Swami pigskin picks week 3

We pick ....

Grant 20, Lakes 13 – Option QB Pavel “The Horse” Zurkowski and RB Israel Rodriguez are a potent 1-2 punch for the Bulldogs. Plus, the defense is good. Plus, Tommy Bychowski has two kick returns for scores and leads the area in pass receptions. Lakes has its own QB with a nine-letter last name in Randy Ratajczyk, who is good enough to make this closer than you might think. Andre Gidney of the Eagles leads the area in tackles, averaging 15 a game.

Antioch 19, Wauconda 17 – RB Brad “The Wiz” Wisniewski has run wild for three straight weeks, with 100-plus games every Friday night for the Bulldogs. But this is a trap game for Wauconda, falling between last week’s huge game against North Chicago and next week’s blockbuster vs. Grant. Antioch needs to beat a quality team and this is a good spot.

Waukegan 13, Glenbrook North 6 – The Junkyard Dogs – Waukegan’s defense – have allowed 1 TD in 3 games. With starting QB Mar’Quon Edmonds still out (broken wrist), the Dog defense will have to be even better than it was last week. In last week’s win over Maine East, Waukegan led 20-0 withour running a play, as it scored on opening kickoff, on an interception return and on a punt return. Glenbrook North upset state superpower Maine South last week and is due for a letdown.

The rest:

North Chicago 13, Round Lake 12 – WR Ondrer Thomas and RB Jimal Hill are potent 1-2 punch for North Chicago Hawks. NC defense had no answer for Wauconda’s “Wiz” last week and Round Lake has the county’s leading rusher (Ray Bryant).

Vernon Hills 16, Libertyville 14 – What’s that they say about throwing out the records when intradistrict rivals meet? VH is 2-1 and Libertyville is 1-2. Don’t throw them out this week.

Stevenson 6, Zion-Benton 3 – Two offensively challenged teams clash in Lincolnshire. Both teams have outstanding defenses . The Swami crystal ball reveals is that Stevenson has a better field-goal kicker and will get off the 0-3 schneid on tonight.

Lake Zurich 28, Warren 3 – Steve Fox of Warren tied an IHSA state record with four field goals in last week’s game. Lake Zurich’s defense is the area’s best, so Fox doesn’t figure to get four more attempts this week.

Deerfield 54, Niles West 0 – Niles West lost to Zion-Benton by 30 points, and Deerfield beat Zion-Benton by 24. You do the math.

Carmel 16, Notre Dame 7 – DB Ryan Williams is a hard-hitter in the secondary for Carmel, which relies on defense. This Notre Dame team is 3-0. If Carmel was playing that OTHER Notre Dame team (the one in South Bend), the Corsairs would be picked to win 54-0.

Jacobs lots, Grayslake Central slightly less than lots – Jacobs (1-2) is averaging more than 36 points a game on offense and is averaging giving up more than 40 points a game on defense. Alas, Grayslake has only scored 20 points total all season while giving up 110.

Crystal Lake South over Grayslake North via running clock – Grayslake North, a second-year program, has lost 12 straight, but there is a win somewhere over the horizon. Alas, it’s not here. CL South is a powerhouse at (3-0).

Lake Forest 20, Mundelein 14 – 6-foot-6 Kevin Finney of Lake Forest is area’s best wide receiver and the defensive secondary is the only spot where Mundelein struggles. That makes for a bad matchup for the Mustangs. LF has area’s best DE in Addison Sadewater (5 sacks in 3 games), but Mundelein likes to run the ball rather than throw it.

Highland Park 20, Evanston 14 – Wildkits are fast, but HP has area’s top QB in senior Johnny “Rocket” Lindquist who has already thrown for 600 yards.

Walther Lutheran 35, LF Academy 13 – Walther Lutheran is an offensive powerhouse and a contender in the Chicago Private League.

Last week: 9-4. (Uggg! Swami needs to shake up the 8 Ball of Prophecy for a better record)