Week 3 football predictions
Wow, a 6-6 finish makes it one of the roughest weeks I’ve had in my three years of making picks. Fortunately, most of you were on the same page as me. Bellevue sportswriter Josh Suman finished the week 7-5, moving him into a one game overall lead (17-10).
This week is toned down a bit in terms of big-time matchups, but there are some interesting ones out there, including Skyline at Lake Oswego, Ore., Juanita at Mercer Island and Bothell at Newport.
Without further ado, here are the picks for the third week.
BIG 5
Newport vs. Bothell
Kevin - Here’s an interesting matchup between to 1-1 teams many figured to be 2-0 after week two. Newport lost by 15 at home to Mercer Island, while Bothell lost by 12 at home to Mount Si. Who will be able to bounce back after a tough week? Mount Si was able to move the ball on the ground against the Cougars, which bodes well for Newport quarterback Isaac Dotson and the Knights’ explosive running attack. Newport was bit by the turnover bug last week, however, and will need to hold onto the ball against a traditionally efficient Bothell squad.
Pick: Newport 32-28
Josh - The Knights fumbled away an opportunity to make a statement against Jeff Lindquist and Mercer Island last week, falling by a pair of scores after a pair of critical turnovers. Bothell is a bit of a mystery after handling Union and then getting handled themselves by Mount Si, at home no less, last week. I like the Knights’ potential, I’m just not sure of where they are in terms of development after last week’s performance. This game wasn’t close last year (42-14 Bothell) and while there is no way it gets that out of hand again, I’m going with the Cougars.
Pick: Bothell 30-27
Kevin - Skyline head coach Mat Taylor referred to Lake Oswego as one of the top two or three teams in the state of Oregon. The Lakers enter their home game against the Spartans, 2-0, after outscoring their first two opponents 84-31. Skyline is no doubt looking to bounce back after a tough loss to in-state rival Bellevue. These same two teams played to a close first half last year in Sammamish before the Spartans pulled away for a 38-14 victory. This will be a tough test for Skyline, but the Spartans should have enough fire power to get back on a winning track.
Pick: Skyline 32-20
Josh - The Spartans looked unstoppable at times in last week’s lost to Bellevue. And then they would stop themselves. Obviously, the level of their opponent played a huge role in that. Here’s what won’t happen this week in Oregon: Skyline won’t turn the ball over five times. They won’t get stopped at the goal line twice. Max Browne won’t get intercepted multiple times. The defense won’t have to deal with a Wing-T offense. Here’s what will happen: a dominating bounce-back win for Taylor and Co.
Pick: Skyline 42-10
Kevin - Here’s an interesting matchp between two KingCo 3A schools with 1-1 records. Mercer Island is coming off an impressive victory over Newport, while Juanita suffered a shutout loss to Inglemoor. The Rebels are a hard team to figure out after putting up 48 against Redmond in the first week. Can they get their offense moving again behind quarterback Landyn Milburn and running back Travis Marshall? Mercer Island is rolling behind University of Washington recruit Jeff Lindquist. The quarterback rushed for three TDs last week and threw for another.
Pick: Mercer Island 28-22
Josh - The Islanders were at the bottom of the conference in my view before the season began and again after week one. But the dominating win over Newport can’t be ignored and a win over Juanita in the conference opener would be another huge step in the right direction.
Pick: Mercer Island 28-20
Kevin - Is the Inglemoor defense for real? We will find out this week as the Vikings host Lake Stevens in a battle of undefeated 4A teams. In its first two games Inglemoor has shut out opponents, winning 10-0 at Snohomish and 19-0 against Juanita. Led by quarterback Jake Nelson, Lake Stevens put up 70 points on Cascade in the first week. Inglemoor has had its struggles with offense, scoring just two offensive TDs this season. They have a kickoff return for a score and three field goals.
Pick: Inglemoor 21-20
Josh - Lake Stevens pounded Cascade 70-6 and then squeaked out a win over Kamiak on a missed field goal. Dual-threat quarterback Jake Nelson ran for two scores after throwing for four the first week of the season. But Inglemoor’s defense hasn’t been the problem. Frank Naish’s squad hasn’t allowed a single point thus far in 2011 after shutting out both Snohomish and Juanita. They likely won’t blank Nelson and their WesCo visitors this week, but they should be able to do enough to get the win.
Pick: Inglemoor 21-17
Kevin - Both of these teams are 2-0, but don’t expect a shootout. No. 2 ranked Eastlake is on a roll behind quarterback Keegan Kemp. The senior has thrown for 489 yards and five touchdowns, and rushed for two more. Running back Ryan Lewis has rushed for 288 yards and four TDs in the Wolves’ first two games. Roosevelt will have a tough time slowing the Eastlake attack.
Pick: Eastlake 42-7
Josh - The Roughriders took care of business against Interlake and sit at 2-0 for the second straight season. The only problem with that? After beating Franklin and Interlake to begin 2010, Roosevelt was humbled in a 42-7 to Eastlake that ended up being the first of four straight defeats. The Wolves are deeper, bigger and more sturdily built to maintain their early season momentum. Some people (me) ranked them at the top of 4A at the start of this week after Skyline’s loss to Bellevue (I was obviously outvoted). Keegan Kemp tossed three scores last week and won’t hold anything back as his team rolls.
Pick: Eastlake 44-9
Kevin: 6-6
Josh: 7-5
Readers: 6-6
Year to date
Kevin: 16-11
Josh: 17-10
Readers: 16-11
