If you have not tuned in to any College Hockey yet this year, now is a perfect time to watch your first bits of action. The Frozen Four is the NCAA Men’s Hockey Tournament version of College Basketball’s Final Four. No. 1 Boston College, No. 2 Boston University, No. 3 Denver, and No. 10 Michigan are the last programs standing.
Each program combines for 28 Hockey National Championships and is supported by some of NCAA Hockey’s most rabid and passionate fanbases. All four teams are in the nation’s top 4 Goals Scored Per Game. Hopefully my Frozen Four picks help you decipher what NCAA Hockey bets to place.
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Frozen Four Picks – NCAA Men’s Hockey Tournament Bets
8:30 PM (-180) Boston College vs. Michigan (+140)
Total: Over 7 (-135) Under 7 (+105)
Puck Line: BC -1.5 (+120) Mich. +1.5 (-150)
The theme of this year’s Frozen Four is explosive offense. Boston College and Michigan feature seven of the nation’s Top 14 leaders in points. Will Smith (69), Cutter Gauthier (64), Ryan Leonard (59), and Gabe Perreault (57) represent the Eagles. Gavin Brindley (53), Rutger McGroarty (52), Dylan Duke (49), and T.J. Hughes (48) play for the Wolverines. It is a simple handicap, hopefully, a winning one; the Over 7 is a great play.
Only two men can stop this over from hitting and it’s the two netminders. True Freshman Jacob Fowler is the best goalie remaining in the NCAA Men’s Hockey Tournament. The 19-year-old plays his best hockey under the bright lights.
In 2023, Fowler helped Team USA win the World Juniors with an undefeated record and an impressive 1.75 GAA. He also led the Youngstown Phantoms to the USHL Clark Cup Championship. Fowler had a 1.36 GAA with a .952 save percentage during the run.
Jake Barczewski is the other goaltender who could disrupt this over. He struggled early in the season, but with some help from the strong offense, he has the 13th most wins in the country this year. Barczewski owns a pedestrian 2.81 GAA (44th), but his experience allows him to shine in the postseason.
The 25-year-old is a grad transfer from Canisius with NCAA Tournament experience. A 38-save performance aided the Wolverines to a Regional Final victory over Michigan State. If Barczewski puts together another performance like that, the over could be in trouble.
Boston College vs. Michigan Frozen Four Picks
The X-factor in this matchup is the Boston College power play. BC has the 2nd best PP% in the country (29.9%) and only trail Michigan’s PP which has a 34.5% success rate. Boston College has the #1 penalty kill in the country, meanwhile the Wolverines discipline is questionable. Michigan has taken the 7th most penalty minutes in the country and their PK ranks just 45th out of 64 D1 teams.
Additionally, Michigan’s defensive unit has been the big hole for them this year. The Wolverines are in the middle of an 8-2 span that took them from being left out of the Big Dance to sneaking in as an at-large bid.
The week and a half of off time most negatively impacts Michigan’s defense, whereas Boston College will be able to pick up their historic season right where they left off. I think BC will put up 5+ goals, while Michigan’s offense also contributes to hitting the over.
-180 Boston College ML (DraftKings)
+120 Boston College -1.5 (DraftKings)
-135 Boston College/Michigan Over 7 (DraftKings)
8:30 PM (-166) Boston University vs. Denver (+130)
Total: Over 7 (-105) Under 7 (-125)
Puck Line: BU -1.5 (+135) DU +1.5 (-175)
Both teams have explosive offenses; however, these two teams’ identities have been sculpted by their excellent head coaches. Jay Pandolfo mans the bench for Boston University, and David Carle steers the Denver Pioneers wagon.
Not much separates the two teams, so whichever coach can devise ways to slow down the other’s offense will be victorious. This game is definitely more of a 50/50 coin flip than the other matchup, so I’m on the dog here.
Boston University breezed through their regional with 6-3 victories over Minnesota and RIT. However, Denver had the more impressive Regional performance. They escaped from the Springfield Regional by basically winning two road games over UMass and Cornell. The Pios have also advanced to the Frozen Four without Jack Devine scoring a goal.
Devine is DU’s leading goal scorer who also has the 4th most goals in the country. It speaks to how good the Pioneers’ offensive depth is. Plus, if Massimo Rizzo returns from injury for DU he is another huge difference maker. Prior to Rizzo’s recent 14-game absence, he was putting up 1.57 points per game, which would put him 5th in the nation in that category.
Even though I have Denver edging out Boston University in this matchup, it will be tough to slow the Terriers’ offense down. BU is led by the surefire No. 1 Overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, Macklin Celebrini. At 17 years old, Celebrini is the youngest player in the country and has put up the second-most points (64) in the D1 ranks.
Boston University vs. Denver Frozen Four Picks
-105 Boston University/Denver Over 7 (DraftKings)
+130 Denver ML (DraftKings)
National Championship Pick
Since the calendar flipped, Boston College has been the most impressive team. The Eagles have dropped just two games in the 2024 year and haven’t lost a game since the Beanpot final against Boston University.
Should BC play BU in the National Championship the Eagles lead the season series 3-1. If Boston College plays Denver, they would have a massive goaltending advantage. I think Greg Brown will lead Boston College to a National Championship. It would be BC’s first since he was an assistant on the bench. It is also fitting since Brown won a natty with the Eagles as a player as well.
+150 Boston College NCAA Men’s Hockey Tournament National Champion
