Bracketology picks
The road to St. Louis begins with the Regionals of the NCAA tournament which this year will be held in Manchester, NH, Rochester, NY, Grand Rapids, MI, and Denver, CO.
Lets review the brackets and what they will look like.
East vs Northeast
Midwest vs West
In the East Region we have Boston College vs Bemidji State and Harvard vs Miami.
Here are my picks for the East regional.
Boston College vs Bemidji State:
Bemidji will make its third straight NCAA apperance, two years ago the Beavers nearly pulled off the upset over eventual National Champion Denver, taking them to overtime. This will be no easy task however, as the Eagles are coming in (at least in this bracket) as the number one overall seed. This year Bemidji State won't pull off anything, and the Eagles will dominate.
Final Score- BC 6, BSU 2
Harvard vs Miami:
The most intriguing matchup in the first round, Harvard and Miami will both go into the tournament in opposite directions. Harvard as mentioned yesterday was picked by me to win the ECACHL, while Miami struggled in the CCHA semifinal and consolation game. Although Miami had 29 wins, the Redhawks are the three seed based on their conference tournament status. Meanwhile Harvard comes in on a roll winning the ECACHL regular season and tournament. This will be a close one, and a defensive struggle but in the end the Crimson prevail giving Ted Donato his first ever NCAA touranment victory.
Final Score- HU 3, Miami 1
Regional Final- Boston College vs Harvard:
They will meet two times in the regular season. Let's add a third game however. Harvard is a gritty team that likes to take out the trash. The Eagles are a strong defensive team with a solid offense this year. This will come down to the goaltenders in which the edge goes to Boston College goalie Cory Schneider who has big game experience. In the end the Eagles will be the first team to go to the Frozen Four.
Final Score- BC 4, HU 1
The Eagles will face the winner of the Northeast Regional who has host New Hampshire and another in state team in Dartmouth as well as top seed Wisconsin and CCHA tournament champion Michigan State.
Here are the picks for the Northeast Regional.
Wisconsin vs Dartmouth:
Dartmouth has the home crowd edge in this one. Wisconsin is the defending National Champion. Dartmouth made the ECACHL final which got them the bid, Wisconsin with a strong core of talent this year will be a number one seed for the second straight year. The game will be a defensive game with two strong goaltenders in Dartmouth's Mike Devine, and Wisconsin's Brian Elliott. The edge will go to Wisconsin again because of big game experience therefore the Badgers will win a tight one.
Final Score: Wisconsin 2, Dartmouth 1
Michigan State vs New Hampshire:
The home-ice advatange will be key in order for UNH to win. After all they are the host school. And not to forget that this is a rematch from last season's NCAA first round regional in which Michigan State won 1-0. Michigan State does have a strong team this year, and will be led by goaltender Jeff Lerg. UNH has a solid offense returning and will be the vital part of their season. Kevin Regan will improve in net this year. In the end I like the Wildcats to pull off the upset over the Spartans.
Final Score: UNH 4, MSU 3 (OT)
Regional Final- Wisconsin vs New Hampshire:
The Wildcats came off an overtime victory over Michigan State at home so this will be the biggest hockey event ever to come from New Hampshire. Wisconsin is the strong defensive team, while UNH has a very good offensive attack. They do say defense wins championships. Wisconsin with the better defense wins in New Hampshire ending the Wildcats' season and thus having the Badgers heading to the Frozen Four.
Final Score: Wisconsin 3, UNH 1
So the first matchup is set with a rematch of the National Championship in the National Semi-Finals as Boston College will face Wisconsin.
So lets go to the next regional the West Regional who has Cornell, Maine, North Dakota, and Ohio State.
Here are the West Regional Picks
North Dakota vs Cornell:
North Dakota might have lost a lot of underclassmen to the NHL, however the Fighting Sioux will reload. With T.J. Oshie and Jonathan Toews coming back, the Sioux will rally around them for the offensive production. Cornell is faced with the same situation as well, losing three underclassmen. Cornell just squeezed in on the last day with a consolation victory over Colgate in the ECACHL tournament. North Dakota with its size and speed will be too much for Cornell to handle.
