Anyone who grew up the “Hockey School” devotee in the Northeast or Midwest is one of the biggest sports events of the Frozen Four. This year’s version is no different, as two blue blood, Denver University And Boston universityFace chief rebonding Western Michigan And popular upset pick Pen stateRespectively, in St. Louis the National Semi -finals of Thursday.
Futures market is hardly surprising, as national champion Denver is a favorite in +185, followed by Hockey East Powerhouse BU in ESPN Bet +275. Pioneers and Terriers have combined to win 15 National Championships and their roster currently has 28 NHL draft pics among them. Frozen Four is a familiar area for both schools, with Denver finishing BU in the last year’s semi -finals, and both National Championship Games (Saturday, 7:30 pm on EST at ESPN 2) will be ready to return.
In contrast, there are two programs that are making their first frozen four appearances. Western Michigan steam through NCHC in both regular season and conference tournament, ranking impressive figures on the way. Pen State, initially finished fourth in Elenetown Regional, the last two schools were skated which was hot by hockey East tournament run: Runner-up Uconn And champion I,
Note: Obstacles at the time of publication. For the latest lines, travel ESPN condition,
Denver emerged as a strong favorite in Frozen Four Match up on Thursday between Denver and Western Michigan (ESPN2 at 5 pm), opening on the money line -150 before settling in -135. After beating Frugal And number 1 overall seed Boston college In Manchester, Pioneers has attracted 70% stakes and 93% handle for the semi -finals. The teams divided the regular-session chain, and the bronchos NCHC won the Pioneers in the final of the tournament.
On the other hand, betting people are choosing the Underdog Pen State against Boston University in Thursday’s other semi -finals (8:30 pm on ESPN2). Nitney Lions have racks 69% bets and 55% handle in front of the matchup.
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Frozen four previews: Pen State vs. Boston University
John previews four semi -final matchups between BucccigrasS Pen State and the University of Boston.
Terriers is a college hockey royalty. Not only does he have five national championships and 25 frozen four appearances (counting of 2025), they are away from a beanpot win over Boston College and are advanced in the Hockey East semi -finals in a particularly competitive year for the conference. Even though he is a favorite for winning the game at -165 on ESPN Bet, sometimes a classic underdog story is beaten up.
Prior to 2012, Pen State’s men’s hockey competed in Acha and was named as a club game. Thirteen years later, they must be making their first frozen appearance. Not only Nitney Lions defeated Main 5–1 with a score, he also left Elenetown with a win over 3–2 against UCIN. In an incredible year for pen state athletics, a frozen four disturbed win will be cherry at the top.
Watch Frozen Four (10 and 12 April) on ESPN2 or stream on ESPN+.
The betting scene for college hockey is not almost as strong as it is for NCAA basketball or football. According to BETMGM, 63% tickets and 83% handles are from only three states: Colorado, Michigan and Pennsylvania.
This does not mean that it is not exciting; For many schools and beyond the Northeast and beyond, the college is bigger or larger than the hopes or football of Hockey College.
Johnny Avenue, director of Draftings Sportsbook, said, “Four frozen are more popular in the northeastern states.” “It will usually take more action than college baseball, softball and gymnastics.”
And the game is growing rapidly. It provides a route for schools that can otherwise compete in small conferences or lower divisions to achieve national recognition. Since 2021, six school divisions have gone to play hockey, and another will officially join the next season. The Tennessi State University will start playing Division I in the 2025-2026 season, which will become the first HBCU to offer men’s ice hockey at any collection level.
ESPN sports betting reporter Dug Greenberg Additional Reporting
