Week 6 was filled with big games - both blowouts and upsets. Sports reporter Mark Nesbitt kept his 3-game lead in the office standings, but that didn't come easy. Both Mark and sports editor Adam Krebs picked two games incorrectly, leaving Mark (40-9) well ahead of Adam (37-12) with just three weeks left in the regular season.
Monona Grove (6-0) at Monroe (0-6)
Adam: With the playoffs (cue Jim Mora, "Playoffs?") out of the picture, a win would make the Cheesemakers' season at this point. Monroe's new not-so-fancy snap the ball and run offense is throwback and keeps the ball - and the clock - moving. But let's not kid ourselves: MG is ranked at the top in the state for a reason. Pick: MG
Mark: The Cheesemakers seem to rise to the competition. Monroe trailed DeForest 7-0, Madison Edgewood 7-0 and Milton 14-11 going into the fourth quarter before losing. Monroe faces a tall order on homecoming playing second ranked Monona Grove, which is 15-0 the last two years in the regular season. The Cheesemakers used a single wing offense last week against the Red Hawks. It will be interesting to see what type of offensive game plan they use this week. Pick: Monona Grove
Brodhead-Juda (4-2) at Palmyra-Eagle (4-1)
Adam: The Panthers are having a fine season and are currently tied with the Cardinals for second in the RVC-South. But Brodhead-Juda has been playing great football as of late, and I would be a fool to pick against them at this point. Pick: Cards
Mark: The Cardinals rushed for more than 400 yards last week with Alex Wallace running for 177 yards and two touchdowns and Jesse DeLorme running for 139 yards and two TDs. The Cardinals' offense is on a roll and their defense will face a test trying to shut down Palmyra-Eagle running back Casey Legan (520 rushing yards, 6 TDs) and Rayn Rapacz (453 yards, 4 TDs). Pick: Brodhead-Juda
Waterloo (5-1) at NG-Monticello (6-0)
Adam: Another big challenge for the Glarner Knights. There are still skeptics out there wondering if this NGM team is for real. I've been voting them high - very high - the past few weeks in the AP poll. So far, they haven't disappointed. I'll stick with them as long as they continue to back me up. Pick: NGM
Mark: This is a must-win game for the Glarner Knights if they want to win the Capitol South outright. The Knights defeated Waterloo 21-12 last year, but shared the conference championship with Marshall and Waterloo. The Knights' defense is giving up just 7.3 points per game and will make the difference. Pick: New Glarus-Monticello
Boscobel (2-4) at Darlington (6-0)
Adam: I don't care what offensive firepower or defensive presence Boscobel brings - the Redbirds right now are my pick for the rest of the season. They hit harder than any team I've watched. They also run faster, have complete vision of the field and play with a look of determination rarely found at the high school level. I will continue to vote them No. 1 until they prove otherwise. Big things are to come for the Redbirds. Pick: 'Birds
Mark: The Redbirds, ranked second in the WisSports.net Coaches Poll, proved even when their offense is not on the field, they are an explosive team that can score on special teams. Alex Erickson ran back a punt 82-yards for a touchdown and Tucker Wiegel returned a kickoff 74 yards for a touchdown. The Redbirds will roll. Pick: Darlington
Peca-Argyle (3-3) at Black Hawk (3-3)
Adam: Next time group of players surrounds me at a volleyball game and with every conviction tells me to pick them, I will listen. I'm sorry about last week, Vikings. You proved me wrong and in the process of a memorable upset reminded me how much I love my job. I'm with you this week. Pick: Pec-Argyle
Mark: This rivalry that dates back to the Stateline League will be the game of the week. Both the Vikings and Warriors are fighting to become playoff eligible. Both had wins over ranked teams last week with Pec-Argyle knocking off 7th-ranked and previously unbeaten Shullsburg and Black Hawk beating No. 11 Weston. Last year this game came down to the end with some debated close calls and the Vikings beat the Warriors 14-13. Pick: Black Hawk
Wis. Heights (1-5) at Bell-Albany (0-6)
Adam: Heights is a team with some talent, but Belleville-Albany is due. It's the last home game for the Wildcats and they are in need of a win. Go get one, B-A. Pick: Belleville-Albany
Mark: The Wildcats could have picked up their first win last week, but dug too big of a hole getting down 21-0 before rallying and losing 21-20. The Wildcats have a lot of young players on defense, but enough playmakers on offense in running back Donovan Woods (527 rushing yards), quarterback Collin Adams (392 passing yards, four touchdowns) and wide receiver Mike Nolden (18 catches for 261 yards and four touchdowns). Pick: Belleville-Albany
Minnesota (1-4) at Wisconsin (4-1)
Adam: Michigan State scared me from the moment I read the Badgers' Big Ten schedule. I just thought Bucky would show up with a little more intensity. I just hope there isn't a hangover this week, as the Gophers and Paul Bunyan's Axe shouldn't need any extra motivation. Pick: Bucky
Mark: This is the type of game the Badgers need to get their swagger back on defense - a chance to play for Paul Bunyan's Axe. Michigan State carved up the Badgers' defense last week. The Gophers have lost four straight including a 41-38 loss to Football Championship Subdivision opponent South Dakota. UW is a 22-point favorite. That tells the story. Pick: Badgers
Green Bay (3-1) at Washington (2-2)
Adam: I love now-Redskins QB Donovan McNabb. I really do. He is one of my favorite athletes. Under-appreciated, gritty, smart and a class act. And I can see the Redskins pulling off the win and staying atop the NFC East, especially as bad as Green Bay has played recently and that Nick Barnett's season is in jeopardy. Pick: 'Skins
