Weekly staff football picks

David won two of three for the third week in a row and pulled into a tie with Jim at 15-13. Wednesday's final night of the regular season has some tantalizing matchups with conference titles on the line; just what you hope for when the schedule comes out.

Jim says: I've picked against Osseo before and gotten burned, but none other than Edina coach Reed Boltmann said that Totino-Grace has the best defensive front seven he's seen. Couple that with Totino's bevy of playmakers and my gut tells me that the Eagles will finish the regular season undefeated.

Pick: Totino-Grace 29, Osseo 20

David says: To the uninitiated, Osseo is running back Bridge Tusler vs. the world. But the Orioles, whose two lossses were forfeits, also have a defensive line that has size and can run. Totino-Grace is used to pushing people around up front. Count on Osseo to push back.

Pick: Osseo 21, Totino-Grace 20

Jim says: St. Thomas hasn't lost two regular season games since 2005. And you can bet the Cadets haven't forgotten the sting of an overtime loss to South St. Paul in last year's Section 3, 4A finals. The Packers are tough but this one goes to the visitors.

Pick: St. Thomas Academy 34, South St. Paul 24

Pick: South St. Paul 22, St. Thomas Academy 14

Jim says: When the season started, this loomed as THE game of the year. Edina took care of that, but these two are still among the elite in Class 6A. Eden Prairie lost at home last week for the first time since 2004. If RB Dan Fisher is healthy, the Eagles won't lose two in a row.

Pick: Eden Prairie 21, Wayzata 7.

David says: Watch for a physical, intense game as both teams position themselves for the playoffs. The winner grabs the No. 2 seed in Section 6. The loser is guaranteed only one home playoff game. The Trojans edge the Eagles in a game where defenses hold sway.