Channeling the Guardians' charge in this week's picks of the week

Zach Baker was raised in North Olmsted.He's a die-hard Cleveland fan.Heading into Week 7 of the Pigskin Picks, Baker is hoping to absorb, channel, or soak up some of the positive energy that recently enveloped the city.Triggering those feel-good vibes as the play of the Indians/Guardians. On July 6, Cleveland was 15½ games behind the Tigers in the AL Central Division. Nearly a month later (Sept. 1) the Guardians still trailed Detroit by 10 games.Cleveland made a run for the ages, though, and won a division title on the last weekend of the regular season.Baker can relate.Since the third week of the prep football season, when he posted a 9-6 record in our pigskin prognostications, he's been trailing co-picker Dave Hanneman by five games.After three straight carbon-copy weeks of picks we're right where we were three weeks ago. The winning percentage are up bit since then, but the five game deficit is still intact, with Hanneman owning a 73-17 overall record and Baker sitting at 68-22.This week, at least, our fearless forecasters have disagreed on one game, with Hanneman taking Perrysburg and Baker going with the Yellow Jackets.If Baker is right, he picks up one game. But it could be the start of a major comebackHey, the Guardians did it, and like every coach always says, you just gotta take it one game at a time.Hanneman's PicksLast week: 13-2; overall 73-17Findlay over PERRYSBURG – Trojans will be the underdog in this one, but a great defense can level a lot of playing fields.ADA over Riverdale – Falcons have struggled to put points on the boards. Ada hasn't.VAN BUREN over Arcadia – Knights aren't in the thick of the playoff conversation, not yet anyway. But if can rattle off a few wins in a row, they will be.ARLINGTON over Elmwood – Red Devils desperately want to end the two-game skid they're on. This is a likely place to start.Leipsic over McCOMB – Next week's game at L-B won't have as much mustard on it if the Vikings stumble here.Liberty-Benton over PANDORA-GILBOA – L-B has rattled off four straight 50-point games, has outscored the opposition 291-25, and has won every game by at least a 35-point margin. That's three good reasons to pick'em right there.Carey over BUCKEYE CENTRAL – Blue Devils are right on the playoff bubble as of now. They can really improve their chances in the next few weeks, though.Upper Sandusky over BUCYRUS – Bucyrus just got done going up against Mohawk (5-1) and Colonel Crawford (6-0). Now the Redmen face a 2-4 Upper Sandusky team that is a turnover or two and a touchdown or two away from being 4-2.BLUFFTON over Convoy Crestview – Pirates must find a way to contain Lethal Braxton Leeth, a senior back who is on pace to rush for over 2,300 yards and score 40 TDs, just in regular season games.Columbus Grove over FORT LORAMIE – Bulldogs pick up traction, some momentum and maybe even some Harbins heading into a brutal stretch of the 2025 regular season that has them playing Convoy Crestview (5-1), LCC (6-0) and Bluffton (5-1) in Weeks 8, 9 and 10.LIMA PERRY over Cory-Rawson – I don't think it will be smooth sailing for the Commodores, but I don't see the Hornets taking the wind out of their sails either.North Baltimore over RIDGEDALE – As long as they stay focused and keep their heads on straight, the Tigers are in the midst of a good – no, make that a one-for-the-record-books – kind of season.MAUMEE over Fostoria – Maumee's 3-3 record is a bit deceiving because the Panther are two touchdowns and two close setbacks away from riding a five-game winning streak.Lima Bath over OTTAWA-GLANDORF – Behind quarterback Zach Welsch, Bath has become the most explosive offensive team in the WBL, averaging 42 points a game.Dayton Stivers over VANLUE – Would love to pick Vanlue over Stivers School for the Arts, but the Wildcat just aren't putting any points on the board. Baker's PicksLast week: 13-2; overall 68-22PERRYSBURG over Findlay – This is a tough one to pick, and when in those situations, I generally take the home team.ADA over Riverdale – Ada has been up and down, but Riverdale hasn't scored more than 13 points in any game. Bulldogs have gone over 30 three times.VAN BUREN over Arcadia – Black Knights are coming off their biggest win of the season; I don't expect them to slip up here.ARLINGTON over Elmwood – After a couple of rough games, Red Devils get back on track.Leipsic over McCOMB – Probably the most intriguing BVC game on the schedule this week. What impresses me about the Vikings – aside from their big play potential – is the different types of games they have won. They've won track meets, defensive struggles, nail-biters and blowouts.Liberty-Benton over PANDORA-GILBOA – There have been a number of teams well-prepared against L-B, and I expect P-G to be ready and to play hard. But the Eagles just have too much talent.Carey over BUCKEYE CENTRAL – Buckeye Central has improved; it has more wins this year (3) than it had all of last season. But Carey has won three straight and appears to be on another late season surge.Upper Sandusky over BUCYRUS – Bucyrus' only win came against 0-6 Triad. The only Triad I know anything about was a WCW tag team of DDP, Chris Kanyon and Bam Bam Bigelow. That group won titles. Of course, that was also pre-determined pro wrestling from some 26 years ago. The Rams should get a win here.BLUFFTON over Convoy Crestview – For much of this season, Convoy Crestview back Braxton Leeth has been unstoppable. But Bluffton's defense should come in motivated after allowing 31 points to LCC last week.Columbus Grove over FORT LORAMIE – Fort Loramie is 1-5. Not many 1-5 teams are gonna beat Columbus Grove.LIMA PERRY over Cory-Rawson – I give the Hornets credit; they've played some competitive football. But until they get a win, it's hard to pick them. Finishing close games sometimes seems like the hardest step.MAUMEE over Fostoria – See above.North Baltimore over RIDGEDALE – The Tigers are state ranked in the latest AP poll. The players and coaching staff deserve a ton of credit for this turnaround, and I expect the wins to continue.Lima Bath over OTTAWA-GLANDORF — Bath has continually put up points this season, and it's hard to see the Titan slowing them down.Dayton Stivers over VANLUE – Stivers picked up a win in its last game, its first of the season. Thinking the Tigers get their second one this weekend. Home games in caps