The NUIC is heading into its final games of the regular season Friday.

Some teams like Polo and Orangeville have five wins and are already playoff eligible, but would like a sixth to secure a playoff spot guaranteed. In the Upstate Orangeville plays at Stockton (6-2). Warren travels to Ashton/Franklin Center, both are battling to not go winless. Aquin is in a must-win situation to have a chance at the playoffs. the 4-4 Bulldogs play at unbeaten Milledgeville.

In the Northwest, two playoff teams meet as Dakota (6-2) has a test at 7-1 Lena-Winslow. Forreston (6-2) is at Amboy. In games with teams who will not be in the playoffs, West Carroll is at East Dubuque and Galena travels to Durand/Pecatonica.

In a crossover game, it's Polo at Eastland/Pearl City. And in a non-league game, it's River Ridge playing Hoopeston Area (2-6) at Ottawa Marquette.

Many of the games should be close and a toss up as and maybe the hardest week to pick as our Stateline Sports Hub Media picks heads into the final week. Al Zipsie at 59-16 holds the lead by one game at 59-13. Terry Werntz is one back at 58-14. Two games back tied for third are Cody Cutter and Joe Dredge.

The panel is unanimous in taking Lena-Winslow over Dakota, Forreston, Milledgeville, and Eastland/Pearl City. The tiebreaker if needed will be the score of Stockton and Orangeville. Nine of eleven on the panel are taking Stockton. Warren has seven of the eleven taking them to beat A/FC. All but two are taking River Ridge over Hoopeston and Du/Pec over Galena. The closest is six taking East Dubuque and five going with West Carroll.

Al Zipsie. 59-13. Stateline Sports Hub. Stockton 28-Orangeville 20. Warren. Milledgeville. Lena-Winslow. Forreston. East Dubuque. Durand/Pecatonica. E/PC. River Ridge.

Terry Werntz. 58-14. Former Dakota and Freeport football head coach. Stockton 20-Orangeville 12. Warren. Milledgeville. Lena-Winslow. Forreston. West Carroll. Durand/Pecatonica. E/PC. River Ridge.

Cody Cutter, 57-15. Sauk Valley News. Stockton 7-Orangeville 6. Warren. Milledgeville. Lena-Winslow. Forreston. West Carroll. Galena. E/PC. River Ridge.

Joe Dredge. 57-15. WROK/Stateline Sports Hub. Stockton 31 Orangeville 16. A/FC. Milledgeville. Lena-Winslow. Forreston. East Dubuque. Durand/Pecatonica. E/PC. Hoopeston.

Kyle Kampmier. 56-16. NUIC Football Fanatics. Stockton. Warren. Milledgeville. Lena-Winslow. Forreston. East Dubuque. Du/Pec. E/PC. River Ridge.

Mike Buda. 56-16. WIFR TV. Orangeville 24-Stockton 18. A/FC. Milledgeville. Lena-Winslow. Forreston. East Dubuque. Durand/Pecatonica. E/PC. Hoopeston.

Scott Leber. 56-16. WTVO TV. Stockton 28-Orangeville 21. A/FC. Milledgeville. Lena-Winslow. Forreston. West Carroll. Galena. E/PC. River Ridge.

Matt Trowbridge. 56-16. Freeport Journal Standard/Rockford Register Star. Orangeville 21-Stockton 14. A/FC. Milledgeville. Lena-Winslow. Forreston. West Carroll. Durand/Pecatonica. E/PC. River Ridge.

Shane Klever. 55-17. NUIC Football Fanatics. Stockton. Warren. Milledgeville. Lena-Winslow. Forreston. East Dubuque. Du/Pec. E/PC. River Ridge.

Tim O'Hallaran. 54-18, Edgytim.com Stockton. Warren. Milledgeville. Lena-Winslow. Forreston. East Dubuque. Du/Pec. E/PC. River Ridge.

 

Pete Leinweber. 51-21. Deep Dish Football. Stockton. Warren. Milledgeville. Lena-Winslow. Forreston. West Carroll. Du/Pec. E/PC. River Ridge.

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