Week 6: Prep football picks

Week 5 wasn’t one of my best weeks in deciding the outcomes of area prep football games. I went 11-5, leaving me at 60-18 for the season (76.9 percent correct) and was 9-7 against my own point spread, leaving me at 48-30 (61.5 percent) for the year.

Congratulations to Foley, Sauk Rapids, Princeton, Moorhead and Fergus Falls. I decided your wins are all upsets.

The Falcons beat Zimmerman, the Storm stunned Rocori, Princeton outlasted St. Cloud Cathedral, Moorhead beat St. Cloud Tech and Fergus Falls downed Sartell.

Here’s hoping for a better Week 6.

A quick look:

* Albany at Princeton — Albany played really well in a 28-22 loss to Becker. The Bulldogs scored with 8.5 seconds left to stay unbeaten and are now ranked fourth in Class 4A. Princeton beat Cathedral 35-28 in a shootout.  I like Albany in this one, 28-14.

* Annandale at New London-Spicer — Annandale continues to roll. The Cardinals are 4-1 and ranked seventh in the state in Class 3A. New London-Spicer (3-2) has lost two straight and dropped out of the 3A poll. Take Annandale, 25-23.

* Becker at Glencoe-Silver Lake — This is one of the top games of the evening in the state. Glencoe-Silver Lake is 4-1 and ranked seventh in the state in Class 4A. The Panthers’ lone loss is to unbeaten and third-ranked Hutchinson. Becker is coming off a tough game at Albany, which rarely loses at home. The Bulldogs have one of Class 4A’s best offenses. They average 45.8 points per game. I like Becker here, 35-28.

* Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted at Eden Valley-Watkins — HLWW has lost four straight and EVW is an uncharacteristic 0-5. I’m taking the home team here, 22-21.

* Little Falls at Foley — Foley turned some heads by handling Zimmerman 30-13 last week. Little Falls has won two straight, but the streak ends tonight. Take Foley, 28-14.

* Kimball at Holdingford — Another intriguing Central Minnesota Conference game. Say what you want about the CMC, but it always produces some entertaining football. This should be a good game. Kimball is 3-2 and has one of the area’s top passing attacks. Holdingford is 4-1, having won four in a row since losing to Cathedral in its opener. I’m taking the home team here. Huskers win 21-18.

* Melrose at International Falls — Melrose is an independent and plays one of the state’s more bizarre schedules. After playing Plainview-Elgin-Millville from Southeastern Minnesota last week, the Dutchmen head just a bit south of Canada tonight. Take Melrose 28-14.

* St. Cloud Cathedral at Milaca — Cathedral gets back on the winning track here, 28-14.

* Lac qui Parle Valley at Paynesville — Paynesville (2-3) and Lac qui Parle (3-2) should be a very good West Central Conference matchup. I like the home team again. Bulldogs win 28-20.

* Pierz at Rockford — The Pioneers (4-1) have one of the best backs in the area in Josh Lanners and should beat the Rockets. Pierz wins, 28-14.

* Rocori at Big Lake — Rocori (4-1) will have a new starting quarterback in Brad Fabel, replacing Mac Mueller, who suffered a shoulder injury last week and is likely out for the season. Big Lake won its first game of the season Friday. Take Rocori, 28-21.

* Royalton at West Central Area — Royalton (3-2) has lost two in a row but should bounce back tonight at West Central (1-4). Royalton wins 18-12.

* St. Cloud Apollo at Sauk Rapids — Sauk Rapids is coming off a 20-12 win at Rocori, which was ranked second in the state in Class 4A and is the defending state champion. It was the Storm’s first win of the season and a big one. Apollo (0-5) has lost 22 straight. Take Sauk Rapids, 12-6.

* Sartell at St. Cloud Tech — Both teams are coming off losses and gave up big points. Sartell fell 35-28 to Fergus Falls and Tech was overwhelmed, 48-40 by Moorhead. I’m guessing this will be another shootout. Take Tech 30-28.

* Sauk Centre at Minnewaska — Minnewaska (1-4) and Sauk Centre (2-3) both could use a win here. This one’s a tough call. I’ll take Sauk Centre on a hunch, 28-26.

That’s that for this week. Enjoy the night, which should be cold. Dress warm.