Mark: The Packers don't have a running game and the Redskins weak link is a passing defense that gives up a lot of yards. It's a perfect recipe for Aaron Rodgers and Co. Pick: Packers
Monona Grove (6-0) at Monroe (0-6)
Adam: With the playoffs (cue Jim Mora, "Playoffs?") out of the picture, a win would make the Cheesemakers' season at this point. Monroe's new not-so-fancy snap the ball and run offense is throwback and keeps the ball - and the clock - moving. But let's not kid ourselves: MG is ranked at the top in the state for a reason. Pick: MG
Mark: The Cheesemakers seem to rise to the competition. Monroe trailed DeForest 7-0, Madison Edgewood 7-0 and Milton 14-11 going into the fourth quarter before losing. Monroe faces a tall order on homecoming playing second ranked Monona Grove, which is 15-0 the last two years in the regular season. The Cheesemakers used a single wing offense last week against the Red Hawks. It will be interesting to see what type of offensive game plan they use this week. Pick: Monona Grove
Brodhead-Juda (4-2) at Palmyra-Eagle (4-1)
Adam: The Panthers are having a fine season and are currently tied with the Cardinals for second in the RVC-South. But Brodhead-Juda has been playing great football as of late, and I would be a fool to pick against them at this point. Pick: Cards
Mark: The Cardinals rushed for more than 400 yards last week with Alex Wallace running for 177 yards and two touchdowns and Jesse DeLorme running for 139 yards and two TDs. The Cardinals' offense is on a roll and their defense will face a test trying to shut down Palmyra-Eagle running back Casey Legan (520 rushing yards, 6 TDs) and Rayn Rapacz (453 yards, 4 TDs). Pick: Brodhead-Juda
Waterloo (5-1) at NG-Monticello (6-0)
Adam: Another big challenge for the Glarner Knights. There are still skeptics out there wondering if this NGM team is for real. I've been voting them high - very high - the past few weeks in the AP poll. So far, they haven't disappointed. I'll stick with them as long as they continue to back me up. Pick: NGM
Mark: This is a must-win game for the Glarner Knights if they want to win the Capitol South outright. The Knights defeated Waterloo 21-12 last year, but shared the conference championship with Marshall and Waterloo. The Knights' defense is giving up just 7.3 points per game and will make the difference. Pick: New Glarus-Monticello
Boscobel (2-4) at Darlington (6-0)
Adam: I don't care what offensive firepower or defensive presence Boscobel brings - the Redbirds right now are my pick for the rest of the season. They hit harder than any team I've watched. They also run faster, have complete vision of the field and play with a look of determination rarely found at the high school level. I will continue to vote them No. 1 until they prove otherwise. Big things are to come for the Redbirds. Pick: 'Birds
Mark: The Redbirds, ranked second in the WisSports.net Coaches Poll, proved even when their offense is not on the field, they are an explosive team that can score on special teams. Alex Erickson ran back a punt 82-yards for a touchdown and Tucker Wiegel returned a kickoff 74 yards for a touchdown. The Redbirds will roll. Pick: Darlington
Peca-Argyle (3-3) at Black Hawk (3-3)
Adam: Next time group of players surrounds me at a volleyball game and with every conviction tells me to pick them, I will listen. I'm sorry about last week, Vikings. You proved me wrong and in the process of a memorable upset reminded me how much I love my job. I'm with you this week. Pick: Pec-Argyle
Mark: This rivalry that dates back to the Stateline League will be the game of the week. Both the Vikings and Warriors are fighting to become playoff eligible. Both had wins over ranked teams last week with Pec-Argyle knocking off 7th-ranked and previously unbeaten Shullsburg and Black Hawk beating No. 11 Weston. Last year this game came down to the end with some debated close calls and the Vikings beat the Warriors 14-13. Pick: Black Hawk
Wis. Heights (1-5) at Bell-Albany (0-6)
Adam: Heights is a team with some talent, but Belleville-Albany is due. It's the last home game for the Wildcats and they are in need of a win. Go get one, B-A. Pick: Belleville-Albany
Mark: The Wildcats could have picked up their first win last week, but dug too big of a hole getting down 21-0 before rallying and losing 21-20. The Wildcats have a lot of young players on defense, but enough playmakers on offense in running back Donovan Woods (527 rushing yards), quarterback Collin Adams (392 passing yards, four touchdowns) and wide receiver Mike Nolden (18 catches for 261 yards and four touchdowns). Pick: Belleville-Albany
Minnesota (1-4) at Wisconsin (4-1)
Adam: Michigan State scared me from the moment I read the Badgers' Big Ten schedule. I just thought Bucky would show up with a little more intensity. I just hope there isn't a hangover this week, as the Gophers and Paul Bunyan's Axe shouldn't need any extra motivation. Pick: Bucky
Mark: This is the type of game the Badgers need to get their swagger back on defense - a chance to play for Paul Bunyan's Axe. Michigan State carved up the Badgers' defense last week. The Gophers have lost four straight including a 41-38 loss to Football Championship Subdivision opponent South Dakota. UW is a 22-point favorite. That tells the story. Pick: Badgers
Green Bay (3-1) at Washington (2-2)
Adam: I love now-Redskins QB Donovan McNabb. I really do. He is one of my favorite athletes. Under-appreciated, gritty, smart and a class act. And I can see the Redskins pulling off the win and staying atop the NFC East, especially as bad as Green Bay has played recently and that Nick Barnett's season is in jeopardy. Pick: 'Skins
Mark: The Packers don't have a running game and the Redskins weak link is a passing defense that gives up a lot of yards. It's a perfect recipe for Aaron Rodgers and Co. Pick: Packers
