Last week, Jim and I disagreed on only two picks. One of those games ended in a tie. In the other, he correctly picked the order of the Boston University – Michigan split, getting them both right.
Could it be that Jimmy is smarter than I am?
As Vizzini said in The Princess Bride, “Inconceivable!”
Dave last week: 8-3-3
Jim last week: 9-2-3
Dave’s record-to-date: 62-29-17
Jim’s record-to-date: 67-24-17
Here are this week’s picks:
Friday, Nov. 27
Friendship Four
Massachusetts-Lowell vs Northeastern
Dave’s pick: You’d have to put a gun to my head to force me to pick Northeastern in this one. Yes, the Huskies are much better than their 1-10-2 record, but the River Hawks are every bit as good as their 9-1-3 mark. Playing in Ireland doesn’t change that.
UML 3, NU 1
Jim’s pick: Northeastern is due for a victory but they are also down too many key players to pick here.
UML 4, NU 2
Princeton at Maine
Dave’s pick: Can the Black Bears make it three wins in a row? Yes, I think they can.
Maine 2, PU 1
Jim’s pick: Maybe it was good ol’ home cooking that Maine needed.
Maine 4, PU 2
Quinnipiac at Massachusetts
Dave’s pick: Perhaps the Minutemen can pull off a fourth straight tie, but I doubt it, not even at home. Undefeated Quinnipiac is too good.
QU 4, UMass 2
Jim’s pick: Agreed. I would like to have faith in UMass and, you never know in a game like this. But I have to pick with the odds.
QU 3, UMass 1
Shillelagh Tournament
Harvard at Notre Dame
Dave’s pick: I think the Irish are better than their 5-3-4 record, so I’m going with an upset over the eight-ranked Crimson.
UND 3, HU 2 (OT)
Jim’s pick: This is the toughest pick of the weekend. If Notre Dame plays three solid periods, I think they can win. But that game-long consistency has been an issue at times.
HU 4, UND 3
Saturday, Nov. 28
RIT at Boston College
Dave’s pick: This RIT club shares only the slightest resemblance to the edition that shared Ford Field with the Eagles at the Frozen Four six years ago. No contest.
BC 4, RIT 1
Jim’s pick: This is the classic teacher/student battle as Jerry York’s former player at Bowling Green, Wayne Wilson, will be on the opposite bench. But even that can’t help RIT.
BC 5, RIT 1
Friendship Four
Brown/Colgate vs Northeastern/Lowell
Dave’s pick: We’ll pick all the possibilities here. I’m going with both Hockey East teams regardless of the match-up.
UML 3, Colgate 2; UML 3, Brown 1; NU 3, Colgate 2; NU 2, Brown 1
Jim’s pick: Same here. Hockey East will earn the non-conference wins on day two in Belfast.
UML 3, Colgate 1; UML 4, Brown 1; NU 2, Colgate 1; NU 4, Brown 2
Union at Merrimack
Dave’s pick: Union has fallen on hard times of late and won’t be toppling Merrimack in its barn. Say hello to the 7-1-4 Warriors.
MC 3, Union 1
Jim’s pick: The upstart team in Hockey East keeps rolling.
MC 4, Union 2
Princeton at Maine
Dave’s pick: Logic says this series should be a split, but I’m giving Maine a four-game winning streak.
Maine 3, PU 2
Jim’s pick: I can’t disagree with Dave’s logic. Maine gets itself back to relevant.
Maine 3, PU 1
Yale at Providence
Dave’s pick: Yale looks to once again be fielding a strong team, but I’m not picking against the Friars until they give me a reason to. They remain undefeated and atop the national rankings.
PC 4, YU 3
Jim’s pick: This might be the best game of the weekend. And I love the way Providence is playing so they get my pick at home.
PC 3, YU 2
Massachusetts at Quinnipiac
Dave’s pick: Quinnipiac keeps pace with Providence as the only two undefeated teams in the country.
QU 4, UMass 2
Jim’s pick: I know UMass is good enough to take a win or a tie from this weekend. But I don’t have the intestinal fortitude to pick that.
QU 3, UMass 2
Bentley at New Hampshire
Dave’s pick: The Wildcats get a much-needed win after a rough 0-4-2 stretch.
UNH 4, Bentley 1
Jim’s pick: This is the game that New Hampshire needed after recent struggles. But they have to be careful of a Bentley team that already swept Northeastern.
UNH 3, Bentley 2
Shillelagh Tournament
Western Michigan/Rensselaer at Notre Dame
Dave’s pick: RPI will be the tougher match-up, but Notre Dame will prevail either way.
UND 3, RPI 2; UND 3, WMU 1
Jim’s pick: Notre Dame set itself up with the toughest matchup in the opening round. Day two should produce a victory
UND 2, RPI 1; UND 4, WMU 2
Red Hot Hockey
Cornell vs Boston University
Dave’s pick: I may have been a bit too optimistic about the Terriers so far, but I’m taking one more stab at it and going with them over 6-1-1 Cornell.
BU 3, CU 2 (OT)
Jim’s pick: This is a dangerous one as I am picking BU over Cornell. I just think, for some reason, this team loves this specific game at MSG.
BU 3, CU 2
Sunday, Nov. 29
Philadelphia College Hockey Faceoff
Vermont vs Penn State
Dave’s pick: Penn State is nowhere near as good as its 7-2-3 record, but it’s tough to go with the Catamounts after they got swept last weekend by Maine.
PSU 3, UVM 2
Jim’s pick: I actually think Vermont will get its head back on straight, even against a Penn State team that has a good record.
UVM 3, PSU 2
