Right at the .500 mark last week in my picks as we roll along to Week 9. This week the border war rivalry is renewed as Maine and UNH tussle in a home and home series. I also predict a big series in the Big Ten Conference as both Ohio St and Minnesota open their conference schedules against one another.
Last week 2-2 Season record 18-9-5
Last weeks results:
Friday, November 25
Northeastern 6, Minnesota 4 correct pick
Saturday, November 26
Maine 5, Brown 1 correct pick
Cornell 3, UNH 1 incorrect pick
Sunday, November 27
Minnesota 4, Boston College 2 incorrect pick
This weeks games:
Friday, December 2
Maine (5-7-3, 1-4-1 Hockey East) at New Hampshire (6-6-2, 3-1-1)
Maine invades the Whittemore Center to kickoff the home and home weekend series with their biggest rivals. Maine dominated in a 5-1 win over a not so good Brown team last Saturday in Portland. Maine has a chance to gain momentum before the calendar changes to 2017 as the rest of 2016 features three with UNH (single game Dec 30) and two next weekend against American International (combined 9-11-8 record). UNH beat RPI last Tuesday before falling in a neutral site game Saturday to Cornell.
The pick- It is a risk to pick Maine here because they haven’t won on the road yet this season and also are 2-7-3 in their last 12. No road wins after Friday night either. UNH 3, MAINE 2
#10 Ohio State (8-1-4) at #11 Minnesota (6-4-2)
A big weekend Big 10 series at Mariucci Arena as both teams open their conference schedule. The Ohio State Buckeyes are enjoying one of their highest rankings in quite some time and are coming off a sweep at RPI last weekend. Minnesota went East last weekend and lost Friday to Northeastern before knocking off #4 Boston College Sunday.
The pick- This will be a great series between two very good teams. I will take the home Gophers in the opener. MINNESOTA 5, OHIO ST 3
Saturday, December 3
UNH at Maine
The scene switches to the Alfond Arena to finish off the two game series. The home crowd should be pumped as the Black Bears are finally back on their home ice.
The pick- Maine salvages the Hockey East weekend split. MAINE 4, UNH 2
Ohio State at Minnesota
The Gophers go for the 2-0 start in the Big Ten Conference but the visiting Buckeyes will have something to say about that.
The pick- OHIO ST 3, MINNESOTA 2 (ot)
