Before I dive in headfirst into seven divisions of HS FB playoff brackets, let’s take a look back some some previous prognostications:  in boys soccer, I correctly forecasted EC Memorial and McDonell/Regis making it to state (not to mention Osceola’s demise in a sectional final), but in girls volleyball, a slew of upsets have resulted in only a few of my picks (EC North, Grantsburg, and McDonell) still having a chance to get to Green Bay.

Madison, and more specifically, Camp Randall Stadium, is the preferred destination for high school football teams.  Which teams will be battling on the turf on November 19th & 20th?  Feel free to post your picks in the comment section below.  Here are mine:

DIVISION 1

BRACKET: http://www.wiaawi.org/results/football/2009/d1bracket.pdf

Red Raiders vs. Raiders is an intriguing matchup in Level 1, as Wisconsin Rapids heads to Hudson.  Big Rivers schools don’t have a long history of success versus their Wisconsin Valley Conference counterparts, but this is a game where the BRC team should prevail.  Rapids has some good young talent in sophomore QB Brady Goska (younger brother of Brent, currently at the University of North Dakota) and junior RB Joe Ritchay (younger brother of Vinny, who plays hoops at UWSP).  It wouldn’t surprise me if the this game was closer than the season opener at Hudson (won by Hudson, 21-7), but I see the same team winning.  The Raiders fans will yell “HUDDY IN THE HOUSE!;” something that may, just may, find its way onto the News 18 highlights.  Other Level 1 winners: SPASH, Madison Memorial, Appleton North, Homestead, Menomonee Falls, Sun Prairie, Bay Port, Waukesha West, Arrowhead, Verona, Middleton, Marquette, Oak Creek, Riverside University, and Kenosha Bradford.  

In Level 2, I see these teams winning: SPASH, Appleton North, Homestead, Bay Port, Arrowhead, Middleton, Marquette, and Kenosha Bradford. 

Level 3 winners: SPASH, Homestead, Arrowhead, Marquette. 

Level 4 winners: Homestead, Marquette.   State champ: Homestead.

DIVISION 2

BRACKET:  http://www.wiaawi.org/results/football/2009/d2bracket.pdf

Menomonie may be a #4 seed, but it’s never good policy to pick against a Joe LaBuda team in the playoffs.  So I won’t.   Over the years, you can pretty much pencil in Menomonie for a Level 3 playoff game.  Logic tells me that the Indians are capable of making it that far, but not beyond.   But here, I’m abandoning logic and going with a gut feeling.   

Level 1 winners: Menomonie, Merrill, LC Central, Marshfield, Shawano, Ashwaubenon, GB SW, Kimberly, Monona Grove, Cedarburg, DeForest, Waunakee, Bradley Tech, Badger, Franklin, Waterford. 

Level 2: Menomonie, Marshfield, Ashwaubenon, Kimberly, Monona Grove, Waunakee, Bradley Tech, Waterford.

Level 3: Menomonie, Kimberly, Waunakee, Waterford.

Level 4: Menomonie, Waunakee.  State champ: Waunakee  

DIVISION 3

BRACKET: http://www.wiaawi.org/results/football/2009/d3bracket.pdf

Level 1 winners: Hayward, Osceola, Waupaca, Black River Falls, Plymouth, Kewaskum, Seymour, West De Pere, Pewaukee, Reedsburg, McFarland, Jefferson, Wisconsin Lutheran, Union Grove, Catholic Memorial, New Berlin Eisenhower.

Level 2: Osceola, BRF, Kewaskum, West De Pere, Pewaukee, Jefferson, Wisco Lutheran, New Berlin Eisenhower.

Level 3: Osceola, West De Pere, Pewaukee, Wisco Lutheran.

Level 4: West De Pere, Pewaukee: State champ: Pewaukee

DIVISION 4

BRACKET: http://www.wiaawi.org/results/football/2009/d4bracket.pdf

First, let me just say that I’m expecting a Northwestern vs. Somerset matchup in Level 3, but I’m rooting for the site being Carson Park…although Rice Lake’s Pug Lund field is probably more likely. 

Level 1 winners:  Northwestern, Baldwin-Woodville, Bloomer, Somerset, Kewaunee, Wrightstown, Xavier, Nekoosa, Lodi, Prairie du Chien, New Glarus/Monticello, G-E-T, Big Foot, New Holstein, Ripon, Winnebago Lutheran.

