Danielle RyanGoing Streaking is a weekly prediction column in which Nick Gourdoux and Frank F. Pellegrino, the sports editors of The Spectator, compete head-to-head in an attempt to see who can accurately predict more sporting events.
Last week Frank successfully completed the first ever five-correct-prediction week while Nick managed a respectable four correct predictions. The only question the two sports editors differed on was the Green Bay Packers-Minnesota Vikings game Sunday afternoon.
Men’s Hockey – How many goals will the team score this weekend? (A) five or less (B) more than five
Frank: The men’s team went 0-2 last weekend, but scoring goals wasn’t their issue. If you saw The Spectator article last week, you saw that even with the losses, the team is still very confident in their offense. They netted three goals in each game last week and created a lot of chances for more. My prediction: (B) more than five.
Nick: Yes, the Blugolds offense didn’t struggle to score goals last weekend, but they still only scored five. Three goals a game is a lot for even the best teams, so it will be tough for Eau Claire to accomplish that. On top of that, they are a combined 11-22 all time against their scheduled opponents this week. My prediction: (A) five or less.
Women’s Hockey – Who will win the home opener Saturday night? (A) UW-Eau Claire (B) St. Thomas (Minn.)
Frank: Eau Claire lost their season opener last Friday 4-1 and didn’t really get out to a fast start to begin the season. Even worse for the Blugolds, St. Thomas has been 116-40-7 in the last six seasons and have established themselves as a national powerhouse. To start the season, St. Thomas is ranked No. 8 in country. I’d love to see the Blugold upset, but chances are rough. My prediction: (B) St. Thomas.
Nick: It’s hard to argue with the points that Frank brought up – The Blugolds haven’t proven anything this year, and St. Thomas has been better in recent years. Eau Claire is also playing a new goalie, and coming off a season in which they faced a terrible late-season collapse. My prediction: (B) St. Thomas.
Soccer – What place will the team take in the WIAC Championship this weekend? (A) No. 2 or better (B) No. 3 or lower
Frank: During the regular season, the Blugolds finished second in the WIAC conference which was very competitive this year. To get to the championship game and guarantee at least No. 2 place, the team will only have to win one match.
The way I see the tournament shaking out, Eau Claire’s opponent will end up being UW-Oshkosh who Eau Claire beat 1-0 less than two weeks ago. Although the margin was slim, the Blugolds had a lot of chances and really outplayed Oshkosh by more than the score indicated. This puts the Blugolds in the championship where I see them falling to UW-Stevens Point and claiming second place. My prediction: (A) No. 2 or better.
Nick: The Blugolds are currently second in the WIAC standings, and trail only UW-Stevens Point. Eau Claire is actually scheduled to play UW-River Falls – I could have told Frank that, but I figured I would leave it in to prove how wrong he can be. River Falls is actually 5-3-0 in WIAC play, implying that they are better than the 4-3-1 Oshkosh team that Frank foresaw the Blugolds playing. I do, however, agree with Frank that the Blugolds will make it to the championship game. My prediction: (A) No. 2 or better.
Football – Who will win Eau Claire’s last home game of the year? (A) UW-Eau Claire (B) UW-La Crosse
Frank: Although La Crosse is not the national power they once were, they still have a formidable squad this year and are 5-3 on the season. Eau Claire will come into the game 4-4 and have had a somewhat inconsistent season. At times the Blugold offense can zip down the field in a flash, and at other times they struggle moving the ball. And even if the Blugolds get their offense moving, it will depend on the Eau Claire defense which has struggled at times. I think the Eagles will take this one, but the seniors will make it close in their last home game. My prediction: (A) UW-La Crosse.
Nick: In the last four games, the UW-La Crosse football team has a 1-3 record, with the lone win being a 49-47, three overtime game against UW-River Falls. That win was also the last time the Eagles won outside of La Crosse since a season-opening win against East Texas Baptist University. While the Blugolds have been inconsistent, I think they can take advantage of La Crosse’s streak of poor performances and win. My prediction: (A) UW-Eau Claire.
National – Who will win this matchup? (A) Milwaukee Bucks (B) Minnesota Timberwolves
Frank: So we haven’t had an NBA question yet this year and I was looking through the weekend schedule before I stumbled on this masterpiece of a game. Both of these teams are terrible, but they are evenly matched and it’s a little bit of a local rivalry for everyone here. Both teams have the same amount of wins, one, but Minnesota has had twice as many games (four). I think the Bucks are actually better than most people are predicting them to be this year, and see them taking down the T-Wolves, even without Michael Redd in the lineup. My prediction: (A) Milwaukee Bucks.
Nick: I am a Milwaukee Bucks fan, and I’m only mildly ashamed to admit it. Frank underestimates the effect that the loss of Redd will have on the Bucks roster. In the end, I think Al Jefferson will prove to be too much to handle for the Bucks who will struggle to fill Redd’s scoring void. My prediction: (B) Minnesota Timberwolves.
