Last week:
Dan: 7-6
Chris: 9-4
On the season:
Dan: 27-18-7 (.587)
Chris: 29-16-7 (.625)
This Week’s Picks:
Thursday, November 3 and Friday, November 4
Niagara at Penn State
Dan: Penn State was bombs away against Canisius, and then they peppered the net with shots. I can’t see this going differently just on the odds of what might happen. Penn State sweeps.
Chris: Penn State put a ton of shots on net last weekend against Canisius, and if they repeat that performance against a Purple Eagles team looking for their first win, I think the Nittany Lions will sweep.
Holy Cross vs. American International
Dan: Holy Cross beat Union last Tuesday, and this is a home-and-home on Thursday-Friday. AIC’s schedule created a frenetic rest schedule, but I think the Crusaders are going to stay hot behind Paul Berrafato. Holy Cross sweeps.
Chris:AIC hosts on Thursday and then the action shifts to the Hart Center on the Holy Cross Campus on Friday. The Crusaders have some impressive wins so far, including a win against Union last Tuesday. I think they’ll stay hot and sweep.
Friday, November 4 and Saturday, November 5
Air Force at Army West Point
Dan: Oh man, is it gonna get wild. Nothing beats the importance of when the two service academies get together on the ice. This is our version of Army-Navy, and it’s always wild. On the ice, as good as Air Force is at home, they’ve struggled when coming east. With both games at West Point, I’m going to call it for the Black Knights in a surprising Army West Point sweep.
Chris:This is the first time that the service academies face off four times in the regular season. That won’t diminish the importance of these games, which feature two of the best goalies in not just the league, but in college hockey (Shane Starrett for the Falcons and Parker Gahagen for the Black Knights). I’m going with a split. Army wins Friday; Air Force Saturday.
Rochester Institute of Technology vs. Canisius
Dan: I got a first hand look at how good RIT can be last weekend. When they play the system, they’re one of the toughest teams to beat in Atlantic Hockey. For that reason, I’m taking them this weekend. RIT sweeps.
Chris: Canisius hosts Friday and RIT on Saturday. Goaltending will be key, especially for Canisius, which has been outshot in all but one game this season, and often by a large margin. The Tigers like to shoot, so watch for the potential of at least one high-scoring game. I’m going with an RIT sweep.
Robert Morris vs. Ohio State
Dan: Ohio State is on a mission to prove something this season, rocketing up the USCHO.com rankings to #11 this week. In a bit of a twist, it’ll be a home-and-home this weekend. Maybe it’s because I’m stuck in New England and never get out (much to the butt of jokes from the one and only Jim Connelly), but I didn’t realize only three hours separated the two schools. I’m taking the home team in each game, and I’m picking Friday in Lee Corso style. Ohio State wins on Friday, RMU on Saturday.
Chris: The Colonials have fared pretty well against ranked competition, going 8-8-1 over the past five season. They’ve had better luck against the No. 11 Buckeyes in Columbus, where Friday’s game takes place before moving to Moon Township on Saturday. I’m going to pick an upset here and go against history as well, picking THE Ohio State to win Friday and RMU to hand OSU its first loss of the season on Saturday.
Friday, November 4
Mercyhurst at Merrimack
Dan: I’m not disagreeing with Chris on this one. Dynamite analysis, isn’t it? Merrimack wins.
Chris: Both of these teams have experienced mixed results so far, but I think Merrimack will be the better team at home. Merrimack wins.
Sacred Heart at New Hampshire
Dan: THe biggest key is how teams adjust to the Olympic ice sheet in Durham. If any one of the teams facing the Wildcats can impose any type of physicality, it’ll become one of the huge advantages. I like Sacred Heart’s chances, and I think the Pioneers are due for a big breakthrough. This could be it. SHU wins.
Chris: UNH will host Mercyhurst and Sacred Heart this weekend, and I have a feeling that one AHC team will come out on top, I’m just not sure which. I’m basically flipping a coin and going with the Wildcats to win.
Saturday, November 5
Mercyhurst at New Hampshire
Dan: UNH is going to have a rough weekend if they get swept. I’ve always been one for picking gamble picks. So let’s see what we can do with this one. Mercyhurst wins.
Chris: See my UNH/SHU pick above. Just a gut feeling makes me pick the Lakers to pick up a road win.
Tuesday, November 8
Bentley at American International
Dan: The weird and wild AIC home schedule puts them on a short rest against the Falcons, who will have roughly 10 days off after getting swept by RIT. In what will be a physical, tough series, expect the energy levels to be up. Right now, I think Bentley is going to take the first game, but the Yellow Jackets are going to give them all they can handle. Bentley wins.
Chris:This is actually the first game of a Tuesday-Thursday series. We’ll pick Thursday’s game next week. For this one, I’m going with Bentley on the road.