Level 2: Northwestern, Somerset, Kewaunee, Xavier, Lodi, NG/M, Big Foot, Ripon.

Level 3: Somerset, Kewaunee, Lodi, Big Foot.

Level 4: Somerset, Big Foot.  State champ: Somerset 

DIVISION 5

BRACKET: http://www.wiaawi.org/results/football/2009/d5bracket.pdf

Two reasons to like Colby’s chances of making it to Madison: head coach Jeff Rosemeyer, and running back Adam Esselman. 

Level 1 winners: Colby, Osseo-Fairchild, Marathon, Elk Mound, Brillion, Tigerton/Marion, Wabeno/Laona, Peshtigo, Lancaster, Iowa-Grant, Darlington, Pardeeville, St. Mary’s Springs, Martin Luther, Oostburg, Cedar Grove-Belgium.

Level 2: Colby, Marathon, Brillion, Peshtigo, Lancaster, Darlington, St. Mary’s Springs, Cedar Grove-Belgium.

Level 3: Colby, Brillion, Lancaster, St. Mary’s Springs.

Level 4: Colby, Lancaster.  State champ: Lancaster

DIVISION 6

BRACKET: http://www.wiaawi.org/results/football/2009/d6bracket.pdf

I’ve doubted Regis at times this season, but I’m done doubting.  The Green Machine rolls into Madison, throwing a grand total of 4 passes in the playoffs, but then runs into a different shade of green…

Level 1 winners: Flambeau, Thorp, Glenwood City, Webster, Edgar, Iola-Scandinavia, Pacelli, Wild Rose, Bangor, Regis, Blair-Taylor, Fennimore, Shiocton, Manitowoc Lutheran, Brookfield Academy, Lake Country Lutheran.

Level 2: Flambeau, Glenwood City, Edgar, Pacelli, Regis, Blair-Taylor, Shiocton, Lake Country Lutheran.

Level 3: Flambeau, Edgar, Regis, Shiocton.

Level 4: Edgar, Regis.  State champ: Edgar

DIVISION 7

BRACKET: http://www.wiaawi.org/results/football/2009/d7bracket.pdf

Level 1 winners: Plum City, McDonell, Pepin/Alma, Shell Lake, Gilman, New Lisbon, Owen-Withee, Florence, Potosi, Wauzeka-Steuben, Belmont, De Soto, Catholic Central, Benton/Scales Mound, Cambria-Friesland, Randolph.

Level 2: McDonell, Shell Lake, Gilman, Owen-Withee, Potosi, Belmont, Catholic Central, Cambria-Friesland.

Level 3: McDonell, Gilman, Potosi, Catholic Central.

Level 4: Gilman, Catholic Central.  State champ: Catholic Central

So there you have it.   Again, feel free to post your picks in the comments section below.  Time to get the playoffs going!

-BOB BRADOVICH

Posted under Hometown Sports

This is the week that girls high school volleyball teams around the state begin their postseason journey…one they hope ends with a trip to the Resch Center in Green Bay for the WIAA State Tournament.

DIVISION 1

(Brackets: http://www.wiaawi.org/results/volleyballgirls/2009/d1bracket.pdf)

It’s rare to find a sport in which the larger schools in the area have had such little success getting to the state tournament, but that’s the case in volleyball.  Since the WIAA began sponsoring a girls volleyball tournament in 1973, the only large-school entrant from the Chippewa Valley was Eau Claire North’s 2005 team.  

Marshfield has dominated the local sectional, advancing to state seven times beginning in 1998.  D.C. Everest has won the last two sectional titles.  But after watching the Evergreens fall behind 2-0 in sets at E.C. Memorial Monday night, I’m starting to wonder if the balance of power in the section has shifted to the west. DCE is a #2 seed in its regional, while ECM is a #5.  

That’s why I think the winner of the upper bracket sectional semifinal will move onto the Resch Center.  The problem then becomes trying to figure out which team will get there.  Chippewa Falls has the #1 seed and a first-round bye, but I think either EC Memorial or Menomonie could give the Cardinals a very tough battle in the regional finals.   Still, I think Chi-Hi has perhaps the most balanced team in the entire bracket. Combine that with home court advantage, I think that the Cards move on past a tough ECM team.

