Predicitons from the Dope Bucket

[dirt34]

DOPE Bucket: The Bucket smashed in mouth Friday night
MICHAEL N. TATE > Sports Writer


Just when I thought I had figured a few things out "? Pow, right in the kisser! The Dope is sure feeling like one this weekend, not missing one or two, but three Friday football forecasts. Ouch! The Bucket busting is just too ordinary.

The Peerless Picker was thinking there were several close calls to be made this weekend. The Dope thought he had turned the corner, but nope. The Dope is just a picking fool. Forty-one of 57. Ugly. That is what the numbers spell "? simply awful for the usually trusty chooser of football fortunes.

From worst to first are those Ervinton Rebels. The Dope picked them to finish in the basement of the Cumberland, but now them Nora boys are ruining more that just the Bucket. The Rebels and the Devils are now tied for the top spot in the Cumberland. Rebel pride is alive and well in Dickenson County.

It was cool Friday night, but it was hot at Cummins Stadium where the Greenwave gave the Devils a going away present they soon won't forget. Clintwood shocked the Dope as well as Gate City with an overtime thriller. This time, the boys from Scott County were on the short end of the stick.

Haysi was shocked by Lee, making miss number three for the numb-skulled one. The Bucket is still passing, but 72 percent is not the number of a peerless picker.

Thanks Appalachia, Pound, St. Paul and Powell Valley for making the Bucket feel like I have a little football prowess left in my bones.

The Dope Bucket may not be looking so fine, but week nine sure is. A great collection of conference colliders are on tap with several being sure-fired postseason posturing repercussions:

# Thomas Walker at Appalachia "? The Dawgs are still flying along toward yet another playoff appearance. There won't be any new trails blazed this Friday by the Pioneers. Thomas Walker gets tracked, stalked and tackled. Dawgs 40, TW 18.

# Pound at J.I. Burton "? The Cats and the Raiders have had some pretty good battles the past couple of the seasons. This year, a focused crew of Burton Boys are waiting for the Cats. If not, Burton could be shocked. I don't think it will happen in Lawson-Fitchko Friday. Raiders 36, Cats 16.

# Clintwood at J.J. Kelly "? The Indians are ready for this invasion, but it could be more like a flood from the rains that have hammered the area early this week. The Wave has come to form in October. B.I.'s Bunch will make it interesting in the opening half. Clintwood floats away in the second half. Greenwave 34, Indians 12.

# Coeburn at St. Paul "? When the Blue Knights play in the Cumberland next season, they will have plenty of knowledge about their new league mates. The Deacons would like to send a message early. The Knights will make the point in the final frame. Coeburn 20, St. Paul 18.

# Hurley at Haysi "? It will be a long drive back to Hurley Friday night. Haysi was handled by the Generals last week and Colley's Cats will be out to prove something. Look out, Rebels. Upset Tigers don't get shocked. Haysi 48, Rebels 20.

# Rye Cove at Ervinton "? OK, it's time. You have heard this twice in the last two decades. An Ervinton win will give them a share of the Cumberland District crown. Of course, the Rebels must get past a pack of Eagles from Rye Cove. The Game in Nora will be a wild one and that's just when Rye Cove gets off the bus. You can bet a pack of Rebels backers will be there hooting and a hollering for the home team. The Noise in Nora will echo in the hills and hollers all weekend long. Rebels 28, Rye Cove 20.

I told you week nine was going to be fine, and I'm saving the best for last in one of the best football rivalries in the region "? if not the state. It's always great and has a lot to do with state!

GAME OF THE WEEK
Powell Valley at Gate City "? Our own version of the Falls Classic, Division 2 powers will always put on an impressive show no matter what the records are. There will be a shootout at Legion Field. The Devils are smarting after a very tough loss to the Greenwave, while the Vikings too are smarting with more losses than normal. It will be hard hitting and will feature a few touchdowns. But the club who does not have a turnover will win it. I'm thinking the Vikings will get their third straight regular season victory over the Devils. Vikings 24, Devils 21, Overtime?

UVA-WISE
They are back on track in Cavalier Country and just in time. A huge ball game with the Bears is set for this weekend in Pikeville. The Cavs have got a few things going on defense so the Dope Bucket is hoping the karma is correct for the UVa-Wisers as they head into the Bluegrass State to tackle and topple Pikeville this Saturday night after a 6 p.m. kickoff. It should be a real hum-dinger.

Go get "?em Cavs.

See you at the games!

[knight_67]

anyone else hate reading his predictions other than me?

[Unchained]

I think he should be fired and replaced by PVRulzLPD.

[imported_burrhead]

I just wish Wise had more wins. Clintwood needs the power points. I hope the Injuns are more competitive the next couple of years. Sad situation on the Kelly gridiron. [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

[Unchained]

Wise will get it turned around-just going to take some time. No one expected instant results. As for power points, beat Norton and you'll get a few [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/007.gif[/img]

[cvcgrad]

Good one!

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As for power points, beat Norton and you'll get a few [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/007.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

[imported_trumpet1988]

Wise will be back up. Just like they were after last time they weren't doing so well. 8-3 records for both 2000 and 2001. I think in 1999 was 5-5 or 6-4 with one of those wins being an upset of the unbeaten Vikings.

They'll be back up soon.

[greencrest1272]

[ QUOTE ]
I think he should be fired and replaced by PVRulzLPD.



[/ QUOTE ]

I'll second that. Im writing the Coalfield as we speak!

[imported_trumpet1988]

PVRulz is stupid, but funny. With his nicknames (i.e. Not So Great City, Coeburnt, Da Raidahs, Honker, Hayseed, Deadwood, etc.).

So I'll third that.

[mark]

Yeah. i remember when they upset the Vikings. My brother played for the Indians then!!
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