Unfortunately, Jim and I only disagreed on one game last week, the tie between Providence and Northeastern. So we both suffered identically disastrous results. Too much early dipping into the holiday eggnog.
Dave last week: 2-4-2
Jim last week: 2-4-2
Dave’s record-to-date: 72-39-12
Jim’s record-to-date: 73-38-12
Here are this week’s picks:
Friday, Dec. 13
American International at Maine
Dave’s pick: On Friday the 13th, the Alfond crowd gives AIC its best Freddy Krueger impersonation.
Maine 5, AIC 1
Jim’s pick: AIC will have to bring a lot more game than it did against Massachusetts-Lowell recently. They may keep one game vs. Maine close, but I see the Black Bears handling this weekend series with ease.
Maine 4, AIC 1
Saturday, Dec. 14
Massachusetts at Colgate
Dave’s pick: UMass may have gotten off the schneid in terms of road games last weekend at Notre Dame, but that 1-8-1 record away from the Mullins Center still leaves me with doubts.
Colgate 3, UMass 2
Jim’s pick: I agree with Dave that this is a tight game, but I like the Minutemen after getting some confidence at Notre Dame.
UMass 3, Colgate, 2
Bentley at Boston University
Dave’s pick: Bentley has lost by only a single goal to seventh-ranked Quinnipiac, Maine and (not counting empty-netters) Merrimack, so if the Terriers plan on just showing up, their disappointing first half is going to get even worse. But falling to 10th place has got to be an impossible-to-ignore wake-up call. Right?
BU 3, Bentley 2
Jim’s pick: This is one I don’t see staying close.
BU 5, Bentley 2
American International at Maine
Dave’s pick: Maine sweeps to drive its record at Alfond to 9-1-0.
Maine 4, AIC 1
Jim’s pick: A sweep it is.
Maine 3, AIC 2
St. Lawrence at Vermont
Dave’s pick: The Catamounts have won three straight at home. Make it four.
UVM 3, SLU 2
Jim’s pick: Vermont is playing excellent hockey right now. It continues.
UVM 4, SLU 1
Sunday, Dec. 15
Massachusetts at Colgate
Dave’s pick: This weekend series has split written all over it, but I don’t want to “pull a Jimmy” and get two wrong picks for choosing the split the wrong way. So I’m going against every Hockey East bone in my body and opting for the Colgate split.
Colgate 3 UMass 2
Jim’s pick: And I will pick a sweep as well, just the other way.
UMass 4, Colgate 2
Tuesday, Dec. 17
Northeastern at Vermont
Dave’s pick: Home cooking proves decisive in this tight match-up, although the Catamounts need overtime to pull out the win.
UVM 4, NU 3 (OT)
Jim’s pick: Both teams are playing well but I am done picking against NU only to end up with egg on my face.
NU 3, UVM 2
Denver at Massachusetts
Dave’s pick: UMass fans may be saying, “He isn’t going to pick us to lose all three this week, is he?” Sorry about that. The Pioneers have gotten off to only a modest start so far, but I still see them as too tough to top.
DU 3, UMass 2 (OT)
Jim’s pick: Even at home, I think Denver is one step above the Minutemen.
DU 4, UMass 2
