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Face Off Tackle Empire // Weekend Preview and Open Thread. January 15th-17th

Another full weekend with Michigan and OSU in a home-and-home, Wisconsin going to Penn State, Minnesota hosting Michigan State, and UNO playing a team in the middle of barren wilderness.

By Nate Peterson
Hannah Foslien/Getty Images

(6) Michigan vs Ohio State

Value City Arena; Columbus, OH
Friday @ 6:30 et/5:30 ct on FSD/BTN2Go
Yost Ice Arena; Ann Arbor, MI
Sunday @ 5 et/4 ct on FSD/STO/BTN2Go

Michigan comes into the weekend in first place after sweeping MSU last weekend. Ohio State is coming off its best stretch of hockey all season.  Michigan's offense is absurdly good but Christian Frey has been nearly untouchable since Christmas. I think OSU is able to steal points on Friday while Michigan defends home ice on Sunday.

My Pick: MI 4 - 2 OSU
KRACH: MI 5.03-0.97 OSU

Wisconsin at (15) Penn State

Pegula Ice Arena; University Park, PA
Friday @ 6:30 et/ 5:30 ct on BTN/BTN2Go
Saturday @ 6 et/6 ct on ESPNU/ESPN3/BTN2Go

Wisconsin salvaged 2 points last weekend against OSU while Penn State split with Minnesota.  I think Wisconsin is good enough to take points on the road, but Penn State will bounce back after their 7-1 loss to the Gophers last Saturday.

My Pick: WI 1 - 5 PSU
KRACH: WI 1.52 - 4.48 PSU

Michigan State at Minnesota

Mariucci Arena; Minneapolis, MN
Friday @ 9 et/8 ct on FSD/FSN+/BTN2Go
Saturday @ 8:30 et/7:30 ct on BTN/BTN2Go

Michigan State was swept handily by Michigan last weekend while Minnesota dropped a heartbreaker at Penn State on Friday then blew out the Nittany Lions on Saturday.  MSU is 1-12-1 in its last 14 and I don't see that changing this weekend.  The Gophers finally get a comfortable Friday win and sweep.

My Pick: MSU 0 - 6 MN
KRACH: MSU 1.25 - 4.75 MN

(9) Nebraska Omaha at (1) North Dakota

Ralph "The Nazi Sympathizer" Engelstad Arena; Grand Forks, ND
Friday @ 8 et/7 ct on Nebraska Public TV (NET)/NCHC Streaming
Saturday @ 8 et/7 ct on NCHC Streaming

UNO travels to the middle of nowhere to take on the number one team in the polls.  The Mavericks are coming off of a disappointing home sweep to the Denver Pioneers.  I think the other team funally picked a new, non-racially charged mascot so that's cool. Dean Blais, HHead coach, of UNO, is the last coach to win it all for the number one team.  I would love to see UNO sweep but they will be lucky to split.

My Pick: UNO 2 - 4 UND
KRACH: UNO 1.86 - 4.14 UND