Nick’s Picks: The Average Edition
I would be lying if I said that I always knew what I was doing with these picks. Yes, I am what the industry would call an “expert” but I will sometimes just simply be wrong with a pick. Last week highlighted how wrong I can truly be at times as I finished at a not-so-good, but not-so-bad .500 record.
The Colts were dismantled, Purdue did not come through, Notre Dame was worse than usual, the Bears fell apart and there is no chirping going on for Ball State after last night’s debacle. But despite last week’s depressing, failed picks, I remind you all that I will rise above mediocrity! I am confident in my ability to bring Kosciusko County the best weekly sports picks!
Restore your faith in me as I take you on a preview of the weekend of sports ahead.
Last Week: 5-5
Overall: 80-39
Girls High School Basketball 11/15-11/16
South Bend Career Academy (0-0) at Lakeland Christian Academy (0-0), 7:30 p.m.
The Scoop: LCA kicks off its second season as an IHSAA member on Friday night. This year the Lady Cougars are eligible to compete in IHSAA the postseason tournament so every game is more important this season as they are all preparation for the school’s first ever sectional appearance. The Vipers come to Warsaw entering their first season as an IHSAA member and I would be lying if I said I knew anything about them. Call it a hunch, but I am going with the Cougars.
The Pick: LCA 59, SBCA 38.
Westview (0-0) at Wawasee (0-0), 7:30 p.m.
The Scoop: Some questions will be answered for Wawasee fans on Friday night when the Lady Warriors take the court for the first time this season, against the other Lady Warriors. The biggest question that will hopefully be answered, or at least partially answered is who will be the scorer for Wawasee? With KiLee Knafel now continuing her career at IUSB, big shoes need to be filled on the offensive front for the Lady Warriors. Erin Wiktorowski is expected to miss the opening game leaving Elizabeth Jackson and Kylee Rostochak as the two main returning players for Wawasee. This is game always seems to be a tossup but I guarantee the Lady Warriors will win.
The Pick: Westview 63, Wawasee 49.
Triton (0-0) at North Judson (0-0), 8 p.m.
The Scoop: The Trojans are coming off of a season that ended in the sectional championship game. There is no doubt that Triton is itching to get back on the court and get back to work. Head coach Adam Heckaman has had his girls well-prepared in the past two openers against North Judson and with the team making to look some noise this season, it should be all Trojans on Friday night.
The Pick: Triton 51, North Judson 40.
Columbia City (0-0) at Whitko (1-0), 8 p.m.
The Scoop: Brandon Bradley and his team gave me one correct pick last week for last week’s edition, for that I give a lot of thanks. But the road gets tougher as Columbia City rolls into South Whitley Friday night. The Wildcats have not beaten City since 2007 but have closed the gap over the past few seasons. This year Whitko is going to close that gap completely and swing momentum in this county rivalry.
The Pick: Whitko 47, Columbia City 43.
Warsaw (0-0) at Huntington North (0-0), 8 p.m. 11/16
The Scoop: Rejoice, Warsaw fans, the Lady Tigers are back in action on Saturday night. After a fantastic postseason run in 2012-13 that ended with a disappointing loss in semi-state, the ladies have had a long off season to reload for the 2013-14 campaign. The Vikings and Tigers have played some close games over the years and I expect Saturday night’s to be no exception. While the Vikings have the nice advantage of being at home to start the season I refuse to pick against the Lady Tigers in this game based solely on intuition.
The Pick: Warsaw 70, Huntington North 58.
5A Regional High School Football 11/15
Mishawaka (9-3) at Concord (9-2), 7 p.m.
The Scoop: Yes, this is sort of an oddball pick. Concord is the lone NLC school left in the IHSAA playoffs. This week the mighty Minutemen host a regional title game against Mishawaka. The game is a rematch of last season’s 4A Semi-State game in which the Cavemen won 24-21 on Concord’s field. This is a great chance for Concord to grab revenge, but so far the the Minutemen are 0-2 in trying to avenge 2012 losses (Jimtown, Plymouth). It will not be easy, but it should be exciting and ultimately the Minutemen will reign supreme.
The Pick: Concord 37, Mishawaka 20.
College Football Week 12 11/16
Purdue (1-8) at Penn State (5-4), 12 p.m.
The Scoop: At this point I think the Big Ten as a while is starting to see just how horrible of a recruiting job Danny Hope and his staff did in his time at the helm on the once respectable Boilermaker program. Darrell Hazell has definitely had to do some patch work on several years of inept coaching in West Lafayette but he has this team going in the right direction. The Boilers probably won’t win this weekend but at this point just scoring a few touchdowns is something to be happy about. Grin and bear the 2013 season, Purdue fans, the only way to go from here is up.
The Pick: Penn State 49, Purdue 17.
Indiana (4-5) at No. 22 Wisconsin (7-2), 12 p.m.
The Scoop: Call me crazy, call me a homer, call me whatever you want as long as you are calling me right on Saturday afternoon around 3 p.m. That’s right, I am going out on the ledge this week. Actually, I am going past the ledge. I am standing on nothing and basically on a free fall with this pick. The Hoosiers will emerge from Camp Randall Stadium with a victory for the first time since 2001 when Antwaan Randle El was under center for the white and crimson (Okay, IU actually wore these atrocities in 2001, thanks Cam Cameron). It is time for IU to get a back in the win column against the Badgers and I am calling the Hoosiers shot for them right now.
The Pick: Indiana 55, Wisconsin 49.
NFL Week 11 11/14-11/17
Indianapolis (6-3) at Tennessee (4-5), 8:25 p.m. 11/14 Thursday Night Football
The Scoop: I’ll just say this up front, the Colts are going to win tonight. How do I know this? Well, they should be well rested because they had a game scheduled last Sunday (11/10) but simply did not show up and the St. Louis Rams just ran back and fourth between end zones for 60 minutes before finally hoping a plane back home. Yes, I am a little bitter about Indy’s 38-8 loss last week but the good news is that the boys in blue still have a two game lead in their division. That lead will be extended tonight in Nashville because the Colts basically have to win tonight to avoid seeing the 2013 season completely derailed. Even better news, Colts fans. Trent Richardson will finally make us all proud tonight as he finds the end zone not once, but twice and eclipses 100 yards for the first time in a Colts uniform. All Colts, all night.
The Pick: Indy 41, Tennessee 21.
Baltimore (4-5) at Chicago (5-4), 1 p.m.
The Scoop: The Bears are in a bad spot. They could have grabbed a nice lead in the division last week but dropped a two-point loss at home to the Lions. Not all hope is lost, but Sunday is a definite must-win for the Monsters of the Midway. Baltimore is also in a must-win game as they too are fighting for a playoff spot. I like Josh McCown but I do not like the Bears defense and the Ravens offense is well overdue for a big game. Should be a good game but without Brian Urlacher and Ray Lewis, this match up just is not the same.
The Pick: Baltimore 27, Chicago 14.