With the Bears' win over the penalty-proned Packers Monday, sports reporter Mark Nesbitt (33-7) moved back into a three-game lead in the Times' football picks. Sports editor Adam Krebs (30-10) has been solid, correctly picking 75 percent of games right, but Mark is on a roll, including going a perfect 8-for-8 in Week 5.
Monroe (0-5) at Milton (2-3)
Adam: Monroe put together a strong effort on defense against Madison Edgewood, and that will need to continue this week. Milton is led by Nate Hammon, who can run and pass. Monroe head coach Curt Miller called Hammon one of the best high school football players he's ever seen. Pick: Milton
Mark: Milton is led by Hammon, a multi-dimensional quarterback who has racked up 1,507 total yards so far (285 rushing and 1,222 passing yards and 19 total touchdowns). Don't be surprised if the Cheesemakers stuff the Red Hawks' running game. The key will be containing the passing attack and eliminating the big plays. Pick: Milton
Brodhead-Juda (3-2) at Clinton (0-5)
Adam: The Cardinals' two losses have come to ranked teams - River Valley and Big Foot. Clinton is nowhere near that level. Brodhead-Juda should have an easy time picking up good chunks of yardage on the ground, which could open up a passing game that has flourished in recent weeks. Pick: Cards
Mark: Clinton is still searching for its first win and has given up 45.6 points per game. A balanced Cardinals' offense should find a lot of big plays running and passing. Brodhead-Juda quarterback David Earleywine, who has passed for 509 yards with seven touchdowns and one interception, will find big plays down field to Mike Peterson who has 13 catches and four touchdowns this year. Pick: Brodhead-Juda
NG-Monticello (5-0) at Wis. Heights (1-4)
Adam: I have continually been ranking NGM in the state polls. Why? The offense has been stellar, the defense has gotten the job done and the Knights just keep winning. Heights isn't exactly a pushover if they bring their "A" game, but that shouldn't matter too much. Pick: NGM
Mark: The Glarner Knights defense is giving up just 7.4 points per game. The Knights' defense is great at forcing turnovers. New Glarus-Monticello running back Tyler Dorn is a force in all three phases of the game - offense, special teams and defense. Dorn has run for 615 yards and six touchdowns. Pick: New Glarus-Monticello
Mineral Point (4-1) at Darlington (5-0)
Adam: The Pointers are the second real threat Darlington will face this season after Fennimore. Mineral Point is a strong team with an upset in mind. Darlington's defense and running game will need to play at a high level. However, I am confident the team I voted No. 1 in the state - and still the best team I have seen play this year, regardless of division - will stay undefeated. Pick: 'Birds
Mark: The Redbirds are playing like a No. 1 team rolling to big wins with every challenge. Darlington has an explosive offense that averages 44 points per game. While the offense gets a lot of the attention, the Redbirds' defense gives up just 8.4 points per game. Mineral Point running back Brady Tibbits has rushed for 509 yards, six touchdowns and is averaging 8.8 yards per carry. Pick: Darlington
Cambridge (3-2) at Bell-Albany (0-5)
Adam: I think the Wildcats have played better as of late, and Cambridge's three wins are over teams with a combined 2-13 record. With the game in Belleville, I think both teams have a good shot and whoever gets the "W' will be the one with the least amount of turnovers - which hasn't been on the Wildcats' side this season. Pick: Cambridge
Mark: The Wildcats' young team played toe-to-toe with New Glarus-Monticello for almost three quarters. Cambridge doesn't run the option like the Knights. The option play gave the Wildcats fits last week. This week quarterback Collin Adams and running back Donovan Woods will protect the ball and pick up their first win. Pick: Belleville-Albany
Weston (5-0) at Black Hawk (2-3)
