I don't quite agree with this. Last season, UND was definitely not a clear favorite to make it to the Frozen Four. But before the 2004-2005 season, UND was ranked fifth in the USCHO national poll and picked to finish second in the WCHA by the league's coaches. Perhaps that didn't make the Sioux a "clear favorite" to go to the Frozen Four, but they were certainly expected to be one of the top teams in the nation.