Late March and early April is one of the best times of the year on the college sports calendar. We are in the thick of March Madness and also the 2025 NCAA Hockey Tournament begins this weekend. Then the Frozen Four takes place on the second weekend of the fourth month. College Hockey is super entertaining and we highly encourage you to find time to tune in this weekend. SGPN will even help you get an extra sweat on the action with these Frozen Four Picks.
2025 NCAA Hockey Tournament Betting Preview – Frozen Four Picks
Manchester Regional
Friday, 2:00 PM ET: (+2.5/+540) Bentley vs (-2.5/-975) Boston College (O/U 6.5)
Bentley is a tremendous story. In his second season on the bench Andy Jones has led the Falcons to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in program history. Unfortunately for the Atlantic Hockey representative they were slotted against the No. 1 overall team Boston College.
Ryan Leonard is probably the Hobey Baker Award frontrunner. Leonard is the nation’s leading goal scorer with 29 and 9 of those goals being game winners. Leonard steals a lot of the headlines but the backend for Boston College is really good this year too.
The Eagles are holding opponents to just 1.7 goals against per game. Two reasons for that are the country’s second best penalty kill unit and Jacob Fowler has been the best netminder in the country this year with a 1.64 GAA and .940 save percentage in this year’s best conference, that’s unreal.
Friday, 5:30 PM ET: (-1.5/-200) Denver vs (+1.5/+154) Providence (O/U 5.5)
Denver has underwhelmed this season but their firepower should get them past Providence. The Pioneers have the 2nd highest scoring team nationally netting 4 goals per game. The defending champs have two guys up for the Hobey Baker: D-Man Zeev Buium and forward Jack Devine.
Buium is one of only two defenseman up for the trophy and leads the NCAA with 42 points from the blue line. Devine had a terrific year leading the Pios to a Natty last season. He has followed it up with 54 points and a nation’s leading 41 assists. Lastly, DU has the 3rd best power play in the country lighting the lamp 29.4% of the time.
Best Bet: Denver -1.5 (+130)
Frozen Four Pick: Boston College
FARGO Regional
Thursday, 5:00 PM ET: (+1.5/+230) Minnesota State vs (-1.5/-315) Western Michigan (O/U 5.5)
This game is a tremendous matchup of styles and both fanbases will have a good presence this weekend in Fargo. Minnesota State has the best goals against per game in the country holding opponents to just 1.5 pucks finding the twine per contest. Goalie Alex Tracy is a big reason for that. He leads the nation with a 1.43 GAA and .945 save%.
Western Michigan is the highest scoring team in America (4.1 Goals per game), Alex Bump’s shot volume is ridiculous. He has ripped 225 shots which is by far the most in the country and he has tallied 23 goals and 23 assists this season.
Lastly, add in Western Michigan’s goalie tandem that both have sub-2.05 GAA. The Broncos are battle tested after their NCHC Tourney run. WMU is for real this season and have a chance to get to their first Frozen Four in program history.
Thursday, 8:30 PM ET: (+1.5/+140) UMass vs (-1.5/-180) Minnesota (O/U 5.5)
Minnesota, the Co-Big Ten Regular season champions, have the best the best program pedigree in this region. Also, the Golden Gophers’ passionate fanbase will overwhelm the others in Fargo, North Dakota.
Jimmy Snuggerud is the catalyst of this team. The Hobey Baker Award finalist has 49 points, 22 of them goals. Snuggerud has his sights set on a National Championship, something his father and grandfather weren’t able to win in their playing time with the Golden Gophers.
UMass has, Greg Carvel, the best coach in this region. However the Minutemen haven’t played a game in 12 days, for what it’s worth the Gophers have been off for 18 days. Both teams will be rusty in the first period.
I’ll take Minnesota, the more talented squad with strong fan support, to shake off the rust before UMass and propel themselves into the Frozen Four.
Best Bet: Minnesota -1.5 (+140)
Frozen Four Pick: Minnesota +175
Allentown Regional
Friday, 5:00 PM ET: (+1.5/+110) Quinnipiac vs (-1.5/-140) UConn (O/U 5.5)
Believe it or not this is the UConn program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance in history. Mike Cavanaugh has done an outstanding job coaching the Huskies through the best conference in College Hockey. However on Friday Quinnipiac will be seeking to avenge their regular season loss to UConn.
Quinnipiac has Matej Marinov between the pipes who is Top 3 in the country with a 1.75 goals against average. This season the Bobcats have been automatic on special teams scoring 29.9% of the time on the power play which leads the nation. They have also killed 87.5% of penalties which is the 3rd best nationally.
Friday, 8:30 PM ET: (+1.5/+110) Penn State vs (-1.5/-160) Maine (O/U 5.5)
This is a really tough draw for 1-seed Maine. All Big Ten First Teamer Aiden Fink and 4-seed Penn State will have a good home crowd in Allentown, PA. Fink leads the country with 1.41 points per game but it may not be enough for the Nittany Lions to win.
Maine is holding their opponents under 2 goals per game and rank 3rd nationally in that category. Their goalie Albin Boija has been stellar this season for the Black Bears with a 1.76 GAA. Ben Barr has done a terrific job coaching Maine. If the Black Bears win on Friday their crazy fanbase will fill 80% of the arena for the Regional final without a doubt.
Best Bets: Quinnipiac +110 ML and Maine -160 ML
Frozen Four Pick: Maine +150
Toledo Regional
Thursday, 2:00 PM ET: (+1.5/+120) Ohio State vs (-1.5/-154) Boston University (O/U 6.5)
Boston U’s power play has been their calling card this season converting on 27.9% of their man advantages. The Terriers have been too inconsistent this season to feel great about them in the NCAA Tournament. A big reason for that is their youth and lack of discipline almost leading the country in penalty minutes.
On the flipside Ohio State has plenty of experience and carries some momentum into the 2025 NCAA Hockey Tournament. The Buckeyes fell in double overtime in the Big Ten Tournament final to Michigan State. OSU will be gunning for MSU in Round 2 on Saturday.
Thursday, 5:30 PM ET: (+1.5/+220) Cornell vs (-1.5/-298) Michigan State (O/U 5.5)
For a 4-seed Cornell poses a good threat to the 1-seed. Mike Schafer planned to retire after his 29th season coaching his alma mater. The only problem is that his players rallied to finish the season 11-3 while winning the ECAC Tournament to earn an auto bid into the NCAAT. Schafer is 10-4 straight up in the first round of the Big Dance.
Michigan State’s Isaac Howard was named Big Ten Player of the Year after leading the Spartans with 47 points. He has been Mr. Clutch for the Spartans down the stretch and scored the B1G Tourney 2OT game winner.
Trey Augustine mans the crease for MSU. The Detroit Red Wings drafted Augustine and he is one of the highest regarded pro prospects in College Hockey. For his standards he has been elite in 2025. However he plays his best under the brightest of lights. For example Augustine was between the pipes for Team USA when they beat Canada and won World Juniors this December.
Best Bet: Ohio State +120 ML
Frozen Four Pick: Michigan State
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