There are six area football teams that can still make the playoffs. Monroe needs to beat Oregon to become playoff eligible for the first time since 2003. Pecatonica-Argyle and New Glarus-Monticello need to win Friday to clinch postseason berths by finishing above .500 in their respective conferences. Sports reporter Mark Nesbitt went 7-1 with his picks last week and sports editor Adam Krebs was 6-2. Mark is now 49-14 on the season and Adam is 46-17.
Oregon (1-7) at Monroe (2-6)
Mark: The Cheesemakers will end the season on a high note by knocking off the Panthers. Oregon is giving up 34.2 points per game. Even if the Cheesemakers win, they are not assured of a playoff spot. Only one of the 30 schools in WisSports.net's projected Division 3 playoff field that has a record at .500 and that is Oconto Falls (4-4, 3-4 Bay Conference). If Monroe wins and doesn't make the playoffs, the Cheesemakers have a bright future with a talented core of juniors and sophomores who will contend for a playoff spot even with an eight game schedule that won't include Waunakee and DeForest next year.
Pick: Cheesemakers
Adam: There is a sense of pride involved as a Monroe football alumni. The tradition, the field, the crowds. Everything goes hand in hand. I played on the Monroe team that last went to the playoffs, as well as the last team to beat Oregon (2002), both under legendary coach Pat Martin. Even if the Cheesemakers aren't included in this year's playoffs, just becoming eligible would be a big step in the right direction given it's now been two coaches since Martin retired. The good news I will be there for that last game at T.R. Holyoke Field, and I'll be waiting to see some smiling leaving the field.
Pick: My Cheesemakers
Black Hawk (6-2) at Pecatonica-Argyle (4-4)
Mark: This is a must-win game for Pecatonica-Argyle so they can finish above .500 in the Six Rivers Conference. If the Vikings lose, they are a bubble team for the playoffs. Black Hawk has several players still recovering from injuries. It will be interesting to see how many of them play against the rival Vikings since the Warriors could be playoff spoilers. I still think with a win, that Black Hawk deserves a home playoff game.
Pick: Black Hawk
Adam: Pec-Argyle needs a win, and Black Hawk needs to get going on another roll. This is a tough one to pick because I like both teams in different ways. However, Black Hawk has played very good nearly the entire season, and I would be a fool to pick them, my picks be damned.
Pick: Wayne Township Warriors
Cambridge (6-2) at New Glarus-Monticello (4-4)
Mark: It's also a must-win for the Glarner Knights. If New Glarus-Monticello loses to the Blue Jays, they could be on the outside looking in when the playoff pairings are released. Cambridge is led by Alex Resnick who has rushed for 1,448 yards and 17 TDs.
Pick: Cambridge
Adam: A win would put NGM in the playoffs, and a loss would leave them out. Do I think the Knights are good enough to be in the playoffs? Absolutely. But, at home against a tough Cambridge team, I don't know. I'd say it's 50/50, and that usually bodes well for the home team.
Pick: NGM
Brodhead-Juda (6-2) at Beloit Turner (1-7)
Mark: Brodhead-Juda's Jesse DeLorme (935 rushing yards, 12 TDs) is on the brink of a 1,000 yard season and he should get it by the end of the first quarter against the Trojans. Beloit Turner is giving up 44.5 points per game. This should be a tune-up for the Cardinals.
Pick: Brodhead-Juda
Adam: I've laughed pretty hard in these short snippets about the teams Brodhead-Juda has to line up against. Turner will be no different. Kickoff, Cardinals score a handful or more times, final whistle. Being healthy and in-sync for the postseason is what the Cardinals are really looking forward to, and this will be a good game for the starters to roll early, then rest near halftime. Just what the doctor had in mind.
Pick: Da Cards
Fennimore (2-6) at Darlington (6-2)
Mark: Few teams are as hot as the Redbirds, who carry a six-game winning streak into this regular season finale. Darlington has dominated the SWAL and is looking for its second straight unbeaten conference season and third consecutive SWAL championship. Mitchell Whalen scored two touchdowns in a 33-14 win over Southwestern last week. He's taking on a similar play-making role that Tucker Wiegel had last year.
