Maybe I should stop picking favorites?
After all, picking the underdog is always more fun and involves some level of risk and excitement.
However, the underdog pick makes you look like the smartest guy in the room, if and when it works.
I was admittedly one of the dumbest guys in the room with my batch of picks last week, but my upset pick of Wilmot worked out.
The Panthers went into previously undefeated Elkhorn, pushed them around and left with an impressive 21-7 victory.
My stupidity surfaced in my Waterford and Union Grove picks.
The Wolverines and Broncos showed me Friday that I can’t rest on laurels, history or anything at all from the past. It’s a new year, and everyone is different.
The Broncos handily defeated a conference favorite, Delavan-Darien, 38-28, and the three-time defending champion Wolverines started out flat and couldn’t recover in a 27-17 defeat at home to rival Burlington.
It was the first time the Demons have beaten Waterford since the Bill Clinton administration (1996).
Now, Burlington, Wilmot, Elkhorn and Lake Geneva Badger all sit atop the SLC standings with 2-1 records.
Keep in mind that Lake Geneva crushed Burlington and Wilmot handled Elkhorn, so by default the Badgers and Panthers, two defending co-champions, are the favorites to win the conference.
But don’t sleep on Burlington or even Elkhorn. They still have to play each other, and the winner of that contest will most likely secure a playoff berth.
Lake Geneva has flexed its Division 1 muscles the last two weeks, knocking off Burlington and Westosha Central with ease thanks to its signature ground game.
Badger erupted for a Badger-like 430 yards, led by 167 yards on 10 carries from Zane Zachary.
Lake Geneva is perfecting its dangerous veer option system, and defenses have no answer. Don’t be surprised if the Badgers, despite having only nine seniors, win out and claim a second straight SLC title.
After an 0-3 start, the streaking Badgers are the hottest team in the league right now.
As for the Burlington Demons, they’ve put together two huge wins over county rivals Union Grove and Waterford, but tough tests still await.
However, Burlington’s favorable schedule gives it a good chance to claim the SLC title, which would be the team’s first since the 1990s.
The Demons must win at Wilmot, which I believe is the hardest place to play in the conference. But other than that, Burlington has Elkhorn and Delavan at home and should win at Westosha Central.
Lost in the midst of all this SLC talk is the emergence of Catholic Central. In what was supposed to be a close game with a ranked opponent, the Topper blew Racine Lutheran out of the water Friday night.
Cole Kresken rumbled for 170 rushing yards, and Central improved to 4-1 overall with a 38-6 pasting.
It’s clear Catholic Central and undefeated Racine St. Cat’s are the two best teams in the Metro Classic Conference. Their matchup Oct. 10 in Burlington could be for the conference title.
And let’s not forget Union Grove, which knocked off a powerful Delavan bunch with a 38-28 win last week for its first conference win.
At 3-2 overall, the Broncos have tripled last year’s win total.
Ever the opportunists, the Grove’s stadium was rocking as the Broncos had a kickoff return for a score and a pick-six.
If the Grove can keep this momentum, a playoff spot isn’t out of the question.
Enough of this small talk, kick back, grab an ice-cold beverage and enjoy this week’s picks:
PREDICTIONS
Last week: 7-4
Season: 33-17
GAME OF THE WEEK
Badger (2-3, 2-1 SLC) at Delavan-Darien (3-2, 1-2)
Talk about two teams going in opposite directions.
After an 0-3 start, the Badgers were in jeopardy of qualifying for their eighth straight playoff appearance.
Oh, how times have changed. Lake Geneva has outscored opponents, 62-19, in two straight victories. The first win came against the high-flying Demons.
Delavan has lost two straight, a close heart-breaker at home against Elkhorn and a bit of a shocker at Union Grove.
Though Comets quarterback Jesse Collins tossed two interceptions against the Broncos, expect him and his weapons to get right Friday night.
Collins leads the SLC with 1,139 passing yards this season, and Delavan boasts the two best receivers in the conference, Jake Benzing and Ethan Cesarz.
While leading rusher Fabias Shipman was stopped cold by the Grove last week, he should get back on track.
At home against a beatable opponent, Delavan must win this game if it still hopes to win it all. A shootout will benefit the Comets.
