The Pigskin Pickers have returned for yet another year of prognostications.
The opening week of the Pickers in past years was a bit slim as there were only local high school games to select.
This year, however, there are a number of college games on the schedule, including Ohio State’s opener against Florida Atlantic.
Publisher Kevin Behrens returns to defend his 2018 title.
Managing editor Chad Williamson, sports editor Tim Miller, sports writer Sam Dillon and reporter Mac Cordell will all try to knock Behrens off his perch.
We’ve expanded our guest Pickers this season. They will include Bob Van Hoose of Bob Van Hoose Garage Doors and Sales; Scotts Weeks of Weeks Plumbing, Dave Laslow of Burger King, Dean Cook of Dean Cook Nationwide Insurance, Rob Eubanks of Eubanks Electric and Kellie O’Connors of Buckeye Family Pizzeria.
Marysville-Northland
Willamson: Marysville by 9
Miller: Marysville by 6
Behrens: Marysville by 1
Cordell: Monarchs by 16
Dillon: Marysville by 3
Van Hoose: Marysville by 6
Weeks: Marysville by 10
Laslow: MHS by 12
Cook: Marysville by 12
Eubanks: Northland by 14
O’Connors: Marysville by 6
North Union-
Fairbanks
Willamson: Fairbanks by 6
Miller: Fairbanks by 3
Behrens: Fairbanks by 2
Cordell: Wildcats by 2
Dillon: North Union by 7
Van Hoose: North Union by 7
Weeks: North Union by 3
Laslow: Fairbanks by 6
Cook: 14-14 tie
Eubanks: Fairbanks by 7
O’Connors: North Union by 6
Jonathan Alder-Philo
Williamson: Jonathan Alder by 7
Miller: Alder by 7
Behrens: Jonathan Alder by 3
Cordell: Pioneers by 1
Dillon: Jon Alder by 10
Van Hoose: Jonathan Alder by 6
Weeks: Jonathan Alder by 3
Laslow: JA by 10
Cook: JA by 14
Eubanks: Jonathan Alder by 10
O’Connors: Jonathan Alder by 7
Triad-Benjamin Logan
Williamson: Ben Logan by 22
Miller: Benjamin Logan by 10
Behrens: Benjamin Logan by 4
Cordell: Raiders by 19
Dillon: Ben Logan by 7
Van Hoose: Triad by 7
Weeks: Benjamin Logan by 3
Laslow: Ben Logan by 6
Cook: Triad by 6
Eubanks: Triad by 3
O’Connors: Triad by 7
Ohio State-Florida Atlantic
Williamson: OSU by 19
Miller: OSU by 21
Behrens: OSU by 5
Cordell: Buckeyes by 22
Dillon: OSU by 5
Van Hoose: OSU by 28
Weeks: OSU by 14
Laslow: OSU by 28
Cook: OSU by 21
Eubanks: Ohio State by 36
O’Connors: OSU by 28
Northwestern-Stanford
Williamson: Stanford by 7
Miller: Stanford by 3
Behrens: Stanford by 6
Cordell: Cardinal by 6
Dillon: Stanford by 7
Van Hoose: Stanford by 10
Weeks: Stanford by 10
Laslow: Stanford by 7
Cook: Stanford by 6
Eubanks: Stanford by 14
O’Connors: Stanford by 7
Notre Dame-Louisville
Williamson: Notre Dame by 10
Miller: Notre Dame by 7
Behrens: Notre Dame by 7
Cordell: Irish by 9
Dillon: Notre Dame by 10
Van Hoose: Notre Dame by 14
Weeks: Notre Dame by 17
Laslow: Notre Dame by 7
Cook: Notre Dame by 14
Eubanks: Notre Dame by 3
O’Connors: Notre Dame by 14
Boise State-
Florida State
Williamson: Boise State by 3
Miller: FSU by 3
Behrens: Boise State by 8
Cordell: ‘Noles by 3
Dillon: Boise State by 7
Van Hoose: Florida State by 7
Weeks: FSU by 10
Laslow: FSU by 7
Cook: FSU by 3
Eubanks: Boise State by 3
O’Connors: Florida State by 7
Auburn-Oregon
Williamson: Auburn by 7
Miller: Oregon by 6
Behrens: Oregon by 9
Cordell: Ducks by 2
Dillon: Auburn by 4
Van Hoose: Auburn by 6
Weeks: Auburn by 3
Laslow: Auburn by 6
Cook: Auburn by 21
Eubanks: Oregon by 14
O’Connors: Auburn by 3
Disclaimers:
Williamson: “Let me open the Pickers season by saying I apologize for everyone having to read what Kevin writes. Disjointed and hard to follow, he usually just shoots from the hip and relies on the rest of us to be the voices of reason. He’s like a guard dog that barks at every small noise he hears, convincing himself he’s doing a good job.”
Miller: “Hopefully, this will be a successful season for all the local high school teams.”
Behrens: “For the last few years, Will Channel was a Pigskin Picker and provided a safety net for Williamson, Dillon and Cordell, particularly Williamson. Wee Willy would have finished last without young Channel in the race, so this year could be interesting.”
Cordell: “This year really does feel different in that Week 1 isn’t a walk-through. Plus, a pair of local teams facing off means we have to get on someone’s bad side right off the bat. I will be in Philo, which is an interesting matchup for Alder, but three of the four local prep games should be interesting. I will let you figure out which one is the stinker.”
Dillon: “It is shaping up to be another exciting Picker season. Let the games begin. Good luck to all the local teams.”
Van Hoose: “Go Bucks!”
Weeks: “Go Bucks!”
Laslow: “Go Bucks!”
Cook: “This should be an exciting season! Coach Johnson has a decent team at Marysville. I am also very excited to see what the Browns are going to do.”
Eubanks: “Go Bucks!”
O’Connors: Go Bucks!”