Here are the Journal staff’s picks for football games this weekend:

Week 10 - Nov. 3-9
Russo, Andrew, Jeff, Jim, Padraic, Lenn
S.F. O’Gorman at Aberdeen Central
AC, AC, SFO, AC, SFO, AC
Brandon Valley at S.F. Washington
SFW, SFW, SFW, SFW, SFW, SFW
Dakota Valley at St. Thomas More
STM, STM, STM, DV, STM, DV
Todd County at Milbank
Milbank, Milbank, Milbank, Milbank, Milbank, Milbank
Wagner at Winner
Winner, Winner, Winner, Winner, Winner, Winner
Emery/Ethan at Lyman
Lyman, Lyman, Lyman, Lyman, Lyman, Lyman
Sully Buttes at Hanson
Hanson, Hanson, Hanson, Hanson, Hanson, Sully B.
Warner at Hitchcock/Tulare
Warner, H/T, H/T, H/T, H/T, H/T

Russo, Andrew, Jeff, Jim, Padraic, Lenn
Black Hills State vs. Dickinson State
BHSU, DSU, BHSU, DSU, DSU, BHSU
S.D. Mines vs. Valley City State
Mines, VCSU, VCSU, Mines, Mines, Mines
Chadron State at Western State
CSC, Western, CSC, CSC, CSC, CSC
Ohio State at Penn State
Penn St., Penn St., Penn St., Ohio St., Penn St., Penn St.
LSU at Alabama
Bama, LSU, Bama, LSU, Bama, LSU
Southern Illinois at South Dakota State
SDSU, S. Illinois, S. Illinois, SDSU, SDSU, S. Illinois
Southern Utah at South Dakota
USD, S. Utah, USD, S. Utah, USD, USD
Oklahoma at Nebraska
Nebraska, OU, OU, OU, OU, OU
Duke at North Carolina
UNC, UNC, UNC, UNC, UNC, UNC
Kansas at Kansas State
Kansas, Kansas, Kansas, Kansas, Kansas, Kansas St.
Oregon State at California
Cal, OSU, Cal, OSU, Cal, OSU

Russo, Andrew, Jeff, Jim, Padraic, Lenn
Arizona at Chicago
Bears, Bears, Bears, Cardinals, Bears, Bears
Washington at Atlanta
Falcons, Falcons, Falcons, Falcons, Falcons, Falcons
Miami at New England
Dolphins, Patriots, Patriots, Patriots, Patriots, Patriots
Houston at Indianapolis
Colts, Colts, Colts, Colts, Colts, Colts
Baltimore at Cincinnati
Ravens, Ravens, Ravens, Bengals, Ravens, Ravens
Green Bay at Tampa Bay
Packers, Packers, Packers, Packers, Packers, Packers
Kansas City at Jacksonville
Chiefs, Chiefs, Jaguars, Jaguars, Jaguars, Jaguars
Detroit at Seattle
Lions, Seahawks, Seahawks, Seahawks, Seahawks, Seahawks
Carolina at New Orleans
Saints, Saints, Saints, Saints, Saints, Saints
San Diego at N.Y. Giants
Chargers, Chargers, Giants, Giants, Giants, Chargers
Tennessee at San Francisco
Niners, Niners, Niners, Niners, Niners, Niners
Dallas at Philadelphia
Eagles, Eagles, Cowboys, Eagles, Cowboys, Eagles
Pittsburgh at Denver
Steelers, Broncos, Steelers, Steelers, Steelers, Steelers

NOTE: Making the 32 football picks each week are Journal sports editor Andrew Cutler, assistant sports editor Jeff Budlong, copy editor Josh Russo, reporters Jim Holland and Padraic Duffy, and Journal sports employee Lenn Davis. I select the games each week from high school, local college, national college and NFL schedules.

- Russo

After nine weeks - and 288 games - of football picks, Lenn Davis has a one-game lead over Andrew Cutler with a record of 209-79. Padraic Duffy had the best Week 9 by going 23-9, which included correct picks in all of the high school games and the area college games.

Smart pick of the week: I don’t know how anyone could take the Titans, who were winless heading into Sunday’s game against the Jaguars and starting Vince Young for the first time in more than a year. Jim Holland was the sole person to pick the Titans to win, and they did.

Bad pick of the week: The Arizona-Carolina game was the only one this week in which none of us picked the winner.

