College hockey’s national championship, known as the Frozen Four, is set. The 2026 NCAA men’s Frozen Four will be held April 9 and 11 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Accordingly, the four teams are Michigan, Denver, North Dakota, and Wisconsin, with Michigan facing Denver and North Dakota facing Wisconsin in the semifinals.
Michigan advanced after a 4-3 win over Minnesota Duluth; Denver beat Western Michigan 6-2; North Dakota defeated Quinnipiac 5-0; and Wisconsin earned its berth with a 4-3 overtime win over Michigan State. Finally, all Frozen Four odds matchups are on ESPN platforms, with the semifinals on ESPN2 and the title game on ESPN.
Frozen Four Schedule and SBG Odds
National Championship Odds
- Michigan Wolverines: +175
- North Dakota Fighting Hawks: +220
- Denver Pioneers: +270
- Wisconsin Badgers: +500
Semifinals — Thursday, April 9 (both games on ESPN2):
- Wisconsin vs. North Dakota — 5:00 p.m. ET
- Michigan vs. Denver — 8:30 p.m. ET
National Championship — Saturday, April 11 (on ESPN):
- Winners of the semifinals — 5:30 p.m. ET
Frozen Four Team Overviews
- Michigan Wolverines: The Big Ten champions and No. 1 overall seed advanced after defeating Minnesota Duluth 4–3 in the Albany Regional final. In sum, this marks their 29th Frozen Four appearance.
- Denver Pioneers: The NCHC champions secured their spot by defeating the defending national champion, Western Michigan, 6–2 in the Loveland Regional. Now Denver is seeking its 11th national title.
- Wisconsin Badgers: The Badgers emerged from the Worcester Regional after a clinical 4–3 victory over rival Michigan State. They are returning to the Frozen Four for the first time since 2010.
- North Dakota Fighting Hawks: The No. 2 overall seed dominated the Sioux Falls Regional. Specifically, it was capped off by a 5–0 shutout Online wagering victory over Quinnipiac, which punched their ticket to Las Vegas.
Frozen Four Semifinal 1 Preview
North Dakota vs. Wisconsin
- Thursday, April 9 — 5:00 p.m. ET
- North Dakota (29-9-1, No. 2 overall seed) vs. Wisconsin (23-12-2)
This Frozen Four betting lines matchup revives an old WCHA rivalry. Naturally, North Dakota brings elite defense, stifling backchecking, and standout freshman goaltending (Jan Spunar has been nearly perfect in the NCAA tournament so far). Key forward Keaton Verhoeff leads a veteran, physical group. In turn, Wisconsin, in its first Frozen Four since 2010, has shown resilience and clutch scoring but will need to overcome North Dakota’s depth and structure.
Frozen Four Semifinal 2 Preview
Michigan vs. Denver
- Thursday, April 9 — 8:30 p.m. ET
- Michigan (31-7-1, No. 1 overall seed) vs. Denver (27-11-3)
A heavyweight clash between two of college hockey’s most decorated programs (Michigan with 9 national titles, Denver with 10). Previously, they’ve met four times in the NCAA tournament before, with Michigan holding a 3-1 edge (though Denver won their most recent meeting in the 2022 Frozen Four). Overall, Michigan features superior depth, offensive talent (led by players like T.J. Hughes and Will Horcoff), and solid goaltending. Denver counters with excellent special teams, a standout defenseman in Eric Pohlkamp, and a resilient, well-coached system under David Carle.
2026Frozen Four SBG Best Bets
First, North Dakota beats Wisconsin. North Dakota’s elite defense, freshman goaltending (Jan Spunar has been outstanding in the tournament), and physical “hard and heavy” style give them the edge over Wisconsin.
Second, Michigan beats Denver. This is the marquee matchup between two blue-blood programs with a combined 19 national titles. Michigan’s superior depth, offensive talent (T.J. Hughes, Will Horcoff, etc.), and overall season-long dominance as the No. 1 seed make them the pick.
Finally, for Saturday’s national championship game, Michigan over North Dakota.
