Week 1 NW Indiana HS Football Picks

'Mr. Picker' WEEK 15, 2009 Football Picks in Review: 37th Indiana State Football Tournament Nov. 27-28, State Championship games Wrong - 2; Right - 3 = 60.0%
The Pick	The Result
Class 1A
Lafayette Catholic 42, Fountain Central 14	Lafayette Catholic 52-0
Class 2A
Bishop Luers 41, Monrovia 21	Bishop Luers 24-17
Class 3A
Evansville Memorial 50, West Lafayette 35	WRONG... West Lafayette 24-10
Class 4A
LOWELL 30, Reitz 24	WRONG... Reitz 23-9
Class 5A
Warren Central 37, Carmel 28	Warren Central 42-36 (2 OTs)

Mr. Picker (Through the Years)
2009 (final) OVERALL: 154 of 212 = 72.6%
2008 (final) OVERALL: 145 of 193 = 75.1%
2007 (final) OVERALL: 143 of 188 = 76.0%
2006 (final) OVERALL: 166 of 217 = 76.4%
2005 (final) OVERALL: 170 of 233 = 72.9%

INDIANAPOLIS - We talk about Indianapolis a lot, but 2009 was a big year for Lafayette as Lafayette Catholic and West Lafayette both went 15-0 and were undefeated champions. Looking back and being totally impartial, you had five perennial powers winning titles and no one could be shocked at all. Despite the bad call that decided the WC-Carmel match, neither one of those two can whine about the 'breaks' going against them.

It's going to be tough for Lafayette Catholic in 1A with only six returning starters, but 1A is almost as weak a bracket in football as it is in basketball. Luers might be the biggest favorite of any school in any class. From the state tourney roster, they lost only eight players. Their QB, their 1,000-yard rusher and their top tackler all return. It's a good year in 2A, but only injuries can stop Luers from getting back to the finals.

West Lafayette lost far too many key players in 3A, and Evansville Memorial lost star talent. So, 3A is somewhat open although Bishop Chatard again looks solid from a distance. In 4A Cathedral returns most of the offensive line and Bishop Dwenger returns two Division I players and a lot of size. NWI folks like Lowell, but Concord returns their star QB and Lowell has serious QB issues.

In 5A, Warren Central graduated 50 seniors BUT is ranked in the top-25 nationally. Center Grove returns three offensive linemen and a defensive tackle who has been signed by Ohio State. It is not one of the stronger years in 4A and 5A in Northwest Indiana, but there is no clear cut champ. Notice the Whiting-Clark game that will take place on Saturday night to start the year. A great idea that highlights one of NW Indiana's traditional rivalries.

Lets get started. Once again, let's go over the rules. We predict final scores because you have to. Those who only predict wins and losses don't really believe what they're saying or just don't want to think about it too much. We'll do 10 to 15 games each week here and I leave out obvious mismatches. The idea here isn't to roll up a high percentage. It's to pick tough games AND roll up a high percentage. If I put your team in the obvious mismatch category or if I pick your team to get smoked one week, try and remember, this isn't about you. You are biased. I am not. The predictions made here are who I think will win, not necessarily who I want to win.

WEEK (1) ONE: Let's leave out highly-regarded Chesterton and lowly Adams, which will get ugly. Michigan City should be embarrassed to play Gary Roosevelt and New Prairie is no longer in the same competitive class at LaPorte. Hobart plays West Side to get an easy win before they start on a tough schedule.

EAST CHICAGO at HAMMOND

HAMMOND (8-20-2010) New coaches on both sides. It's very hard to call this one. But for these two to win, they'll have to score a lot of points. Hammond just doesn't have enough stability at coach to be a winning team, especially when Morton and Clark do have that stability.

EAST CHICAGO 40, HAMMOND 20

LEW WALLACE at RIVER FOREST

HOBART (8-20-2010) This is the game that River Forest picked up after they dropped Bowman Academy over stealing high school basketball players. Bowman has no game and RF gets a win. Traditionally, Wallace isn't ready to play until September at least.

