Too early for that kind of talk

Only four weeks into this, and there’s already whispers of a jinx.

“Oh, geez, don’t pick us,” one coach told Jason Elliott, our intrepid sports writer/Scoreboard wizard, when told he was mulling his high school and college picks for the week.

Too late coach, your team is doing too well for us not to pick you ... at least for now.

As for last week, yours truly and young Jason each went 5-2 on high school picks, 4-0 on college picks. We both had Lakeland winning ­— which the Hawks did until the final second against Rogers. I paid the price for picking against St. Maries. Jason caught the attention of a certain copy editor on staff by picking Lake City to beat Hillcrest. Or maybe it was I who caught his attention by picking Hillcrest.

Last week’s overall draw means Jason still holds a one-game lead, with an overall record of 28-10 to 27-11 for me.

(Side note: Last week I jokingly said the Seahawks would beat the 49ers 9-3 but thought it would be much worse. As it was, I was pretty close, with the Seahawks actually scoring a touchdown and winning a 12-9 thriller. I’d temporarily forgotten that one team has a saviour, and the other doesn’t ... yet).

HIGH SCHOOL

All games Friday at 7 p.m.

Coeur d’Alene (3-1) at Camas (Wash.) (3-0)

NELKE: Last year, the Papermakers traveled here from southwestern Washington and beat the Vikings 49-30 in an entertaining game, then went on to win the state title.

Camas has won 17 straight games. This year, Coeur d’Alene goes on the road and returns the favor. As for what happens after that ...

Coeur d’Alene, 51-42

ELLIOTT: Coeur d’Alene, whether home or away, is really, really good.

Coeur d’Alene, 48-24

East Valley (1-2) at Lake City (0-3)

NELKE: East Valley ran past Lake City 40-30 last year, and the Knights still have speedster and Washington State commit Rodrick Fisher. Still, the Timberwolves have to break through one of these weeks ... don’t they?

Lake City, 28-20

ELLIOTT: Coming off a tough loss at home ...

Lake City, 21-17

Lakeland (1-3) at Post Falls (4-0)

NELKE: The Trojans keep it rolling in the Battle of the Prairie.

Post Falls, 56-14

ELLIOTT: This has been a fun rivalry game to watch over the years.

Post Falls, 55-21

St. Maries (2-2) at Timberlake (0-3)

NELKE: St. Maries is already 2-0 vs. the Intermountain League this year. But Timberlake is the perennial league champions; however, St. Maries blistered the Tigers 47-7 in last year’s coming-out party at St. Maries. No doubt the Tigers haven’t forgotten that one.

St. Maries, 26-20

ELLIOTT: While the Lumberjacks are young this year, the Tigers are even younger.

St. Maries, 28-20

Kootenai (2-0) at Lakeside (1-2)

NELKE: Despite their records, these teams seem pretty evenly matched. In that case, go with the home team.

Lakeside, 36-32

ELLIOTT: Kootenai seems to have a little momentum going for itself right now.

Kootenai, 44-38

COLLEGE

Idaho (1-2) at South Alabama (1-2)

Saturday, 11 a.m.

NELKE: Hard to say how good South Alabama is, since two of their three games have been “money” games (vs. Ole Miss and Oklahoma State). Idaho probably should have won last week at Western Michigan. But, woulda/shoulda/coulda ...

South Alabama, 36-31

ELLIOTT: If the Vandals want to get to another bowl game this year, they’ll need this one. Lakeland product Cade Coffey with a late field goal to win it.

Idaho, 38-35

Nevada (0-3) at Washington State (3-0)

Saturday, 3 p.m.

NELKE: Nevada lost last week. To Idaho State. At home.

WSU, 52-13

ELLIOTT: The Cougars gear up for a visit from USC with a romp.

WSU, 56-10

Eastern Washington (1-2) at Montana (2-1)

Saturday, 5 p.m.

NELKE: Montana’s starting QB suffered an apparent season-ending injury last week. Does Chad Chalich have any more eligibility left?

EWU, 42-26

ELLIOTT: Chalich might not have any eligibilty left for the Griz, but Lake City product Jerry Louie-McGee does ...

Montana, 38-28

Virginia (2-1) at Boise State (2-1)

Friday, 5 p.m.

NELKE: The Broncos play one of their high school football night-wrecking games for a little more national exposure, as well as some extra ESPN cash. Rypien or no Rypien ...

BSU, 35-14

ELLIOTT: In a score that only Virginia men’s basketball coach Tony Bennett will love ...

BSU, 17-10