Seventy wins for “Bad” Brad Hurley and “Handy” Andy Steinmetz puts them dead even at the top of the picks standings, but they better not look over their shoulders. Just two games separate the leaders from Justin “The Voice” Carlucci, Pat “The Mat” Matsinko and “Hot” Rod Heckman.

Hurley kept the lead despite a four-loss Week Six. Slipping near Chuck “No Luck” Hixson, who currently sits alone in the Pundit Pit, is Emmett “Bossman” McCall, who suffered a five-loss week. Defending champ Bob “Photo” Ford slipped to three games behind while Yours Truly is only four off the pace.

Locals continue tough stretch of schedules

Many Week Seven matchups are difficult picks. Jim Thorpe, after a two-point loss to North Schuylkill last Friday, travels to take on Blue Mountain, which was upended by Lehighton. Look for the Olympians to rebound and get their sixth victory according to our unanimous picks. Lehighton is home to Pottsville. In the a loss to unbeaten Tamaqua, the Crimson Tide still managed 260 yards of offense and will test the Tribe’s defense. Coach McCarroll and his maroon and white will keep spinning the wheel of fortune until it lands on the jackpot, which happened in their fourth quarter comeback against Blue Mountain.

The staff is split right down the middle on this one. I say Lehighton’s home field advantage is the advantage once again and those of us chasing the leaders with me can pick up a game here on Hurley and Steinmentz.

Raiders will roll on; Marian looks for win two

After Tamaqua disposed of Pottsville, Sam Bonners’ boys can officially be called the elite team in our area. This week the Raiders are home to undefeated North Schuylkill. We all believe that Knoblauch, Breiner and Boyle will find ways to score against a very physical Spartan defense and come away with their seventh win.

Marian won its first game last week and will look to keep the mojo going against Panther Valley. Wide receivers Blake White for the Panthers and Keith Mccall for the Colts might have something to do with the outcome here.

Let it be known that “No Luck” Hixson, who selected PV to win, has made four picks against the trend. Gotta admire his risky business this week as he’s all in to try to escape the Pit!

Difference makers across the board

A shift in the standings looks likely as we all fear the dreaded four-or-more-loss week that can send any one of us spiraling downward.

Let me root for Northwestern to beat a good Southern Lehigh team, but I have to count on Salisbury to knock off Northern Lehigh. Sam “The Man” Matta looks to gain a game on all of us with his pick of Catasauqua over Palmerton.

If we were horses running this race, heavy betting might be on Heckman to storm from the pack to win by a nose at the wire. Ford will make his desperate run to keep the trophy. He’ll have to be watched at the midnight hour so he doesn’t go back and change some of his losers to winners after most of the games have been completed.

So I wish good luck to only me. You never know, but like the weatherman, I’m glad my salary doesn’t depend on whether I’m right or wrong or I might owe the Times News money at the end of this wonderfully crazy high school football season.