NUIC Football Week 1 Picks and Preview

By Al Zipsie

Here are the picks for the season openers of the NUIC football season on Friday, August 24th.

Our media panel is ready for another season. All ten from the panel from last year return. As we battle for bragging rights for best record and mainly in having fun doing it. Last year, the champion was Cody Cutter of the Sauk Valley News who won the tiebreaker in a three-way tie. Mike Buda of WIFR TV and Shane Klever of the NUIC Football Fanatics were also part of a three-way tie for best record.

Also returning again are Scott Leber of WTVO TV. Matt Trowbridge of the Freeport Journal Standard/Rockford Register Star. Kyle Kampmier of the NUIC Football Fanatics. Terry Werntz former head coach at Dakota and Freeport. Joe Dredge of WROK and the Stateline Sports Hub. Al Zipsie of the Stateline Sports Hub. Pete Leinweber "Big Pete" of Deep Dish Football. Our newcomer this year is Tim O'Halloran, Publisher of Edgy Tim.com.

Here are the season openers for the NUIC Friday.

NUIC Northwest

Dakota at Galena.

East Dubuque at Eastland/Pearl City

Durand/Pecatonica at Forreston

Lena-Winslow at West Carroll

NUIC Upstate

River Ridge at Ashton/Franklin Center

Warren at Stockton

Crossover. Amboy at Milledgeville.

Non League.

Aquin at Kirkland HIawatha.

Saturday Upstate. Polo at Orangeville.

Our panel was unanimous in picks with Dakota, Lena-Winslow, Forreston, Stockton and Aquin. Nine of the eleven panelist took Orangeville over Polo and seven of eleven River Ridge beating Ashton/Franklin Center. E/PC had all but one pollster pick them to beat East Dubuque and for Milledgeville to beat Amboy.

Week. Picks.

Al Zipsie. Dakota. E/PC. Lena-Winslow. Forreston. River Ridge, Stockton, Aquin. Milledgeville. Orangeville.

Kyle Kampmier. Dakota. E/PC. Lena-Winslow. Forreston. River Ridge. Stockton. Aquin. Milledgeville. Orangeville.

Shane Klever. Dakota. E/PC. Lena-Winslow. Forreston. River Ridge. Stockton. Aquin. Milledgeville. Orangeville.

Mike Buda. Dakota. E/PC. Lena-Winslow. Forreston. A/FC. Stockton. Aquin. Milledgeville. Orangeville.

Scott Leber. Dakota. E/PC. Lena-Winslow, Forreston, A/FC. Stockton. Aquin. Milledgeville. Polo.

Mart Trowbridge. Dakota. E/PC. Lena-Winslow. Forreston. River Ridge. Stockton. Aquin. Milledgeville. Orangeville.

Terry Werntz. Dakota. E/PC. Lena-Winslow. Forreston. River Ridge. Stockton. Aquin. Milledgeville. Orangeville.

Joe Dredge. Dakota. East Dubuque. Lena-Winslow. Forreston. River Ridge. Stockton. Aquin. Milledgeville. Orangeville.

Cody Cutter. Dakota. E/PC. Lena-Winslow. Forreston. A/FC. Stockton. Aquin. Milledgeville. Orangeville.

Pete Leinweber. Dakota. E/PC. Lena-Winslow. Forreston. River Ridge. Stockton. Aquin. Milledgeville. Polo.

Tim O' Hallaran. Dakota. E/PC. Lena-Winslow. Forreston. A/FC. Stockton. Aquin. Amboy. Orangeville.

The latest from NUIC is River Ridge has announced they will be going to eight-man football next season. This is also the last season in the NUIC for Polo, also going to eight-man. And Warren who will join A Coop with Blackhawk Wisconsin. The NUIC will be down to 14 teams and plan on two seven-team divisions.