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I am not one to put a lot of stock into rankings. Sure, it's a lot of fun to brag that your team is ranked higher than a rival or that another team is predicted to miss the NCAA Tournament according to the latest Pairwise Rankings, but in a league like the WCHA, where standings change week after week, it's hard to put much stock into rankings.
Take a look at what happened last week. Minnesota sweeps St. Cloud State and Minnesota, Duluth gets just one point from Michigan Tech at home.
Obviously, the Gophers sould be ranked ahead of the Bulldogs, but not according to the USCHO.com Poll. Minnesota beat Minnesota, Duluth in both games it played them this season. It makes no sense.
The rankings mean very little until the very last couple weeks of the regular season when teams are battling for position. Before that, though, it's nothing but a crapshoot.
Note: Thanks to Belle Muse for pointing out to me last week that UND's Rocco Grimaldi is done for the season. I Googled Grimaldi while researching for last week's blog and nothing came up about his knee surgery.
Weekend Wars
The big series this week is, no doubt, Colorado College and Denver. Both prior meetings this season were each one-goal games with the teams splitting. Denver has won five of its last six games and Colorado College has split with Minnesota and St. Cloud State in its last two series. Watch Denver sweep.
USCHO.com Poll
Jan. 30, 2012
1. Minnesota, Duluth
2. Minnesota
3. Boston University
4. Merrimack
5. Boston College
6. Ferris State
7. Michigan
8. Notre Dame
9. UMass-Lowell
10. Ohio State
11. Colorado College
11. Union
13. Denver
14. Cornell
15. Maine
16. Western Michigan
17. North Dakota
18. Miami
19. Northern Michigan
20. Colgate
USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll
Jan. 30, 2012
1. Minnesota
2. Minnesota, Duluth
3. Boston University
4. Merrimack
5. Boston College
6. Notre Dame
7. Ferris State
8. Michigan
9. UMass-Lowell
10. Ohio State
11. Colorado College
12. Union
13. Denver
14. Cornell
15. Maine
Derek's Picks
Wisconsin over St. Cloud State, Friday
Colorado College over Denver, Friday
Michigan Tech over Minnesota State, Friday
St. Cloud State over Wisconsin, Saturday
Colorado College over Denver, Saturday
Michigan Tech over Minnesota State, Saturday
My prediction record last week: 3-3
My career prediction record: 99-79
Friday, February 3
St. Cloud State @ Wisconsin, 7:07 pm CT
Bemidji State @ Nebraska Omaha, 7:37 pm CT
Michigan Tech @ Minnesota State, 7:37 pm CT
Colorado College @ Denver, 7:37 pm MT
Minnesota Duluth @ Alaska Anchorage, 7:07 pm AT
Saturday, February 4
Bemidji State @ Nebraska Omaha, 7:07 pm CT
Michigan Tech @ Minnesota State, 7:07 pm CT
Denver @ Colorado College, 7:07 pm MT
St. Cloud State @ Wisconsin, 8:07 pm CT
Minnesota Duluth @ Alaska Anchorage, 7:07 pm AT