There are times when EC North seems to not be terribly organized on the court, but then in an instant, the Huskies flip the switch and absolutely take over matches.  ECN has probably the most feared hitter in Alicia Olson, along with senior Kate Rosemeyer, who’s at least in the area’s top ten in that category.  With some talented underclassmen providing good depth and a veteran coach in Perris Cooley, the Huskies have all the necessary parts to defeat River Falls, Hudson, and then Chippewa Falls.

I think form will hold through the lower part of the bracket, giving us an ECN-Merrill matchup at Chi-Hi’s gym on Saturday, 10/31.   Husky Nation will turn out in full force for that match–maybe they’ll even bust out the Yogi Bear song–and they’ll storm the court at the end, when ECN wins a four-set match over the Blue Jays to advance to state for the second time in school history.

DIVISION 2

(Brackets: http://www.wiaawi.org/results/volleyballgirls/2009/d2bracket.pdf)

Altoona is a #1 seed and gets a first-round bye, but that doesn’t mean the Railroaders have an easy path through the brackets.   Altoona will likely face Rice Lake in a regional semi, and if the Railroaders get past the scrappy Warriors, a perennially tough Medford program probably awaits in the regional finals.  Still, I like what I’ve seen this season out of Altoona.  Ron Martin’s teams play with tremendous passion, and with Rachel Larson, Peyton Eckwright, and Kayla Springer, the Rails have three hitters who can get hot at any time.  They also have one of the area’s best setters in Bethany Reyzer.  The combination should be enough to get Altoona to a sectional final, where the Rails will face fellow #1 seed Hayward.  Who wins?  I won’t break out a coin for a flip, but I’ll say based on travel time (the sectional semi is in Baldwin), Altoona steps off the bus in better shape to play a grueling five-set match and prevails.  Form holds on the bottom part of the bracket, with #1 seeds Tomahawk and West Salem meeting in the sectional semi’s.   Here’s where the coin comes out: heads means Tomahawk, so the Hatchets advance to play the Rails in a sectional final.  Coincidentally, that match is pre-set to be played at Altoona.  How can you pick against the Railroaders in that scenario?  You can’t.  Altoona celebrates its first-ever trip to state, so let’s just hope Tom Reyzer and Chuck Gregorich cook enough hot wings to feed the masses long into the night.

DIVISION 3

(Brackets: http://www.wiaawi.org/results/volleyballgirls/2009/d3bracket.pdf)

There are some solid programs in the bottom part of the Clear Lake sectional, as well as some outstanding individuals.  Assuming Regis and Elk Mound meet in a regional semi, the individual matchup between the Ramblers’ Heather Bowe and the Mounders Emily Harrison might be worth the price of admission.   I’ll give Regis the slight edge based on home court advantage, but then it’ll be a trip to Boyceville to play #1 seed Colfax–I think the Vikings are a bit more balanced, and if they can keep Bowe from absolutely going off, the Vikes should advance, and then will take out Dunn-St. Croix Conference rival Mondovi in a sectional semi.

Can Colfax take the next step and get to state for the first time in the program’s history?  For that to happen, the Vikings will have to beat Grantsburg.  No program in this corner of the state can match the Pirates when it comes to state tourney trips.  I’m going to say Grantsburg goes for the 10th time in school history, as the Pirates beat Colfax 3-1 in a sectional final.

In the Stevens Point sectional, I’m picking Colby to knock off #1 seed Auburndale in a regional final, mainly because the Hornets have an effective middle hitter in Morgan Hopperdietzel…and there’s no way you can pick against a team that includes a last name like Hopperdietzel.   What the heck, I’ll go out on a limb and say that Colby hopperdietzels every team in its path on the way to the Resch Center.

DIVISION 4

(Brackets: http://www.wiaawi.org/results/volleyballgirls/2009/d4bracket.pdf)

McDonell went 24-4 this past season, won the rugged Western Cloverbelt, and swept Eastern Cloverbelt champ Greenwood in the conference’s first place playoff match.  I don’t see any team in the Augusta Sectional bracket that can match the Macks’ talent and depth.  Clayton could challenge McDonell in a sectional semifinal, but with that match pre-set for the Macks’ home court, I’d be shocked if McDonell doesn’t advance.  Rib Lake could pose a problem, but I see the Macks prevailing in that one as well, giving the school its first-ever trip to state volleyball.

