We both had identically respectable weeks, which isn’t bad considering all of the splits a weekend ago.Jim last week: 9-4-1Dave last week: 9-4-1Jim to date: 55-41-17Dave to date: 58-38-17Friday, November 25Friendship Four (Belfast, N.I.)Massachusetts vs. Vermont (11:00 a.m. ET, TV: NESN/ASN)Jim’s pick: The first edition of this special event nearly resulted in numerous upsets, but UMass-Lowell, the favorite entering, came out on top. At least in this game, I think picking the favorite is a must.UVM 4, UMass 2Dave’s pick: Jim has direct experience with this tournament that I lack, but we share the same conclusion, at least for this game.UVM 4, UMass 2Shillelagh Tournament (South Bend, Ind.)Holy Cross at Notre DameJim’s pick: Holy Cross has given some Hockey East teams a fit. But, simply put, Notre Dame is the better team here.UND 4, HC 1Dave’s pick: Agreed. The Irish aren’t number 12 in the country for nothing.UND 3, HC 1Minnesota at NortheasternJim’s pick: I really don’t have a good feeling for how good Northeastern is. But I’m ready to pick an upset, so let’s go with this one.NU 5, MN 4Dave’s pick: This was toughest pick of the week for me and I was tempted to go for the Huskies on home ice. But they’ve been a bit too up and down for me, so even though some of that could attributed to John Stevens being out of the lineup, I’ll stick with the Gophers.MN 4, NU 3 (OT)Providence at MerrimackJim’s pick: I liked the way Providence played this past weekend, so I’ll go with the Friars, even on the road.PC 3, MC 2Dave’s pick: I wasn’t impressed with Providence’s play at Northeastern for the first 45 minutes last Friday, but I still think they’re the decidedly better team, even in Merrimack’s little House of Horrors.PC 4, MC 3Saturday, November 26Friendship Four (Belfast, N.I.)Consolation (11 a.m. ET)/Championship (2:30 p.m. ET – TV: NESN/ASN)Jim’s pick: If Quinnipiac reaches the title game, I’m not picking against them. If it’s St. Lawrence, that’s a much more difficult decision. We will pick all possible outcomes to cover both games.QU 3, UVM 2; QU 4, UMass 1; UVM 3, SLU 2; SLU 4, UMass 2Dave’s pick: Hockey East Homer Hendrickson is going to pull a Benedict Arnold here and go with either of the ECAC teams over both of the good guys.QU 4, UVM 2; QU 5, UMass 1; SLU 3, UVM 2; SLU 4, UMass 1Shillelagh Tournament (South Bend, Ind.)Clarkson/Yale at Notre Dame (Consolation or Championship)Jim’s pick: Either of these could be difficult matchups for the Irish. But I’ll play Hockey East homer here.UND 3, Yale 1; UND 4, Clarkson 3Dave’s pick: Jim is working on my Homer side of the street, but I ain’t crossing over to the side. The Irish are just too good.UND 4, Yale 1; UND 3, Clarkson 2New Hampshire vs. Cornell (at Madison Square Garden, New York)Jim’s pick: I like some of the effort from UNH of late, but I have to go with the favorite.CU 4, UNH 2Dave’s pick: The Wildcats have won two straight, but Cornell has taken three of four and I guess I’m going against Hockey East yet again.CU 3, UNH 2Brown at MaineJim’s pick: Maine plays so well at home, so I have to pick them.UM 5, Brown 3Dave’s pick: I’d be picking the Black Bears over 1-7-0 Brown at any venue on the planet. At Alfond, this is a no-brainer.UM 4, Brown 1Colgate at ProvidenceJim’s pick: This one is a toss up to me, so I’ll pick Providence on home ice.PC 3, CU 2Dave’s pick: Here’s another one where home ice makes the choice easier, but I’d be picking the Friars regardless of venue in this match-up.PC 4, CU 2Sacred Heart at ConnecticutJim’s pick: This game has proven a challenge for UConn in the past and SHU has been strong this season against Hockey East opponents. And after outlining that, I’m going with UConn.UC 3, SHU 1Dave’s pick: I’m with UConn both as the stronger team and also at home.UC 4, SHU 1Sunday, November 27Minnesota at Boston CollegeJim’s pick: BC has played well of late, but seeing as I picked Minnesota to lose on Friday, I have a feeling the Gophers will be hungry on Sunday.MN 4, BC 3Dave’s pick: Despite that loss to Harvard last week, I’m still an Eagles believer.BC 4, MN 2Tuesday, November 29Boston College at NortheasternJim’s pick: The final game of what amounts to the BC-NU-MN round robin goes to the Eagles.BC 4, NU 2Dave’s pick: The Huskies will make it tough on home ice, but the Eagles will win to make them 12-1-1 over the last 14.BC 4, NU 3
