Nick’s Picks: PLAYOFFS
Playoffs!? You want to talk about playoffs!?
Okay, let’s do it!
It’s sectional week for football and volleyball and semi-state for cross country. Plenty of local athletes are laying it all on the line for potentially the last time in their respective sports this weekend. I wish the absolute best to everyone competing on those different levels.
To the ones playing in sectionals, don’t let it end here! It’s an awful feeling. My senior year of football ended in the first round of sectionals and it’s still a bad taste in my mouth to this day.
Put it all out there this week. You can also insert 100 more sport clichés if you’d like. You know the drill, make it count.
I had reserved the rest of this space to talk about the Cubs in the National League Championship Series…
Here are this week’s picks!
Last Week: 5-5
Overall: 49-28
High School Football Sectional 10/23
Wawasee (3-6) at Plymouth (7-2), 7 p.m.
The Scoop: It’s a rematch for the ages! Well, okay, it’s a rematch. Who knows what to expect here? Wawasee has been a very hit and miss team all season. The offense has looked really good at times and then, not as good at other times. The Warriors put up a fight against a shaken up Plymouth team back in September, regardless of the situation, that should give Wawasee some confidence for tonight’s game.
I actually expect another close game here, I think both teams have a lot to prove now that the regular season is over. Plymouth needs to prove it’s still a force to be reckoned with and the Warriors need to prove September’s performance against the Rockies and the win against Elkhart Memorial were not just flukes. I’ll give the edge to the Rockies playing at home tonight.
Nick’s Pick: Plymouth 27, Wawasee 17.
Warsaw (4-5) at Carroll (6-3), 7 p.m.
The Scoop: I would love to pick the Tigers in this game. How great would it be to see the Orange and Black go to Charger Field and get revenge for the last two seasons? Carroll beat Warsaw 42-7 in 2013 and 40-3 in 2014, it would be nice to see the roles reversed. But, without Riley Rhoades on the outside, I can’t see it happening. The Tigers still have plenty of talent but the loss of Rhoades creates a big obstacle for Warsaw to overcome against a quality opponent.
I still think this will be a competitive game, I think the Tigers defense will make some big plays but I feel the loss of Rhoades will take a toll by the time the game is over. I’ve been wrong before, I’d like to be wrong again.
Nick’s Pick: Carroll 34, Warsaw 20.
Prairie Heights (0-9) at Whitko (4-5), 7 p.m.
The Scoop: Just don’t overlook this team. That’s all I need to say to the Wildcats. Understand that anything can happen at this point in the year. Put the Panthers away early and run the clock out.
Prairie Heights has really struggled to even compete with teams this season as they average just six points per game. Whitko should secure a win and move on the semi-finals with some ease.
Look for Garrett Elder to have a big game. (I know, Captain Obvious statement there.)
Nick’s Pick: Whitko 30, Prairie Heights 0.
Southwood (6-3) at Triton (2-7), 7 p.m.
The Scoop: I don’t want to count the Trojans out. I mean, I’ve made it pretty obvious that I don’t like counting any of our local team out. But, the Trojans have only averaged 10 points per game and that doesn’t bode well in the playoffs.
Southwood’s defense is far from elite, so if Triton wants to win it will need to score early and often. That’s something the Trojans really haven’t done this year. I think this will be the end of the road for Triton.
Nick’s Pick: Southwood 35, Triton 16.
Tippecanoe Valley (3-6) at Jimtown (6-3), 7:30 p.m.
The Scoop: It certainly was not the draw the Vikings wanted.
Anything can happen at this point, it’s a fresh slate for teams in the sectional but this is a tall task that I’m not sure the Vikings are up for.
Jimtown averages 25 points per game, the Vikings surrender around the same amount. Valley only scores around 14 points per game, and that’s about what the Jimmies surrender. I think this will be a close game for a half but the Jimmies will pull away in the third quarter.
Nick’s Pick: Jimtown 37, Valley 16.
College Football 10/24
Indiana (4-3) at No. 7 Michigan State (7-0), 3:30 p.m.
The Scoop: This Sparty team is just inching closer to a defeat with every passing week. Purdue almost beat MSU, then Michigan had the victory in hand until they literally tossed it to the Spartans in the closing seconds. I mean, wow. How does that happen?
Anyway, Sparty is ripe for the pickin’!!! So, somebody will probably, eventually, maybe beat them. It just won’t be the team that gave up 55 points to friggin Rutgers.
Nick’s Pick: Sparty 47, Indiana 28.
Purdue and ND are on byes so no more college picks. Yes, Ball State plays but I curse the Cardinals whenever I make a pick.
NFL 10/25
New Orleans (2-4) at Indianapolis (3-3), 1 p.m.
The Scoop: Both of these teams have been huge disappointments so far. The Colts played an excellent two and a half quarters against New England before calling a momentum-killing fake punt trick play, er, this. If the Colts can refrain from doing that this Sunday, I like them to get a nice win over a Saints team that is also struggling to find an identity. But, I won’t be surprised if Indy somehow finds a way to tick me off this week as well.
Nick’s Pick: Colts 34, Saints 31.
Bears are on a bye figuring out trade packages for Matt Forte!