Peerless Pigskin Picks

By Sterling Guesser

For the first time ever, I picked more than one game incorrectly. I wish this job was like big-time college coaching and I could get fired with a $49 million buyout. Talk about failing upwards!

I was 4 out of 6 this week missing Garrard’s upset and Pulaski’s convincing win.

After seven weeks of predicting high school football games, I am now 47 out of 55 (85.4%). Note: I started the picks after the first week of games.

My confidence is hurting this week, but I am going to do what I do best and hope for the best. Here you go (local high schools first in alphabetical order):

1. Boyle County (6-1)-The Rebels sunk the Lakers to move to 1-0 in district play. Boyle has played a very tough non-district schedule and is poised to make a deep playoff run in Class 4A. It is back to district play this week when they host Lincoln County (6-1), one of their oldest foes. Is there an upset brewing or will this be business as usual? See the Lincoln County section for the prediction.
2. Casey County (1-6)- Casey County is coming off an OPEN date and will host Mercer County (0-7) this week. This is a tough prediction as both teams have struggled this season. See the Mercer County prediction to find out the winner.
3. Danville (7-1)- As I predicted, the Admirals defeated another Louisville team to keep their ship riding high in the water. But, alas, stormy seas lie ahead. Danville is traveling to Lexington Christian (4-3) this week and don’t let the Eagles’ record fool you. Their losses have been to three of the best teams in the state regardless of class—Boyle County (28-21), Christian Academy of Louisville (47-7) and Franklin County (28-21). This game will be a mammoth challenge for Coach Stonebreaker and his young team. Their confidence has been growing through the season, and they’ll fight hard, but the challenge is too great, and Lexington Christian will effectively win the district championship, defeating Danville 42-28.
4. Garrard County (4-3)- Garrard County shocked the world with their overtime win at home against Bardstown last week. Pundits, including yours truly, thought Bardstown would have their way with the Golden Lions. Nope. Didn’t happen. The stakes were high and Garrard rose to the challenge. For all intents and purposes, the win gave Garrard a home playoff game. This week, the Lions have their OPEN date and will rest up for the final two games with Mercer and Lincoln.  
5. Lincoln County (6-1)- Lincoln had an OPEN date last week and now faces their biggest challenge of the season when they travel to Boyle County (6-1). Nobody expects the Patriots to win, right? Not even their fans, coaches, and team? Well, I’m sure that’s what Boyle County people think. After all, Boyle has been dominating the area for the past twenty-five years, longer than the players on the two teams have been alive. You’d be wrong to think that, though. Lincoln will believe they can win and will fight to the end, and, in a perfect game, they could win. I mean, that’s why they play the games instead of just crowning the winner based on past performances. Will Lincoln County have a perfect game and upset the mighty Rebels? I think not. Boyle County gets the win 28-17, in an entertainingly competitive game.
6. Mercer County (0-7)- Lexington Catholic took its turn beating winless Mercer County last week. This week, the Titans travel to Casey County (1-6) for a district game. The winner of this game will get the 4^th place district spot and make the playoffs. The loser will be eliminated from postseason play and will not have to suffer a first-round playoff massacre. I think Mercer gets their only win of the season by a score of 22-15.
7. Pulaski County (5-2)- The Maroons proved me wrong by manhandling previously undefeated South Laurel. This week PC travels to North Laurel (6-1), and the winner will have the upper hand for the district championship. North Laurel is not as good as their record, and they are certainly not as good as Pulaski. The Maroons keep rolling and beat the Jaguars 35-14.
8. Rockcastle County (6-1)- The Rockets had their easiest game of the season last week, but not by much, when they had an OPEN date. It is back to the cupcake menu for Rock when they host McCreary Central (3-4). This one will be over quickly with a running clock win as Rockcastle piles it up 49-0.  
9. Somerset (6-1)- The Briar Jumpers host Monroe County (5-2) this week after an OPEN date last week. Monroe is tough, but so is Somerset. This is a pick-em game for me, but I think home field advantage works out for the Jumpers. Somerset wins 28-24.   
10. Southwestern (1-6)- The Warriors lost by 10 to North Laurel last week despite my prediction for a larger losing margin. This week they travel to South Laurel (7-1), who are fresh off that loss to PC. There are no wins left on Southwestern’s schedule, and they will limp into the playoffs in a few weeks as a 1-9 automatic-bid 4^th place seed. This week, South Laurel hammers them 42-7.  

Kentucky Semi-Pro Games (College Football):

I was 4-2 last week, missing Eastern’s win and Morehead’s loss.

Let’s pick ‘em:

UK (2-3) had a bye week. Is it true Mark Stoops is the top candidate for the Penn State job? That would solve UK’s buyout problem. On to the game, the Cats host Arch Manning and the Texas Longhorns this week. Texas rolled Oklahoma last week and will roll UK this week….

Louisville (4-1) also had a bye week. They will be in Miami to battle the Hurricane’s this week. The “U” wins a close one….

EKU (3-3) beat Austin Peay, but I picked against them. Lesson learned. This week the Colonels go to North Alabama and get a big win….

WKU (5-1) is coming off a bye week and plays a Tuesday Night game this week against Florida International University. The Toppers win big in weeknight primetime….

Murray State (0-6) lost to Illinois State last week and hosts South Dakota State this week. It will be another loss for the Racers….

Morehead State (2-5) lost to Stetson and will host Marist. Their stadium is being renamed in honor of Phil Simms, and they will honor him with a victory….

Georgetown College (4-2) beat Faulkner on the road for an impressive win. This week they host Cumberland from Tennessee and will get a win….

Lindsey Wilson (6-0) blasted University of The Cumberlands last week. This week they make the short trip up Highway 55 to Campbellsville where they will get a win….

Centre College (2-3) lost at Maryville, as I predicted. This week, they host the Southwestern Pirates (no, that is not an all-star amalgamated team from Pulaski and Southwestern high schools—They’re from Georgetown, Texas). I think Centre sinks the Pirates…. Editor’s Note: Sterling Guesser has always been a local football fan.  He became a savant prognosticator when he was involved in a car accident with a semi-truck carrying a load of footballs. He was not badly injured, but ever since a pallet of footballs fell on his head in that collision, he can see the future of football games. He is also a fictional character, and his picks are purely for entertainment purposes.