It was tempting, I'll admit. After a couple of sub-par weeks making picks (although my right shoulder is a little sore from patting myself on the back for anticipating Goodridge/Grygla-Gatzke's victory over Stephen-Argyle last week), I contemplated picking obviously one-sided games to bolster the ol' winning percentage. But, alas, I do have a bit of a conscience. Nearly every game selected outside of the Metro Top 10 – where I have little say in the matter – features games in which both teams are above .500 -- the exception being Delano at Orono, which is much better than it's 3-4 record would imply. And, in all except the Benilde-St. Margaret's/Chisago Lakes tilt, at least one team is ranked among the top 10 in the state according the AP polls

The big game (outside of the Eden Prairie/Wayzata donnybrooke, of course. I'd talk about that game, but it's being dissected ad nauseum everywhere else. I refuse to contribute to the cacophony) is Bemidji at Sartell. Both teams have just one loss – both at the hands of undefeated Brainerd. I'm picking Sartell for one reason only – the Sabres are at home. It's a long drive to ANYWHERE from Bemidji, meaning the Lumberjacks are already at a disadvantage the minute they get off the bus.

Last week's tally: 12-8
Record so far: 101-39 (.721)

METRO TOP 10
No. 3 Wayzata 17, No. 1 Eden Prairie 14
No. 2 Blaine 34, Armstrong 7
No. 4 Rogers 29, Buffalo 14
No. 5 Rosemount 30, Eagan 18
No. 6 St. Thomas Academy 44, Henry Sibley 12
No. 7 Cretin-Derham Hall 33, Woodbury 13
No. 8 Shakopee 31, Northfield 13
No. 9 Mounds View 37, Park of Cottage Grove 7
No. 10 South St. Paul 22, Tartan 16

GAMES THAT INTEREST ME
St. Paul Central 34, Mpls. Washburn 22
Osseo 31, Andover 21
Holy Family 28, Norwood Young America 21
Chisago Lakes 28, Benilde-St. Margaret's 25
DeLaSalle 40, Minnehaha Academy 14
Delano 32, Orono 23

LOVE FOR THE OUTSTATE
Breckenridge 39, Staples-Motley 24
Mankato West 37, Mankato East 8
Pierz 33, Holdingford 19
Sartell-St. Stephen 21, Bemidji 14
Virginia 47, Proctor 27