Power Rankings: Denver still firmly the No. 1 team in the nation (#487)

Five teams most likely to win the national title, five teams outside bubble most likely to make the tournament, and more weekend thoughts

Photo: Denver Athletics

Denver is firmly cemented as the No. 1 team in the country in my power rankings this week. The Pioneers are coming off a weekend sweep over Yale and rank among the nation’s best in multiple categories, with notable wins over other ranked/bubble teams.

Today’s issue (#487) also includes:

• My full 1-16 power rankings. Remember, my rankings are a snapshot of what I believe the NCAA Tournament will look like, not a true 1-16 order (due to automatic bids), but very close.

• Who are the five teams I believe have the best shot at winning the national title this week?

• Who are the five teams this week on the bubble that I believe have the best shot at making the NCAA Tournament?

• Our weekly look at the intra-conference records of each conference.

• We have some fun and put together a meaningless bracketology for people to get excited (or upset) about.

• More weekend thoughts on Cornell’s sweep over North Dakota, Michigan’s goalie situation after its sweep over BU, the ECAC non-conference picture, and why I still have Colorado College as one of the top teams in the nation despite a weaker October schedule.

Ed. Note — I know I promised a mailbag podcast last Friday. My travel day to Maine took longer than anticipated, so I arrived in Bangor and had to leave for Alfond Arena almost immediately. I will record a (fairly large) mailbag podcast TONIGHT, which will be posted late tonight or Tuesday morning for subscribers. If you have any last-minute submissions, click here to shoot me an email.

If you have ideas for a future newsletter, tips you want to share, mailbag submissions, or if you want to sponsor a future newsletter, please email mike@collegehockeyinsider.com.

— I'm also @MikeMcMahonCHN on Twitter.

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Now, onto today’s newsletter …

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