Panhandle Picks with Greg Lee

As a friend pointed out, I’m collapsing like a cheap kite in a high wind.

For the third time in four weeks, I stubbed my toes. OK, I’ll take the high road here. The guest, former Sandpoint football coach Sean Dorris, beat me.

I’m flat out struggling. This is my worst start in the 13-year history of Panhandle Picks. I’ve been dead right on the high-profile games, but it’s the 3A games and smaller that are tripping me up.

Dorris picked 10 of 12 games correctly while I had eight. Respectable, but not enough. That puts the guests ahead overall (Lee 29-15, guests 31-13).

It’s time to mount a comeback. My guest this week is Coeur d’Alene wrestling coach and Vikings alum Jeff Moffat. He wants to flatten me like a pancake.

Lakeland at Coeur d’Alene (tiebreaker): There’s no doubt the Hawks of Rathdrum are much improved under Tim Kiefer – even if they’ve played a toned-down schedule. How much will be determined Friday.

The Hawks are faster and stronger than they were a year ago. But they’re not fast enough to keep up with the speedy Vikings. Lakeland has burly running back Bubba Bartlett, who is being recruited. CdA has several Bubba Bartlett-like athletes. CdA tunes up for its face-off with Lake City next week. CdA 42, Lakeland 13.

Guest: Lakeland is improved with some good athletes, but the Hawks’ only chance is for the Vikings to be looking ahead to next week. Knowing Coach (Shawn) Amos, he will not let that happen. The Vikings are too athletic for the Hawks. CdA 35, Lakeland 14.

Moscow at Post Falls: The Trojans keep heading in the right direction as they put this away early and get a number of players some valuable playing time. PF 27, Moscow 10.

Guest: I like the Trojans mainly because Coach (Jeff Hinz) is a former Viking and a teammate of mine at CHS. Moscow will put up a good fight, but the Trojans will wear them down. PF 28, Moscow 12.

Bonners Ferry at Sandpoint: I accurately called the Sandpoint at Lake City game a potential blowout.

This matchup has the same potential as the win-starved Bulldogs will finally break through big. Sandpoint 34, BF 17.

Guest: The battle of the Bs. If this were a wrestling match, it would be border on spectacular. Sandpoint will give the Badgers a heavy dose of (Kurt) Stoll. Sandpoint 21, BF 13.