2008 (Week 4)  7 of 10   = 70.0%
2008 (Week 3)  7 of 12   = 58.3%
2008 (Week 2)  6 of 10   = 60.0%
2008 (Week 1)  9 of 12   =  75.0%
2008 Year to Date:  29 of 44 = 65.9%

2007 (final) OVERALL:  143 of 188 = 76.0%
2006 (final) OVERALL:  166 of 217 = 76.4%
2005 (final) OVERALL:  170 of 233 = 72.9%

Northwest Indiana WEEK-FIVE (5) PICKS, 09-19-2008

PORTAGE (09-19-2008) - This might be the most competitive week of the season so far.  Only the Highland (0-4) game with Lowell (4-0) is obviously off the board.  I'm going to take a pass on Wheeler (4-0) and South Central (1-3), too.  Realistically, Calumet (3-1) at Lake Station (0-4) is unfair as well.  And you just can't pick Gary teams.  It's just too easy.  We have a little settlement with Dolapo Macarthy back at Merrillville at QB.  But now we have 'The big flood of 2008' and some fields may not be playable.  Hobart's Brickie Bowl flooded while Highland and Munster are in low-lying areas.  Highland hasn't played a home game all year so that game may be moved to Lowell.  The schools with 'Field Turf' -- CP, Valparaiso and Merrillville -- know their games are 'on'.  I don't know if anyone's still in doubt about the value OF artificial turf as of last week.


North Newton (0-4) at River Forest (1-3)

HOBART TOWNSHIP (9-19-2008) The Ingots are a little better than they showed last week, getting steamrollered 44-0 by Calumet.  I don't know if North Newton is better than the 55-6 loss to Wheeler.  Neither team can stop the run and neither team can throw.  I'm going to lean towards River Forest, which is the team that doesn't have to make the 55-mile drive on a Friday night.

River Forest 16, North Newton 8

Bishop Noll (2-2) at Whiting (3-1)

WHITING (9-19-2008) Whiting QB Danny Macon (56 of 105, 698 yards, 8 TDs, 3 INTs) survived a rainy night and now he'll fly the friendly skies against a Noll squad that ran for 300 yards on Lake Station last week.  Halfback Scott Upshaw should have a big night.

Bishop Noll 35, Whiting 21

Morton (2-2) at Munster (3-1)

MUNSTER (9-19-2008) To say that it's been a rough week at Munster is like saying the stock market went down a little bit. Or that there's been a lot of rain lately.  Munster QB Joe Gill (29 of 54 for 467 yards, 7 TDs) is the region's most experienced QB.  But Morton's offense and special teams (3 KO return TDs) is something to see.  I'm going for the first big upset of the week here.

Morton 30, Munster 21

Griffith (1-3) and Kankakee Valley (0-4)

DeMOTTE (9-19-2008) Griffith isn't 'down'.  They've lost to Hobart (4-0), Lowell (4-0) and a Merrillville team that virtually everyone accepts is the region's top team at full strength.  KV gave out a great effort last week in a 28-21 loss to Hobart and they can't do that two weeks in a row.

Griffith 42, Kankakee Valley 7

Clark (3-1) at East Chicago (2-2)

EAST CHICAGO (9-19-2008) This is Clark's big moment.  The Pioneers have no impressive wins and now they face a team with a big-time QB in Willie Lott.  The home team here has played the much tougher schedule.  EC, on a good weather night, will outscore the visitors.

EC 44, Clark 33

ANDREAN (2-2) at Hobart (4-0)

HOBART (9-19-2008) This game may have to be moved from Hobart because the Brickie Bowl was still flooded late Monday.  But, in the 'Bowls' final season, every effort will be made to play there.  Demetri Blanco (26 of 65, 321 yards, 4 TDs, 9 INTs) is going through the kind of struggles sophomore QBs have against good teams.  I think Hobart was looking ahead to this game last week.

Hobart 28, Andrean 14


LaPorte (1-3) at Lake Central (3-1)

ST. JOHN (9-19-2008) A must game for LC.  The Indians have scored 17 points in the last two weeks and they were lucky to win 20-19 in the season opener.  To have sectional hopes, they need real wins, not just surviving.  I think LaPorte is strong where LC is questionable, in the secondary.  This game was 31-28 last year and 35-28 two years ago.

Lake Central 28, LaPorte 27


Michigan City (1-3) at MERRILLVILLE (1-3)

MERRILLVILLE (9-19-2008) Everybody who plays Merrillville is tip-toeing because if the Pirates wake up, they can lay a 40-0 game on someone.  It's not this week.  Michigan City has had issues early in the season, but they do have some speed.  The 'hurricane' in purple uniforms that many think is coming isn't here yet.

MERRILLVILLE 26, Michigan City 14


Portage (4-0) at CROWN POINT (1-3)

CROWN POINT (9-19-2008) You can see this one coming.  Portage is already playing with the backup quarterback and now halfback Ryan Cherry may be out.  That's like the Bears losing Devin Hester.  CP has only allowed 37 points all season and I think they've had enough of losing almost every week by a touchdown.  Here's the second upset of the week.

CROWN POINT 17, Portage 7


Chesterton (3-1) at Valparaiso (4-0)

VALPARAISO (9-19-2008) What you have to like about the Vikings is how well they run the ball.  I'm not sure it matters if QB Zack Livovich (28 of 42, 343 yards, 0 interceptions) is still out.  Running the football is how you win in northern Indiana.  Chesterton will gear up for a peak effort, but they will be the fifth consecutive team to play Valparaiso and come away impressed.

Valparaiso 31, Chesterton 14

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