Posted under Hometown Sports

Technically, the boys soccer postseason began earlier today (Monday, 10/12), with one game in Division 2 (Spooner beat Barron 1-0), and one more in Division 3 (Cumberland over Philllips 7-1).   However, since I’m not forecasting any lower seeded teams springing any upsets in the regional semifinals, I think I can still be considered “on the honor system.”

Before we begin, kudos to the coaches in the Division 1 Chippewa Falls Sectional, who seeded the teams 1-16.  Apparently, there were enough games between Big Rivers, Wisconsin Valley, and teams from the other conferences represented to allow for a more representative bracket.

Division 1:

With no upsets in the regional semi’s, here are the matchups for Thursday’s regional finals: Wausau East at EC Memorial, EC North at Marshfield, Chi-Hi at D.C. Everest, and Wausau West at Hudson.   Again, I’m saying the top seeds will advance, with one exception: the North Huskies get a win to set up a regional semifinal with their crosstown rivals. 

That sets up the sectional semi’s as follows: ECN vs. ECM, DCE vs. Hudson.   North will make it tough on Memorial, especially with how well Terry Albrecht’s teams defend, but the Old Abes have too much offense to  be denied.  The same goes for Hudson in its game with DCE.  

It’ll be a very interesting sectional final at Chi-Hi, as two explosive teams play on the very fast turf of Dorais Field.   Unlike last year’s sectional semi, when ECM beat Hudson 1-0, I think these two will put the ball in the net early and often…but once again, I think ECM prevails, 4-3, to advance to state.

Division 2:

I’ll be a BRC homer and forecast an upset for Rice Lake over Northland Pines in a regional semifinal.  The higher seeds will prevail in the other semis.   In the regional finals, it’ll be Amery over Rice Lake, and Osceola over Hayward.  Under the direction of OHS athletic director Arvid Maki, the Chieftains have made tremendous strides in just the third year of the program.  In this case, I’ll be a Carleton College homer (Arvid is a college friend of mine), so I say it’s Osceola over Amery in the sectional semifinals.  Alas, the Chieftains’ trip through the bracket will come to an end with a loss to top-ranked Dodgeville in the sectional final.

Division 3

In this bracket, I’ll forecast one upset in Tuesday’s regional semifinals : Barron over Marshfield Columbus.  Form will hold in the regional finals, so it’ll be Washburn beating Barron, with McDonell/Regis knocking out Northland Lutheran.   The Macks will go on to defeat Washburn in the sectional semifinals, and with barefooted head coach Tim Jenneman urging his team on from the sidelines, McDonell/Regis will take out Wausau Newman in the sectional final.

Your picks?  Post ‘em in the comment section below.

-BOB BRADOVICH   

Posted under Hometown Sports

YEAH, HE WAS GOOD, BUT…
The prevailing sentiment in the Packers locker room was that while Brett Favre played well, Green Bay lost because of self-inflicted mistakes.

WE GOTTA GET IT FIXED
I’m not the only media member who recalls the words of former Packers head coach Ray Rhodes while listening to the current Green Bay coaching staff.  At this point, I don’t expect this season to unfold like Rhodes’ only one as Packers head coach (being fired after an 8-8 campaign), but if the same things need fixing week after week, then either the game plan or the personnel needs to change.

SAD SACKS
Monday night, the Vikings sacked Aaron Rodgers eight times.   Through four games, the Packers have allowed a mind-boggling 20 sacks.   Through four games, the Green Bay defense has sacked the opposing quarterback five times.  Favre had been sacked nine times in Minnesota’s first three games, but the Vikings O-line kept him upright all night.  Any time Favre can stand in the pocket and count to 7.33-Mississippi, even the Jeff Dugan’s of the world can get open for a 25-yard completion.

ON A GOOD NOTE
The Packers held All-World running back Adrian Peterson to a mere 55 yards on 22 carries.    

SEE YOU IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS
It’s all fine and wonderful west of the St. Croix River this Tuesday morning, but my suggestion to those fine folks is to enjoy this while it lasts.   November 1 isn’t that far away, and it’s isn’t that far-fetched to think that then, the Packers will be 4-2 and on a two-game winning streak (bye week, win at home vs. Lions, win at Bears) while the Vikes come in having lost two of three (win at Rams, lose at home to Ravens, lose at Steelers).

