Week 7 NW Indiana HS Football Picks

'Mr. Picker' WEEK-6, 2011 Football Picks in Review: Sept. 23-24, 2011 Wrong - 3; Right - 7 = 70.0%
The Pick	The Result
Wheeler 56, River Forest 7	Wheeler 29-8
Clark 40, Bowman 33	(wrong) Bowman 30-24
North Judson 28, KV 16	(wrong) KV 33-27 (OT)
West Lafayette 35, Rensselaer 7	West Lafayette 40-7
Morton 42, Hammond 21	Morton 37-7
Griffith 31, Munster 14	Griffith 20-13
LOWELL 42, Hobart 14	LOWELL 19-17
MERRILLVILLE 26, LaPorte 14	MERRILLVILLE 47-24
Chesterton 55, Portage 21	(wrong) Portage 21-17
Valparaiso 31, CROWN POINT 28	Valpo 21-14

WEEK SIX (6) ANALYSIS: Portage is not predictable. There's no way to tell what they'll do. I didn't have enough nerve to pick the KV upset of North Judson, although I hinted I would. Clark just shouldn't have lost to Bowman, but the Rick Perry shouldn't have lost to Herman Cain either. Somebody was a lot more offensive than I thought they were. I was talking about Bowman.

BEST PICK: West Lafayette over Rensselaer by almost the exact score. West Lafayette is very strong and they should beat Rensselaer most years. West Lafayette should be 8-0 the night they meet Lafayette Catholic (who should also be 8-0 next month).

2011 Season, 1st 6-weeks: 44 of 68 = 64.6%

Mr. Picker (Through the Years)
2010 (final) OVERALL: 135 of 184 = 73.3%
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 (7) SEVEN: This is not a week to gain ground because there's about half of the total games that are in debate here and the other half are blowouts. I can't pick winless Boone Grove vs. Tri County and I don't even know if Gary Lighthouse even has a team to take on Roosevelt Friday night. Wheeler is shorthanded, but it's not fair to pick the Wheeler-Lake Station game. And you should be ashamed to pitch the Rensselaer (3-3) home game with Delphi (0-6). Hang your head in shame. And Morton has no business even playing Gary West Side. This is a big week. Much will be decided no matter how these picks come out. By the way, if you don't want to sit out in the wind and cold, take the 2-1/2 hour drive to Indianapolis to watch 5A No. 2 Carmel (6-0) and 5A No. 1 Warren Central (6-0) smack each other around Friday on the floor of the Lucas Oil Arena.

Noll (2-4) at River Forest (4-2):

HOBART TOWNSHIP (9-30-2011) The records here are misleading as Noll has lost to Andrean (6-0). River Forest averages 28 points game, but they won't get that here in a fairly close game that will be affected by Friday's predicted high winds.

Bishop Noll 20, River Forest 12

Clark (3-3) at Gavit (3-3):

HAMMOND (9-30-2011) The Pioneers have lost two close games in a row, including a 30-24 loss last week to Bowman. Gavit gained 300 yards rushing against winless Delphi last Friday and that's the key to somewhat of an upset here in bad weather. Clark has to pass on a windy night. Gavit does not.

Gavit 21, Clark 20

Munster (2-4) at Hobart (1-5):

HOBART (9-30-2011) The Mustangs are the better team, but I think Hobart found something last week against Lowell. Hobart's kicker Aaron Del Grosso is the key here on a night with 20-30 MPH winds. A minor upset here, too.

Hobart 26, Munster 20

Griffith (4-2) at Highland (1-5):

HIGHLAND (9-30-2011) This game might be close for the home team on a better weather day, but this is a mismatch on this night as Griffith does not need to throw the ball. If you look at the two losses to Lowell (4-2) and Morton (5-1), the Panthers could easily be 6-0.

Griffith 28, Highland 0

Hammond (5-1) at LOWELL (4-2):

LOWELL (9-30-2011) The conditions could make this game closer than it otherwise would be, because Hammond and Lowell both run the ball 90% of the time. The problem for Hammond always will be that they get beaten up by Morton seven days before this game. A cold, wet, windy night is NOT the time to visit Lowell for some football.

LOWELL 32, Hammond 14

Kankakee Valley (2-4) at ANDREAN (6-0):

MERRILLVILLE (9-30-2011) KV has won twice in overtime, which means that they are a tweak of the format away from being 0-4-2. I don't know how they're doing it without any seniors on the roster (they do have one). Andrean is wining easily and the bad weather night is suited to them.

ANDREAN 35, KV 7

Portage (2-4) at Michigan City (1-5):

MICHIGAN CITY (9-30-2011) Portage has shocked Merrillville (3-3) and Chesterton (4-2) in upset wins, but they are without their starting QB. MC has lost five in a row but they didn't get bombed by Lake Central last week. I think MC can contain Rashaan Coleman so this game will be close.

Portage 16, Michigan City 13

LaPorte (2-4) at CROWN POINT (3-3):

CROWN POINT (9-30-2011) CP has lost twice at home already, but LaPorte seems overmatched in DAC play, losing four games in a row by 17 points or more. The key for CP here is not to be thinking about last week's game they could have won when they take on this week's foe, who they should beat.

CROWN POINT 38, LaPorte 14

MERRILLVILLE (3-3) at Valparaiso (3-3):

VALPARAISO (9-30-2011) Valpo has run up 21-point leads two weeks in a row, only to face big second half rallies. Merrillville QB Jake Raspopovich (99-160, 1017 yards) and halfback Darryl Peppers (87-598 yards) would seem to be too much for the Valpo defense, but Valpo's Paul Andrie (70-121, 832 yards) and newcomer Stephen Simms (55-406 yards) will give Merrillville problems. Both teams can run, so the wind won't handcuff them. It's time for Merrillville to make a move.

MERRILLVILLE 34, Valparaiso 17

LAKE CENTRAL (6-0) at Chesterton (4-2):

CHESTERTON (9-30-2011) There is a thought that LC's undefeated record is a little phony because they have not met the tougher DAC teams yet. But there is also a thought that Chesterton is through for the season without starting quarterback Chris Katsafaros (31-62, 492 yards, 4 TDs) who suffered a knee injury last week. On a bad weather night, there's no way Chesterton can win with the backup QB.

LAKE CENTRAL 21, Chesterton 16