WEEKLY PICK 'EM (Oct. 26-27): Where have you gone Ron Held?
There are a bevy of big games this week, all with district titles or shares of on the line. St. James plays Curtis in District 10-2A, the winner gaining at least a hand on the title. Holy Cross travels to Franklinton in 9-4A with at least a share on the line. Higgins plays West Jefferson in 9-5A, also with a share at stake.
And then there's the pick 'em regular season title on the line with two weeks left. Professor has a good hand on that right now for those who have picked at least three weeks. Prep Guru certainly can overtake Professor if he has a good two weeks and Professor bombs. Methinks that's highly unlikely.
But in overall percentage for those who have picked at least 10 games, Professor is getting a challenge from late-comer SuperWebGirl. (more...)
The big improvement came from Mr. Held Over this week, going 7-3. Yes, that's an improvement. Newcastle must have been off in the EPL. And like his Saints, he’s resurrecting his season just in time. He just needs to finish off on a good note at this point. No more bad weeks.
And after constant blog heckling, Soccer Freak, who we understand isn’t a fan of his name, did well. He went 8-2, likely because Salmen wasn’t picked as a game to choose.
Ron Held took a vacation.
This past week:
Me 7-3; Mr. Held Over 7-3; Prep Guru 8-2; SuperWebGirl 8-2; J.A. Borne 7-3; Professor 8-2; Soccer Freak 8-2; Mariah 0-1.
The Big Picture
Super Gold Level (60 or more picks)
Me (59-21, 73.8%)
Gold Level (50-59 picks)
Ron Held (40-10, 80%)
Prep Guru (38-12, 76%)
Soccer Freak (34-16, 68%)
Mr. Held Over (29-21, 58%)
Silver Level (20-49 picks)
SuperWebGirl (16-4, 80%)
Mauve Level (1-19 picks)
CG (1-0, 100%)
Christopher Mire (9-1, 90%)
Mark (17-2, 89.5%)
J.A. Borne (7-3, 70%)
Mariah (0-1, 0%)
Two weeks left folks. Get your picks in. You don’t want to enter the postseason in the Mauve Level. And really, don’t you want to at least be up there with SuperWebGirl? She’s all alone at Silver, but working fast towards Gold.
I’ve chosen a special menu of games, just for you, my loyal readers. Get your picks in early. It’s a hot week, compared to the temperature outside. We call this moving week. Tell all your friends to pick.
Pick all 10 games − INCLUDING THE GAME O’ THE WEEK. Leave them in the comment section below, or email them to me at bhandwerger@wwltv.com.
Week 9
(Home team in bold unless at a neutral field, i.e. Gormley, Yenni, Memtsas, Bertolino or Behrman)
Hahnville 24, East St. John 21
Mandeville 28, Northshore 10
Higgins 17, West Jefferson 10 (@Memtsas)
Cox 20, Belle Chasse 14
Clark 12, Ben Franklin 9
Curtis 27, St. James 14 (@Bertolino)
Brother Martin 24, St. Augustine 17 (@Gormley)
Douglass 18, McMain 13 (@ Gormley)
St. Martin’s 14, Ecole Classique 10
Game O’ the Week
Holy Cross at Franklinton
Take one look at the records and you will be led to believe that this could be a good game. Franklinton is 8-0 and 3-0 in 9-4A. Holy Cross is 7-1 and 3-0 in 9-4A. This game is for the district championship, or at least a share of it. Something has to give.
By my calculations, it’ll likely be Franklinton. Get past the records and look at the two teams’ seasons as a whole.
We’ll start with Franklinton. Sure, it’s scoring 35.4 points per game and allowing only 7.9. But that’s coming against one team with a winning record and one other team at .500. The combined record of Franklinton’s schedule is 18-46. The Demons have played a cream puff schedule. The only quality win came in the opening week over Amite. The Demons haven’t been tested since.
Then look at Holy Cross. The Tigers are averaging 34.4 points per game and allowing 17 against a much tougher schedule. Their opponent’s combined records come out to 31-33. Certainly not overly tough, but not exactly easy. Three of Holy Cross’ previous opponents are at least two games better than .500.
This one may be at Franklinton, and the entire town might be at the game, but I expect Holy Cross to cruise. ….. Holy Cross 31, Franklinton 17.
Posted by Bradley Handwerger 
at 3:38 PM | Permalink
| Comments (7)
Here are the correct picks for this week as I search for that elusive perfect week.
ESJ over Hahnville
Mandeville over Northshore
Higgins over West Jeff
Belle Chasse over Cox
Clark big over Franklin
Curtis over St. James
BM over St. Aug
Douglass over McMain
Ecole over St. Martin's
Franklinton over Holy Cross
(Hahnville Over EastStJohn),
(Mandeville over Northshore),
Higgins over West Jefferson),
(Belle Chase over Cox),
(Ben franklin Over Clark),
(StJames over Curtis),
(Bro.Martin Over StAug),
(Douglass over McMain),
(StMartins Over Ecole Classique),
(FRANKLINTON OVER HOLY CROSS)
Hahnville over East St. John
Mandeville over Northshore
West Jefferson over Higgins
Belle Chasse over Cox
Ben Franklin over Clark
John Curtis over St. James
Brother Martin over St. Augustine
Douglass over McMain
St. Martin’s over Ecole
Holy Cross over Franklinton
To answer your question, my wife and I attended the Saints vs. Seattle football game last weekend and stayed the week to enjoy the city and Canada. That's what you do when you retire,travel.
My pick's for this 9th week are:
Hanhville
Mandeville
Higgins
Belle Chasse
Clark
Curtis
Brother Martin
McMain
St. Martin
Holy Cross
* From Bradley Handwerger: What is this "retire" you speak of? I'm not quite there yet; in fact, I've got a ways to go. I hope you enjoyed the Canadia we all have come to know and love. I also hope the poor value of the dollar compared to the loon didn't hurt y'all.
Hahnville 20, East St. John 24
Mandeville 17, Northshore 14
West Jeff 14, Higgins 20
Cox 10, Belle Chasse 24
Cark 17, Ben Franklin 10
St. James 7, Curtis 17
St. Augustine 7, Brother Martin 24
Douglass 14, McMain 3
Ecole Classique 10 St. Martin’s 17
Game O’ the Week
Holy Cross 24, Franklinton 14
Like a last minute touchdown pass in a Boston College football game, this week's picks are going to break some hearts.
Also, I am not going to add the score to my picks anymore. I feel that when it's a blowout, it's unfair to the kids that I pick against. Plus I have become lazy.
Hahnville over ESJ
Mandeville over Northshore
West Jeff over Higgins
Belle Chasse over Cox
Clark over Franklin
Curtis over St. James
Brother Martin over St. Aug
Douglass over McMain
Ecole over St. Martin's
Franklinton over Holy Cross
From the blog moderator: Yes, SoccerFreak, you have become lazy. The kids know you're a fraud when it comes to picking. Also, you're a Salmen apologist.
Hahnville in close one over ESJ. Scared of this one.
Mandeville
Higgins
Cox
Clark on way to district showdown w/ Reed in week 10.
Curtis
Bro. Martin
Douglass
St Martin's
Franklinton over Holy Cross - good points on why Tigers will beat Demons.
From Bradley: Professor actually got his picks in on Friday. I forgot to post. I apologize