He sits quietly at his sports desk, analyzing, calculating. He makes his weekly picks and he’ll say, “I’m not real confident,” and “Watch out for Hurley,” in an effort to divert the attention away from him.

Each year, “Hot” Rod Heckman is a formidable opponent and lives up to his nickname. He brings the heat upon every picker each week, and keeps himself in position to win the Cup. Heckman’s 12-3 Week 6 record currently has him tied with Yours Truly at 71-19 overall for first place in the Grid Picks standings.

Three games separate frontrunners

Heading into tonight’s games, “Handy” Andy Steinmetz and “Bad” Brad Hurley are just one game back of the leaders, while Matsinko, Carlucci, Hixson, and Ford are only three games off the pace. Week 7 should once again shuffle the picks’ standings.

“Bossman” McCall, despite having a pretty bad week at 9-6, sits five games ahead of Sam “Hangman” Matta who is hollering, “Help!” from deep in the Pundit Pit, and can only hear the echo of his own voice.

Flip a coin games

Every game in Week 7 can be a coin toss as to who will win. Only six of the 15 contests are unanimous picks.

Powerhouse schools are matched up. North Schuylkill put up 41 points on Jim Thorpe last week. The Spartans host Tamaqua, which lost to a very good Pottsville team last week. The Spartans have a potent running game with quarterback Jaden Leiby and running back Zack Chowansky. They will be tough to beat, but Sam Bonner’s Raiders just might be the team to do it.

Freedom battles Easton, and seven pickers have tabbed the once-beaten Patriots to hand the Rovers their first loss of the season. Both teams are coming off blowout wins and have shown the power to dominate their opponents. I like the Rovers to go to 7-0 and beat the 5-1 Patriots in what should be a classic black-and-blue slugfest between two offensive juggernauts.

Heckman picked Freedom to win. This game will end our tie at the top, as we have agreed on every other game and try to hold off the pack from knocking us kings off our thrones.

Northwestern has a tough go against undefeated Southern Lehigh. Both teams are high-powered scoring machines, averaging 40 points a game. I’m taking the Spartans here, but it will be no surprise if the Tigers come away with a victory.

Panther Valley – which picked up its first victory of the season last Friday – hosts winless Marian. The Colts have been decimated by injuries. By a count of six to four, our staff takes PV to win. Look for quarterback Ethan Reis to hook up with wide receiver Blake White to be the difference maker.

Pleasant Valley plays East Stroudsburg North in a contest of teams looking for their first win. The Bears came close two weeks ago against Dieruff, and the pick here is they get No. 1 for Coach Blaec Saeger.

The favorites and also–rans

Preseason favorites to win the race for the Cup are in good position. Heckman is already in first and current champion, Brad Hurley, is coming up fast at a game back. Matsinko and Ford are holding pace to make a run down the stretch when the season winds down.

Yours Truly and Steinmetz were long shots, but we’re hanging in, trying to hold on. Carlucci, who has faded in past races, is right there again in the middle of the pack.

McCall and Matta will need a myriad of upset picks to challenge, but when the underdogs lose, farther back fall the risk takers, and the Pundit Pit has room for more than one so look out Bossman!

Let’s get it on and find out if Week 7 moves some new faces on the top of this page closer to the front.