Week 3 NW Indiana HS Football Picks

'Mr. Picker' WEEK 2, 2010 Football Picks in Review: Wrong - 2; Right - 8 = 80.0%
The Pick	The Result
CALUMET 35, Clark 7	WRONG... Clark 22-12
LAKE CENTRAL 34, EAST CHICAGO 28	LC 36-14
WHITING 35, GAVIT 21	Whiting 55-0
RENSSELAER 28, North Newton 8	Rensselaer 50-6
SOUTH CENTRAL 21, CULVER 14	WRONG... Culver 21-20
WHEELER 35, KANKAKEE VALLEY 24	Wheeler 55-0
WASHINGTON 37, MICHIGAN CITY 27 (SB)	Washington 31-7
CROWN POINT 35, HOBART 14	CP 48-14
LOWELL 42, Morton 24	LOWELL 40-26
St. Rita 40, PORTAGE 28	St. Rita 22-0

2010, Week-2: 8 of 10 = 80.0%
2010, Week-1: 8 of 12 = 66.7%
2010 Season: 16 of 22 = 72.7%

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%

WEEK TWO (2) Analysis: Clark's turnaround was very surprising. They shut down Calumet's running attack until late in the 4th quarter. I wouldn't pick Clark if they played again tomorrow. Surprising. South Central went for a two-point conversion against Culver and didn't make it. This one could have gone either way. The best pick of the week was Lowell over Morton by 2-3 TDs when many picked Morton based on the first week's results. 16 of 22 is a good start, but now we get real with league games in the DAC.

WEEK THREE (9-03-2010): The first league games are played and what we've found out in the first two weeks is that the DAC is strong and everybody else isn't. This can change, but you've got to go all the way down to Rensselaer to find a state class team outside the DAC this season. Maybe Andrean and Lowell later. You can pretty much predict the rest of the regular season after week three.

But the Gary teams are still playing Illinois squads and we'll let them get that out of their system. The Gary teams should play each other twice. There's only three of them left. Why not play home-and-home?

Out of respect, I won't pick Lowell and KV (0-2). Rough start in Jasper County. Michigan City isn't ready to play at Chesterton. And there's no need to dwell on state rated Rensselaer and winless North Judson. Also, obviously Bishop Noll (130 points allowed in 2 games) is somewhat defenseless. It's not fair to pick them. A significant weather change (late afternoon 90s down to 70s) will make Friday's games a little more lively and much easier on the players.

Morton (1-1) at CLARK (1-1)

HAMMOND (9-3-2010) I don't have any idea how Clark beat Calumet and won 22-12 with 229 yards rushing. Morton can give up rushing yards. Can there be an upset here? Uh. No. The Governors have scored 54 points on two foes who are much better than Clark. This won't be a surprise and it won't be close.

Morton 56, CLARK 21

Munster (2-0) at Highland (1-1)

HIGHLAND (9-3-2010) The Trojans were very solid in a 39-8 win against a Hammond team that played them close the last two seasons. Munster coasted past Bishop Noll last Friday and they have to take this game seriously. The Mustangs have defeated Highland four years in a row and that has to come to an end eventually. 'Eventually' is not this Friday.

Munster 28, Highland 7

Griffith (0-2) at Hobart (1-1)

HOBART (9-3-2010) The Brickies were overmatched against Crown Point last week, but they seemed to get out of the game without injury. I don't know if Griffith said the same against Valpo. The Panthers were down 34-8 in a 34-21 loss. Griffith threw the ball 23 times, which means they didn't have the line to block Valpo. Hobart trailed 48-0 against CP, but they do have play makers in the backfield. This will be close.

Hobart 27, Griffith 21

East Chicago (1-1) at ANDREAN (1-1)

MERRILLVILLE (9-3-2010) The 59ers were respectable against Merrillville (trailing 14-6 in the 3rd quarter) before losing 27-13, while EC held LC close early (tied 14-14 at halftime) before losing 36-14. Did EC really commit 19 penalties for 140 yards last week? Andrean has run the ball well (400 yards) in the first two weeks.

ANDREAN 31, East Chicago 16

Hammond (0-2) at Bowman Academy (1-1)

GARY (9-3-2010) Bowman makes their 2010 debut against a region team and the defensive coordinators can stay home. Hammond got out-gunned against EC and they were overrun at Highland. I don't know where this game will be played because Bowman may not have a field. Cooler weather will favor teams with small rosters. But the Eagles will have a winning record after Friday.

Bowman 44, Hammond 33

Calumet (1-1) at North Newton (1-1)

MOROCCO (9-3-2010) North Newton upset South Newton but was crushed by Rensselaer 50-6. Calumet started strong, but was paddled by Clark 22-12. The Warriors are better than they showed last week and even without a passing attack (0-for-3 last week), they can outrun the Newton County boys.

Calumet 35, North Newton 28

Lake Station (0-2) at River Forest (2-0)

HOBART TOWNSHIP (9-3-2010) This is the first 2-0 start for River Forest in seven years, while Lake Station has allowed 88 points in two games. There's just a feeling that Lake Station will rise up here against their arch rivals. Did you know that River Forest has not won more than TWO games in any season since 2003? Lake Station has lost 13 games in a row.

River Forest 28, Lake Station 6

Wheeler (2-0) at Whiting (2-0)

WHITING (9-3-2010) Some will suggest that Wheeler's 27-game regular season win streak will end here, but I don't know. Last year's score was 63-0 for Wheeler. Both of these teams won 55-0 last week as Wheeler had 350 yards passing. Whiting had 400 yards rushing last week. But Whiting was playing Gavit. Wheeler was beating a 4A team in KV.

Wheeler 52, Whiting 21

Lake Central (1-1) at Portage (1-1)

PORTAGE (9-3-2010) The Portage Indians come off a short rest week playing Saturday in Chicago. LC broke away from a 14-1 4 halftime tie to win at East Chicago. LC has not been able to put together a passing game as of yet, which means they will be out-manned here.

Portage 34, LC 20

LaPorte (2-0) at Valparaiso (2-0)

VALPARAISO (9-3-2010) LaPorte's Nick Latchford has scored eight TDs, but Valpo has the defense to stop him. Can LaPorte counter by striking through the air? Not this time. This is like Notre Dame and Purdue this weekend and Valpo is Notre Dame. Some offense against a lot more offense. The Vikings will get three turnovers and win going away.

Valparaiso 42, LaPorte 20

CROWN POINT (2-0) at MERRILLVILLE (2-0)

MERRILLVILLE (9-3-10) Crown Point has dominated two 4A foes early, while Merrillville has split with two tough squads in Warren Central and Andrean. The CP defense has not yet allowed a point in the first and third quarters and the Pirate defense is like the Colts. They'll be better later in the season.