Final Score: UND 4, Cornell 1
Maine vs Ohio State:
The Buckeyes have the top goaltender who they recruited from the class of 2006 in Joe Palmer. Expect him to make an immediate impact for the Buckeyes. Maine has an experienced team coming back from its Frozen Four season. Michel Leveille is one of the most underrated players in the country and goaltender Ben Bishop is the most underrated goaltender in the country. Therefore I will go with the Black Bears to win a close one.
Final Score: Maine 3, Ohio State 2
Regional Final- North Dakota vs Maine:
Probably the best matchup in the regional final(s). North Dakota might have the edge offensively, but Maine has the edge in experience. Oshie and Toews will have an impact on this game for the Sioux, while Ben Bishop, last years hero from their Frozen Four team in 2005-2006 will play another big game. Bishop with the big game experience has the edge over Phillipe Laramoux. The game will come down to goaltending therefore Bishop and the Black Bears will make the Frozen Four.
Final Score: Maine 3, North Dakota 2
The final regional is the Midwest regional with Boston University, Minnesota, Michigan, and Sacred Heart.
Here are the picks for the Midwest Regional.
Minnesota vs Sacred Heart:
Last year the Gophers were upset by Holy Cross in the biggest cinderella victory in NCAA Hockey Tournament history. This year it won't happen. Minnesota is just too strong and will move on with a big victory.
Final Score: Minnesota 5, Sacred Heart 2
Michigan vs Boston University:
A matchup of two historic teams in NCAA hockey. BU might have the edge in goal with John Curry, but will still need to find a way to stop Michigan's potent offense. T.J. Hensick and the Wolverines will get the victory, therefore knocking out BU and keeping the streak alive for BU's consecutive streak without making the Frozen Four.
Final Score: Michigan 4, Boston University 2
Regional Final- Minnesota vs Michigan:
This has been a frequent thing, Minnesota vs Michigan in the NCAA tournament. They faced each other two times in the Frozen Four, both semi-final games, and both victories for Minnesota who after both those games went on to win the National Championship. I don't see any of that changing this year as the Gophers will make their fourth Frozen Four in six years.
Final Score: Minnesota 5, Michigan 3
So the Frozen Four is set.
Minnesota vs Maine
Boston College vs Wisconsin
Who will win the Frozen Four? Find out tommorrow as hockeynuts will preview the pre-season Frozen Four.
Lets review the brackets and what they will look like.
East vs Northeast
Midwest vs West
In the East Region we have Boston College vs Bemidji State and Harvard vs Miami.
Here are my picks for the East regional.
Boston College vs Bemidji State:
Bemidji will make its third straight NCAA apperance, two years ago the Beavers nearly pulled off the upset over eventual National Champion Denver, taking them to overtime. This will be no easy task however, as the Eagles are coming in (at least in this bracket) as the number one overall seed. This year Bemidji State won't pull off anything, and the Eagles will dominate.
Final Score- BC 6, BSU 2
Harvard vs Miami:
The most intriguing matchup in the first round, Harvard and Miami will both go into the tournament in opposite directions. Harvard as mentioned yesterday was picked by me to win the ECACHL, while Miami struggled in the CCHA semifinal and consolation game. Although Miami had 29 wins, the Redhawks are the three seed based on their conference tournament status. Meanwhile Harvard comes in on a roll winning the ECACHL regular season and tournament. This will be a close one, and a defensive struggle but in the end the Crimson prevail giving Ted Donato his first ever NCAA touranment victory.
Final Score- HU 3, Miami 1
Regional Final- Boston College vs Harvard:
They will meet two times in the regular season. Let's add a third game however. Harvard is a gritty team that likes to take out the trash. The Eagles are a strong defensive team with a solid offense this year. This will come down to the goaltenders in which the edge goes to Boston College goalie Cory Schneider who has big game experience. In the end the Eagles will be the first team to go to the Frozen Four.
Final Score- BC 4, HU 1
The Eagles will face the winner of the Northeast Regional who has host New Hampshire and another in state team in Dartmouth as well as top seed Wisconsin and CCHA tournament champion Michigan State.
Here are the picks for the Northeast Regional.
Wisconsin vs Dartmouth:
Dartmouth has the home crowd edge in this one. Wisconsin is the defending National Champion. Dartmouth made the ECACHL final which got them the bid, Wisconsin with a strong core of talent this year will be a number one seed for the second straight year. The game will be a defensive game with two strong goaltenders in Dartmouth's Mike Devine, and Wisconsin's Brian Elliott. The edge will go to Wisconsin again because of big game experience therefore the Badgers will win a tight one.
