Hanneman, Baker on same page, again, with Pigskin Picks

As a boy from the Cleveland suburbs and a die-hard Browns and Guardians fan, sometimes optimism is all he has to keep himself sane.It came as little surprise then, that even when he posted a barely-better-than-average 10-6 record in Week One of the Pigskin Picks, he remained positive, upbeat, almost giddy.We found out he had his reasons. You see, Baker's counterparts in the Pigskin Picks – Dave Hanneman and guest picker Jeremy Speer – had predicted the exact same winners, both went 10-6 as well and Week One ended with a three-way tie atop the standings.That was new territory for Baker, who says slow starts have hampered his career as a prognosticator and that by his own reckoning he's 0-6 against Hanneman since joining the Courier – and the Pigskin Picks – in 2020."It's kinda nice going into Week Two," Baker said, "with no big deficit to overcome."Baker will face no deficit heading into Week Three, either. In another ironic twist – we swear these guys do not see the picks until they're in the paper – Baker and Hanneman have again on every single game. The same cannot be said for the guests, though.Hancock County Sheriff Michael Cortez graciously agreed to step in and fill that role this week and he's made some bold predictions. In contrast to Baker and Hanneman, Cortez is picking McComb over Leipsic, Carey over Galion and Hardin Northern over North Baltimore. Hanneman's PicksLast Week 10-6; overall 10-6PREP FOOTBALLFindlay over LIMA SENIOR – Trojans will be facing the same run-and-shoot offense they saw last week. That's no guarantee, but it's likely something in their favor.Ada over ARCADIA – I doubt the Bulldogs will pitch another shutout this week, but you never know.VAN BUREN over Arlington – The outcome of this game will be whether-related, the key being whether Van Buren can control the ball, the clock and the momentum with its ground-and-pound running game like it did against Fostoria.Pandora-Gilboa over ELMWOOD – Lots of either/or games on this week's schedule. This is one of them.LEIPSIC over McComb – McComb's win over a really good Monroeville team puts a lot more meat on the bone in this BVC matchup.RIVERDALE over Bucyrus – Riverdale ended its 10-game losing streak last week. I doubt the Falcons want to be the team Bucyrus ends its nine-game skid against.Columbus Grove over LIBERTY-BENTON – Grove played really, really well in its opener. Liberty-Benton did not. This could be a real frog-strangler, though. That's just the ebb and flow of football.Galion over CAREY – Carey's early schedule is brutal, but you know what they say, "Iron forges iron.'Bluffton over EDISON – These two teams could meet up again in the Region 18 playoffs.UPPER SCIOTO VALLEY over Cory-Rawson – Taking the Rams in a low-scoring matchup.PORT CLINTON over Fostoria – Fostoria had trouble moving the football in its opener, and now faces a Port Clinton team that pitched a shutout in Week one.NORTH BALTIMORE over Hardin Northern – Tigers have pretty much the same crew that thumped the Polar Bears 48-8 last season.Ottawa-Glandorf over DEFIANCE – The fact O-G put 52 points on the board in Week one, when offenses are usually still a step or two out of sync, tells me something's clicking in Titan town.UPPER SANDUSKY over Mount Gilead – Rams avenge last year's 7-6 loss in their home opener.LEETONIA over Vanlue – Leetonia ended a 30-game losing streak with last year's 47-0 win over Vanlue. The Bears went on to win three more games, and returns nine starters on both sides of the ball. Baker's PicksLast Week 10-6; overall 10-6Findlay over LIMA SENIOR – Trojans had an impressive debut, on both sides of the ball, against Medina. Look for that to continue against the Spartans.Ada over ARCADIA – Ada shut out USV last week. Arcadia has some weapons, but I'm not sure if it will be able to score enough to overcome the Bulldogs.VAN BUREN over Arlington – A tough choice. Two young teams who have played tight games in each of the last two years. The Black Knights are at home and coming off a win.Pandora-Gilboa over ELMWOOD – The Royals will probably win a good number of games this year, but I'm not ready to put them over the perennial playoff team, P-G.LEIPSIC over McComb – McComb played really well against Monroeville, and it will probably be more competitive against the Vikings than Calvert was. But man, Leipsic looks stacked.RIVERDALE over Bucyrus – In a matchup of old NCC foes, the Falcons will be aiming for 2-0. I like their chances.Columbus Grove over LIBERTY-BENTON – Liberty-Benton has a new coach and a lot of new starters. Grove is, well, Grove. And Grove rarely loses to the same team in two consecutive years. Galion over CAREY – Ever make a pick and feel like you'll regret it come Friday night? That's me with this one.Bluffton at EDISON – Bluffton has one of the better QBs in the area in Tayte Giesige, and a prolific offense. I'm gonna stick with the Pirates.UPPER SCIOTO VALLEY over Cory-Rawson – The Hornets did some good things, especially in the first half, against Arcadia last week. I just don't know if they can put four quarters together against the Rams.PORT CLINTON over Fostoria – Port Clinton is lovely this time of year. Football team is pretty good, too.NORTH BALTIMORE over Hardin Northern — North Baltimore showed no signs of a letdown in 2026.Ottawa-Glandorf over DEFIANCE – Hard to have a better start than O-G had last week. Will the Titans keep it up? I think yes.UPPER SANDUSKY over Mount Gilead – Before last week, Upper Sandusky had not won a season opener since 2018. The last time the Rams started 2-0? Also 2018. The team USHS beat to go 2-0 that year? Mount Gilead. They say history repeats itself.LEETONIA over Vanlue – Long trip for the Wildcats this week….which will make pulling an upset even tougher. Sheriff Cortez PicksGuest Picker Last Week 10-6; overall 10-6Findlay at LIMA SENIOR – FindlayAda at ARCADIA – AdaArlington at VAN BUREN –Van BurenPandora-Gilboa at ELMWOOD – Pandora-GilboaMcComb at LEIPSIC –McCombBucyrus at RIVERDALE – RiverdaleColumbus Grove at LIBERTY-BENTON – Columbus GroveGalion at CAREY – CareyBluffton at EDISON – BluftonCory-Rawson at UPPER SCIOTO VALLEY – Upper Scioto ValleyFostoria at PORT CLINTON – Port ClintonHardin Northern at NORTH BALTIMORE — Hardin NrothernOttawa-Glandorf at DEFIANCE – Ottawa-GlandorfMount Gilead at UPPER SANDUSKY – Upper SanduskyVanlue at LETONIA – Leetonia Home team in caps. Note: This week's guest picker is Sheriff Michael A. Cortez, who has served in his current role since 2024. He has worked in the Hancock County Sheriff's Department for more than 30 years.