Panhandle Picks with Greg Lee

I’ve never enjoyed kissing my sister more.

Now before you run off and start a rumor, let me explain. A tie with co-worker Jim Meehan and a first tie for the season title with the guests is better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick any day. For posterity, the Scribe and the guests finished 66-24 overall (.733). That’s probably good enough for a middle-of-the-road C in your average high school class. So my kids are allowed to give me a little – and I mean a little – grief here.

The tie puts the overall record with the guests at 10-1-1 and 6-4-2 with Carrot Top.

As usual, you will also find my picks for state champions.

Coeur d’Alene at Lake City II: So what can these teams do for an encore? How about another combined 100 points and more than 1,000 yards of total offense? Not likely.

With poor weather in the forecast, the rematch could come down to a tug of war in the trenches. The edge there goes to LC.

CdA couldn’t stop LC’s offense – specifically the run. The Vikings may have to dare the Timberwolves to pass, and that’s a risky proposition. Can CdA win the rematch? Absolutely. Will the Vikings prevail? Absolutely not. In a similar scenario last year, CdA won back-to-back games. You can’t measure the confidence boost that a win like last week does – as it did for CdA a year ago.

CdA will play with much more emotion Friday. But unless that emotion can put on shoulder pads and slow down LC, the emotion will wear off quickly. LC 42, CdA 28.

Skyview at Sandpoint: These two teams played back in the third week when Sandpoint pulled out a win in overtime.

Both teams are much improved. The difference here is where the game is being played. Barlow Stadium on the banks of Lake Pend Oreille will be good to the home team. Sandpoint 27, Skyview 21.

Fruitland at Bonners Ferry: Fruitland has essentially the same team back that lost a tough first-round game at Timberlake last year. Bonners Ferry’s non-league schedule has it well prepared. BF 21, Fruitland 14.

Timberlake at Weiser: For the young Tigers, traveling to No. 1-ranked Weiser will be like trying to play golf without clubs. Weiser 35, TL 14.

Mullan at Clark Fork: The Wampus Cats won the league matchup 26-20. They will prevail again. CF 38, Mullan 32.

Troy at Wallace: This has all the makings of a classic mismatch. Troy 42, Wallace 13.