College Hockey Weekend Picks & Odds: Maine, Michigan State, UConn & More Showdowns
We are back for another action-packed weekend of college hockey with most teams settling into conference play. We had an excellent weekend of betting two weeks ago due to a sweep by underdog Minnesota Duluth and a win by UConn over Boston University. Let's keep the momentum rolling with the picks below.
For the latest NHL Odds, including NHL Futures and NHL player props, visit RotoWire's NHL Betting page. For up-to-date NHL player news and NHL Injury Report info, head to RotoWire's NHL Lineups page. You can find more picks at Bookies.com/picks. Here are our NHL Best Bets today, featuring expert NHL picks for an action-packed slate of games.
Preview and Key Matchups for Thursday Slate
No. 13 UMass Minutemen vs. No. 6 Maine Black Bears
Maine is known for physical and defensively sound hockey, but they have given up 3.0 goals per game (33rd) through the first month while scoring a whopping 4.1 goals per game (fifth). They scored a combined 13 goals in last weekend's sweep of Boston University as well. Meanwhile, UMass is coming off a split against Cornell, and they have scored 3.3 goals per game (29th) while giving up 2.9 goals per game (29th).
Both teams have excellent goaltenders who should bounce back with better defensive support, but the 5.5 O/U seems generous considering the offensive firepower on each side. Maine has Justin Poirier (eight goals, five assists) and Max Scott (three goals, six assists) while UMass has Jack Musa (six goals, seven assists) and Vaclav Nestrasil (seven goals, four assists).
Overall, Maine's performance last week is convincing enough to get me to take them on the road here, and the over has the edge, too.
- Maine ML (-120 DraftKings)
- O 5.5 (-130 DraftKings)
College Hockey Betting Picks & Odds for Friday's Games
No. 3 Penn State Nittany Lions at No. 1 Michigan State Spartans
Both of these teams have a bad loss on their respective resumes, but they've been perfect otherwise. Penn State is tied with Maine for fifth in the nation with 4.1 goals per game, while Michigan State ranks 10th with 3.8. In fact, both teams have scored at least three goals in every game this year. However, they have been solid defensively, too, as Michigan State ranks eighth with a 1.8 GAA and Penn State is 21st with 2.6 GAA. Penn State has rotated goalies so far between Kevin Reidler and Joshua Fleming. Michigan State has predictably stuck with Trey Augustine.
Penn State enters this series as road underdogs. They have a tendency to play with their food a bit, as they often are trailing or tied heading into the third period before they really turn it on. So far, they typically escape just fine with a 9-1-0 record. They can't get away with the same script against Michigan State, who convincingly swept Boston University on the road before predictably sweeping Northern Michigan two weeks ago.
Penn State is a strong team, but this will be their toughest test yet, and they won't have the same luxuries that they've faced against Long Island and Stonehill. The Spartans rank second in the nation with a 64.5 Corsi For percentage, and they have the better goaltender. I'm leaning Spartans here.
- Michigan State ML (-135 DraftKings)
- U 6.5 (+100 DraftKings)
No. 11 UConn Huskies vs. No. 15 Providence Friars
UConn is coming off a shaky weekend in which they tied Harvard, and Providence lost Saturday's game to unranked UMass-Lowell. They're both looking to bounce back with a convincing win against a Hockey East foe. UConn's offense has been highly volatile this season, scoring five-plus goals in three games while failing to score more than two goals four times. The Friars have had a similar issue, scoring at least five goals in three games while finishing with two or fewer in the other four.
Providence has a strong defensive game, ranking 14th in the nation with a 55.3 Corsi For percentage, but their goaltending has been suspect with Philip Svedeback notching an .893 save percentage. Meanwhile, UConn goaltender Tyler Muszelik has been phenomenal with a .929 mark.
Overall, I am still out on Providence in the long run. They seem to get worn down by relentless forechecks, and they should face one this weekend against the Huskies. Bettors should lean on betting both games in this series. I think UConn (-160) has the clear edge, especially at home, but there's not much value in taking them outright. Instead, I'd rather roll with the puckline to find some value.
- UConn -1.5 (+160 DraftKings)
No. 2 Michigan Wolverines vs. No. 10 Wisconsin Badgers
These are two of the best offensive teams in the country, as Michigan leads all non-Ivy schools with 5.3 goals per game, while Wisconsin sits at sixth with 3.9 goals per game. However, Wisconsin leads the nation with just a 1.4 GAA while Michigan is fourth with a 1.6 GAA. Both teams rely on freshman goaltenders, as Daniel Hauser has a .940 save percentage for the Badgers compared to Michigan goalie Jack Ivankovic's .934 mark.
The Badgers are undefeated with two ties against Minnesota State, and Michigan will clearly be their toughest test yet. Meanwhile, Michigan is battle-hardened with sweeps of Providence and Notre Dame while splitting a series against No. 4 Western Michigan. Michigan has lost defenseman Henry Mews, who had nine assists -- seven on the power play -- before his knee injury, for the season. His absence will be a big loss for the power play, where Michigan leads the nation by hitting at a 40.9 percent clip.
Something has to give. Will the offenses break through, or will this be a defensive game? I'm leaning on the under here. Both defenses and goalies are outstanding, and 6.5 is a big number to cover. Michigan certainly has the edge, but there's no value in the -250 line.
- U 6.5 (-105 DraftKings)
Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
The Golden Gophers are 2-7-1 through the first month of the season, defeating only Michigan Tech and No. 8 North Dakota. The latter win was highly impressive, but they've been mostly lifeless otherwise. They have scored three total goals over their last four games, averaging just 21.0 shots on net per game in that stretch. Furthermore, they rank 60th out of 63 teams with a 41.0 Corsi For percentage. They have faced excellent competition -- Wisconsin, North Dakota and Minnesota Duluth are all top-10 teams -- but the lack of offense is astounding.
The Fighting Irish haven't been world beaters, but they have scored 3.5 goals per game (17th). They are 3-4-1 and took Michigan to overtime last weekend. They have maintained a respectable 52.5 Corsi For percentage (17th). This will be a big road test for them, but they looked ready for Big Ten play last week, which should be enough to at least earn them a split this weekend.
- Notre Dame ML (+175 DraftKings)
Arizona State Sun Devils vs. No. 20 Colorado College Tigers
Colorado College has been among the best teams in the country at even strength, slotting in at sixth with a 60.6 Corsi For percentage. However, their penalty kill ranks 46th at 75.0 percent, and their power play has been atrocious at 12.5 percent. Their special teams is a lingering concern, but there's a massive opportunity this weekend, as the Sun Devils have given up 3.8 goals per game (50th) and 35.4 shots per game (57th). The Tigers are far more defensively sound with a 2.8 GAA and 26.9 shots allowed per game.
The Tigers have had some questionable losses and big wins this year, but they can roll here against an Arizona State team that has faced a similar fate. I'm taking the Tigers this weekend and the over.
- Colorado College ML (+140 DraftKings)
- O 6.5 (-120 DraftKings)
