Michigan vs Boston College Frozen Four Semifinal Prediction & Picks: Will the Eagles Fly Into the Title Game?

No teams in NCAA Division I men’s hockey have made more Frozen Four appearances than Michigan and Boston College. Tonight, the two decorated programs will duke it out for a spot in Saturday’s championship game as the #1 Eagles meet the Wolverines at Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota (8:30 pm ET, ESPN2).

The Wolverines (23-14-3), who were the #3 seed in the Midwest Regional, are in the Frozen Four for the 28^th time. To get there, they defeated #2 seed North Dakota 4-3 and #1 seed (and #4 overall seed) Michigan State 5-2.

Will they reach the championship game for the first time since 2011, or is a fifth consecutive semifinal loss ahead?

Taking out the rival Spartans, who had beaten them four times in five meetings this season, certainly qualifies as an upset.

To eliminate the Eagles (33-5-1) would be on another level, however. BC has been ranked #1 for much of this season, and they have won 14 straight games since a loss to Boston University on February 5.

That said, they did need overtime to see off Quinnipiac in the East Regional final on March 31. So, Michigan can’t be written off tonight by any means.

Who will move on to face either #2 overall seed Boston University or #3 overall seed Denver for the title? Read on.

Michigan vs Boston College Odds

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Moneyline

• Michigan +165
• Boston College -190

Over/Under

• Over 7 (-110)
• Under 7 (-110)

Puck Line

• Michigan +1.5 (-150)
• Boston College -1.5 (+130)

Michigan vs Boston College Prediction and Picks

Under longtime coach Jerry York, BC won four national championships and lost in the title game four other times. But they missed the NCAA Tournament in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2022, and Greg Brown’s first season also ended without a tournament trip.

Insert an influx of highly touted prospects, who have teamed up to lead BC to tonight’s matchup with Michigan.

Joining up with sophomore Cutter Gauthier, the fifth overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft (Philadelphia Flyers), were 2023 first-round picks Will Smith (drafted fourth by the San Jose Sharks), Ryan Leonard (drafted eighth by the Washington Capitals), and Gabe Perreault (drafted 23^rd by the New York Rangers). The four forwards have combined for 109 goals and 140 assists this season, led by Smith’s 46 assists and 69 points and Gauthier’s 37 goals.

Since the 4-3 loss to BU in February, BC has scored five or more goals in 12 of 14 games, including each of their last six.

That’s a lot for Michigan to contend with as it is, but the Wolverines aren’t short on talent themselves. Of their top six scorers, sophomore T.J. Hughes is the only one who isn’t an NHL draft pick.

However, I don’t see them being able to pull the upset tonight. BC’s regional final scare should serve as a wakeup call and motivation for putting in their best performance on both ends of the ice tonight. Of BC’s 33 wins this season, 24 have come by 2+ goals, including 11 of 14 during their current win streak. I don’t expect Michigan to roll over, but I feel pretty good about both the puck line and the over here.

Michigan vs Boston College Prediction: Boston College to win

Michigan vs Boston College Betting Picks: Boston College -1.5 & Michigan/Boston College over 7