We knew this was coming. Week No. 7 had so many toss up games that would shake up the standings and the results proved to be true.

Credit “Bad” Brad Hurley. Under pressure from a pack of pickers looking to unseat him from the top, he won best record of the week with three losses and actually gained a game on his chasers.

“Hot” Rod Heckman is now bidding to bump the king from his throne. Rod’s 11-4 week pushed him two games behind Hurley going into Week No. 8.

The tag team of Pat the “Mat”sinko and Justin “The Voice” Carlucci sit in third place. Defending champ, Bob “Photo” Ford tied Hurley with best record from Week No. 7, but at some point, he’ll have to roll the dice against the leaders’ picks if he intends win consecutive titles.

Worst of the week was Emmett “Bossman” McCall who crashed and burned at 7-8. He’s just two games ahead of Chuck “No Luck” Hixson, the lone resident of the dark and dreary Pundit Pit.

Raiders to stay unbeaten; Colts to win third a row.

Tamaqua continues to prove they’re the best of the area’s rest with a convincing win over previously unbeaten North Schuylkill. This week the Raiders host Lehighton and across the board, we see win number eight for Sam Bonner’s boys, though don’t be surprised if Tom McCarroll’s Tribe keeps it close right up until the end.

Marian is on its own mini-roll. After dropping five straight, the Colts have won two straight and should make it three with a win over Shenandoah.

Jim Thorpe visits Pottsville. The Crimson Tide is big and physical up front and wore down Lehighton with their second half running game last week. JT has too many ways it can score so we think the Olympians win a close one here. Palmerton is a unanimous choice over Wilson and Hixson can prove the rest of us wrong if Panther Valley beats Mahanoy Area to gain their third win.

Upsets could be difference makers

Several Week No. 8 picks will make little or no movement in the standings, but a few risk takers could move up a game.

Sam “The Man” Matta can make a jump up or fall back toward the Pit where he once resided. He picked against the grain three times, and is the only one who likes Northern Lehigh over Palisades. Yours Truly and Matta count on Emmaus to defeat Freedom in a battle of unbeaten teams. Of course, Hixson, showing his desperation from the Pit, picked five winners against the majority.

McCall is worried. The boss has to save face and not finish last. Ford is falling farther back with just a few weeks left so he needs this week to stay in the hunt. Steinmetz, once on top, is close to becoming an after thought after a six loss Week No. 7. With a big week, Carlucci and Matsinko can contend for the lead again.

It’s my guess that s few out of area games will determine any shifts in the standings. Beside Freedom vs. Emmaus, the Bethlehem Catholic vs. Easton clash is a toss up. Williams Valley travels to Upper Dauphin in a battle of 6-1 teams with a slight prediction nod going to the home team. This one might cost Hurley who tabbed WV while the three closest to him selected UD.

With just a few more weeks of picks to go, a five or six loss Week No. 8 could mathematically eliminate those down in the second half of the standings.

Right now I sit in the middle of the pack, but I’m going to root hard for “Bossman” McCall” to have a good week. Should he slip disgracefully into the Pundit Pit by the end of the season, I might lose the privilege to write this column next year!