I have discovered that I’m better at odds-making than I am at spell checking.

In last Friday’s column, the very first sentence read, “The Friday night lights are on and the ball is on the tree.” Could it be that a rule’s change has the opening kickoff with the football wedged between the branches of a big ol’ oak tree? Nope. There’s no way around this one. I made a bad pass to my office proofreaders and they too dropped the ball. “Tee” hee hee!

Coming out of the gate in Week 1 to take the lead were two odds-on favorites and a 15-1 shot. “Hot” Rod Heckman, as expected, picked 11 winners. He’s tied with another favorite, Pat “the Mat” Matsinko and running alongside both is TJ “Carolina” Engle, who’s at 15-1 to hold the gold at season’s end. TJ was the only staff member to successfully select Columbia Montour Vo Tech to beat Shenandoah.

At the first turn in the race are three pickers who are just a game behind. “Yours Truly” had a 10-5 record, as did surprising Sam “the Man” Matta and trash talking “Bad” Brad Hurley, who made it known that he should have been given better odds to win the Cup than 12-1.

“It is already public knowledge that I’m a constant threat,” said Hurley. “You have awakened a sleeping giant!” We’ll see if your mantra backs up your mouth, Mr. Hurley, a middle-of-the-pack finisher a year ago.

Emmett “Bossman” McCall delivered an underwhelming 9-6 Week 1 mark, not bad, yet not raising any eyebrows from his 40-1 odds to win it all. Do take notice that he and Sam were the only pickers to get Pen Argyl’s win against Wilson, a risky choice after the Green Knights finished 0-10 last season. Give a pat on the shoulder to Chuck “Some Luck” Hixson for also attaining nine wins and pulling himself out of his full-year residence in the Pundit Pit. Rookie Kyle Magda didn’t do much to alarm us veterans. He’s next to last at 8-7, leaving Mike “Hurricane” Haines all by his lonesome in the Depths of Darkness.

Panthers roar, Colts score

Kudos to Panther Valley and first-year coach Mark Levine for their win at Salisbury, their first since 2020. We all got that one wrong. Marian continued their strong run from the end of last season with a nice win over Schuylkill Haven. The Panthers travel to Tri Valley this week, and our crystal balls do not see PV coming away with win No. 2. Marian is the overall pick against Minersville, who lost to Tri Valley by a TD last week.

JT rebound, Tribe, Raiders reset

Jim Thorpe is on the road tonight at Bangor after an OT loss last week and I look for the Olympians to get win No. 1 against the Slaters. Lehighton hosts Tamaqua following their Week One defeats. Both put points on the board, but need to fill some holes on defense. Tough call on this one. I like Coach McCarroll’s Maroon and White in a close game.

Tigers, Bulldogs clash in Game of Week

A local early season big matchup has Northern Lehigh welcoming Northwestern, a team many feel is the best in our circulation area, to battle in our Times News Game of the Week. Our consensus pick is the Tigers win, but Hurley, Matta and Magda like the ‘Dawgs in a what might not be an upset.

Bombers, Bears bull to second wins

It’s unanimous. We think Palmerton beats Catasauqua and Pleasant Valley downs William Allen, so both teams we see going into Week Three undefeated.

Pigskin powers to meet

My pick as the Out-of-Area Game of the Week has the Nazareth Blue Eagles welcoming the Parkland Trojans. Both are solid perennial programs, but unless Sam Matta gets the win with Nazareth, the majority pick here is Parkland goes to 2-0.

Early observations

Chuck “Get Me Some Luck” Hixson is already rowing against the tide from the Pundit Pit. His choices of Bangor, Catty, and Blue Mountain are early signs he’s looking to gain ground on the leader board with these picks against the majority. Sink or swim, Chuck. There’s a lot of quicksand down in the Pit! I’ll pass on slamming Magda the “Rook.” But fair warning to the rest of us who’ve been around the stable for a few years. Nobody wants to lose to the first-year guy. To try to knock Heckman and Matsinko from their perch at the top of the standings, “Yours Truly” tabs an upset of Southern Lehigh over Notre Dame-Green Pond. Matta likes Nazareth to topple Parkland and Schuylkill Haven over Nativity. Hurley gets to back up his “public knowledge” expertise if Northern Lehigh and Lehighton win their games.

It’s only Week Two, but nobody wants to fall too far behind and have to pick major upsets and hope they come through for the rest of the season. It’s time we put a goal line defense against Rod and Pat and keep them out of the end zone. Let’s see who will grab the lead going into Week 3!