We are deep into the Picker season and Mac Cordell has made himself relatively comfortable at the top with a 67-22 record.
However, Cordell’s slight slip up as of late at 8-3 makes him look more like a falling knife and has allowed Sports Editor Tim Miller to gain a game back on him with a 9-2 week. One of Cordell’s losses was a byproduct of his own attempt to be different, difficult and what he thought was cool. Cordell, who always uses the mascot name rather than the school for high school games, wrote Panthers rather than Wildcats for North Union. While he certainly knows the mascots and the sentiment was there, his contrarian execution, which has led to a general dislike from all the other Pickers, cost him a game in the standings.
At some point it comes down to proofing your work unless your are going to “Channell” your picks the rest of the season.
Managing Editor Chad Williamson was also able to close the gap with a 9-2 week and put himself in a tie for third with Publisher Kevin Behrens, who turned in an 8-3 card after giving Marysville a long shot vote last week. Both are riding a 62-27 record overall. Reporter Will Channell protected himself from falling down the ladder with a 10-1 effort to stay five games up (63-26) on the bottom-of-the-barrel Sam “Jim Dandy” Dillon, who also turned a 10-1 week.
This week, Miller will be covering the Game of Week as Fairbanks will host Triad. Williamson will go on the road with the Monarchs as they try and improve their record against a 3-5 Hilliard Davidson squad. Dillon will watch on as North Union hosts neighboring Buckeye Valley.
This week’s guest pickers are Dave Laslow, Bob Van Hoose, Dean Cook and Kevin Truitt.
Marysville-Hilliard Davidson
Williamson: Davidson by 7
Miller: Davidson by 3
Behrens: HDHS by 1
Cordell: Wildcats by 8
Channell: Davidson by 9
Dillon: Davidson by 7
Cook: Marysville by 3
Laslow: Marysville by 7
Truitt: Marysville by 6
Van Hoose: Marysville by 3
Fairbanks-Triad
Williamson: Fairbanks by 17
Miller: Fairbanks by 21
Behrens: FHS by 2
Cordell: Panthers by 19
Channell: Fairbanks by 9
Dillon: Fairbanks by 28
Cook: Fairbanks by 6
Laslow: Fairbanks by 14
Truitt: Fairbanks by 7
Van Hoose: Fairbanks by 14
North Union-Buckeye Valley
Williamson: Buckeye Valley by 6
Miller: NU by 3
Behrens: BVHS by 3
Cordell: Barons by 3
Channell: NU by 9
Dillon: North Union by 1
Cook: North Union by 6
Laslow: North Union by 6
Truitt: North Union by 6
Van Hoose: North Union by 7
Jonathan Alder-
Shawnee
Williamson: Jonathan Alder by 7
Miller: Jonathan Alder by 6
Behrens: JAHS by 4
Cordell: Pioneers by 4
Channell: Jon Alder by 9
Dillon: Jon Alder by 7
Cook: Jonathan Alder by 14
Laslow: Jonathan Alder by 7
Truitt: Jonathan Alder by 7
Van Hoose: Jonathan Alder by 7
Bengals-Steelers
Williamson: Steelers by 3
Miller: Steelers by 7
Behrens: Steelers by 5
Cordell: Pittsburgh by 6
Channell: Steelers by 9
Dillon: Steelers by 10
Cook: Steelers by 10
Laslow: Steelers by 6
Truitt: Steelers by 6
Van Hoose: Steelers by 7
Browns-Titans
Williamson: Titans by 9
Miller: Titans by 6
Behrens: Titans by 8
Cordell: Cleveland by 2
Channell: Titans by 9
Dillon: Titans by 14
Cook: Titans by 25
Laslow: Browns by 7
Truitt: Titans by 7
Van Hoose: Titans by 10
Florida State-
Louisville
Williamson: Louisville by 6
Miller: Florida State by 7
Behrens: Louisville by 9
Cordell: Seminoles by 6
Channell: Louisville by 9
Dillon: Florida State by 3
Cook: Louisville by 14
Laslow: Florida State by 3
Truitt: Florida State by 6
Van Hoose: Florida State by 7
Michigan-Penn State
Williamson: Michigan by 1
Miller: Penn State by 3
Behrens: Penn State by 10
Cordell: Lions by 11
Channell: Penn State by 9
Dillon: Penn State by 7
Cook: Penn State by 7
Laslow: Penn State by 6
Truitt: Penn State by 3
Van Hoose: Penn State by 6
USC-Notre Dame
Williamson: Notre Dame by 9
Miller: USC by 7
Behrens: ND by 11
Cordell: Irish by by 4
Channell: USC by 9
Dillon: Notre Dame by 7
Cook: Notre Dame by 7
Laslow: USC by 7
Truitt: USC by 6
Van Hoose: USC by 7
Oklahoma State-Texas
Williamson: OK State by 11
Miller: OK State by 6
Behrens: Okie St by 12
Cordell: Pokes by 6
Channell: OK State by 9
Dillon: Texas by 3
Cook: Texas by 3
Laslow: OK State by 7
Truitt: OK State by 6
Van Hoose: OK State by 6
Disclaimers:
Williamson: “Once again I am in a pickle with this Michigan pick. The only real hope I have is that Penn State’s strength in the run game aligns with Michigan’s strength on defense. I think this might be the week Louisville gets back to form and I can’t believe I have come to the point where I am picking Notre Dame in a big game. Usually the Irish fold like a lawn chair under the spotlight. In local games, this Shawnee team has me confused. They kicked the snot out of a pretty decent Indian Lake team but are 4-4 on the season. Buckeye Valley-North Union is a pick ‘em game.”
Miller: “Triad has had a very difficult season and it won’t get any better playing at Fairbanks.”
Behrens: “This could be moving week with Williamson’s beloved Michigan finally on the schedule Cordell going for broke to right his ship with the Browns pick. Lets see who circles the wagons.”
Cordell: “I am not sure why, but for some reason I am on the Browns’ wagon this week. Cleveland will not go winless this season and the Titans are on a short week, Kizer is back under center and this feels like a win to me. That pick, combined with the toss-up nature of several high school and college games, could combine for a tough week.”
Channell: “Good luck to all the local Bucks!”
Dillon: “The North Union Wildcats have a big rivalry game ahead of them this week. Will getting back to .500 and earning their first home win last week give them the confidence and push to beat Buckeye Valley? It will be a dog fight.”
Cook: “Good luck Marysville as you face Hilliard Davidson this week!”
Laslow: “Go Monarchs!”
Truitt: “Go Monarchs!”
Van Hoose: “Go Monarchs!”
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