NCHC picks: Jan. 16

Last week, I went 5-3 (.625) while Matthew went 6-2 (.750). On the year, I am 77-34-7 (.682) and Matthew is 74-37-7 (.656). This league is a bear to pick. Let’s see how we do.

Friday-Saturday, Jan. 16-17

No. 8 Omaha at Colorado College
Candace: CC is the cellar-dwellar in the NCHC, but nobody should underestimate the Tigers. UNO coach Dean Blais knows this. Omaha 3-2, 3-1
Matthew: CC is a much better team than its record suggests, but I’m having difficulty seeing anything other than a sweep for Omaha here. Omaha 3-2. 2-1

St. Cloud State at No. 13 Denver
Candace: This is likely a split, but good luck picking the right date for the win. St. Cloud 3-2, Denver 2-1
Matthew: I have a feeling SCSU’s sweep of Miami last weekend is going to be a springboard toward a solid second-half run, and I think the Huskies will pick up another win this weekend. St. Cloud State 4-2, Denver 3-2

Western Michigan at No. 5 Minnesota-Duluth
Candace: I’m sure both these games will be a battle, but I’m picking the Bulldogs to sweep. Minnesota-Duluth 3-2, 3-1
Matthew: Western has been hot lately, and it split with UMD when the teams met in Duluth last weekend. I think it’s going to happen again here. Western Michigan 3-1, Minnesota-Duluth 2-0

Niagara at No. 3 North Dakota
Candace: Even with North Dakota’s penchant for difficulty on Friday, I don’t see anything but a UND sweep. North Dakota 4-2, 4-1
Matthew: One loss to the Purple Eagles — let alone two — would do some real damage to UND in terms of the PairWise. I don’t see it happening, though. North Dakota 3-1, 4-1