Here are the staff’s pick from last weekend:

Week 9 - Oct. 27-Nov. 2
Russo, Andrew, Jeff, Jim, Padraic, Lenn
Rapid City Stevens at Aberdeen Central
A.C., RCS, A.C., RCS, A.C., A.C.
S.F. Roosevelt at S.F. O’Gorman
SFR, SFR, SFO, SFO, SFO, SFR
Yankton at S.F. Washington
SFW, SFW, SFW, SFW, SFW, SFW
Pierre at Brandon Valley
Pierre, Pierre, Brandon, Brandon, Brandon, Brandon
Pine Ridge at Todd County
Todd Co., Todd Co., Todd Co., Todd Co., Todd Co., Todd Co.
Belle Fourche vs. St. Thomas More
STM, STM, STM, STM, STM, STM
Mobridge-Pollock at Winner
Winner, Winner, Winner, Winner, Winner, Winner
Herreid/Selby Area at Lyman
Lyman, Lyman, Lyman, Lyman, Lyman, Lyman
Sully Buttes at Harding County
Harding, Sully B., Harding, Harding, Sully B., Harding
Warner at New Underwood
N.U., N.U., Warner, N.U., Warner, Warner

Russo, Andrew, Jeff, Jim, Padraic, Lenn
S.D. Mines at BHSU
Mines, BHSU, Mines, BHSU, BHSU, Mines
Mesa State at Chadron State
CSC, CSC, CSC, CSC, CSC, CSC
SDSU at Youngstown State
SDSU, SDSU, SDSU, SDSU, SDSU, SDSU
Nebraska at Baylor
Huskers, Baylor, Baylor, Baylor, Baylor, Baylor
Texas at Oklahoma State
Texas, OSU, OSU, Texas, Texas, OSU
South Dakota at Northern Colorado
USD, USD, USD, USD, USD, UNC
Southern Cal at Oregon
USC, Oregon, USC, USC, USC, Oregon
Georgia vs. Florida
Florida, Florida, Florida, Florida, Florida, Florida
Michigan State at Minnesota
Minn., Minn., Mich. St., Mich. St., Mich. St., Mich. St.

Russo, Andrew, Jeff, Jim, Padraic, Lenn
St. Louis at Detroit
Rams, Lions, Lions, Lions, Lions, Rams
Miami at N.Y. Jets
Jets, Jets, Jets, Jets, Jets, Dolphins
Seattle at Dallas
Cowboys, Cowboys, Cowboys, Cowboys, Cowboys, Cowboys
Cleveland at Chicago
Bears, Bears, Bears, Bears, Bears, Bears
Denver at Baltimore
Ravens, Broncos, Ravens, Broncos, Ravens, Ravens
Houston at Buffalo
Texans, Texans, Texans, Texans, Texans, Bills
San Francisco at Indianapolis
Colts, Colts, Colts, Colts, Colts, Colts
N.Y. Giants at Philadelphia
Giants, Eagles, Giants, Giants, Giants, Eagles
Oakland at San Diego
Chargers, Chargers, Chargers, Chargers, Chargers, Chargers
Jacksonville at Tennessee
Jaguars, Jaguars, Jaguars, Titans, Jaguars, Jaguars
Minnesota at Green Bay
Vikings, Packers, Packers, Vikings, Packers, Vikings
Carolina at Arizona
Cardinals, Cardinals, Cardinals, Cardinals, Cardinals, Cardinals
Atlanta at New Orleans
Saints, Saints, Saints, Saints, Saints, Saints

Russo, Andrew, Jeff, Jim, Padraic, Lenn
WEEK 9
22-10, 20-12, 20-12, 21-11, 23-9, 22-10

Russo, Andrew, Jeff, Jim, Padraic, Lenn
OVERALL (288 GAMES)
191-107, 208-80, 201-87, 201-87, 201-87, 207-79

NOTE: Making the 32 football picks each week are Journal sports editor Andrew Cutler, assistant sports editor Jeff Budlong, copy editor Josh Russo, reporters Jim Holland and Padraic Duffy, and Journal sports employee Lenn Davis. I select the games each week from high school, local college, national college and NFL schedules.

- Russo

So, the Yankees won their 27th World Series. Man, what a relief for them.

For most of the players, including Alex Rodriguez, there was excitement for winning their first title. For the four players still around from the four title teams of the late 90s - especially Jorge Posada - there were visible sighs of relief. After all, with a payroll of about $200 million, aren’t the Yankees expected to win the World Series - especially in their new five-story hotel of a ballpark.

While I admire teams with strong tradition that are expected to win, I think it is taken too far with the Yankees. No team should feel relieved to win the World Series, NBA title, Super Bowl, Stanley Cup, etc.

