Week 10 Picks - 2010 NW Indiana High School Football

A USA-365.com Special Report by Mark Smith

October 20, 2010

 

'Mr. Picker' WEEK 9, 2010 Football Picks in Review:
Wrong - 2; Right - 8 = 80.0%

The Pick The Result

Wheeler 56, Calumet 12  

Wheeler 66-6

North Newton 35, Bishop Noll 13  

North Newton 56-7

Hobart 28, Highland 27  

Hobart 35-14

East Chicago 34, Griffith 29  

WRONG ... 53-18

Clark 42, Hammond 20  

Clark 33-12

West Side 48, Roosevelt 12  

West Side 49-6

Valparaiso 24, Lake Central 0  

Valpo 21-14

Portage 16, LaPorte 7  

Portage 27-14

Chesterton 27, Merrillville 21  

WRONG ... Merrillville 32-29

LOWELL 10, ANDREAN 7  

LOWELL 35-28 (OT)

2010, Week-8: 8 of 10 = 80.0%
2010, Week-8: 4 of 10 = 40.0%
2010, Week-7: 10 of 11 = 90.9%
2010, Week-6: 5 of 9 = 55.0%
2010, Week-5: 5 of 10 = 50.0%
2010, Week-4: 8 of 10 = 80.0%
2010, Week-3: 8 of 11 = 72.7%
2010, Week-2: 8 of 10 = 80.0%
2010, Week-1: 8 of 12 = 66.7%
2010 Season: 64 of 93 = 68.8%

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 NINE (9) Analysis: Okay, EC over Griffith was a long shot and it just didn't happen. I almost always take one shot like that a week. And Chesterton still doesn't know how they lost that game to Merrillville. The Trojans led with a minute to play. Truthfully, this was not a tough week if you went the right way on the Lowell game. There were 10 other mismatches I simply did not list. Pick of the week: Clark over Hammond by 22 points when they won by 21.


WEEK TEN (10-22-2010): This is it for both players and 'Mr. Picker' here. Until now, I chose to pick and choose only the even or somewhat even games. There's no going 16-4 by picking Wheeler over Lake Station. We don't do that here during the regular season. But that's over now. You've got to pick them all now. Even the blowouts. I'll take two 4A and 5A sectionals and Northwest Indiana sectionals in 1A, 2A and 3A. That's 28 games. Or as Christine O'Donnell would say. Two dozen.

WEEK (10) TEN

Class 1A ---- Sectional 33 ----

Winamac [7-2] at South Central [7-2]

UNION MILLS (10-22-2010) SC with all-time leading rusher Ethan Biggs (3,600 career yards) takes on Winamac all-time leading rusher halfback Eric Sass (3,200 yards). Neither side has played much more than 1A and 2A schools and it's hard to call a winner here. In good weather, it looks like a high scoring game won by the home team.
South Central 28, Winamac 26


West Central [6-3] at Triton [1-8]

BOURBON (10-22-2010) No contest. West Central has allowed 104 points the last two weeks, but Triton has been shut out the last two weeks. Spencer Dobson (143 caries, 1,345 yards) has 24 TDs for West Central. The question here isn't whether WC will win, it's whether Triton will score. They will.
West Central 35, Triton 7


Whiting [7-2] at LaVille [2-7]

LAKEVILLE (10-22-2010) LaVille has only beaten Lake Station (1-8) and Triton (1-8), while Whiting has only lost to Wheeler (9-0) and South Central (7-2). This game is why everyone should not be allowed into the state tournament. There's no reason for LaVille, which gave up 350 yards rushing last week to Culver (6-3), to take this whipping.
Whiting 49, Lakeville 0


Culver Community [6-3] at Lake Station [1-8]

LAKE STATION (10-22-2010) This is even worse than the last game. The Eagles were short 10 players last week and they can't win here. Culver's Michael Salary ran for 213 yards last week and it's hard to see Lake Station stopping him. Why is it good for a program to get jacked up in week 10 of the season when they have been getting pounded most of the year?
Culver Community 28, Lake Station 0


Class 2A ---- Sectional 25 ----

Wheeler [9-0] at Bishop Noll [3-6]

HAMMOND (10-23-10) Wheeler has three consecutive undefeated regular seasons and they defeated Noll 65-0 two weeks ago. Noll has allowed more than 400 points in nine games and if they had answers, they'd have used them before now. I don't know what to say here. I really don't.
Wheeler 56, Bishop Noll 0


Bowman Academy [2-6] at North Newton [4-5]

MOROCCO (10-22-2010) North Newton halfback Jake Schuitema (228 carries, 1,737 yards) tries to become one of the few Northwest Indiana halfbacks to gain 2,000 yards. Bowman will score 30 because they always do and give up 50 because they almost always do. Bowman can't wait to start the basketball season.
North Newton 52, Bowman Academy 34