LET ME KNOW WHEN THEY FINALLY TEAR DOWN THE METRODOME
…and I’ll be first in line with a sledge-hammer.  

PROGNOSTICATORS: RIGHT AND WRONG
Of the 36 responders to my e-mail request for a prediction, 23 correctly picked the Vikings to win. Ironically, two individuals who once worked as weekend sportscasters at News 18 were closest to the actual score: both David K. (Madison, WI) and Eric K. (West Allis, WI) had Vikings 31, Packers 20.  They’re also both Marquette University alums…odd.

Three individuals responded to the query but did not make selections.   All three of those, however, did talk about the game, although one (Tim W., St. Paul, MN) tackled some much larger issues, when he wrote: I predict that scores of bloated, steroid-injecting freaks will crash into each other, which will entertain and satisfy the blood lust of the plebian masses for a few hours.

-BOB BRADOVICH

Posted under Hometown Sports

JUST WIN, BUCKY
Wisconsin has never been a program that concerns itself with style points, and the latest example of that was Saturday’s win over Minnesota.  The Badgers survived a Scott Tolzien interception, fumbles by Tolzien and Zach Brown, 140 receiving yards and a touchdown by Gophers wide receiver Eric Decker, horrible kick coverage, plus a partially blocked punt that somehow wound up being downed on the 5 yard line, but still managed to win the game.  How? By playing Wisconsin football: getting physical on both sides of the ball, committing to the ground game, and forcing turnovers.  With the game on the line late in the 4th quarter, the UW coaches abandoned the prevent defense that allowed Minnesota to march 80 yards in 0:47 on the Gophers previous series (which made it a 3-point game again), and turned up the heat when MInnesota got the ball back.   That drive ended with Blake Sorenson forcing a fumble which was recovered by Chris Borland. 

COOL AT QB
Oftentimes, we in the media tend to gravitate toward the gregarious players on a team for postgame quotes, and avoid those guys who speak in bland cliches.  You can’t avoid the starting quarterback, however.  Scott Tolzien is just the latest in a line of UW QB’s who seems like he’s reading off a script as he’s answerinq questions.  Still, I don’t think Tolzien’s holding back–this merely seems to be his even-keeled personality.  That’s a great thing for a QB, especially one who’s making his first road start and has to bounce back from a 1st-quarter interception and a 3rd-quarter fumble.  In his postgame comments, freshman center Peter Konz said this about Tolzien: “He just forgets about it. He’s a great leader. He doesn’t get down.”

QUIET, PLEASE: MAD SCIENTIST AT WORK
Several times in his postgame comments, Bret Bielema referred to offensive coordinator Paul Chryst as a “mad scientist.”   The only ones mad after a few of Chryst’s best play calls Saturday were wearing maroon and gold.  Here were my favorites: Tolzien’s TD pass to Lance Kendricks early in the 4th quarter was just the third passing attempt on a 13-play drive, 85-yard drive that featured nine runs by John Clay for 67 yards.  Talk about going against a tendency…there were more than a few audible gasps in the press row when Tolzien went back to pass, but the play call worked perfectly, thanks to a dart of a throw by the quarterback, and some fancy footwork by the tight end.   Tolzien also was inolved in another great 4th-quarter play call by Chryst: 2nd & 9 from the Wisconsin 48, Tolzien carried out a great play-fake right, then took off running left, with a couple of lead blockers out front.   The fake was so good that several Gophers linemen were still pursuing the non-ball carrier after Tolzien had already made his first cut upfield.   According to Bielema, his favorite part of the play was how Tolzien protected the ball as we was being dragged to the turf at the Minnesota 5.  

RB ROTATION?
The UW coaching staff has been committed to rotating its running backs ever since the start of August camp, which is always a good plan over a long season.  Still, the way Clay ran over the Gophers (32 carries, 186 yards, 3 TD’s), you wonder how much the other RB’s will be used during the rest of the Big Ten season.  You also wonder whether Zach Brown will be buried on the depth chart following his costly 4th-quarter fumble that Minnesota’s Marcus Sherels scooped up and ran back for a touchdown. 