Adam: Weston has faced one solid, playoff-bound opponent - and won by a point (Wauzeka-Steuben, 28-27). Black Hawk has faced teams good and bad, with mixed results. Good news for the Warriors is that the game is at home, on Saturday. The bad news? I'm behind by three games in the office standings. Pick: Weston
Mark: It's been a quick turnaround for Weston which went 0-9 last year and is unbeaten this season. Weston has three runners close to 300 yards rushing or more led by running back Wyatt Seep (427 yards, 5 TDs). The Warriors, behind quarterback Michael Wolff, will test the Silver Eagles in the passing game. Wolff has passed for 835 yards and six TDs. Pick: Black Hawk
Shullsburg (5-0) at Pec-Argyle (2-3)
Adam: I sat with a handful of Vikings players Tuesday night at a volleyball game. They lobbied hard for me to pick them this week, and got me thinking that maybe I should. Then I got home, looked at the rankings, looked at the teams played and came to the conclusion that a Pec-Argyle win would make for a great story, but I wouldn't place a bet on it. Pick: Shullsburg
Mark: Unbeaten Shullsburg won't be looking too far ahead to an Oct. 15 showdown with undefeated Potosi. The Miners will spoil Argyle's homecoming. The Vikings are riding a two-game win streak and will have to win two of their final four games to be playoff eligible. Pick: Shullsburg
Wisconsin (4-0) at Michigan St. (4-0)
Adam: Michigan State got a big win over Notre Dame two weeks ago, only to have their coach suffer a heart. The coach is back, and the Spartans will be the Badgers' biggest test yet. Thankfully, UW's offense had a chance to find its rhythm against Austin Peay. Pick: Bucky
Mark: The Spartans are averaging 231 yards rushing per game. They haven't faced a defense like the Badgers. Pick: Badgers
Detroit (0-3) at Green Bay (2-1)
Adam: Following such an ugly loss because of penalties and lack of a running game will have the Packers roaring back louder than ever. I wouldn't be surprised to see Rodgers throw for 300 yards in the first half with the game in check. Pick: Green and Gold
Mark: As a Chicago fan, it's nice Da Bears beat the Packers. The Packers' loss to Da Bears on Monday Night Football will make them a better team in the long run. They will score at least 35 points and roll over the Lions. Pick: Packers
Monroe (0-5) at Milton (2-3)
Adam: Monroe put together a strong effort on defense against Madison Edgewood, and that will need to continue this week. Milton is led by Nate Hammon, who can run and pass. Monroe head coach Curt Miller called Hammon one of the best high school football players he's ever seen. Pick: Milton
Mark: Milton is led by Hammon, a multi-dimensional quarterback who has racked up 1,507 total yards so far (285 rushing and 1,222 passing yards and 19 total touchdowns). Don't be surprised if the Cheesemakers stuff the Red Hawks' running game. The key will be containing the passing attack and eliminating the big plays. Pick: Milton
Brodhead-Juda (3-2) at Clinton (0-5)
Adam: The Cardinals' two losses have come to ranked teams - River Valley and Big Foot. Clinton is nowhere near that level. Brodhead-Juda should have an easy time picking up good chunks of yardage on the ground, which could open up a passing game that has flourished in recent weeks. Pick: Cards
Mark: Clinton is still searching for its first win and has given up 45.6 points per game. A balanced Cardinals' offense should find a lot of big plays running and passing. Brodhead-Juda quarterback David Earleywine, who has passed for 509 yards with seven touchdowns and one interception, will find big plays down field to Mike Peterson who has 13 catches and four touchdowns this year. Pick: Brodhead-Juda
NG-Monticello (5-0) at Wis. Heights (1-4)
Adam: I have continually been ranking NGM in the state polls. Why? The offense has been stellar, the defense has gotten the job done and the Knights just keep winning. Heights isn't exactly a pushover if they bring their "A" game, but that shouldn't matter too much. Pick: NGM
Mark: The Glarner Knights defense is giving up just 7.4 points per game. The Knights' defense is great at forcing turnovers. New Glarus-Monticello running back Tyler Dorn is a force in all three phases of the game - offense, special teams and defense. Dorn has run for 615 yards and six touchdowns. Pick: New Glarus-Monticello
