Paula's picks, Nov. 22, 2011: If it's Tuesday, it must be Notre Dame and Western Michigan

“Picks” is probably a misnomer. It’s one Tuesday night game.
Notre Dame at Western Michigan The Fighting Irish have a nine-game unbeaten streak (7-0-2) on the line when they play in Lawson Arena tonight, a number that includes five wins decided by a single goal. The most recent of those was a 3-2 overtime win against visiting Boston College last Friday night, Nov. 18, in what Notre Dame is calling the Compton Family Ice Arena “Dedication Game.” Trailing 1-0 after the first on a Boston College penalty shot, ND scored two second-period goals to take the lead, but BC evened it in the closing minutes of regulation. With two seconds left in overtime, Bryan Rust scored the game winner from Sean Lorenz and Sam Calabrese. The Broncos, on the other hand, are trying to stop a four-game losing streak, their last loss coming in South Bend last Tuesday night, Nov. 15, a 3-2 decision in which the Irish scored all three goals in a seven-minute span in the second period. In all four of WMU’s recent losses, the Broncos have mustered two goals per contest. I said last week that if that game were being played in Lawson, I’d call it for WMU. As much as I hate to call against a team with a streak like Notre Dame’s, that’s how I’m calling it. Pick: WMU 3-2
Full picks for the weekend will come Friday morning. Tomorrow’s column will feature Alaska.
As always, there’s Twitter (@paulacweston), email ([email protected]), or the forum below. I’m grateful for the conversation — and not just because it’s Thanksgiving Week here in the States.