BRUSHES WITH GREATNESS
On successive trips to the pressbox restroom, I made small-talk with ESPN analyst Bob Griese and Wisconsin Athletic Director Barry Alvarez…what a thrill for both of them.

NICE PLACE YOU GOT HERE
TCF Bank Stadium is the second-smallest football stadium (by seating capacity) in the Big Ten, but it’s an outstanding venue.  You’d expect that in a brand-new facility, but the Gophers got the details right in terms of architecture and amenities.   For the first time in nearly three decades, Minnesota football has a very good college gameday atmosphere…something that was completely lacking in the Metrodome.

PROGNOSTICATORS: RIGHT AND WRONG
Not everyone who e-mailed me (see previous “Border Banter” posts)  made a prediction on the Badgers-Gophers game, but of those 25 who did, 15 individuals got the outcome correct:  David K. (Madison, WI), gets special commendation for calling it Wisconsin 34, Minnesota 28 , which was closest to the actual score of 31-28.  Jim B. (Fairbanks, AK) said it a would be a close game but didn’t list a score.  John C. (Eau Claire, WI) nailed the score exactly, but had the wrong team winning. 

In the Way Off But Humorous Division, Tom B. (Bloomington, MN) said: I think the Badgers will defeat the Packers in a low scoring game (10 to 3), while the Vikings will blow out the Gophers 42 to 6., while Eric K. (West Allis, WI) predicted: Both teams fail to show, as the Badgers wanted extra time to prepare for Ohio State, and the Gophers had tickets to the Twins game against the Royals – hoping to catch a little penannt race baseball.

-BOB BRADOVICH

Posted under Hometown Sports

The responses continue to flow into my home e-mail inbox…with just hours to go before Wisconsin & Minnesota kick off, here are the latest predictions (note that we have a winner in the “Most Concise Contest”):

UW easy.
Even easier, the Vikes  – Farve forces lots of throws, he’ll do that again and get picked off at least three times. Soooo lucky with the 49ers with that Flutie luckout junk. All that said, the Pack will be on their heels between Farve worries and Peterson.
-BRUCE G. ST. LOUIS, MO
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Wisconsin and Vikings
-BOB J., HIBBING, MN

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As much as it pains me to say this….Gophers big….Vikings close.  The Packers are not ready yet…November on the other hand….that will be fun.
-STEVE W., EAU CLAIRE, WI

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Wisco-Vikes. Huskers drop in polls even though it’s a bye week.

SCOTT K., LINCOLN, NE

_______________________________________________________

Favre will throw two…picks and TD’s.  AP will have 103, including one of 35 plus and a TD.  Vikings win 24-27
-PETE H., MASON CITY, IA

Posted under Hometown Sports

A lot of people appararently have a lot to say on these topics:

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Legend has it that Paul Bunyan secretly hated GOFERS and VIKINGS. Suprise Suprise Adrian Peterson will have yet another 100 yard game. But alas..Farve will throw for 2 TD’s but be picked off twice– and for what its worth– unlike last week he wont rescue the VIKES from their first loss.

Wisconsin 35 Minnesota 14
 
GO BEARS!
-ED S., AUSTIN, TX

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Posted under Hometown Sports

Posted under Hometown Sports

As I prepare for two border battles in the coming days, I thought it would be interesting to sample people’s opinions on the two games: Wisconsin Badgers vs. Minnesota Gophers, Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings.

These are not just any people, mind you…they’re the fine folks who inhabit my home e-mail contact list.  Clearly, this is not a scientific sample, and as such, should not be used for any illicit purposes, such as gambing.    Nevertheless, the responses I received represent the football hopes, dreams, and expectations of a fairly wide range of individuals. 

