This week is shaping up as a 'ruff' one
As it is the week before the start of league play in most area high school football leagues, we have reached the proverbial “dog days” of Gridiron Guesses.
So this week, I have enlisted the help of my 8-year-old miniature dachshunds, sisters Kenzie and Bella. Likewise, Jason Elliott has consulted with Jack, his 11-year-old beagle.
Please don’t ask us to go into detail exactly how they helped us make our picks this week.
As for last week, I went 4-1 on high school picks, 2-1 on college picks, and opened up a two-game lead on Jason, who went 3-2 and 1-2.
I missed on St. Maries beating Timberlake; Jason missed on Coeur d’Alene beating Highland, and UC Davis beating Idaho. Like WSU, we both lost in picking the WSU-USC game.
For the season, I am 33-13 overall, Jason is 31-15.
HIGH SCHOOL
Friday’s Games
All 7 p.m. unless noted
Sandpoint (1-4) at Lake City (2-3)
NELKE/KENZIE/BELLA: Wins in their last two games have given the Timberwolves momentum. Sandpoint’s four losses have all been one-sided, but also all to larger schools — 5A Post Falls (34-7) and Lewiston (42-12), 4A (Washington) University (52-7) and 3A Mt. Spokane (56-6).
Lake City, 38-26
JASON/JACK: Lake City has been playing some really good football in the last few weeks. In a close one ...
Lake City, 40-28
Lakeland (2-2) at Timberlake (3-2)
NELKE/KENZIE/BELLA: After being competitive in back-to-back losses to 5A teams in Lake City (40-27) and Post Falls (35-16), the 4A Hawks look to get back on the winning track vs. their district rival, the 3A Tigers.
Lakeland, 35-26
JASON/JACK: In what could be the game of the weekend ...
Timberlake, 38-34
Bonners Ferry (1-4) at St. Maries (4-1)
NELKE/KENZIE/BELLA: The 2A Lumberjacks look for the sweep against the four Intermountain League (3A) schools.
St. Maries, 48-12
JASON/JACK: The Lumberjacks gear up for a run at the 2A Central Idaho League title by winning the 3A Intermountain League.
St. Maries 36-12
Timberline (0-3) at Kootenai (3-1)
NELKE/KENZIE/BELLA: Kootenai has been on a roll the past two weeks, bashing Wallace and Lakeside by a combined 100-6. The roll continues in this 6-man game.
Kootenai, 66-6
JASON/JACK: Kootenai, big.
Kootenai, 54-12
Lakeside (1-4, 0-3 White Star League) at Mullan-St. Regis (1-3, 0-3 WSL) 3:30 p.m.
NELKE/KENZIE/BELLA: Mullan-St. Regis has play the bullies of the White Star League somewhat tough, losing to Kendrick (80-40) and Deary (40-18). Kendrick beat Lakeside 58-6.
Mullan-St. Regis, 52-16
JASON/JACK: Oh these afternoon games were a lot of fun to watch way back when. John Drager Field doesn’t have lights, but these teams might light up the scoreboard plenty.
Mullan-St. Regis, 52-40
COLLEGE
Utah (2-1, 0-1 Pac-12) at Washington State (3-1, 0-1)
Saturday, 3 p.m.
NELKE/KENZIE/BELLA: WSU has beaten the Utes three straight times. These games are usually more slugfest than shootout.
WSU, 33-25
JASON/JACK: Whoever loses in this game can probably start planning its New Year’s around playing a bowl game in Las Vegas.
WSU, 34-20
Portland State (1-3, 0-1 Big Sky) at Idaho (1-2, 0-1)
Saturday, 2 p.m.
NELKE/KENZIE/BELLA: Idaho losing at UC Davis last week wasn’t unexpected — but being down as much as 44-7 in the game was a bit alarming. Portland State got roughed up by a pair of FBS schools in Nevada and Oregon, then whipped NAIA College of Idaho before losing 43-23 at “home” (in nearby Beaverton, actually) to Montana State last week in its conference opener. Portland State was picked to finish last in the 13-team Big Sky. If Idaho can’t bounce back this week, it could be a long “welcome back” season for the Vandals.
Idaho, 42-21
JASON/JACK: If the Vandal fans pack the dome, they should be able to grind out a win in this game.
Idaho, 28-24
Boise State (2-1) at Wyoming (2-2)
Saturday, 4 p.m.
NELKE/KENZIE/BELLA: Boise State is coming off a bye, but doesn’t really need the extra time to get ready for this one. Wyoming’s only counter is that its former star quarterback (Josh Allen) has one more NFL victory than the Broncos’ former star QB (Kellen Moore). Other than that ...
BSU, 52-7
JASON/JACK: Boise State can’t lose two games in a row, right?
BSU, 38-14
Eastern Washington (3-1, 1-0 Big Sky) at Montana State (3-1, 1-0 Big Sky)
Saturday, noon
NELKE/KENZIE/BELLA: This would be a big win for third-year Montana State coach Jeff Choate, the former St. Maries star and former Post Falls High football coach and athletic director. Even if the Bobcats come up short against the Big Sky favorites, it should be less painful than the emergency appendectomy Choate endured a couple of weeks ago.
EWU, 46-28
JASON/JACK: Unless it snows in Bozeman this weekend ...
EWU, 48-24