We now have a tie at the top of the Pigskin Pickers.
Reporter Mac Cordell got lucky and won seven of last week’s nine games, while publisher Kevin Behrens did the customer golf thing and slipped to 5-4. Despite Behrens’ disclaimer last week, he and Cordell had two picks they differed on and some how Cordell won them both. As a result, Cordell and Behrens are now tied for the Pickers’ lead with season records of 68-23 and have a lunch bet to see who will win out.
Sports editor Tim Miller and managing editor Chad Williamson also had difficult weeks with matching 5-4 marks.
Miller trails Cordell and Behrens at 66-25.
Williamson stands at 63-28.
Sports writer Aleksei Pavloff went 6-3 and now stands at 33-16 for the year.
We have four local teams in the state playoffs this season.
Marysville, North Union, Fairbanks and Jonathan Alder will play post-season games this weekend.
Other than the 2020 playoffs, in which each team could opt into the playoffs due to the coronavirus-related shortened regular season, this represents the most local teams in the post-season in a single season.
Our guest pickers are Dean Cook of Dean Cook Nationwide Insurance, Dave Laslow of Donato’s Pizza, Bob VanHoose of VanHoose Garage Doors and Rob Eubanks of Eubanks Electric.
Marysville-Delaware Hayes
Williamson: Marysville by 26
Miller: Marysville by 35
Behrens: Marysville by 1
Cordell: Monarchs by 26
Pavloff: Marysville by 21
Cook: Marysville by 21
Laslow: Marysville by 28
Van Hoose: Marysville by 30
Eubanks: Marysville by 17
Fairbanks-Paint Valley
Williamson: Fairbanks by 3
Miller: Fairbanks by 6
Behrens: Fairbanks by 2
Cordell: Panthers by 2
Pavloff: Paint Valley by 14
Cook: Fairbanks by 12
Laslow: Fairbanks by 7
Van Hoose: Fairbanks by 7
Eubanks: Fairbanks by 3
North Union-Genoa Area
Williamson: North Union by 14
Miller: North Union by 21
Behrens: North Union by 3
Cordell: Wildcats by 6
Pavloff: North Union by 7
Cook: North Union by 3
Laslow: North Union by 14
Van Hoose: North Union by 12
Eubanks: North Union by 4
Jonathan Alder-Eastmoor Academy
Williamson: Jonathan Alder by 6
Miller: Jonathan Alder by 7
Behrens: Jonathan Alder by 4
Cordell: Pioneers by 8
Pavloff: Jonathan Alder by 10
Cook: Jonathan Alder by 14
Laslow: Jonathan Alder by 7
Van Hoose: Jonathan Alder by 7
Eubanks: Eastmoor by 6
Ohio State-Penn State
Williamson: Ohio State by 16
Miller: Ohio State by 14
Behrens: Ohio State by 5
Cordell: Buckeyes by 4
Pavloff: Ohio State by 21
Cook: Ohio State by 21
Laslow: OSU by 21
VanHoose: Ohio State by 21
Eubanks: Ohio State by 21
Michigan-Michigan State
Williamson: Michigan by 12
Miller: Michigan by 7
Behrens: Michigan by 6
Cordell: Wolverines by 9
Pavloff: Michigan State by 7
Cook: Michigan by 6
Laslow: Michigan by 7
VanHoose: Michigan by 7
Eubanks: Michigan State by 4
Ole Miss-Auburn
Williamson: Ole Miss by 13
Miller: Ole Miss by 6
Behrens: Ole Miss by 7
Cordell: Rebels by 8
Pavloff: Auburn by 10
Cook: Ole Miss by 10
Laslow: Ole Miss by 7
VanHoose: Ole Miss by 6
Eubanks: Ole Miss by 4
Browns-Steelers
Williamson: Browns by 7
Miller: Browns by 6
Behrens: Browns by 8
Cordell: Cleveland by 4
Cook: Browns by 1
Pavloff: Browns by 6
Laslow: Browns by 7
VanHoose: Browns by 7
Eubanks: Browns by 2
Bengals-Jets
Williamson: Bengals by 13
Miller: Bengals by 12
Behrens: Bengals by 9
Cordell: Cincinnati by 13
Pavloff: Bengals by 14
Cook: Bengals by 17
Laslow: Bengals by 10
VanHoose: Bengals by 10
Eubanks: Bengals by 16
Disclaimers:
Williamson: “I may be leaning a little too much toward the local teams this week, but I like the chances for JA and Fairbanks. Marysville should have a yawner and NU won’t be tested much more than that. That Michigan/Michigan State game will be the big one to watch this weekend.”
Miller: “The Monarchs will have a fairly easy game Friday evening.”
Behrens: “Just glad Ole Cordell is able to pull up his big boy pants and get in the game of the Pickers race. Honestly, it was kind of boring the first half of the year being out front with no one challenging for the lead. Let’s see how this titanic struggle finishes up and if Ole Cordell can stand the heat in the kitchen or fall like the knife as he has in the past.”
Cordell: “Based on last week’s disclaimer from Behrens, I am not sure which is more alarming — that I have allowed Falling Knife Behrens to be in the lead this long or that Kevy-can’t-count is in charge of business operations here. Either way, I am back from my hiatus and have regained my spot atop the standings, even if I have to share it for a week or two with Kevin.”
Pavloff: “ Football doesn’t build character, it reveals it.”
Cook: “Go Bucks!”
Laslow: “Go Bucks!”
Van Hoose: “Go Bucks!”
Eubanks: “Go Bucks!”