Low on time, as I have been for the past two days… I have no competitor this week (Mr. Davis will have to come back next week, unless he chooses to retire 2-0 against yours truly?), so here are the quick picks for Friday night. (This page will be updated with full predictions tomorrow.)
Friday, January 7
Yale 4 at Dartmouth 3
Brown 5 at Harvard 3
Clarkson 2 at Rensselaer 4
St. Lawrence 2 at Union 3
Cornell 1 at Princeton 4
Colgate 2 at Quinnipiac 3
Saturday, January 8
All times Eastern
Clarkson at Union – 7:00
Clarkson upended RPI on the road, giving the Engineers their first home loss of the season… is Union in for more than it bargained for? I’m betting on the Dutchmen – winners over SLU on Friday – but ‘Tech sure has been hot in league play lately. 3-2 Union.
Brown at Dartmouth – 7:00
The Green haven’t exactly carried on with their blistering play of 2010, but they’re not totally blowing it either. Brown has been battling the flu and engaged in some brutal ground warfare with Harvard Friday night; I think Dartmouth has the decided advantage: 4-1.
Yale at Harvard – 7:00
There’s no two ways about it: Yale is the No. 1 team in the country for very good reasons; Harvard has lost nine of 10… also for good reasons. Ivy games are usually close, but Yale has had a pretty good track record of turning tight ones into routs. 5-1 Bulldogs.
St. Lawrence at Rensselaer – 7:00
The Engineers have just enough timely offense to take advantage of solid defense and goaltending. SLU is relying a lot on its youth, which is usually a bad sign no matter how good your rookies are. RPI has more experience and consistency than the Saints, and I’m banking on that with this pick: 3-1 ‘Tute.
Cornell at Quinnipiac – 7:00
The Bobcats have definitely impressed since the holiday break; Cornell, well, they’re falling short of expectations this season, to put it one way. The wild card here is QU’s youth: Will the ‘Cats rise to the occasion, or stumble a bit as they have been wont to do this season? I’m tabbing the Q, 3-2.
Sunday, January 9
Colgate at Princeton – 4:00
Brown Rule. Princeton and the Tigers’ shot-happy offense, 4-2.
Tuesday, January 11
Connecticut at Dartmouth – 7:00
Dartmouth? At home? Against lightweight UConn? The Big Green better win this one, or I’ll have to question my faith in a higher power (or at least in Dartmouth). 5-2 Green.
