2023 NCAA Hockey Tournament Odds, Predictions & How to Watch

• The NCAA Men’s Hockey Tournament gets underway on Thursday with regional semi-final action
• The top-seeded Minnesota Gophers are the favorite, while the Michigan Wolverines are the second choice
• Read on for all the odds and trends as the Road to the Frozen Four begins

The Denver Pioneers will be looking to repeat as national champions when they open their 2023 NCAA Men’s Hockey Tournament schedule on Thursday with a date against Cornell. The Pioneers equaled the NCAA record with their ninth all-time national championship win last year, and are pegged as the No. 4 seed at this year’s tourney.

The tournament kicks off with a Manchester regional clash between Boston University and Western Michigan at SNHU Arena on Thursday afternoon at 2:00pm EDT. Every game of the tournament will be televised across ESPN’s network of channels in the US and on TSN in Canada, with Frozen Four and national championship carried by ESPN2.

Odds to Win 2023 NCAA Men’s Hockey Championship

While the Pioneers return to the NCAA Tournament as national champions, they trail the favorites on this year’s Frozen Four futures as a +550 bet to defend their title. The top-seeded Minnesota Golden Gophers lead the way as +250 favorites, while the Michigan Wolverines sit second at +350.

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Odds as of March 23, 2023 at DraftKings Sportsbook. 

Big Ten Rivals Emerge as National Championship Favorites

The Minnesota Golden Gophers captured the top seed heading into the first day of tournament action on Thursday, which had made them the favorites in the NCAA National Championship odds. The Gophers stormed to the top of the national rankings while winning 19 of 24 games, but fell short of the conference title last weekend while dropping a 4-3 decision to Michigan in the final of the Big Ten Tournament.

Logan Cooley is absolutely CRACKED.
pic.twitter.com/rw56PJJ11f

— Nathan “Grav" (@NathanGraviteh) February 19, 2023

Although they lost to Michigan, there is plenty to like about Minnesota, starting with arguably the top NHL prospect in this year’s tournament, Logan Cooley. Taken third overall by the Arizona Coyotes in last year’s NHL Draft, Cooley emerged as the Big Ten scoring champion this season, racking up 19 goals and 33 assists in 35 games with the Gophers, and is likely to be a fixture on the Calder Trophy odds when he finally elects to make the leap to the NHL.

Can Wolverines End Championship Drought?

Despite enjoying a dominant campaign after gaining experience with a march to the Frozen Four last year, the Gophers face a huge challenge from conference rival Michigan. The Wolverines arrive at the tournament as the second betting choice to win the Natty in the wake of a huge offensive performance in the Big Ten Tourney.

Adam Fantilli has 48 Points in 26 NCAA games, rockstar. #2023NHLDraft
pic.twitter.com/jiFHFBatDe

— Nathan “Grav" (@NathanGraviteh) February 17, 2023

The Wolverines overcame the inconsistency that plagued them for long stretches of the season, averaging six goals per game during their four-game drive to the conference title. Often overlooked amid the buzz surrounding junior phenom Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli has made a strong case to go early in the 2023 NHL Draft. The 18-year-old racked up 27 goals and 61 points in 33 games with Michigan and potted seven goals and 11 points at the recent Big Ten Tournament.

Denver, Harvard Poised for Deep Runs

The Denver Pioneers saw their bid for the NCHC conference title halted with a loss in the NCHC Tournament semi-final for a second straight year. With that defeat at the hands of Colorado College, the Pioneers saw a six-game win streak snapped.

However, Denver enters this year’s tourney as a defensive force after allowing just 11 total goals over their past seven games, and two or fewer goals in 15 of their past 18. Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Magnus Chrona has been lights out between the pipes, compiling a minuscule 2.19 goals against average and recording four shutouts. Chrona also allowed just six goals while backstopping Denver to the national championship with four wins at least year’s tournament.

While the favorites capture the attention, hockey betting fans may not want to overlook the Harvard Crimson, who enter the tournament lagging as a +2000 bet in the national championship odds. Led by Calgary Flames first-round pick Sean Farrell and Montreal Canadiens prospect Matthew Coronato, Harvard overcame an uneven stretch run with a decisive ECAC Tournament title, but has work to do to overcome a losing narrative at the national championship tournament, where they have won just two of 11 games since 1994.

The Pick: Denver Pioneers (+550)