{"id":185531,"date":"2024-10-30T21:06:16","date_gmt":"2024-10-31T02:06:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/?p=185531"},"modified":"2024-10-30T21:06:17","modified_gmt":"2024-10-31T02:06:17","slug":"2024-pigskin-pickem-week-no-11","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/2024\/10\/30\/2024-pigskin-pickem-week-no-11\/","title":{"rendered":"2024 Pigskin Pick’Em: Week No. 11"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

SCOTT TRUXELL\/<\/strong>independent sports<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It seems as though there has been a lot of discussion this week about the number, that is, the right number of playoff teams per region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the OHSAA football playoffs expanded from eight to 16 teams per region, there were some people that applauded the move and pointed out that teams in all other sports get into the playoffs, why not football? I still don\u2019t think that\u2019s an apples to apples comparison but that\u2019s a discussion for a different time. Now, the calls for the OHSAA to go back to eight teams per region are getting louder from those who didn\u2019t like the expansion in the first place, plus maybe some others who have seen the results. There\u2019s one problem though \u2013 there\u2019s literally no chance a playoff field reduction will take place. Again, it\u2019s a discussion for a different time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I wrapped up the regular season going 17-2 (89 percent) for the third straight week, which put my record at 172-40 (81.1 percent), both above the stated goal of 80 percent. Now on to the playoffs. 23 games are on this week\u2019s slate. Best of luck to all area teams in the postseason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Games of the Week<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Division II Region 8<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lima Sr. (9-1) at Vandalia-Butler (8-2)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite a 9-1 record, the Spartans are the No. 9 seed and considered the underdog in this game. Vandalia-Butler\u2019s two losses have come against Xenia (9-1) and Tippecanoe Valley (10-0). While I do think Lima Sr. can win, I\u2019m giving the nod to the Aviators in a close one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pick: Vandalia-Butler<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Division III Region 12<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Washington Court House Miami Trace (7-3) at St. Marys Memorial (8-2)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another No. 8 seed (St. Marys Memorial) vs. No. 9 seed matchup (Miami Trace). The Roughriders have rolled to six straight victories, while Miami Trace has lost two of its last three games, including a three point loss to 2-8 Chillicothe. I\u2019d be surprised if the Panthers have seen an offense like the one St. Marys Memorial uses. Make it seven straight wins by the Roughriders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pick: St. Marys Memorial<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Division IV Region 14<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ottawa-Glandorf (5-5) at Galion (7-3)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Titans enter the game at the No. 10 seed yet the argument can be made that they\u2019re the favorite. Personally, I can see this game being very close, a touchdown or less and perhaps a fumble or interception being the deciding factor. In a toss-up game, I\u2019m going with the home team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The pick: Galion<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Division VI Region 22<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paulding (7-3) at Bluffton (9-1)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a very tough draw for the Panthers, who come in as the No. 15 seed. I love what Jim Menzie has done with the program. I wish Paulding could have seeded higher and played someone else in the region but it didn\u2019t work out that way. The Pirates are heavy favorites and I\u2019m going with them here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pick: Bluffton<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spencerville (5-5) at Huron (6-4)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

An intriguing matchup. It wasn\u2019t that long ago that Huron was in Division IV. The Tigers enter the playoffs having lost three straight but upon closer examination, those losses have come to Vermilion, Clyde and Edison No. 2, Division V), three teams with a combined record of 25-5. I\u2019ll also point out that Huron has scored 10 points or less in four of the last five games, and hasn\u2019t scored more than three touchdowns since Week No. 5. Having said all of that, as much as I like the improvement the Bearcats have shown this year, I\u2019m going with the team on the shores of Lake Erie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pick: Huron<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Division VII Region 26<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delphos St. John\u2019s (3-7) at Upper Scioto Valley (9-1)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is one of those scenarios where you wonder what a sub-500 MAC team could do in a normal conference. Facing the likes of Marion Local, Coldwater, St. Henry et al hasn\u2019t done much to help the win-loss column. Meanwhile, after a season opening loss to Ada, USV has won nine straight. Most people consider the Blue Jays favorites in this game and I wouldn\u2019t necessarily argue against that. It\u2019s accurate to say the Blue Jays are battle tested. However, I\u2019m going to go out on a limb here (as strange as it sounds) and say the Rams win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pick: Upper Scioto Valley<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pandora-Gilboa (7-3) at Lima Central Catholic (7-3)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet another No. 8 vs. No. 9 seed. For the record, in three years of the expanded playoffs, the No. 8 seed is 40-44. These two teams have one thing in common \u2013 they both faced Columbus Grove and Bluffton. The Thunderbirds lost to Bluffton 35-0 and 28-20 to Columbus Grove. The Rockets lost 35-7 to Columbus Grove and 42-0 to Bluffton. You can make a case for Pandora-Gilboa winning, but I don\u2019t see the Thunderbirds losing this one at home, especially since given the fact that they\u2019re 6-0 at home in the postseason under the expanded playoff format.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pick: Lima Central Catholic<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best of the Rest<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Division III Region 10<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bowling Green at Defiance: Defiance<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Division III Region 12<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Franklin at Wapakoneta: Wapakoneta<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Celina at Cincinnati Archbishop McNicholas: McNicholas<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Division IV Region 14<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Elida at Shelby: Shelby<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Division V Region 20<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Versailles at Indian Lake: Vesailles<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bath at Carlisle: Carlisle<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Division VI Region 22<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carey at Tinora: Tinora<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Woodmore at Fairview: Fairview<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Division VI Region 24<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Covington at Coldwater: Coldwater<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lima Perry at Anna: Anna<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Division VII Region 26<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

North Baltimore at Columbus Grove: Columbus Grove<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Edgerton at Mohawk: Mohawk<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Division VII Region 28<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fort Recovery at Marion Local: Marion Local<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Manchester at Minster: Minster<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fort Loramie at Ridgemont: Fort Loramie<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New Bremen at St. Henry: St. Henry<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

SCOTT TRUXELL\/independent sports It seems as though there has been a lot of discussion this week about the number, that is, the right number of playoff teams per region. When the OHSAA football playoffs expanded from eight to 16 teams per region, there were some people that applauded the move and pointed out that teams […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-185531","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sports"],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-04-21 22:17:16","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/185531","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=185531"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/185531\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":185565,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/185531\/revisions\/185565"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=185531"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=185531"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=185531"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}