Last week, sports writer Mark Nesbitt took a commanding early season lead in the first installment of this year's prep football picks. Mark picked 6 of 7 games correctly, while sports editor Adam Krebs was just 4 of 7. Though two games doesn't seem like much, each week only about one or two games total are picked differently by the two.
This week, the Times' sports department was unanimous in the picks, meaning Mark will still lead the series in Week 3.
Now, for this week's picks:
Sauk Prairie at Monroe
Mark: The Cheesemakers face another big test trying to slow down Sauk Prairie. Sauk Prairie led Milton 32-29 in the opener in the fourth quarter. Monroe should be able to move the ball and put some points up on the scoreboard against an Eagles' defense that gave up 50 to Milton last week and gave up an average of 32.4 points per game last year. The Cheesemakers will avenge a 36-15 loss to the Eagles last year. Pick: Monroe
Adam: Before the season started, I figured there would be three games Monroe should win, and three more the Cheesemakers were capable of winning. This is a game Monroe should win. On the road in Week 1, the defense held a stout DeForest team to just 21 points. But playing the home opener under the lights at T.R. Holyoke Field is something that tingles the spine in this community, in a good way. Pick: Monroe
Wisconsin Heights at Darlington
Mark: The Redbirds' offense has so many playmakers. Darlington quarterback Alex Erickson will have a big game as the Redbirds steamroll the Vanguards. The Redbirds will keep the press box busy updating the scoreboard at Martens Field. Pick: Darlington
Adam: Wisconsin Heights is a much improved team from last year, when the Vanguards went winless. However, Darlington is a vastly superior team. If the Redbirds play with the same intensity as they did last week, the score will look awfully similar (40-7). Pick: Darlington
Beloit Turner at
New Glarus-Monticello
Mark: The Knights proved their running game and defense was in midseason form in a 28-6 season-opening win over Iowa-Grant. Running back Tyler Dorn had a field day against Iowa-Grant rushing for 247 yards. The Knights should find plenty of running room against the Trojans. Pick: New Glarus-Monticello
Adam: The Knights went into Iowa-Grant last week and road the backside of tailback Tyler Dorn and the offensive line. The two things that concerned me about last week was NG-M's new offensive line and Iowa-Grant's high-powered offense. Well, NG-M showed me to not be concerned, so I went with them against Turner without the slightest debate. Joust 'em, Knights. Pick: New Glarus-Monticello
Brodhead-Juda
at Cuba City
Mark: The Cardinals were knocked off by an improved River Valley team. Expect the Cardinals to dominate the line of scrimmage and get back to running the football. Pick: Brodhead-Juda
Adam: Cuba City finished tied for the conference title in the SWAL last season, but lost a tough game against one of the state's top small-school powerhouses, Lancaster. Brodhead-Juda simply didn't show up against River Valley, rightly proclaimed as a top-10 team in the state. The Cards will need a win to regain confidence before the Week 3 showdown against Big Foot. Pick: Brodhead-Juda
Belleville-Albany at Orfordville Parkview
Mark: Belleville-Albany running back Donovan Woods rushed for 86 yards on eight carries in a Week 1 loss to Edgerton. Woods picked up most of his yards on a 58-yard TD run. Woods will need more touches if the Wildcats are going to upset the Vikings. Pick: Orfordville-Parkview
Adam: I went out on a limb at picked the Wildcats against Edgerton in Week 1. I was wrong. Last year I hardly picked a B-A game right. Let's see if this continues. Pick: Orfordville-Parkview
Belmont at Black Hawk
Mark: Black Hawk quarterback Michael Wolff and the Warriors have the offensive weapons to avenge a 29-20 loss to the Braves. The Warriors, with running back Jayden Rufenacht, will have to step up to balance out the passing game. Rufenacht has the speed to make big plays. Black Hawk will win the turnover battle. Pick: Black Hawk
Adam: Black Hawk is a team with potential. Belmont, a team to root for a year ago when they had to go door-to-door, begging classmates to fill a team that wound up making the playoffs, may have lost its luster. I usually like the home team in these circumstances. Pick: Black Hawk
Potosi at
Pecatonica-Argyle
Mark: The Vikings have a brutal two first games with Kenosha St. Joseph in the opener and Six Rivers Conference favorite Potosi. The Vikings will make strides running a new spread offense, but it will be tough moving the ball against Potosi. Pick: Potosi
Adam: I like Pec-Argyle, I really do. They are a fun team with fun characters all around. However, Potosi is just really, really good. Pick: Potosi
This week, the Times' sports department was unanimous in the picks, meaning Mark will still lead the series in Week 3.