River Forest [3-6) at Seeger [5-4]

WEST LEBANON (10-22-2010) River Forest won their first three games, but they must have lost some players at that point because they've been shelled ever since. Seeger has defeated five 1A schools so they are vulnerable, but not here. This is a two-hour ride for the Ingots. This will be a painful night.
Seeger 42, River Forest 14


Rensselaer [9-0] at North Judson [3-6]

NORTH JUDSON (10-22-2010) Rensselaer and North Judson seem to meet ever year in the post-season and Judson often gives them problems. Not this season. Rensselaer is 85-36 in the last 10 years. This is an old rivalry but I don't know how Judson lost by 19 at home to weak Twin Lakes (3-6) last week. High school teams just hate being favored.
Rensselaer 28, North Judson 14


Class 3A ---- Sectional 17 ----

Calumet [4-5] at Glenn [7-2]

WALKERTON (10-22-2010) Calumet is so inconsistent it's hard to figure out if they'll even find Walkerton. The Warriors have lost four games by 10 points or less and they lost by 60 to Wheeler last week. But note that Glenn halfback Josh Anderson (26 TDs) is injured and did not play in last week's Glenn loss to Bremen. Don't bet your life on a Glenn blowout.
John Glenn 28, Calumet 14


New Prairie [3-6] at Gavit [4-5]

HAMMOND (10-22-2010) NP has to make the 90-minute drive to Hammond and they don't bring much with them. Gavit's allowed 38 points a game, but New Prairie has scored 80 points total all year. I don't think New Prairie can score enough to win here.
Gavit 20, New Prairie 6


ANDREAN [6-3] at Clark [6-3]

HAMMOND (10-22-2010) Andrean has played three overtime games and won just one. Clark hasn't defeated anyone with a winning record. The disparity in schedules is just too different here. Andrean is coming off games with Griffith and Lowell, teams Clark wouldn't play on a bet.
ANDREAN 24, Clark 0


Culver Academy [3-6] at Knox [4-5]

KNOX (10-22-2010) Knox was 0-4 at one point, but they shut out Triton and New Prairie in the last two weeks. Admittedly, that's about as tough as Notre Dame's second half schedule. Culver Academy is very difficult to predict because of their wide-ranging roster and schedule. CMA rolled over Fairfield (6-3) by four TDs last week and you would think they'll be in control of this one.
CMA 28, Knox 7


Class 4A ---- Sectional 9 ----

Morton [8-1] at Gary Roosevelt [1-6]

GARY (10-22-2010) A scrimmage for Morton, which averages 39 points a game. Embarrassment for Roosevelt, which has scored 40 total points all year. Keep the clock running. Let's just hope nobody gets hurt. I hope they have some good food at the concession stand because there will be nothing on the field.
Morton 56, Gary Roosevelt 0


Griffith [6-3] at Hobart [4-5]

HOBART (10-22-2010) Griffith won 35-10 seven weeks ago, but it will be closer this time. The Panthers have done very well, going 5-1 in league play but that short roster (about 30 players in uniform) has to catch up to them. Hobart's 1000-yard junior rusher Jamar Merritt might lead an upset here if Griffith had not had two weeks (they played EC last week) to prepare.
Griffith 28, Hobart 21


Lew Wallace [1-8] at Hammond [2-7]

HAMMOND (10-22-2010) Wallace has scored only 100 points all season, giving up almost 400. LW is 4-40 in the last five seasons and they've had one win in each of the last four years. They've reached their limit. LW gained 98 total yards last week in a 42-0 loss to Marian. Once the playoffs begin, Gary schools don't win.
Hammond 44, Lew Wallace 16


Highland [1-8] at Gary West Side [4-5]

GARY (10-22-2010) You tend to go against the Gary team, but Highland has lost seven in a row. West Side dominated Lew Wallace and Roosevelt but that's like Michigan beating Western and Eastern Michigan. If there's an upset this week, here it is. But again, Gary doesn't play much football.
Highland 32, Gary West Side 24


Class 4A ---- Sectional 10 ----

Logansport [5-4] at Kankakee Valley [1-8]

DeMOTTE (10-22-2010) Logansport has proud wins over Twin Lakes (3-6), Peru (2-7), Richmond (2-7), New Castle (1-8) and Muncie Central (0-9) so they are hardly a superpower. But KV appeared to lose star halfback Dylan Patrick to injury last week.
Logansport 28, Kankakee Valley 13


(South Bend) Riley [2-7] at (South Bend) Clay [6-3]