- Russo

Chat with the Rapid City Rush’s Brendan Cook as he prepares for another homestand at 3 p.m. MST on Thursday.

Sunday night’s 9th-inning, two-out rally by the Yankees may have sealed Philly’s doom in the World Series while boosting the Yanks to the cusp of their 27th championship. Philly’s beleaguered closer Brad Lidge was awful during the regular season, but solid in the playoffs until giving up three fateful runs in the top of the ninth. The Phillies were that close to batting in the bottom of the frame to overcome a 4-4 tie. Instead it was a 7-4 deficit. And the Yankees’ unreal closer, Rivera, needed only eight pitches to shut down Philly and bring the Yanks within a game of clinching the series. Game 5 is tonight. Even if Philly rallies, the series moves back to the Bronx, which does not bode well for Philadelphia. — Jim H.

Well it was bound to happen sooner or later. The Denver Broncos fell 30-7 on Sunday to Baltimore in a game that wasn’t nearly that close.
Baltimore ended a three-game losing streak and handed Denver its first loss under rookie head coach Josh McDaniels.
The Broncos (6-1) came in with the NFL’s top-ranked defense, a plus-7 turnover differential and one of the league’s best kick returners in Eddie Royal. Denver had also outscored the opposition 76-10 after halftime.
But none of that mattered on Sunday.
Baltimore (4-3) limited Denver to 200 yards, scored off the game’s lone turnover, won the special teams fight and outscored the Broncos 24-7 in the second half.
Denver started the day as one of three unbeaten teams in the NFL and was trying to go 7-0 for the first time since 1998.
Chalk this win up to the Ravens needing a victory. Baltimore needed a win to avoid falling under .500 and dropping two games behind Pittsburgh and Cincinnati in the AFC North.
Denver gets a chance to redeem itself next week with a home game against Pittsburgh on Monday Night Football. I’m positive the Broncos will get back to the things that was working during the six-game winning streak.
Andrew

Here are the Journal staff’s picks for football games this weekend and Monday:

Week 9 - Oct. 27-Nov. 2
Russo, Andrew, Jeff, Jim, Padraic, Lenn
R.C. Stevens at Aberdeen Central
A.C., RCS, A.C., RCS, A.C., A.C.
S.F. Roosevelt at S.F. O’Gorman
SFR, SFR, SFO, SFO, SFO, SFR
Yankton at S.F. Washington
SFW, SFW, SFW, SFW, SFW, SFW
Pierre at Brandon Valley
Pierre, Pierre, Brandon, Brandon, Brandon, Brandon
Pine Ridge at Todd County
Todd Co., Todd Co., Todd Co., Todd Co., Todd Co., Todd Co.
Belle Fourche vs. St. Thomas More
STM, STM, STM, STM, STM, STM
Mobridge-Pollock at Winner
Winner, Winner, Winner, Winner, Winner, Winner
Herreid/Selby Area at Lyman
Lyman, Lyman, Lyman, Lyman, Lyman, Lyman
Sully Buttes at Harding County
Harding, Sully B., Harding, Harding, Sully B., Harding
Warner at New Underwood
N.U., N.U., Warner, N.U., Warner, Warner

Russo, Andrew, Jeff, Jim, Padraic, Lenn
S.D. Mines at BHSU
Mines, BHSU, Mines, BHSU, BHSU, Mines
Mesa State at Chadron State
CSC, CSC, CSC, CSC, CSC, CSC
SDSU at Youngstown State
SDSU, SDSU, SDSU, SDSU, SDSU, SDSU
Nebraska at Baylor
Huskers, Baylor, Baylor, Baylor, Baylor, Baylor
Texas at Oklahoma State
Texas, OSU, OSU, Texas, Texas, OSU
South Dakota at Northern Colorado
USD, USD, USD, USD, USD, UNC
Southern Cal at Oregon
USC, Oregon, USC, USC, USC, Oregon
Georgis vs. Florida
Florida, Florida, Florida, Florida, Florida , Florida
Michigan State at Minnesota
Minn., Minn., Mich. St., Mich. St., Mich. St., Mich. St.