Mineral Point (4-1) at Darlington (5-0)
Adam: The Pointers are the second real threat Darlington will face this season after Fennimore. Mineral Point is a strong team with an upset in mind. Darlington's defense and running game will need to play at a high level. However, I am confident the team I voted No. 1 in the state - and still the best team I have seen play this year, regardless of division - will stay undefeated. Pick: 'Birds
Mark: The Redbirds are playing like a No. 1 team rolling to big wins with every challenge. Darlington has an explosive offense that averages 44 points per game. While the offense gets a lot of the attention, the Redbirds' defense gives up just 8.4 points per game. Mineral Point running back Brady Tibbits has rushed for 509 yards, six touchdowns and is averaging 8.8 yards per carry. Pick: Darlington
Cambridge (3-2) at Bell-Albany (0-5)
Adam: I think the Wildcats have played better as of late, and Cambridge's three wins are over teams with a combined 2-13 record. With the game in Belleville, I think both teams have a good shot and whoever gets the "W' will be the one with the least amount of turnovers - which hasn't been on the Wildcats' side this season. Pick: Cambridge
Mark: The Wildcats' young team played toe-to-toe with New Glarus-Monticello for almost three quarters. Cambridge doesn't run the option like the Knights. The option play gave the Wildcats fits last week. This week quarterback Collin Adams and running back Donovan Woods will protect the ball and pick up their first win. Pick: Belleville-Albany
Weston (5-0) at Black Hawk (2-3)
Adam: Weston has faced one solid, playoff-bound opponent - and won by a point (Wauzeka-Steuben, 28-27). Black Hawk has faced teams good and bad, with mixed results. Good news for the Warriors is that the game is at home, on Saturday. The bad news? I'm behind by three games in the office standings. Pick: Weston
Mark: It's been a quick turnaround for Weston which went 0-9 last year and is unbeaten this season. Weston has three runners close to 300 yards rushing or more led by running back Wyatt Seep (427 yards, 5 TDs). The Warriors, behind quarterback Michael Wolff, will test the Silver Eagles in the passing game. Wolff has passed for 835 yards and six TDs. Pick: Black Hawk
Shullsburg (5-0) at Pec-Argyle (2-3)
Adam: I sat with a handful of Vikings players Tuesday night at a volleyball game. They lobbied hard for me to pick them this week, and got me thinking that maybe I should. Then I got home, looked at the rankings, looked at the teams played and came to the conclusion that a Pec-Argyle win would make for a great story, but I wouldn't place a bet on it. Pick: Shullsburg
Mark: Unbeaten Shullsburg won't be looking too far ahead to an Oct. 15 showdown with undefeated Potosi. The Miners will spoil Argyle's homecoming. The Vikings are riding a two-game win streak and will have to win two of their final four games to be playoff eligible. Pick: Shullsburg
Wisconsin (4-0) at Michigan St. (4-0)
Adam: Michigan State got a big win over Notre Dame two weeks ago, only to have their coach suffer a heart. The coach is back, and the Spartans will be the Badgers' biggest test yet. Thankfully, UW's offense had a chance to find its rhythm against Austin Peay. Pick: Bucky
Mark: The Spartans are averaging 231 yards rushing per game. They haven't faced a defense like the Badgers. Pick: Badgers
Detroit (0-3) at Green Bay (2-1)
Adam: Following such an ugly loss because of penalties and lack of a running game will have the Packers roaring back louder than ever. I wouldn't be surprised to see Rodgers throw for 300 yards in the first half with the game in check. Pick: Green and Gold
Mark: As a Chicago fan, it's nice Da Bears beat the Packers. The Packers' loss to Da Bears on Monday Night Football will make them a better team in the long run. They will score at least 35 points and roll over the Lions. Pick: Packers
