For the third straight week, both sports reporter Mark Nesbitt (54-12) and sports editor Adam Krebs (51-15) finished with the same number of correct picks. Adam incorrectly picked Monroe to lose while Mark decided that the Wisconsin Badgers wouldn't be able to stop formerly top-ranked Ohio State. With the Cheesemakers hosting Portage tonight, the two sports staffers will give their pick. The area choices will come tomorrow in Thursday's paper.
Portage (1-7) at Monroe (1-7)
Adam: The Cheesemakers got the win they have been waiting all year for. Time and time again it was a fourth quarter crumble or an injury that derailed a once-proud program. But at Stoughton Oct. 15, the Cheesemakers, running their third offense of the season, ran the single-wing to perfection. Portage is nowhere near as good as Stoughton, and Monroe will close out its season with a two-game winning streak - the program's second since 2004. Pick: Monroe
Mark: The Cheesemakers were dominant piling up 484 total rushing yards in a 35-10 win over Stoughton last week. Monroe will close out the season with its second straight win. Monroe is a better football team than its record shows. Portage is 2-24 the last three years. The Warriors are giving up 36.7 points per game so the Cheesemakers should find plenty of room to run. Pick: Monroe
Darlington (8-0) at Riverdale (1-7)
Adam: I continue to rank the Redbirds No. 1 and there has not been a reason not to (other than Edgar, whose season is filled with remarkable stats, primarily all those zeros the defense puts up). None-theless, I have no doubt Darlington caps an undefeated regular season. Pick: Da 'Birds
Mark: The Redbirds are playing for an undefeated regular season and could lock up a No. 1 seed in the playoffs. Darlington quarterback Alex Erickson has racked up more than 1,100 yards passing and rushing and 22 total touchdowns. The Redbirds will roll. The only question for Darlington is who their first round playoff opponent will be and where the game will be played since Martens Field doesn't have lights. Pick: Darlington
Beloit Turner (0-8) at Brodhead-Juda (6-2)
Adam: I watched the Cardinals play a nearly perfect game a week ago, and I don't forsee anything changing this week. The Cardinals have put those two early season losses - to undefeated River Valley and conference leader Big Foot - behind them. I don't envision this train slowing any time soon. Pick: Cards
Mark: Brodhead-Juda's Alex Wallace had 145 total yards and three touchdowns in a 54-13 win over Whitewater last week. I expect another offensive explosion by the Cardinals against a Beloit Turner team still looking for its first win. The Trojans are giving up 42.8 points per game. Brodhead-Juda quarterback David Earleywine continues a banner season with 939 passing yards, 13 touchdowns and one interception. Mike Peterson (7 TDs) is Earleywine's top target in the passing game. Pick: Brodhead-Juda
NG-Monticello (7-1) at Marshall (6-2)
Adam: A win gives the Glarner Knights a share of the conference title - and all but seals a home game to open the postseason. At the begining of the year, NGM was thinking "Why not us?", and they have had me since then. Pick: NGM
Mark: The Glarner Knights could force a three-way tie for the Capitol South title with a win over the Cardinals. History could repeat itself with the Knights knocking off Marshall in the regular season finale. Last year the Knights beat Marshall 19-7 to force a three-way tie atop the conference. New Glarus-Monticello running back Tyler Dorn (1,007 yards and 14 TDs) will lead the Knights. Pick: New Glarus-Monticello
Benton Scales-Mound (4-4) at Pec-Argyle (4-4)
Adam: There is an chance that the loser of this game could miss the postseason, despite both teams sitting at .500 in conference play. But the Vikings have my support, and I trust in Larry Green and his coaching staff to make sure his players earn their way in and not let the WIAA make that decision. Pick: Pec-Argyle
Mark: Both the Vikings and Zephyrs could be postseason bound and there could be six teams from the Six Rivers Conference in the playoffs this season. The winner of this game will secure a playoff spot and the suspense won't be as high when the WIAA releases playoff brackets today. Pick: Pecatonica-Argyle
Black Hawk (5-3) at Highland (2-6)