PREDICTION: Delavan-Darien 42, Lake Geneva Badger 35
Union Grove (3-2, 1-2) at Wilmot (3-2, 2-1)
An intriguing matchup, the Grove showed it has the talent to knock off an explosive team like Delavan.
Wilmot is certainly on that top tier of SLC teams. To beat the Panthers, the Grove will have to have a big game offensively.
But that won’t be easy. Wilmot has allowed seven points total in its last two games, both wins, and it frustrated Waterford in a 18-0 shutout.
Wilmot’s defense has been lights out, the triple option is racking up rushing yards, and quarterback Bryce Kothe is emerging as a passing threat.
Last week, Kothe tossed two touchdowns to beat the Elks.
The Broncos are riding a dangerous offense, led by sophomore quarterback Matt Nelson. He was 8-for-14 for 114 yards and a touchdown last week and also ran in a score.
Add to that the dynamic capabilities of junior Toby Robe, who returned a kickoff 88 yards to the house and tallied a pick-six.
The Grove benefitted from Delavan turnovers, but Wilmot likes to ground and pound. Expect the Panthers’ D to continue its dominance.
PREDICTION: Wilmot 27, Union Grove 14
Elkhorn (4-1, 2-1) at Waterford (2-3, 1-2)
It’s put up or shut up time for the Wolverines.
After an abysmal first half against Burlington last week, Waterford, led by running back Anthony Miller’s two touchdowns, began a steady comeback.
However, it was too little too late as Burlington won, 27-17. It was Waterford’s second straight loss.
It didn’t help that Waterford was without all-purpose back Trace Hunsucker, who is out for the season with a knee injury.
The multi-sport star was leading the team in receiving and is second in rushing.
Elkhorn passed a total of zero times in last week’s 21-7. Waterford beat a team like that, Lake Geneva Badger.
Expect a spirited effort from the Wolverines, as their season is on line.
Despite their record, the Wolverines are still one of the best teams in the conference, and they aren’t ready to give up the throne just yet.
PREDICTION: Waterford 21, Elkhorn 10
Burlington (2-3, 2-1) at Westosha Central (1-4, 1-2)
A game against the young Falcons is just what the doctor ordered for the Demons, who just battled through the intense nerves of rivalry week with Waterford and pulled out a gritty victory.
Burlington is back to clicking on all cylinders offensively after a slip-up against Badger, and Central shouldn’t have an answer for senior quarterback Brad Burling.
The senior signal-caller is now over 1,000 yards passing this season and has run for 400. And watch out for running back Hunter Melby, who ran for 137 yards last week against a tough Waterford defense.
Central is coming off a 34-13 drubbing at Badger, and the Falcons allowed more than 400 rushing yards.
Westosha is much improved from last year, but the Demon offensive train is rolling into Paddock Lake Friday.
It could get ugly.
PREDICTION: Burlington 45, Westosha Central 21
Dominican (1-4, 0-3 Midwest Classic) at Catholic Central (4-1, 3-0)
It’s homecoming week in downtown Burlington at Catholic Central High School.
As if the Toppers needed any more motivation, the opportunity to decimate an opponent and get everyone some playing time is more than present Friday night at the Topper Bowl.
Though Dominican averages 28 points per game (they scored 58 in their win), the team is winless in the the conference and was blown out, 34-8, by Martin Luther, a team Catholic Central handled with ease.
Cole Kresken is a beast. After suffering a mild concussion in Week 2, the junior running back has totaled 401 rushing yards and three touchdowns in three games (134 ypg).
Couple Kresken’s run game with the passing of Ben Heiligenthal and the multi-faceted passing, running and receiving of Spencer Wilker, and the Toppers are on a serious roll.
Last Friday’s statement victory over ranked Racine Lutheran may have been the tip of the iceberg.
It’s becoming clear that the Midwest Classic could come down to an epic showdown between undefeated Racine St. Cat’s at Central Oct. 10.
As for this Friday, hide the women and children.
PREDICTION: Catholic Central 55, Dominican 12
Other area predictions
Franklin 33, Racine Case 23
Big Foot 46, Parkview 14
Mukwonago 30, Waukesha South 23
Waukesha West 25, Arrowhead 23
Williams Bay 48, Johnson Creek 21
McFarland 40, East Troy 35
Jefferson 24, Whitewater 7
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