Pick: Darlington
Adam: Fennimore used to be such a dominant team, but these past two years are either a slight blip or signs of a stunning trend. Darlington, meanwhile, has continued to stay hot, reversing course against two of the state's top teams in Division 4. I don't see the Redbird Train slowing down in the final week of the regular season.
Pick: The Bird is the Word
Marshall (7-1) at Belleville-Albany (0-8)
Mark: Belleville-Albany's Jacob Kowalski has back-to-back games with more than 100 rushing yards. He ran for 106 yards in a 34-21 loss to Wisconsin Heights last week. The Wildcats face a challenge in trying to slow down a Cardinals' offense averaging 38.8 points per game.
Pick: Marshall
Adam: At least, the injury-riddled season comes to an end for the Wildcats. Marshall won't have much of a problem, but let's all just hope that B-A gets through one last game without a significant injury.
Pick: Marshall
Indiana (1-5) at Wisconsin (5-0)
Mark: So much for Wisconsin's showdown with Nebraska in the Cornhuskers' Big Ten debut. UW quarterback Russell Wilson is completing 74.8 percent of his passes and is on pace to break Scott Tolzein's single season completion percentage record (72.9) he set last year. The Hoosiers were gashed by Illinois last week. The Badgers have scored 40 or more points the last nine games.
Pick: Badgers
Adam: Standing in the second row against Nebraska on the Badgers sidelines was a memory I doubt I will forget for quite a long time. Talk about "opening a can" against a supposed "worthy adversary." Last year Wisconsin rocked Indiana 83-20, and that could be closer than what this year's team might do.
Pick: Bucky
Rams (0-4) at Packers (5-0)
Mark: Aaron Rodgers & Co. should have a field day against the Rams' defense. You have to get a kick out of Cris Collinsworth after he said the two players the Packers couldn't lose were their tackles. Marshall Newhouse and Derek Sherrod stepped up on the line. Let's be clear, Collinsworth: The only player who really matters for the Packers is Rodgers. As long as he is under center, the Pack are viable Super Bowl contenders. And as a Bears fan, it pains me to admit that.
Pick: Packers
Adam: The Rams have been nothing but a disappointment, but Green Bay has been everything people anticipated they would be. The offense hasn't slowed, and even James Jones is going off for triple digits in yards. I just hope Steven Jackson can score me some quality fantasy points this week.
Pick: Curly's Meat Packers
Oregon (1-7) at Monroe (2-6)
Mark: The Cheesemakers will end the season on a high note by knocking off the Panthers. Oregon is giving up 34.2 points per game. Even if the Cheesemakers win, they are not assured of a playoff spot. Only one of the 30 schools in WisSports.net's projected Division 3 playoff field that has a record at .500 and that is Oconto Falls (4-4, 3-4 Bay Conference). If Monroe wins and doesn't make the playoffs, the Cheesemakers have a bright future with a talented core of juniors and sophomores who will contend for a playoff spot even with an eight game schedule that won't include Waunakee and DeForest next year.
Pick: Cheesemakers
Adam: There is a sense of pride involved as a Monroe football alumni. The tradition, the field, the crowds. Everything goes hand in hand. I played on the Monroe team that last went to the playoffs, as well as the last team to beat Oregon (2002), both under legendary coach Pat Martin. Even if the Cheesemakers aren't included in this year's playoffs, just becoming eligible would be a big step in the right direction given it's now been two coaches since Martin retired. The good news I will be there for that last game at T.R. Holyoke Field, and I'll be waiting to see some smiling leaving the field.
Pick: My Cheesemakers
Black Hawk (6-2) at Pecatonica-Argyle (4-4)
Mark: This is a must-win game for Pecatonica-Argyle so they can finish above .500 in the Six Rivers Conference. If the Vikings lose, they are a bubble team for the playoffs. Black Hawk has several players still recovering from injuries. It will be interesting to see how many of them play against the rival Vikings since the Warriors could be playoff spoilers. I still think with a win, that Black Hawk deserves a home playoff game.
Pick: Black Hawk
Adam: Pec-Argyle needs a win, and Black Hawk needs to get going on another roll. This is a tough one to pick because I like both teams in different ways. However, Black Hawk has played very good nearly the entire season, and I would be a fool to pick them, my picks be damned.
