Dave and I were about as close to perfection as you can be. And the two games we ended up picking differently ended up being ties, so no blood (as we’d say on the golf course).
Jim last week: 10-0-3
Dave last week: 10-0-3
Jim to date: 132-74-27
Dave to date: 129-77-27
Friday, February 10
Merrimack at Boston College
Jim’s pick: BC was playing great hockey before running into the Boston University juggernaut on Monday night in the Beanpot. I expect them to hop right back on the win train.
BC 4, MC 2
Dave’s pick: The Warriors are 2-6-3 on the road. They aren’t likely to improve on that mark against the Eagles.
BC 4, MC 1
Notre Dame at Maine
Jim’s pick: Yes, Maine is so much better to home. But Notre Dame is one of the top teams and playing well right now.
ND 5, Maine 3
Dave’s pick: Agreed. Sometimes the venue just doesn’t matter.
ND 4, Maine 1
Massachusetts at Northeastern
Jim’s pick: Northeastern has stumbled of late but UMass hasn’t been much better. In reality, the Huskies are better on paper.
NU 5, UMass 2
Dave’s pick: UMass has lost nine straight. With three games in five days, the Minutemen will run that skid to an even dozen.
NU 4, UMass 1
Connecticut at Providence
Jim’s pick: UConn found out on Wednesday that this Providence team is rolling. I doubt that changes heading back to Schneider.
PC 4, UC 2
Dave’s pick: The Friars have gone from 1-6-2 in the league to 9-6-2. For you non-math majors, that’s eight straight wins. Going on nine.
PC 4, UC 2
Boston University at UMass Lowell
Jim’s pick: BU continued to be difficult to play against and even after Lowell offensive explosion last weekend, it’s tough to pick against the Terriers right now.
BU 3, UML 2
Dave’s pick: I need to be making different picks from Jim, but going against BU doesn’t seem like the way to make up ground. Despite whatever Beanpot distractions may exist, the Terriers’ talent advantage will win out.
BU 4, UML 3
New Hampshire at Vermont
Jim’s pick: Vermont needs to bounce back after getting just a single point at Notre Dame. Home cooking is what these Catamounts need.
UVM 4, UNH 2
Dave’s pick: Vermont had a tough weekend, but UNH has been taking it on the chin for longer than that. Five straight losses and winless in seven. Plus it’s in the Catamounts’ barn.
UVM 3, UNH 2
Saturday, February 11
Notre Dame at Maine
Jim’s pick: Though I’m not completely shocked if Maine takes a point or two at home, I’m not picking against the Irish here.
ND 4, Maine 3
Dave’s pick: Agreed. The talent gap is too great. There’s a reason that Maine is in next-to-last place.
ND 4, Maine 2
Massachusetts at UMass Lowell
Jim’s pick: A win clinches the Alumni Cup for the River Hawks. Expect the Cup to stay in Lowell.
UML 4, UMass 2
Dave’s pick: As noted above, this just extends the UMass streak of losses with another to come on Tuesday.
UML 5, UMass 1
New Hampshire at Vermont
Jim’s pick: This feels like a split, but I’m going to double down on Vermont at home.
UVM 3, UNH 2
Dave’s pick: Argh! When I decided on my picks, I thought sure Jim would go with a split here. Instead, we’re going with the same teams yet again.
UVM 3, UNH 2
Monday, February 13
65th Beanpot Tournament (TD Garden, Boston)
Boston College vs. Northeastern (Consolation game)
Jim’s pick: This non-league game will mean a lot of BC in the PairWise. So I see them coming out on top.
BC 4, NU 2
Dave’s pick: As I said back at the turn of the year, Northeastern’s second half “turning on the switch” was not a given, despite what happened the last two seasons. The Huskies may finish strong over the final two weeks, but I think they’ll take another loss here.
BC 3, NU 2
Boston University vs. Harvard (Championship game)
Jim’s pick: I think Harvard can give BU a run. But I also think this BU team’s depth is unmatched by any school I have seen out east.
BU 3, HU 2
Dave’s pick: Maybe it’ll be closer than I think, but I see BU proving itself as the class of this year’s tournament.
BU 4, HU 1
Tuesday, February 14
Merrimack at Massachusetts
Jim’s pick: This might be the most difficult pick for me. For one, these midweek games have been the least predictable. And I feel like UMass has enough talent to win more games than they have. But I’m still going with Merrimack.
MC 3, UMass 1
Dave’s pick: Starting next week, I may have to differ with Jim just for the sake of being different because I’m not going to erase his three-game lead by making 100 percent the same picks as he does, as happened this week for, I believe, the first time all year. But I don’t see UMass winning a game the rest of this year.
MC 4, UMass 1