When I e-mailed them, I said, “Be as verbose or as concise as you’d like.”  Here are their responses, in the order in which they were received:

Vikings 30, Packers 28.  Mason Crosby misses three field goals, including a 36-yarder as time expires.  Rodgers throws for 368 yards but is sacked seven times.  McCarthy considers signing T.J. Rubley after Rodgers is injured in the fourth quarter off a missed block.  Favre: 2 TD passes but rides out Adrian Peterson for the win.
-CHRIS E., CEDAR RAPIDS, IA
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The Badger will defeat the Gopher. The Packer will defeat the Viking.  #4 will throw a pick or two.  Aaron Rodgers will throw no picks.
-DAN N., DULUTH, MN
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Gopher 24, Badger 20.  The axe returns to Stadium Village! Decker tells Badger corners which routes he will be running and they will still be unable to stop him.
Vikings 23, Packers 17. Favre doesn’t need to do much as Peterson carries the load for Minnesota.  Will be tough for the Vikings to force two safeties like they did last year. Maybe just one this time.
-CHRIS W., WEST DES MOINES, IA
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i’m swimming against the stream in my household but my predictions are badgers and packers both victorious. the men like the badgers but think the packers are going down. as you know, i’m a legendary homer, but i think rodgers as a lot in him and that defense will be loaded for bear. favre also is a quart low on throwing interceptions. he’s going to have some to make up monday night. as one of my students noted, he was intercepted 7 times just when he was tossing around the idea of going to the vikes : )
-KATY C., MADISON, WI
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Badgers  vs. Gophers… doesn’t matter.  Only the Irish matter in my
world (and the Hawks and Wartburg) As for the Pack – Vikings…. Minnesota wins 27-10.
-J.D. M., CHICAGO, IL
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I think the Badgers will defeat the Packers in a low scoring game (10 to 3), while the Vikings will blow out the Gophers 42 to 6.
-TOM B., BLOOMINGTON, MN
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M-I-N-N-E-S…okay, okay they can spell, but will they get the win? The Gophers haven’t put together a great start-to-finish game plan yet. If anyone can pick apart Cosgrove, I’m think it’s ‘Sconsin. I go with Bucky, but maybe the fans will be able to carry the Gophs at their new home and get a win, or at least give Samir Patel a run for his money…O-T-A. Minnesota! Minnesota! yyyyyyeeeeeeeeaaaaaaahhhhh Minnesota… loses.
As for the Vikes game, they aren’t flashy, but they are finding a way to stick around and make plays in the second half. I’m thinking Favre tries too hard and throws a couple picks, but wins it in the end. 24-20.
-JON K., CEDAR RAPIDS, IA
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Pack contain Adrian Peterson and Favre throws 2 picks. Pack by 3. 24-21.
-DAN S., SAN ANTONIO, TX
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Even though the Gophers are a perennial problem for Bucky, I’ll take Wisconsin for the two touchdown win.   
As for Monday Night, as much as it hurts me to say, the Vikes win at the Dome on a last second field goal.”
-MARK M., KANSAS CITY, MO
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It’s October so it must finally be time for the Badgers to leave the
friendly confines of Camp Randall.  Could be in for a bit of a shock at the
new Gopher stadium.  Gophers win 31 – 24.
The Packers have many ghosts and haunted memories from past visits to the
Metrodome.  This time the ghost will be that “train that supposedly left the
station” a couple of years ago.  Unfortunately for the Packers, that train
has arrived in Minnesota.  Vikings prevail 31 – 16.
-DAVE W., EAU CLAIRE
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I predict that scores of bloated, steroid-injecting freaks will crash into each other, which will entertain and satisfy the blood lust of the plebian masses for a few hours.(Can you tell that I’m not a football fan?)
-TIM W., ST. PAUL, MN
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Favre is always good for at least one pick, but i like the Vikings, 24-17.
Badgers beat the Gophers, 27-24.
-BOB T., WASHINGTON, NC
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Beautiful stadium, ugly uniforms.  I fear that the Gophers will prevail over
Wisconsin to break in Big Ten play at the new digs.  But if Minnesota gets
the W, please take the ax, and chop up those uniforms into itty-bitty
pieces.
WISCONSIN    17
MINNESOTA    31
Having Brett Favre already pull one out of his rear end to beat San
Francisco gives me hope that he won’t be able to do it again…
Packers fans are talking revenge, and want all forms or it inflicted on #4.
I say, the best revenge is to win the game…period.  And if Green Bay does
that, Aaron Rodgers will be a major factor in knocking off their division
rival.  That to me, is the best revenge…play better than the other guy,
get the win, and make the fans back in Wisconsin realize that they have the
better QB.
GREEN BAY 31
MINNESOTA 24
-BOB B., MILWAUKEE, WI

Posted under Hometown Sports