Final Score: Wisconsin 2, Dartmouth 1
Michigan State vs New Hampshire:
The home-ice advatange will be key in order for UNH to win. After all they are the host school. And not to forget that this is a rematch from last season's NCAA first round regional in which Michigan State won 1-0. Michigan State does have a strong team this year, and will be led by goaltender Jeff Lerg. UNH has a solid offense returning and will be the vital part of their season. Kevin Regan will improve in net this year. In the end I like the Wildcats to pull off the upset over the Spartans.
Final Score: UNH 4, MSU 3 (OT)
Regional Final- Wisconsin vs New Hampshire:
The Wildcats came off an overtime victory over Michigan State at home so this will be the biggest hockey event ever to come from New Hampshire. Wisconsin is the strong defensive team, while UNH has a very good offensive attack. They do say defense wins championships. Wisconsin with the better defense wins in New Hampshire ending the Wildcats' season and thus having the Badgers heading to the Frozen Four.
Final Score: Wisconsin 3, UNH 1
So the first matchup is set with a rematch of the National Championship in the National Semi-Finals as Boston College will face Wisconsin.
So lets go to the next regional the West Regional who has Cornell, Maine, North Dakota, and Ohio State.
Here are the West Regional Picks
North Dakota vs Cornell:
North Dakota might have lost a lot of underclassmen to the NHL, however the Fighting Sioux will reload. With T.J. Oshie and Jonathan Toews coming back, the Sioux will rally around them for the offensive production. Cornell is faced with the same situation as well, losing three underclassmen. Cornell just squeezed in on the last day with a consolation victory over Colgate in the ECACHL tournament. North Dakota with its size and speed will be too much for Cornell to handle.
Final Score: UND 4, Cornell 1
Maine vs Ohio State:
The Buckeyes have the top goaltender who they recruited from the class of 2006 in Joe Palmer. Expect him to make an immediate impact for the Buckeyes. Maine has an experienced team coming back from its Frozen Four season. Michel Leveille is one of the most underrated players in the country and goaltender Ben Bishop is the most underrated goaltender in the country. Therefore I will go with the Black Bears to win a close one.
Final Score: Maine 3, Ohio State 2
Regional Final- North Dakota vs Maine:
Probably the best matchup in the regional final(s). North Dakota might have the edge offensively, but Maine has the edge in experience. Oshie and Toews will have an impact on this game for the Sioux, while Ben Bishop, last years hero from their Frozen Four team in 2005-2006 will play another big game. Bishop with the big game experience has the edge over Phillipe Laramoux. The game will come down to goaltending therefore Bishop and the Black Bears will make the Frozen Four.
Final Score: Maine 3, North Dakota 2
The final regional is the Midwest regional with Boston University, Minnesota, Michigan, and Sacred Heart.
Here are the picks for the Midwest Regional.
Minnesota vs Sacred Heart:
Last year the Gophers were upset by Holy Cross in the biggest cinderella victory in NCAA Hockey Tournament history. This year it won't happen. Minnesota is just too strong and will move on with a big victory.
Final Score: Minnesota 5, Sacred Heart 2
Michigan vs Boston University:
A matchup of two historic teams in NCAA hockey. BU might have the edge in goal with John Curry, but will still need to find a way to stop Michigan's potent offense. T.J. Hensick and the Wolverines will get the victory, therefore knocking out BU and keeping the streak alive for BU's consecutive streak without making the Frozen Four.
Final Score: Michigan 4, Boston University 2
Regional Final- Minnesota vs Michigan:
This has been a frequent thing, Minnesota vs Michigan in the NCAA tournament. They faced each other two times in the Frozen Four, both semi-final games, and both victories for Minnesota who after both those games went on to win the National Championship. I don't see any of that changing this year as the Gophers will make their fourth Frozen Four in six years.
Final Score: Minnesota 5, Michigan 3
So the Frozen Four is set.
Minnesota vs Maine
Boston College vs Wisconsin
Who will win the Frozen Four? Find out tommorrow as hockeynuts will preview the pre-season Frozen Four.
posted by Hockey Crishnas at 9:32 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home