We’ve made it – the last weekend of the regular season – and this year’s schedule-makers deserve a huge raise. This week’s matchups feature a battle for the top spot between Michigan State and Wisconsin and a fight for third place between Michigan and Minnesota. I’ll include a seeding scenario before the prediction so you’ll know what outcomes are needed for each team.

I underestimated Ohio State’s improvement as they split with Michigan State and derailed my picks slightly, but still turned in a winning record so no complaints from me. Barring a complete collapse, I should hit the century-mark in the win column this week.

Last week’s results: 4-2 Season Total: 99-33

Michigan State at Wisconsin

Michigan State and Wisconsin are battling for the top spot and the coveted first-round bye. Currently the Spartans hold a two-point advantage in the standings, but with six points up for grabs this weekend, it’s far from over. Thanks to the tie breakers, the path for Michigan State is simple: one win (regardless of OT/shootout) and the top spot is theirs. For Wisconsin, things are a touch more complicated. The Badgers will need to win both games, and at least one of those will have to be in regulation or 5-on-5 OT, to secure the top spot.

The Spartans come in to the matchup after splitting with Ohio State last weekend, but they seemed to right the ship in the second game so they could be picking up momentum. And with a tougher opponent, look for them to be ready to go from puck drop. The Badgers lost to Ohio State two weeks ago as well and followed it up with a sweep of Penn State so they seemed to have figured things out as well. These two teams are so evenly matched that a split here seems to be the most likely scenario. Prediction: Split 1-1

Michigan at Minnesota

The third and fourth place spots will belong to either Michigan or Minnesota. While there isn’t much difference between the two spots (both will host the first round), the winner will get to play one of the cellar-dwellers (Penn State) while the loser will face a tougher matchup (statistically) in Notre Dame. The Gophers head into the weekend with a three-point lead over the Wolverines so they only need a minimum of two points to hang on to third place. That could be a 3-on-3 OT/shootout win or even two losses as long as neither are in regulation or 5-on-5 OT. Just like Wisconsin, Michigan will need to win both, and at least one must come in regulation or 5-on-5 OT, to leapfrog Minnesota.

Minnesota was off last week so they’ve had two weeks to prepare for this matchup, and they’ll have home-ice advantage inside Mariucci, so I’m going to give them the slightest of edges on paper. These two teams are very similar, both in play-style and on the stat sheet, but Michigan has an explosiveness that the Gophers lack. I think Michigan will get the job done on the road in both games. Prediction: Michigan 2-0

Penn State at Ohio State

Due to Penn State holding the advantage in the fourth tie breaker, the Buckeyes are locked in to last place, but should give any opponent a scare with the way they’re playing currently. The Nittany Lions swept the Buckeyes a little over a month ago, but that was a different Ohio State team. The scarlet-and-gray have won three of their last four, all against the (at the time) #4 team in the rankings. They seem to be picking up steam while Penn State is fizzing out. With nothing to play for (aside from pride), I think Ohio State gets the sweep. This pick burned me last time, but I feel more confident this time. Prediction: OSU 2-0