Adam: This one shouldn't be close. Black Hawk is already in the postseason, but a good seed depends on a continued quality effort by the Warriors. They have been on fire the last several weeks, and I don't forsee that changing. Pick: Warriors
Mark: Black Hawk has a playmaker in wide receiver Hayden Schliem (30 catches for 502 yards and 3 TDs). Black Hawk running back Jace Johnsrud (608 rushing yards, 5 TDs) is also a threat as a receiver out of the backfield. The Warriors are playing great and will roll into the playoffs with a four-game winning streak. Pick: Black Hawk
Bell-Albany (1-7) at Waterloo (7-1)
Adam: The Wildcats will not have a winning season this year, and unfortunately, run into a really good team in Week 9. I would love to pick Belleville-Albany, but I just can't. Pick: Waterloo
Mark: Waterloo is still playing for a share of the conference title. The Pirates feature a single wing offense that challenged New-Glarus-Monticello. Belleville-Albany running back Donovan Woods leads the Wildcats' attack with 759 rushing yards. Pick: Waterloo
Wisconsin (6-1) at Iowa (5-1)
Adam: BCS run in the works for Madison? After last week, when the Badgers showed just how well they could play, I say yes. On the road at Iowa is never easy, nor close to easy. But still, I have faith in Wisconsin. The big question here is, can you show me how you Bucky? Pick: Badgers
Mark: The Badgers proved that they could run the ball and make plays in the crunch in knocking off previously unbeaten No. 1 Ohio St. Iowa enters a key stretch with three of its next six games against the Big Ten contenders in Wisconsin, Michigan St. and Ohio St. The one saving grace for the Hawkeyes is they are playing all three of those Big Ten games at home. I'm still not convinced that UW's pass defense is very good. Pick: Iowa
Minnesota (2-3) at Green Bay (3-3)
Adam: Brett Favre will be dismal, but the Packers are beat up beyond belief. Even so, I need to get back into the standings, and my disdain for Brett will force me to never pick him to win anything. Pick: Packers
Mark: Both the Vikings and Packers are off to rough starts. Brett Favre is playing like the 41-year-old quarterback he is and the alleged lewd photo controversy hasn't helped his cause. The Packers are banged up and have no running game. The Vikings have a formidable pass rush that will attack the Packers. The Vikings also have plenty of weapons on offense with running back Adrian Peterson, wide receivers Randy Moss and Percy Harvin to attack a depleted Packers' defense. Pick: Vikings
Portage (1-7) at Monroe (1-7)
Adam: The Cheesemakers got the win they have been waiting all year for. Time and time again it was a fourth quarter crumble or an injury that derailed a once-proud program. But at Stoughton Oct. 15, the Cheesemakers, running their third offense of the season, ran the single-wing to perfection. Portage is nowhere near as good as Stoughton, and Monroe will close out its season with a two-game winning streak - the program's second since 2004. Pick: Monroe
Mark: The Cheesemakers were dominant piling up 484 total rushing yards in a 35-10 win over Stoughton last week. Monroe will close out the season with its second straight win. Monroe is a better football team than its record shows. Portage is 2-24 the last three years. The Warriors are giving up 36.7 points per game so the Cheesemakers should find plenty of room to run. Pick: Monroe
Darlington (8-0) at Riverdale (1-7)
Adam: I continue to rank the Redbirds No. 1 and there has not been a reason not to (other than Edgar, whose season is filled with remarkable stats, primarily all those zeros the defense puts up). None-theless, I have no doubt Darlington caps an undefeated regular season. Pick: Da 'Birds
Mark: The Redbirds are playing for an undefeated regular season and could lock up a No. 1 seed in the playoffs. Darlington quarterback Alex Erickson has racked up more than 1,100 yards passing and rushing and 22 total touchdowns. The Redbirds will roll. The only question for Darlington is who their first round playoff opponent will be and where the game will be played since Martens Field doesn't have lights. Pick: Darlington
Beloit Turner (0-8) at Brodhead-Juda (6-2)
Adam: I watched the Cardinals play a nearly perfect game a week ago, and I don't forsee anything changing this week. The Cardinals have put those two early season losses - to undefeated River Valley and conference leader Big Foot - behind them. I don't envision this train slowing any time soon. Pick: Cards
