Faceoff Factor

Frozen Madness: NCAA Tournament Preview Part Deux

Andrew Chiappazzi | College/NCAA

Mar 25, 07:04 PM | Hype this story!

We took a quick cursory look at the NCAA Bracket yesterday, so with games just a few days off, it’s time to do a bit of a breakdown and prediction series, all the way to the championship.

Now, while we’ll be doing the breakdown and analysis here with each game, Faceoff Factor will drift back into the “newsy” section of reporting once the games actually get under way.

Let’s get it on!

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Note – all games are televised on ESPN-U.

ALBANY REGION
1. Michigan versus 4. Niagara, 7:30pm EST on Friday
Sad to say, but Niagara doesn’t really have much of a chance. If the Wolverines were a weak number one, or if Niagara had a better resume of beating championship contenders, then maybe an intrepid forecaster would pick the upset. Not here. Michigan should roll.
2. St. Cloud State versus 3. Clarkson, 4:30 EST on Friday
Initial reactions would be to pick the higher seed, but you have to understand how this has shuffled out. St. Cloud State is only the higher seed because they play in the better conference, but Clarkson has a better pedigree. After all, they’re in the tournament as an at-large bid out of the ECAC. Oh, by the way, they’re angry about not winning the conference title as the favorite. Looks good for Clarkson, bad for the Huskies.

Predicted Regional Final – 1. Michigan vs 3. Clarkson, 7:00 EST on Saturday
Clarkson had problems on the road against Colorado College; the Wolverines are better and will display it here in the regional final. It’ll be a close game early, but ultimately Michigan should be able to break Clarkson’s will and win by two goals.

WORCESTER BRACKET
1. Miami versus 4. Air Force, 4:00 EST on Saturday
Another first round exit for the Redhawks? Not likely. Air Force is a good team but the Atlantic Hockey conference has a lot of work to do to pull off an upset. Miami is just too potent.
2. Boston College versus 3. Minnesota, 7:00 EST on Saturday
The Golden Gophers apparently have rallied around the absence of Kyle Okposo – now of the New York Islanders – and have become a quality team. Boston College, though, is coming out of the tough Hockey East conference tournament with a title in hand. It’ll be a one goal game, but the Eagles will prevail.

Predicted Regional Final – 1. Miami vs 2. Boston College, 4:30 EST on Sunday
Miami has done very well against the eastern teams and BC hasn’t been tested as much. Their tests came early in the season, and they didn’t exactly pass with flying colors. If the Eagles win, it’s not an upset, but Miami should be able to come away with the victory and Frozen Four berth.

MADISON BRACKET
1. North Dakota versus 4. Princeton, 2:00 CT on Saturday
North Dakota just might be one of the favorites because of their goaltending and defense, as well as a sudden burst of firepower on offense. Princeton, well, they’re just happy to be here. Sioux should win easily.
2. Denver versus 3. Wisconsin, 5:30 CT on Saturday
This is the tough one, because Wisconsin will have a volatile home crowd behind them. Denver has ridden Peter Mannino in net to a phenomenal season, but Mannino did get burned for 9 goals in two games earlier in the year versus the Badgers. Wisconsin wins, but it’s not an upset because of the location.

Predicted Regional Final – 1. North Dakota vs 3. Wisconsin, 5:00 CT on Sunday
‘Sconsin might have the fans and the better record against the Sioux of late, but North Dakota is the better team this year. It could go to overtime, which would be a major benefit to Wisconsin, but the Sioux should be able to take care of business in a tight one.

COLORADO SPRINGS BRACKET
1. New Hampshire versus 4. Notre Dame, 4:30 MT on Friday
I have no real logic for picking this one. New Hampshire has done well against the western teams, while Notre Dame has had a roller coaster season. New Hampshire has more talent, more NHL prospects. But something says to me that in a one-game battle, New Hampshire traveling all the way out to Colorado may not be a good thing for the Wildcats. So we’ll go with the Irish in overtime.
2. Colorado College versus Michigan State
Sentimental pick is Michigan State, because you always want to see the defending champion get a shot to repeat. Not this time. Colorado College is playing at home and that will be too much for the Spartans.

Predicted Regional Final – 2. Colorado College vs 4. Notre Dame, 8:00 MT on Saturday
This is where the Irish’s happy bubble gets popped. Way too much to overcome for the Irish. Most four seeds, if they can win their first game, have spent too much to overcome those odds and fall the next round. That will be the case here, especially with the crowd on them as soon as they walk into the arena.

FROZEN FOUR – PEPSI CENTER, DENVER, COLORADO
1. Michigan versus 2. Colorado College, 7:00MT on 4/10 on ESPN2
Wolverines would be the highest seed in this bracket, Colorado College the lowest seed. Logic would dictate that the Tigers would have a the home advantage again, but that won’t matter as much for the Wolverines. They’re used to playing well in hostile environments, and they’re just too good to not make it to the championship game.

1. Miami versus 1. North Dakota, 4:00MT on 4/10 on ESPN2
Redhawks are the two seed, North Dakota the three seed, but they’re about even. This will come down to momentum, and North Dakota has it. Miami has had trouble in recent games against inferior opponents, and with one of the top teams in the country as their opponent, they’ll play well…but it won’t be enough.

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – PEPSI CENTER
1. North Dakota versus 1. Michigan, 4:00MT on 4/12 on ESPN
The two best conferences in college hockey, with the two best representatives of each conference – North Dakota out of the WCHA and Michigan out of the CCHA. Neither team has much of a home-ice advantage, so it comes down to one thing – Kevin Porter. This is a forward that has been dynamite, a player that raises the level of play of his teammates. Michigan has Porter, North Dakota does not. Porter and the Wolverines will take home the title.

We’ll see you next week.