Russo, Andrew, Jeff, Jim, Padraic, Lenn
St. Louis at Detroit
Rams, Lions, Lions, Lions, Lions, Rams
Miami at N.Y. Jets
Jets, Jets, Jets, Jets, Jets, Dolphins
Seattle at Dallas
Cowboys, Cowboys, Cowboys, Cowboys, Cowboys, Cowboys
Cleveland at Chicago
Bears, Bears, Bears, Bears, Bears, Bears
Denver at Baltimore
Ravens, Broncos, Ravens, Broncos, Ravens, Ravens
Houston at Buffalo
Texans, Texans, Texans, Texans, Texans, Bills
San Francisco at Indianapolis
Colts, Colts, Colts, Colts, Colts, Colts
N.Y. Giants at Philadelphia
Giants, Eagles, Giants, Giants, Giants, Eagles
Oakland at San Diego
Chargers, Chargers, Chargers, Chargers, Chargers, Chargers
Jacksonville at Tennessee
Jaguars, Jaguars, Jaguars, Titans, Jaguars, Jaguars
Minnesota at Green Bay
Vikings, Packers, Packers, Vikings, Packers, Vikings
Carolina at Arizona
Cardinals, Cardinals, Cardinals, Cardinals, Cardinals, Cardinals
Atlanta at New Orleans
Saints, Saints, Saints, Saints, Saints, Saints

NOTE: Making the 32 football picks each week are Journal sports editor Andrew Cutler, assistant sports editor Jeff Budlong, copy editor Josh Russo, reporters Jim Holland and Padraic Duffy, and Journal sports employee Lenn Davis. I select the games each week from high school, local college, national college and NFL schedules.

- Russo

I can write this blog solely off the sports arguments we have up in the office.

The argument of the day: Assuming Iowa and one other team go undefeated, will the Hawkeyes play in the BCS national championship game over a one-loss team from a tougher conference? The scenario sets up nicely as both undefeated Florida and Alabama will play each other at the end of the season, and Texas may drop a game along the way. Also, USC has only one loss at this point.

Should an undefeated Iowa team get passed over, the BCS implodes on itself. It would just be like Auburn getting skipped over in 2004 or USC getting passed on in 2005. The BCS already has imploded. An undefeated Boise State or TCU would not be in the title game. Boy, I can’t wait.

- Russo

I know its a week or two past Midnight Madness, but the real beginning of the college basketball season is the signified by the release of the AP poll.

From the AP: There was little suspense as to which team would top the preseason poll. Kansas has all five starters and the top nine scorers back from last season’s team that went 27-8 and reached the third round of the NCAA tournament. The Jayhawks also feature a recruiting class considered among the nation’s best.

The Jayhawks received great news when guard Sherron Collins and center Cole Aldrich, last season’s leading scorers, decided to return to school rather than test the NBA draft. Then brothers Xavier and C.J. Henry decided to enroll in Lawrence, making the Jayhawks the early national favorite as well as the choice to win a sixth straight Big 12 title.

Here’s how the poll shapes up:

1. Kansas (55) 27-8
2. Michigan St. (5) 31-7
3. Texas (1) 23-12
4. Kentucky (3) 22-14
5. Villanova 30-8
6. North Carolina (1) 34-4
7. Purdue 27-10
8. West Virginia 23-12
9. Duke 30-7
10. Tennessee 21-13
11. Butler 26-6
12. Connecticut 31-5
13. California 22-11
14. Washington 26-9
15. Michigan 21-14
16. Ohio St. 22-11
17. Oklahoma 30-6
18. Mississippi St. 23-13
19. Louisville 31-6
20. Georgetown 16-15
21. Dayton 27-8
22. Georgia Tech 12-19
23. Illinois 24-10
24. Clemson 23-9
25. Minnesota 22-11
Others receiving votes: Maryland 171, Siena 112, Notre Dame 107, Florida St. 92, Vanderbilt 90, Syracuse 83, Oklahoma St. 65, UCLA 63, Florida 53, Wake Forest 50, Xavier 42, Gonzaga 37, South Carolina 28, Kansas St. 24, BYU 21, N. Iowa 16, Tulsa 16, Mississippi 15, Texas A&M 10, Missouri 8, Boston College 6, Pittsburgh 4, Utah St. 2, Va. Commonwealth 2, W. Kentucky 2, Holy Cross 1, Old Dominion 1.

Philadelphia certainly didn’t bow to the evil empire in the opening game of the World Series Wednesday night. Cliff Lee kept the Yankees’ bats quiet with a masterful six-hitter performance from the mound, and Chase Utley gave Philadelphia the only runs they needed, the first home runs given up at the new Yankee Stadium in the post-season. Philly’s 6-1 win in game one certainly sets the tone for what could be an epic fall classic. I still think this one could go the full seven games, but that pick will go out the window if Philly leaves Gotham with a 2-0 lead. — Jim H.