Pickin’ the Big Ten: Feb. 14-15, 2014

The schedule for this season has allowed for few conference-only weekends, all on a Friday-Saturday schedule, but that’s what we have this week in the Big Ten. First, let’s see how Drew Claussen and I are doing with picks this season. Last week Drew: 1-3-2 (.333) Paula: 2-2-2 (.500) Season Drew: 70-35-11 (.651) Paula: 71-33-13 … Read more

Three things: Badgers, and (Nittany) Lions and Buckeyes — oh my!

What a weekend in the Big Ten. We learned just how evenly matched this league can be — or at least microcosms within this league can be — and we learned that no one is safe. Frankly, it’s the kind of weekend that makes me giddy about the potential for the Big Ten championship tournament. … Read more

Pickin’ the Big Ten: Feb. 7-8, 2014

Drew Claussen and I are already each 0-1 for this week, each of us having picked last night’s Minnesota-Wisconsin game incorrectly. We posted those picks yesterday and we’ll include our record from that series in next week’s running total. Last week Drew: 4-1-1 (.750) Paula: 4-0-2 (.833) Season Drew: 69-32-9 (.668) Paula: 69-31-11 (.672) This … Read more

Pickin’ the Big Ten: Minnesota vs. Wisconsin, Feb. 6-7, 2014

Paula: Minnesota and Wisconsin face off tonight for the 267th time, with the Golden Gophers holding a 159-87-21 all-time edge over the Badgers, and Minnesota is 6-3-1 in the last 10 games between the two rivals. Drew: The Badgers are coming off of a weekend where I thought they looked pretty strong. Problem is that … Read more

Three things: Ohio State gets the sweep, Michigan picks up five points and Michael Mersch’s goal

Hope everyone had a great weekend. Hey, at least the six Big Ten games provided more entertainment value than the Super Bowl. Here are three things I saw. 1. Penn State is still searching for it first conference win  I said in my picks on Friday that I wasn’t going to pick Penn State to … Read more

Pickin’ the Big Ten: Jan. 31-Feb. 1, 2014

It’s all conference action this weekend. First, let’s see how Drew and I are doing. Last week Drew: 5-4 (.750) Paula: 5-4 (.750) Season Drew: 65-31-8 (.674) Paula: 65-31-9 (.672) Remember that Drew and I both picked the whole field for the North Star College Cup. The picks also include the Michigan-Michigan State series. It’s … Read more

Pickin’ the Big Ten: Jan. 24-25, 2014

We have the second game of the Michigan-Michigan State series, the new North Star College Cup, Ohio State at Wisconsin and Penn State hosting Boston College for a single game. First, let’s see how Drew and I are doing. We’ll include last night’s game between the Spartans and Wolverines in next week’s results. Last week … Read more

Pickin’ the Big Ten: Michigan vs. Michigan State, Jan. 23-24, 2014

In 2004, for its 50th anniversary edition, Sports Illustrated listed the top sports rivalries by state. The ongoing, on-ice duel between the Spartans and the Wolverines topped the list for Michigan, surprising no one familiar with the storied history between the schools. Michigan State’s Munn Ice Arena and Michigan’s Yost are just about 64 miles … Read more

Three things from the Big Ten’s four games

Another light weekend in terms of conference games this weekend in the Big Ten. The two conference series both produced sweeps. Here are three things that I saw this weekend. 1. Gophers beat Buckeyes outside Minnesota’s second time playing in the Hockey City Classic was better than its first. The Gophers defeated Ohio State 1-0 … Read more

Pickin’ the Big Ten: Jan. 17-18, 2014

On mornings like this when I look back to the CCHA picks blog — and the league’s 11 participants — I am suddenly digging the six-league Big Ten. And my partner-in-writing, Drew Claussen, is a genius. Last week Drew: 3-1-0 (.750) Paula: 1-2-1 (.375) Season Drew: 57-26-8 (.670) Paula: 57-26-9 (.668) This week Once again, … Read more

Pickin’ the Big Ten: Jan. 10-13, 2014

And the picks percentages take another hit this week. Last week Drew: 1-2-1 (.375) Paula: 1-2-1 (.375) Season Drew: 54-25-8 (.667) Paula: 56-24-8 (.682) This weeks It’s all Big Ten action this week and everyone plays. Michigan at Wisconsin Drew: After the Great Lakes Invitational, the Wolverines need a good weekend to prove to me … Read more

Gophers and Badgers both have tough weekends

Minnesota and Wisconsin were the only two Big Ten teams in action this weekend. The Gophers played in their home tournament, the Mariucci Classic, and tied Colgate before downing RPI. The Badgers split a home series with former WCHA foe Alaska-Anchorage. Here are three things that I saw in the four games. 1. Gophers look … Read more

Pickin’ the Big Ten: Jan. 3-4, 2014

Well … Drew and I were both wrong about the GLI. Last week Drew: 4-3-1 (.563) Paula: 4-3-1 (.563) Season Drew: 53-23-7 (.681) Paula: 55-22-7 (.696) This week It’s a light schedule this week before full-on Big Ten play begins Jan. 10. Only the two league teams formerly with the WCHA play this weekend; both … Read more

Pickin’ the Big Ten, holiday edition, plus cookies: Dec. 27-29, 2013

Happy holidays, everyone! Five of the six Big Ten teams return to play this week. First, let’s see how my partner-in-writing, Drew Claussen, and I finished up the first half of the season. Week of Dec. 13-14 Drew: 3-0 Paula: 3-0 Season Drew: 49-20-6 (.693) Paula: 51-19-6 (.711) This week We have two tournaments and … Read more

Pickin’ the Big Ten: No. 4 Ferris State at No. 3 Michigan, Dec. 11, 2013

Hey! There’s a game tonight! And it’s a doozy! Ferris State at Michigan Paula: That the Bulldogs are tearing up the new WCHA makes my heart very happy. Very. Undefeated in the WCHA (10-0-2), Ferris State is riding a 13-game undefeated streak into Yost Ice Arena. Last weekend, FSU swept former CCHA and current WCHA rival … Read more

Pickin’ the Big Ten: Dec. 6-7, 2013

Last week Drew: 6-2-0 (.750) Paula: 7-1-0 (.778) Season Drew: 43-20-4 (.672) Paula: 45-19-4 (.691) This week There are only eight games remaining for Big Ten teams in the first half of the season, including these two conference series this weekend — which are the last league games until after the holiday break. Penn State … Read more