Now, for this week's picks:
Sauk Prairie at Monroe
Mark: The Cheesemakers face another big test trying to slow down Sauk Prairie. Sauk Prairie led Milton 32-29 in the opener in the fourth quarter. Monroe should be able to move the ball and put some points up on the scoreboard against an Eagles' defense that gave up 50 to Milton last week and gave up an average of 32.4 points per game last year. The Cheesemakers will avenge a 36-15 loss to the Eagles last year. Pick: Monroe
Adam: Before the season started, I figured there would be three games Monroe should win, and three more the Cheesemakers were capable of winning. This is a game Monroe should win. On the road in Week 1, the defense held a stout DeForest team to just 21 points. But playing the home opener under the lights at T.R. Holyoke Field is something that tingles the spine in this community, in a good way. Pick: Monroe
Wisconsin Heights at Darlington
Mark: The Redbirds' offense has so many playmakers. Darlington quarterback Alex Erickson will have a big game as the Redbirds steamroll the Vanguards. The Redbirds will keep the press box busy updating the scoreboard at Martens Field. Pick: Darlington
Adam: Wisconsin Heights is a much improved team from last year, when the Vanguards went winless. However, Darlington is a vastly superior team. If the Redbirds play with the same intensity as they did last week, the score will look awfully similar (40-7). Pick: Darlington
Beloit Turner at
New Glarus-Monticello
Mark: The Knights proved their running game and defense was in midseason form in a 28-6 season-opening win over Iowa-Grant. Running back Tyler Dorn had a field day against Iowa-Grant rushing for 247 yards. The Knights should find plenty of running room against the Trojans. Pick: New Glarus-Monticello
Adam: The Knights went into Iowa-Grant last week and road the backside of tailback Tyler Dorn and the offensive line. The two things that concerned me about last week was NG-M's new offensive line and Iowa-Grant's high-powered offense. Well, NG-M showed me to not be concerned, so I went with them against Turner without the slightest debate. Joust 'em, Knights. Pick: New Glarus-Monticello
Brodhead-Juda
at Cuba City
Mark: The Cardinals were knocked off by an improved River Valley team. Expect the Cardinals to dominate the line of scrimmage and get back to running the football. Pick: Brodhead-Juda
Adam: Cuba City finished tied for the conference title in the SWAL last season, but lost a tough game against one of the state's top small-school powerhouses, Lancaster. Brodhead-Juda simply didn't show up against River Valley, rightly proclaimed as a top-10 team in the state. The Cards will need a win to regain confidence before the Week 3 showdown against Big Foot. Pick: Brodhead-Juda
Belleville-Albany at Orfordville Parkview
Mark: Belleville-Albany running back Donovan Woods rushed for 86 yards on eight carries in a Week 1 loss to Edgerton. Woods picked up most of his yards on a 58-yard TD run. Woods will need more touches if the Wildcats are going to upset the Vikings. Pick: Orfordville-Parkview
Adam: I went out on a limb at picked the Wildcats against Edgerton in Week 1. I was wrong. Last year I hardly picked a B-A game right. Let's see if this continues. Pick: Orfordville-Parkview
Belmont at Black Hawk
Mark: Black Hawk quarterback Michael Wolff and the Warriors have the offensive weapons to avenge a 29-20 loss to the Braves. The Warriors, with running back Jayden Rufenacht, will have to step up to balance out the passing game. Rufenacht has the speed to make big plays. Black Hawk will win the turnover battle. Pick: Black Hawk
Adam: Black Hawk is a team with potential. Belmont, a team to root for a year ago when they had to go door-to-door, begging classmates to fill a team that wound up making the playoffs, may have lost its luster. I usually like the home team in these circumstances. Pick: Black Hawk
Potosi at
Pecatonica-Argyle
Mark: The Vikings have a brutal two first games with Kenosha St. Joseph in the opener and Six Rivers Conference favorite Potosi. The Vikings will make strides running a new spread offense, but it will be tough moving the ball against Potosi. Pick: Potosi
Adam: I like Pec-Argyle, I really do. They are a fun team with fun characters all around. However, Potosi is just really, really good. Pick: Potosi
