Closing in on the midway point, pickers get back at it

Sports editor Zach Baker sighed, linked his hands behind his head, leaned back and uttered the comment that had been unspoken but floating around the sports department. "Do you realize?" Baker said, as much to himself as anyone else within earshot, "that this is Week 5 of the football season? We're halfway through the regular season already!" Indeed we are. The OHSAA released the first official weekly football computer ratings Tuesday. While it is a bit early to start analyzing post-season possibilities, especially with the playoffs expanded a year ago from the top eight to the top 16 teams in each region, the mid-point of the season does feature some key matchups that will go a long way in determining league leaders and, eventually, conference champions. Surprisingly, our pigskin prognosticators – Baker and veteran sportswriter Dave Hanneman – have agreed right down the line on a number of those matchups, both going with McComb (BVC), Columbus Grove (NWC), Elmwood (NBC) and Carey (N10) in their games with, respectively, Pandora-Gilboa, Allen East, Otsego and Buckeye Central. Our fearless forecasters have split on two games though. Hanneman, who was 13-2 last week and is 55-8 overall, is going out on a thin limb and picking Findlay over Toledo Whitmer this week, while also taking Riverdale in a BVC matchup with Van Buren. Baker, also 13-2 last week, is 53-10 overall. He trails Hanneman by two games but could make that up and hit the halfway point dead even if the Panthers and Black Knights validate his predictions this week. Hanneman's Picks Last week: 13-2; Overall 55-8 FINDLAY over Toledo Whitmer – Trojans have been close. If they can cut down on a few costly mistakes here and there, I think they might be due. North Baltimore over ARCADIA – This pick went from confident to confused after North Baltimore's loss to winless Hilltop. Arlington over VANLUE – Fire-Up Coach Dave Featheringill might get the Red Devils only lukewarm for this mismatch. LIBERTY-BENTON over Cory-Rawson – Bad schedule timing for the Hornets, who face a L-B team coming off back-to-back close losses. McComb over PANDORA-GILBOA – People still ask me if I miss the days when I was covering the BVC. Yeah, sometimes …. Riverdale at VAN BUREN – Riverdale riding a three-game win streak during which the Falcons have had a chance to jell and blend and mesh and tinker and dabble … Whatever they're doing seems to be working, but the schedule starts getting a whole lot grittier from here on. CAREY over Buckeye Central — This week and next are crucial in Carey's bid to add another N10 title to the trophy case. UPPER SANDUSKY over Bucyrus – Should be a good one if the weather cooperates and the Rams can keep Bucyrus sack leaders Dylan Lanker and Dalton Barker from getting to Kaden Holman. LEIPSIC over Spencerville – Is it too early to talk playoffs? Beating a D-V Spencerville team could pay off down the road. Columbus Grove over ALLEN EAST – Allen East, then Leipsic, then Convoy Crestview … the Northwest Conference title will likely be decided in the next three weeks. BLUFFTON over Ada – Pirates coming off a big win over Spencerville, and they're home for the third straight week. ELMWOOD over Otsego – If I remember right, Otsego's defense lost a lot to graduation, and now the Knights have to face an Elmwood team that scored 121 points the last two games. ROSSFORD over Fostoria – Bulldogs are just 1-3, but they're averaging almost 37 points a game. HARDIN NORTHERN over Lima Perry – HN has scored at least 60 points in a game; Perry has allowed at least 60 in a game. That should tell you all you need to know. Ottawa-Glandorf over LIMA BATH – Two 0-4 teams, both struggling. I just think Ken Schriner and his staff will find a way to get off that 0-fer schneid. Baker's Picks Last week: 13-2; Overall 53-10 Toledo Whitmer over FINDLAY – I still believe there will be better days ahead for FHS. Just not this week. North Baltimore over ARCADIA – North Baltimore didn't reach the peak of the Hilltop. This game with Arcadia just got more interesting. Arlington over VANLUE –The next two weeks strongly favor Arlington, leading up to a showdown with McComb Sept. 30. LIBERTY-BENTON over Cory-Rawson – The Eagles are coming off two final-minute losses. Signs point to a better outcome this week. McComb over PANDORA-GILBOA – Game of the week. McComb's always been able to run, but its passing game – on full display in recent weeks – gives it the edge. VAN BUREN over Riverdale – In a game that might be close, I'd feel good with Jackson Gregory as my kicker. CAREY over Buckeye Central — The state champs look just as strong as they did a year ago. UPPER SANDUSKY over Bucyrus – The Rams put a scare into Seneca East last week. This week, they finish the job. LEIPSIC over Spencerville – Bluffton and Leipsic just switched opponents this week. They likely will have similar results. Columbus Grove over ALLEN EAST – Grove back in the groove after the Week 1 loss at L-B. BLUFFTON over Ada – Bluffton appeared to find its offense last week, scoring more than 50 against Spencerville. The Pirates should be able to keep rolling against the Bulldogs. ELMWOOD over Otsego – Elmwood has done nothing to make me think it's gonna lose any time soon. ROSSFORD over Fostoria – I think the Redmen have a shot. Not enough to pick them, but I think they have a shot. HARDIN NORTHERN over Lima Perry –The Commodores share a nickname with the 1970s soul group, as well as the James Coburn character in the 1994 film Maverick. Neither of those things will help them beat the Polar Bears Ottawa-Glandorf over LIMA BATH – O-G finally gets in the win column. HOME TEAM IN CAPS