Providence faces a tough challenge this weekend at home against UMass (photo: Lydia Vigneau).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nWe are now more than a month into the college hockey season (excluding the Ivies) and part of me feels like the bookmakers are beginning to get a pulse on the college hockey beat.<\/p>\n
Trust me, it isn’t easy. And this week, I’ll try to explain why some lines even feel a tiny bit lopsided. But let’s go back to week one, where there were a handful of underdogs that never made sense. I don’t feel like this week’s line measure the same capacity.<\/p>\n
Let’s go back a week ago. The only technical upset was Bemidji State (+160) handing St. Cloud State its only loss on the year. The Huskies responded a night later with a win, balancing off the series. But Friday bettors earned something from the Beavers.<\/p>\n
It is more difficult to pick a winner this Friday. Is Notre Dame under-valued? If so at +165 line at Minnesota (-205) looks attractive. Can St. Cloud State win on the road at Denver pulling a somewhat-attractive +125? Hard to tell battling a Denver squad that’s won four in a row (-155).<\/p>\n
It’s a difficult week to handicap.<\/p>\n
All odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook:<\/em><\/p>\nNo. 5 UMass (-135) at No. 14 Providence (+105); o\/u 5.5<\/strong><\/p>\nHow does one handicap a UMass-Providence series? Well, for one, it always makes sense to grab the road team. The visitors have won more of late in this matchup than the home.<\/p>\n
But that’s trend betting. What about just looking at this year? One has to believe UMass comes into this game a little hungry after a road loss in OT to Merrimack. Is that enough to spur this UMass team on while away from Mullins Center? One should hope.<\/p>\n
But Providence seems like a strong defensive team, winning a lot of the puck possession battles. While there isn’t a ton of value betting either team, one should consider where the line will be for either team when they face easier opponents.<\/p>\n
If you like a team in here, bet for value.<\/p>\n
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Michigan Tech (-130) at Bowling Green (+100); o\/u 5.5<\/strong><\/p>\nNeither of these teams have performed lights out to this point, but Michigan Tech’s defense and goaltending continues to shine.<\/p>\n
If you’re looking for one differentiator this weekend into series, it’s the back end. Bowling Green has allowed 30 goals to Michigan Tech’s 11. A line of -130 might not feel like value, but on the road, grab anything that is close to even, even if you feel like Tech might be such a heavy favorite.<\/p>\n
If there is a caution against Bowling Green is that this team always seems to get up for rivalry games, and MTU is considered that. Road motivation is dangerous.<\/p>\n
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No. 12 Notre Dame (+165) at No. 3 Minnesota (-205); o\/u 6\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\nShould Minnesota be a lock this week?<\/p>\n
Maybe. But let’s look at some numbers.<\/p>\n
Yes, Minnesota has a run-and-gun offense averaging 3.88 goals per game. But Notre Dame can be shutdown (average 2.50 GPG against) and has been of late.<\/p>\n
Value is usually what one should look for in making a bet. Love the Gophers as much as you want, but there is no value in laying $205 to make $100. You may never get Notre Dame again this season at +165. Is that a reason to bet? I’m no sure. But if I’m making a bet on this game, I love Notre Dame.<\/p>\n
And the under at 6, it may push often, but this should be more about defense than offense.<\/p>\n
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No. 10 North Dakota (-130) at Omaha (+100); o\/u 6.5<\/strong><\/p>\nBookmakers have really begun to fade North Dakota.<\/p>\n
I can’t imagine a worse time to do that. The Fighting Hawks may be 1-3-1 in their last five, but this team wins games.<\/p>\n
I expect Friday’s effort against Omaha to be one of the best this season, making the -130 a slam dunk play. Since this line came out, it does seem like there has been some position movement for North Dakota. Expect that to keep going.<\/p>\n
Get North Dakota anywhere south of -150, make that bet.<\/p>\n
As for Omaha, sure there could be value, but this team has proved nothing to this point. Consider that before wagering.<\/p>\n
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No. 4 St. Cloud State (+125) at No. 2 Denver (-155); o\/u 6<\/strong><\/p>\nDenver’s two-game sweep at the hands of Massachusetts definitely give everyone a little pause on the Pioneers. Since that times, two sweeps of Providence and Miami have seemingly set this team back on course.<\/p>\n
Where, then, does St. Cloud State fit? The Huskies are 7-1-0 and they lost to Bemidji State on the road last Friday. Is this a valuable underdog? Is Denver the test SCSU needs?<\/p>\n
All that is difficult to determine. I love the value of +125 for SCSU, as they may never have that figure tacked with them again this year. But Denver seems pretty solid at home. This is a tough one to handicap, though I will say I love the under on this one. Expect a 3-1, 3-2, 2-1 type game.<\/p>\n
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We are now more than a month into the college hockey season (excluding the Ivies) and part of me feels like the bookmakers are beginning to get a pulse on the college hockey beat. Trust me, it isn’t easy. And this week, I’ll try to explain why some lines even feel a tiny bit lopsided. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":136880,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[1670,812],"coauthors":[800],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
USCHO Edge: As '22-23 college hockey season moves along, which teams are undervalued, overvalued? - College Hockey | USCHO.com<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n