Last week:
Dan: 5-3-3
Chris: 4-4-3
On the season:
Dan: 39-23-6 (.618)
Chris: 42-20-6 (.662)
This Week’s Picks:
Friday, November 14 and Saturday, November 15
Holy Cross at Army
Dan: David Berard enlightened me to the Holy Cross team concept of strong defense last week. To be honest, I’m pretty high on the Crusaders right now. I said at the beginning of the year that this team will go as far as its defense. With Matt Ginn playing at a high level, that’s pretty darn high. Holy Cross sweeps.
Chris: I haven’t been doing very well picking against Holy Cross, and after seeing them in person last weekend, I’m sold. The Crusaders are getting scoring from their rookies and play great team defense. Of course, the exact same thing can be said of Army. Still, I’m not going to get burned again so I’m going with a Holy Cross sweep.
Mercyhurst at Bentley
Dan: For the first time in seven years, there’s going to be a brand spanking new face calling a Bentley home game thanks to upcoming nuptials. At the same time, though, this has the makings of everything I want in a jinxable scenario. A) It’s my wedding weekend, which is awesome except for the decision to get married during hockey season (clearly her fault!). B) I already said Mercyhurst is my foil for the season, meaning I could jinx them with my good vibrations. C) At the same time, I could jinx Bentley by overconfidently picking them. So I’m taking a split with absolutely no hockey analysis whatsoever. Best of luck to Jefferson Mills on the call this weekend; you should have a good one. Bentley wins on Friday, Mercyhurst wins on Saturday.
Chris: This is going to be a great series between two teams that like to score in bunches. Too bad Dan won’t be broadcasting these – I hear he has other plans. Priorities, Dan! Anyway, I think this will be a split and am going with Bentley on Friday and Mercyhurst on Saturday.
Rochester Institute of Technology at Canisius
Dan: I think RIT is the only place west of Albany not owned or built by Terry Pegula in some capacity. RIT sweeps.
Chris: These will be the 78th and 79th all-time meetings between the WNY rivals. They’re the first league home games for the Golden Griffins at their new diggs, downtown Buffalo’s HarborCenter. It’s the only two games between the schools this season, so both look to make the most of it, but I like Canisius to sweep on home ice.
Air Force at Robert Morris
Dan: This is one of those series where anything can happen. RMU is coming in piping hot, even though they were off last week, and Air Force is going to have a compete level through the roof given their loss last week to Alabama-Huntsville. I love the coaching matchup between two guys synonymous with “compete level.” Slight edge to Robert Morris right now, but I still think Air Force gets a win. Air Force wins on Friday. Robert Morris wins on Saturday.
Chris: Games between the two former CHA rivals are usually close and entertaining. Will a week off cool RMU’s hot streak? Air Force is coming off a forgettable weekend at home against Alabama-Huntsville (loss and a tie), and I think the break in RMU’s momentum will be brief as they sweep at home.
American International at Michigan
Dan: AIC is coming off a forgettable game against UMass. I think they’ll struggle to win this weekend with a very talented Michigan team, but don’t be shocked if they don’t put a scare into the Wolverines. There should be some great atmosphere as well since Michigan football is on a bye and Michigan basketball doesn’t open up until Monday. Michigan sweeps.
Chris: This series features the two longest-tenured coaches in Division I. Both Michigan’s Red Berenson and AIC’s Gary Wright are in the 31st seasons at their respective schools. The teams also sport similar records coming into the weekend: AIC is 2-5-1 while Michigan is 2-5. But the Wolverines are much deeper and are looking to open a long homestand in style. Michigan sweeps.
Friday, November 14
Sacred Heart vs. Connecticut
Dan: I’m not even gone yet and already everything goes to hell. Chris and I forgot this through our first run through the picks. I blame Chris. Anyways, gotta love old friends dueling on neutral ice in the Nutmeg State. I’m excited to see what happens here and excited to see a good goaltending matchup. Slight edge defensively to UConn, slight edge everywhere else to Sacred Heart in net and up front. SHU wins.
Chris: Yep. My bad. I left this out despite Tweeting about it this week. The game is being played at the Taft School in Watertown, Connecticut with proceeds going to the family of Jason Pagni, who was killed in an automobile accident the past January, leaving a wife and two kids. He was known for his many contributions to hockey in the Nutmeg State. The game is already sold out. I have to disagree with Dan based on the way UConn has already made an impact in Hockey East. UConn wins.
