Playing the Odds

Last week my column got pushed from the paper to The DePauw's Web site in favor of the breaking news regarding the new tennis coach. We're like ESPN around here, bringing you breaking news as it develops. Regardless, it's a good thing the column ended up somewhere no one could find it. Call me Nostradamus, because I was a shocking 1-5 last week, putting my season total at 6-6. Both basketball teams went out a round earlier than they were supposed to, or at least earlier than I thought they would. This week, the men are done, but the women play for the NCAA Div. III Championship. So, let's start there.

Women's Basketball

NCAA First Round- DePauw vs. University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

The Tigers come off a disappointing early exit in the conference tournament. Trinity guard Krista Prato Mathews hung 27 points on the Tigers in the game. Friday, the Tigers face a tough team in the UW-Eau Claire Blugolds.

The Tigers should make a strong showing, but the Blugolds' defense will hold the Tigers in check. Against some top-flight competition this weekend, the Tigers will be headed home early.

Prediction: DePauw 56, UW-Eau Claire 63



Baseball

Games 1 and 2: DePauw vs. Illinois Wesleyan

After a tough loss at Transylvania University, the Tigers come home for a four-game stretch that sees them play Illinois Wesleyan three times and Hanover College once. The Illinois Wesleyan Titans will be quite the test for the Tigers, coming off a season where they won 33 games. So far, ace Brad Gerlach has been solid in two starts. In Saturday's win versus Anderson University his seven strikeouts in the cold and wind were key to stifling Anderson's offense.

This marks the first action for Illinois Wesleyan, and DePauw should use that to its advantage. Look for DePauw to beat the Titans in the first game. In the second, DePauw drops a close one.

Predictions:

Game 1 - DePauw 7, Illinois Wesleyan 4

Game 2 - DePauw 3, Illinois Wesleyan 5



Game 3: DePauw vs. Hanover

Hanover comes to DePauw this weekend with a 2-6-1 record. Nine games into its season, this has neither the look nor the feel of a team that could come to Walker Field and take down the Tigers. DePauw has struggled in its two losses this year, but at two home games against Anderson, the team looked poised. If the weather had cooperated, this team may have put up even more runs in its six games this year. DePauw should win easily against Hanover.

Prediction: DePauw 11, Hanover 3



Game 4: DePauw vs. Illinois Wesleyan

After a loss in game 2, the Tigers get back on top, with a close win over the Titans on Sunday.

Prediction: DePauw 3, Illinois Wesleyan 2



Softball

Game 1: DePauw @ Maryville College (Tenn.)

My hope for the softball team is that they actually get to play this weekend. Last week their four games were canceled due to weather. I could have used the four wins I predicted to put my weekend picks back at .500, but it just wasn't in the cards or the clouds. I'm thinking if they don't play this weekend I'll stop picking wins and losses for softball, and just start predicting cancelations.

This weekend the Tigers will play four games against three teams at Maryville. However, the softball team, which returns all the key parts of a 40-win team from last year, should have no trouble in what is now its season opener. They should sweep this weekend's games.

Prediction: DePauw 9, Maryville 3



Game 2 - DePauw vs. Piedmont College @ Maryville

Prediction: DePauw 7, Piedmont 2



Game 3 -- DePauw vs. Eureka College @ Maryville

Prediction: DePauw 5, Eureka 1



Game 4 - DePauw @ Maryville (Tenn.)

Prediction: DePauw 8, Maryville 4



--- sports@thedepauw.com