RIVER FOREST 26, LEW WALLACE 8

SOUTH NEWTON at NORTH NEWTON

MOROCCO (8-20-2010) Newton County's own civil war has been dominated by the 'South' recently. Neither team has a returning quarterback so the point totals may not be high. Did you know South Newton is 46-13 in the last five years? I didn't. At home, the Spartans, with 10 returning starters, have a chance but a small one.

SOUTH NEWTON 28, NORTH NEWTON 7

GRIFFITH at MORTON

HAMMOND (8-20-2010) The balance of power has shifted here. With Morton topping Griffith twice last season and Griffith having four players suspended for this game, Morton wins easily. I'm under the assumption that QB Andrew Glidewell and 1,000-yard rusher Kayln Aaron are healthy. On the artificial turf, they may have too much speed for the Panthers. Navy has finally beaten Notre Dame here and there's no going back.

MORTON 34, GRIFFITH 14

BISHOP NOLL at ANDREAN

MERRILLVILLE (8-20-2010) Andrean plays Bishop Noll because they have to. Noll isn't that close in overall talent. Demitri Blanco takes over as the 59er QB and he should be a running-passing force. The Niners probably will run the ball much more this year and that will work well on this night.

ANDREAN 27, BISHOP NOLL 0

HIGHLAND at WHEELER

UNION TOWNSHIP (8-20-2010) Highland is still short on players, but they did not get dominated in the scrimmage with Crown Point. The Bearcats are coming off another undefeated season, but I don't know about their depth. Here's the biggest upset of the week. Highland seniors can't go four seasons without beating Wheeler. Here's the upset of the week.

HIGHLAND 14, WHEELER 13

MERRILLVILLE at WARREN CENTRAL

INDIANAPOLIS (8-20-2010) Merrillville has top QB Zach Raspopovich and two time 1,000-yard rusher Denzel Pierce, but the offensive line is new. Warren Central graduated 50 seniors but that only means they have 75 players back. Word is they have four Division I players and are ranked in the Top-25 nationally. Merrillville got roasted on opening night in 2009 and came back to win the regional title. That could happen again.

WARREN CENTRAL 42, MERRILLVILLE 14

(Mishawaka) MARIAN at PORTAGE

PORTAGE (8-20-2010) Marian was 6-4 last season and expects to be strong this year in 3A with senior QB Thomas Krueger. Portage has the gold dust twins in Zach Huston and Jake Dixon (186 carries, 1,224 yards) and they lost three games by 6 points or less in 2009. I like the Indians to have a big year, but they'll have to outscore the Knights on this night.

PORTAGE 35, MARIAN 21

MUNSTER at LAKE CENTRAL

ST.JOHN (8-20-2010) Lake Central's debut under new coach Brett St. Germain. I think Munster lost key people off last year's team that lost to LC in the sectional.
Numbers are up at LC and the new coach will have them throwing the football because that's his way. Munster should never beat Lake Central and it's about time LC got back to being LC.

LAKE CENTRAL 26, MUNSTER 14

LOWELL at CROWN POINT

CROWN POINT (8-20-2010) Lowell can run the ball with four returning linemen up front. But many have forgotten that it's an upset when Lowell beats CP. CP has twice as many players and is always the bigger team physically. Lowell has issues at QB and whoever it is will be starting their first varsity game. CP returns QB Joe Hopman and a good set of receivers, plus kicker Brett Bayer, who will win the game with a field goal.

CROWN POINT 24, LOWELL 21

RENSSELAER at KANKAKEE VALLEY

DEMOTTE (8-20-2010) The most interesting match of week one. Rensselaer returns 19 starters including 300-pound lineman Brett Davisson and hard running Ben Ahlers. But KV, at home, is now 'Lowell South' with new defensive coordinator Brad Stewart and old Lowell line coach Mark Reid. The Bombers have defeated KV in each of the last two seasons and they will barely make it three.

RENSSELAER 20, KANKAKEE VALLEY 13

VALPARAISO at PENN

OSCEOLA (8-20-2010) Penn has a good returning class and Valpo will have to step up to avoid early season mistakes. This is similar to Warren Central-Merrillville as Valpo doesn't need to win. They just need to gain from the experience. This isn't the level of Valpo team that can win at Penn.

PENN 27, VALPARAISO 14