{"id":102451,"date":"2020-01-02T22:10:05","date_gmt":"2020-01-03T04:10:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uscho.com\/?p=102451"},"modified":"2020-08-24T11:04:06","modified_gmt":"2020-08-24T16:04:06","slug":"nchc-picks-jan-2-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uscho.com\/2020\/01\/02\/nchc-picks-jan-2-2\/","title":{"rendered":"NCHC picks: Jan. 2"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Liam<\/a>
Liam Finlay and Denver host Massachusetts this weekend. (Candace Horgan)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Matthew and I were a fairly dismal 2-4 (.333) last week. First weeks back are always rough. Hopefully, we can do better this time. On the year, I am now 48-38-13 (.550), while Matthew is 45-41-13 (.520).<\/p>\n

Friday-Saturday, Jan. 3-4<\/strong><\/p>\n

No. 9 Massachusetts at No. 7 Denver<\/strong>
\nCandace:<\/strong> This has intensity written all over it. I’d imagine DU is eager for revenge from last year’s Frozen Four. The last time DU played a Hockey East team, I shied from predicting them to sweep, so I’m taking a chance. Denver 3-2, 3-2<\/strong>
\nMatthew:<\/strong> This should be a very fun series. UMass has done better in recent weeks, but I’m not worried about Denver even though December was a bit tough on the Pioneers. This will probably be a split. Massachusetts 3-2, Denver 3-2<\/strong><\/p>\n

Alabama Huntsville at No. 1 North Dakota<\/strong>
\nCandace:<\/strong> North Dakota will lose at some point in the second half, but it won’t be this weekend. North Dakota 4-2, 4-2<\/strong>
\nMatthew:<\/strong> I have a lot of time with Alabama Huntsville, having watched them in person several times when the old CHA conference tournament was held in my home state, and I’ve seen the Chargers a fair amount since then. I want nothing for the best for that program, but UND is a tough draw for them and indeed a lot of teams right now. North Dakota 4-1, 4-1<\/strong><\/p>\n

Omaha at Maine<\/strong>
\nCandace:<\/strong> Omaha has been struggling of late, and Maine hasn’t lost at home yet this year, but I don’t know that adds up to a Maine sweep. I’m struggling with this one. Maine 4-2, 3-2<\/strong>
\nMatthew:<\/strong> Omaha started the season really well, but that feels like some time ago now, especially with the Mavericks winning two of their last eight games. They’re visiting a Maine team that is unbeaten at home this season, but the Black Bears are 1-3-1 in their last five. This feels like a split, but who knows who would win which night? Omaha 3-1, Maine 3-1<\/strong><\/p>\n

Friday-Sunday, Jan. 3, 5<\/strong><\/p>\n

No. 19 Western Michigan vs No. 15 Notre Dame (home-and-home)<\/strong>
\nCandace:<\/strong> I have trouble seeing Western sweep this, so picking the home team for each game seems like the safer bet. Notre Dame 3-2, Western Michigan 4-2<\/strong>
\nMatthew:<\/strong> My usual deal with home-and-homes is to take the home teams, and although we haven’t seen Western at its best, I’m going that way again. Notre Dame 3-2, Western Michigan 3-2<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Matthew and I were a fairly dismal 2-4 (.333) last week. First weeks back are always rough. Hopefully, we can do better this time. On the year, I am now 48-38-13 (.550), while Matthew is 45-41-13 (.520). Friday-Saturday, Jan. 3-4 No. 9 Massachusetts at No. 7 Denver Candace: This has intensity written all over it. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":108228,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[934],"tags":[812],"coauthors":[813],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nNCHC picks: Jan. 2 - College Hockey | USCHO.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Matthew and I were a fairly dismal 2-4 (.333) last week. First weeks back are always rough. Hopefully, we can do better this time. 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