After last weekend, it looks to me as though the Big Ten standings may be shaping up along the lines of how they’ll appear at the end of the season. I could be wrong, of course. I’m often wrong. Let’s see how Drew Claussen and I are doing with the picks. Last week Drew: 3-2-1 … Read more
When Drew Claussen sent me his picks for the blog this week, he said something about redeeming himself after his holiday tournament picks performance. We’ve all been there. And, seriously, who knew that Ohio State — the only unranked team in the Florida College Classic — would prevail? I didn’t have them winning a single … Read more
I hope everyone had a great holiday season, I had to get this one posted early before all of the Vikings/Packers festivities begin. Most of the Big Ten teams hit the road to play in a holiday tournament last week, with the exception of Minnesota hosting a tournament and Wisconsin gearing up for the second … Read more
It’s holiday tournament time! Everyone plays for midseason glory except for Wisconsin, who plays a single exhibition game against Trinity Western University Jan. 1. Picks records for Drew Claussen and me first. Dec. 19 Drew: 0-1-0 (.000) Paula: 0-1-0 (.000) Season Drew: 44-27-13 (.601) Paula: 47-24-13 (.637) Both Drew and I picked Michigan State to … Read more
There is a single game to discuss this weekend. First, a look at how Drew Claussen and I have picked the league to this point. Last week Drew: 1-4-0 (.200) Paula: 3-2-0 (.600) Season Drew: 44-26-13 (.608) Paula: 47-23-13 (.645) Poor Drew was bitten by the wrong-way split bug last week, something that plagued me … Read more
Five B1G teams were in action this weekend with four playing each other and Penn State playing one game against a nonconference foe. Ohio State took the weekend off. Here’s how things ended up: Michigan and Minnesota split a pair of games at Yost Ice Arena Michigan State and Wisconsin split two games at Munn … Read more
It’s the second weekend of Big Ten league play, yet the last weekend of conference play before the first half ends. Here’s how Drew Claussen and I have been doing so far. Last week Drew: 4-1-1 (.750) Paula: 3-2-1 (.583) Season Drew: 43-22-13 (.635) Paula: 44-21-13 (.647) This week There are two conference series reminiscent … Read more
Oh, it’s about time! Big Ten conference hockey begins this weekend! So far this season, the Big Ten is 29-32-11 (.479) in nonconference play. Here’s how Drew Claussen and I have done predicting the first two months of the season. Last week Drew: 7-1-1 (.833) Paula: 5-3-1 (.611) Season Drew: 39-21-12 (.625) Paula: 41-19-12 (.653) … Read more
Five B1G teams were in action this weekend with Wisconsin taking another weekend off. Here’s how the games played out: Minnesota was swept at home by St. Cloud State Ohio State was swept on the road by Nebraska-Omaha Michigan State was swept at home by North Dakota Michigan beat Dartmouth on Friday before the same … Read more
Lots of ties last week. Lots. It looks like Drew Claussen and I engaged in a role reversal, too. Last week Drew: 1-4-3 (.313) Paula: 4-1-3 (.688) Season Drew: 32-20-11 (.595) Paula: 36-16-11 (.659) This week There are five Big Ten teams playing this weekend. Wisconsin has a bye. Dartmouth at Michigan Drew: Michigan’s defense … Read more
The Big Ten has been competitive in nonconference play so far. How competitive have Drew Claussen and I been? Last week Drew: 5-3-0 (.625) Paula: 6-2-0 (.750) Season Drew: 31-16-8 (.636) Paula: 32-15-8 (.656) Poor Drew. It isn’t often that he’s bitten by the wrong-way split. I can sympathize. This week There are four teams … Read more
Last week was another good one for the Big Ten. How did Drew Claussen and I fare? Last week Drew: 4-2-1 (.643) Paula: 4-2-1 (.643) Season Drew: 26-13-8 (.638) Paula: 26-13-8 (.638) This week Five Big Ten teams play in nonconference action this weekend. After unseating North Dakota last weekend, Wisconsin has a bye. Canisius … Read more
Last week was a bit rougher than the previous weeks — for Drew Claussen’s picks and mine, that is. Last week Drew: 2-5-0 (.286) Paula: 3-4-0 (.429) Season Drew: 22-11-7 (.636) Paula: 22-11-7 (.636) This week Four Big Ten teams play this week and we’re still a few weeks away from conference play. Michigan and … Read more
I hope everyone had a fun and safe Halloween weekend. Mine was pretty great, considering it was spent staying home and watching sports. Four of the six Big Ten teams were in action this weekend with Minnesota and Michigan State taking the week off. Here’s how things panned out: Penn State tied St. Lawrence 2-2 … Read more
Penn State tied St. Lawrence, 2-2, Thursday night, bringing the Nittany Lions’ record to 4-1-1. Let’s see how Drew Claussen and I are doing so far. Last week Drew: 8-2-3 (.731) Paula: 9-1-3 (.808) Season Drew: 20-6-7 (.712) Paula: 19-7-7 (.689) This week Four Big Ten teams are playing nonconference games this week. Last night, … Read more
In the first two weeks of the season, the Big Ten has struggled in nonconference play. This is how Drew Claussen and I are doing after the first two weeks. Last week Drew: 9-3-0 (.750) Paula: 8-4-0 (.667) Season Drew: 12-4-4 (.700) Paula: 10-6-4 (.600) I will take the moral victory of having picked a … Read more
As we enter the second weekend of Division I play, let’s look at how Drew Claussen and I did last week. It should surprise no one that his picks record is better than mine already. Drew: 3-1-4 (.625) Paula: 2-2-4 (.500) At least I’m .500. For now. This week Every Big Ten team plays this … Read more
Last year, my partner-in-writing Drew Claussen got lucky. Very lucky. Or maybe he is just better at this picks thing than I am. One pick I can stand behind for 2015-16: Drew will be “luckier” than I am again this season. This week We have the IceBreaker, a great old CCHA rivalry and a some … Read more
Well, the Big Ten Tournament is in the books and five of the conference’s six teams began their offseason this weekend. In case you live under a rock, here’s how the Big Ten Tournament finished: Ohio State defeated Penn State 3-1 Michigan took down Wisconsin 5-1 Minnesota defeated Ohio State 3-0 Michigan beat Michigan State … Read more
After last weekend’s regular-season photo finish, this weekend’s tournament should prove to be just as exciting. I love both first-round matches and the idea that anyone can win this year’s autobid. First, how Drew Claussen and I finished the regular season in picks. Last week Drew Claussen: 3-2-1 (.500) Paula Weston: 3-2-1 (.500) Season Drew: … Read more