SOUTH BEND (10-22-2010) Clay beat Riley 42-0 last month. The Colonials have a good chance to get to the 4A Sectional 10 finals. They got a great draw. Passer Justin Laureys (123 of 207, 1,858 yards) and runner Devon Bailey (159 carries, 803 yards) lead a strong offense for Clay. Riley is scheduling basketball practice for Monday afternoon.
Clay 35, Riley 12


LOWELL [6-3] at Concord [9-0]

ELKHART (10-22-2010) Concord lost 60-23 last year at Lowell and that stink won't wash off. Twelve months and nine wins later, Concord takes the home field against Lowell again. The formerly pass-happy Minutemen have only thrown 167 passes this year and they have a big line and fullback. The Devils have lost two by a combined total of four points but they have also beaten the only two Top-10 teams they have played. Everything favors Concord here.
Concord 24, LOWELL 14


SB Washington [6-3] at Plymouth [6-3]

PLYMOUTH (10-22-2010) Plymouth has lost three of their last four, but Washington runs the spread attack and those teams usually lose in the post-season because they give away time of possession. Tate Borlik (118-220, 1,798 yards) throws 20 passes a game. Washington gave up 25 first downs to Mishawaka last week in a 29-28 loss, but that's how they play. Plymouth is the perfect style of ball control team to play Washington, but they can't get it done this time. This seems like an upset but it isn't.
Washington 27, Plymouth 17


Class 5A ---- Sectional 2 ----

Mishawaka [9-0] at Elkhart Central [0-9]

ELKHART (10-22-2010) This game is an embarrassment to the IHSAA. Central has lost eight times by 19 points or more and Mishawaka beat them by 30 three weeks ago. There's no reason to send boys out there in an injury-prone sport to take another beating.
Mishawaka 56, Elkhart Central 0


Goshen [3-6] at Michigan City [1-8]

MICHIGAN CITY (10-22-2010) Goshen isn't very good. They've scored 116 points all season. Michigan City has lost eight in a row and has been run off their own field repeatedly. But these are both losing teams. I would not be shocked if Michigan City won here.
Michigan City 16, Goshen 14


(South Bend) Adams [1-8] at Penn [5-4]

OSCEOLA (10-22-2010) Penn has lost to really good teams,. Adams has lost to everybody. Here's another joke. Penn played Adams last week and won 56-0. Penn has beaten Adams 27 times in a row. Adams has as much chance of winning this as hockey does of getting on network television. There's dozens of games like this Friday night and it's why the format must eventually change.
Penn 42, Adams 0


LaPorte [4-5] at Elkhart Memorial [5-4]

ELKHART (10-22-2010) LaPorte goes without QB Kyle Hartson (out for the year). Memorial lost in three overtimes to Northridge last week and Northridge rarely beats Memorial. Two-time 1,000-yard rusher Nick Latchford has 20 TDs for LaPorte. Halfback Tommy Kendall has 17 TDs for Memorial. You can't go into the playoff without your QB.
Elkhart Memorial 31, LaPorte 17


Class 5A ---- Sectional 1 ----

Portage [5-4] at CROWN POINT [6-3]

CROWN POINT (10-22-2010) DAC MVP Jake Dixon rushed for 1400 yards and he gained 202 last week. CP has a 1,000-yard rusher in Cody Bacon and a 900-yard receiver in Austin Atherton. In good weather, CP, which defeated Portage 24-7 last month, has too much balance on offense.
CROWN POINT 26, Portage 7


Munster [6-3] at Lake Central [2-7]

ST. JOHN (10-22-2010) Munster lost the 5A Sectional One quarterfinal to LC last year and the Mustangs certainly have not forgotten that. LC played well in a 21-14 loss to undefeated Valparaiso last week and these schools are neighbors. I'm going to go on strength of conference and take LC again.
Lake Central 14, Munster 10


East Chicago [5-4] at Valparaiso [9-0]

VALPARAISO (10-22-2010) The Vikings may be without halfback Byron Duncan (137 carries, 939 yards) but East Chicago got horse-whipped by Griffith last week and Valpo is much stronger. The Vikings basically get two weeks to get ready for Merrillville or Chesterton. East Chicago has basketball practice Monday.
Valparaiso 42, East Chicago 14


MERRILLVILLE [7-2] at Chesterton [7-2]

CHESTERTON (10-22-2010) They played last week and Merrillville pulled it out in the last minute 32-29. Total yards: Merrillville - 321. Chesterton - 316. Let's get something straight. There is no format that would prevent teams that played in the final regular season game from meeting in the sectional quarterfinal. But if you had four team sectionals (and only 32 teams in each class), it would be less likely. These teams are too close. I wish I knew game time weather because it affects style. This game is dead even on the computer. I don't know.
Chesterton 31, MERRILLVILLE 28
 

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