air Force
Chris: I could see Air Force struggling in this series – its games with Niagara are usually close regardless of records. Throw in the fact that if you do go by records, Niagara is the better team so far. But with all that said, on a hunch I’m picking the Falcons to sweep.
Dan: If I told you this series would be between a third place team and a ninth place team, you would’ve believed me. But it has a whole new perspective given the struggles of Air Force in the beginning of the year and Niagara’s fast first half. This is huge for Air Force, who desperately needs points and is returning home to a place where they’re only 1-3 this season in league play. Niagara can stamp that they’re for real with wins. Air Force wins on Friday, Niagara wins on Saturday.
Sacred Heart at Mercyhurst
Chris: This is not going to look like a series between the two bottom teams in the conference (especially when Mercyhurst is in 10th mostly due to the fact that they’ve played so few league games). I have a feeling this is going to be a high scoring series, and the Lakers usually find a way to win those kind of games. Mercyhurst sweeps.
Dan: The Pioneers have been good in Erie in the last couple of seasons. They split two years ago and took three points last year. Mercyhurst has been up and down but is coming off of a weekend where they beat Wisconsin. I think that’s a difference this weekend.Mercyhurst sweeps.
Holy Cross at Rochester Institute of Technology
Chris: The Tigers used to own the Crusaders at Ritter Arena, but that’s not been the case at the Polisseni Center. The teams split there last season, and I’m thinking that history repeats. Holy Cross wins on Friday, RIT wins on Saturday.
Dan:Holy Cross is 3-2-3 in Rochester dating back to 2013-2014. They’re also in need of a win after taking a downturn against Brown and Arizona State.Holy Cross sweeps.
Friday, December 1
Bentley at American International
Chris: After posting just one win in their first 11 games, the Bentley Falcons have won three in a row including an upset of Mass-Lowell on Tuesday. I think they’ll keep the momentum going. Bentley wins.
Dan: Bentley’s needed late goals to salvage ties in the first two meetings with AIC this year. They’re also one of the league’s hottest teams going on the road to take on a team that’s cooling off a little bit. I think this game is going to be a true battle, and I’m very excited to see what happens. I can’t pick ties, but I want to here.Bentley wins.
Saturday, December 2
Colgate at Army West Point
Chris: Colgate is off to a surprising start, while Army is winless in its last six. I’m going with the Raiders to win.
Dan: Army West Point hasn’t won since November 10th. Colgate is 8-4-4 overall and up to No. 17 nationally. Given AHC’s trouble winning nonleague games as of late, I think that should be the difference.Colgate wins.
Clarkson at Canisius
Chris: This should be a great game between the first place teams in the AHC and ECAC, teams with the second (Clarkson) and third (Canisius) longest winning streaks in the nation. That said, Clarkson has faced a tougher schedule and done more with it. Clarkson wins.
Dan: Clarkson has a case to the No. 1 team nationally. I don’t think this is a game they’re going to lose with that in mind.Clarkson wins.
Wednesday, December 6
Bentley at Brown
Chris: Brown is off to a good start, already equaling its win total from last season. The Falcons have shown that they can knock off good teams, and Brown may very well qualify. So while picking Bentley makes some sense, I have a feeling the Bears are going to come out on top at home. Brown wins.
Dan: My oldest brother has been at Brown for over 20 years and is a staple in Meehan Auditorium. I essentially grew up there, going to my first game when I was 11. I still head down there a dozen times per year or so to call some games, and there are plenty of family stories that began in Providence’s East Side. I love Brown, and it is and will be always special to me. But I’ve been calling Bentley games for almost a decade, and I can’t resist this indulgence. Bentley wins the “Rubin Bowl.”