Pick: Wayne Township Warriors
Cambridge (6-2) at New Glarus-Monticello (4-4)
Mark: It's also a must-win for the Glarner Knights. If New Glarus-Monticello loses to the Blue Jays, they could be on the outside looking in when the playoff pairings are released. Cambridge is led by Alex Resnick who has rushed for 1,448 yards and 17 TDs.
Pick: Cambridge
Adam: A win would put NGM in the playoffs, and a loss would leave them out. Do I think the Knights are good enough to be in the playoffs? Absolutely. But, at home against a tough Cambridge team, I don't know. I'd say it's 50/50, and that usually bodes well for the home team.
Pick: NGM
Brodhead-Juda (6-2) at Beloit Turner (1-7)
Mark: Brodhead-Juda's Jesse DeLorme (935 rushing yards, 12 TDs) is on the brink of a 1,000 yard season and he should get it by the end of the first quarter against the Trojans. Beloit Turner is giving up 44.5 points per game. This should be a tune-up for the Cardinals.
Pick: Brodhead-Juda
Adam: I've laughed pretty hard in these short snippets about the teams Brodhead-Juda has to line up against. Turner will be no different. Kickoff, Cardinals score a handful or more times, final whistle. Being healthy and in-sync for the postseason is what the Cardinals are really looking forward to, and this will be a good game for the starters to roll early, then rest near halftime. Just what the doctor had in mind.
Pick: Da Cards
Fennimore (2-6) at Darlington (6-2)
Mark: Few teams are as hot as the Redbirds, who carry a six-game winning streak into this regular season finale. Darlington has dominated the SWAL and is looking for its second straight unbeaten conference season and third consecutive SWAL championship. Mitchell Whalen scored two touchdowns in a 33-14 win over Southwestern last week. He's taking on a similar play-making role that Tucker Wiegel had last year.
Pick: Darlington
Adam: Fennimore used to be such a dominant team, but these past two years are either a slight blip or signs of a stunning trend. Darlington, meanwhile, has continued to stay hot, reversing course against two of the state's top teams in Division 4. I don't see the Redbird Train slowing down in the final week of the regular season.
Pick: The Bird is the Word
Marshall (7-1) at Belleville-Albany (0-8)
Mark: Belleville-Albany's Jacob Kowalski has back-to-back games with more than 100 rushing yards. He ran for 106 yards in a 34-21 loss to Wisconsin Heights last week. The Wildcats face a challenge in trying to slow down a Cardinals' offense averaging 38.8 points per game.
Pick: Marshall
Adam: At least, the injury-riddled season comes to an end for the Wildcats. Marshall won't have much of a problem, but let's all just hope that B-A gets through one last game without a significant injury.
Pick: Marshall
Indiana (1-5) at Wisconsin (5-0)
Mark: So much for Wisconsin's showdown with Nebraska in the Cornhuskers' Big Ten debut. UW quarterback Russell Wilson is completing 74.8 percent of his passes and is on pace to break Scott Tolzein's single season completion percentage record (72.9) he set last year. The Hoosiers were gashed by Illinois last week. The Badgers have scored 40 or more points the last nine games.
Pick: Badgers
Adam: Standing in the second row against Nebraska on the Badgers sidelines was a memory I doubt I will forget for quite a long time. Talk about "opening a can" against a supposed "worthy adversary." Last year Wisconsin rocked Indiana 83-20, and that could be closer than what this year's team might do.
Pick: Bucky
Rams (0-4) at Packers (5-0)
Mark: Aaron Rodgers & Co. should have a field day against the Rams' defense. You have to get a kick out of Cris Collinsworth after he said the two players the Packers couldn't lose were their tackles. Marshall Newhouse and Derek Sherrod stepped up on the line. Let's be clear, Collinsworth: The only player who really matters for the Packers is Rodgers. As long as he is under center, the Pack are viable Super Bowl contenders. And as a Bears fan, it pains me to admit that.
Pick: Packers
Adam: The Rams have been nothing but a disappointment, but Green Bay has been everything people anticipated they would be. The offense hasn't slowed, and even James Jones is going off for triple digits in yards. I just hope Steven Jackson can score me some quality fantasy points this week.
Pick: Curly's Meat Packers