Mark: Brodhead-Juda's Alex Wallace had 145 total yards and three touchdowns in a 54-13 win over Whitewater last week. I expect another offensive explosion by the Cardinals against a Beloit Turner team still looking for its first win. The Trojans are giving up 42.8 points per game. Brodhead-Juda quarterback David Earleywine continues a banner season with 939 passing yards, 13 touchdowns and one interception. Mike Peterson (7 TDs) is Earleywine's top target in the passing game. Pick: Brodhead-Juda
NG-Monticello (7-1) at Marshall (6-2)
Adam: A win gives the Glarner Knights a share of the conference title - and all but seals a home game to open the postseason. At the begining of the year, NGM was thinking "Why not us?", and they have had me since then. Pick: NGM
Mark: The Glarner Knights could force a three-way tie for the Capitol South title with a win over the Cardinals. History could repeat itself with the Knights knocking off Marshall in the regular season finale. Last year the Knights beat Marshall 19-7 to force a three-way tie atop the conference. New Glarus-Monticello running back Tyler Dorn (1,007 yards and 14 TDs) will lead the Knights. Pick: New Glarus-Monticello
Benton Scales-Mound (4-4) at Pec-Argyle (4-4)
Adam: There is an chance that the loser of this game could miss the postseason, despite both teams sitting at .500 in conference play. But the Vikings have my support, and I trust in Larry Green and his coaching staff to make sure his players earn their way in and not let the WIAA make that decision. Pick: Pec-Argyle
Mark: Both the Vikings and Zephyrs could be postseason bound and there could be six teams from the Six Rivers Conference in the playoffs this season. The winner of this game will secure a playoff spot and the suspense won't be as high when the WIAA releases playoff brackets today. Pick: Pecatonica-Argyle
Black Hawk (5-3) at Highland (2-6)
Adam: This one shouldn't be close. Black Hawk is already in the postseason, but a good seed depends on a continued quality effort by the Warriors. They have been on fire the last several weeks, and I don't forsee that changing. Pick: Warriors
Mark: Black Hawk has a playmaker in wide receiver Hayden Schliem (30 catches for 502 yards and 3 TDs). Black Hawk running back Jace Johnsrud (608 rushing yards, 5 TDs) is also a threat as a receiver out of the backfield. The Warriors are playing great and will roll into the playoffs with a four-game winning streak. Pick: Black Hawk
Bell-Albany (1-7) at Waterloo (7-1)
Adam: The Wildcats will not have a winning season this year, and unfortunately, run into a really good team in Week 9. I would love to pick Belleville-Albany, but I just can't. Pick: Waterloo
Mark: Waterloo is still playing for a share of the conference title. The Pirates feature a single wing offense that challenged New-Glarus-Monticello. Belleville-Albany running back Donovan Woods leads the Wildcats' attack with 759 rushing yards. Pick: Waterloo
Wisconsin (6-1) at Iowa (5-1)
Adam: BCS run in the works for Madison? After last week, when the Badgers showed just how well they could play, I say yes. On the road at Iowa is never easy, nor close to easy. But still, I have faith in Wisconsin. The big question here is, can you show me how you Bucky? Pick: Badgers
Mark: The Badgers proved that they could run the ball and make plays in the crunch in knocking off previously unbeaten No. 1 Ohio St. Iowa enters a key stretch with three of its next six games against the Big Ten contenders in Wisconsin, Michigan St. and Ohio St. The one saving grace for the Hawkeyes is they are playing all three of those Big Ten games at home. I'm still not convinced that UW's pass defense is very good. Pick: Iowa
Minnesota (2-3) at Green Bay (3-3)
Adam: Brett Favre will be dismal, but the Packers are beat up beyond belief. Even so, I need to get back into the standings, and my disdain for Brett will force me to never pick him to win anything. Pick: Packers
Mark: Both the Vikings and Packers are off to rough starts. Brett Favre is playing like the 41-year-old quarterback he is and the alleged lewd photo controversy hasn't helped his cause. The Packers are banged up and have no running game. The Vikings have a formidable pass rush that will attack the Packers. The Vikings also have plenty of weapons on offense with running back Adrian Peterson, wide receivers Randy Moss and Percy Harvin to attack a depleted Packers' defense. Pick: Vikings
