Week 1 on The Independent’s online NFL pick ’em contest is in the books and reader Todd Lavergne of Youngsville, who correctly picked 10 of the opening week’s 16 games, has emerged the winner by virtue of his tiebreaker pick: Dallas over the G-Men 30-27. Hundreds played but only Todd gets to swing by The IND’s office on Jefferson Street this week and pick up his winnings: a bottle of Rank Wildcat Rum, a six pack of Bayou Teche Brewing Company beer, a $100 gift card to Brothers on the Blvd and a $50 gift card to Maxwell’s Market. Todd, pace yourself on the booze, buddy.
John Mikell, The Independent’s own sports columnist known more for his droll analysis than for his geeky fidelity to stats, emerged tops among our VIP pickers as we close the books on the first week of NFL action.
A lifelong, diehard LSU Tigers fan who “believes energy-efficient air conditioning and football are the keys to Louisiana’s future” was cool under pressure, picking correctly 11 of the 16 games between the Thursday opener and last night’s double-header.
Among the rest of our VIP prognosticators, fantasy sports nut Julie Gauthier of BBR Creative tied for second with David Schultz of 103.7 The Game (10 correct picks), followed by KATC Sports Director Travis Webb, KLFY Sports Director George Faust and ESPN 1420 AM’s Billy Rykman (nine correct). Ryan Baniewicz, who proclaimed before the season that he “found a crystal ball when I was little, but I threw it away because I’m psychic anyway” was a virtual Sylvia Browne with eight correct picks. Kevin Foote of The Advertiser/ESPN 1420 got a goose egg for not making his picks; must be Kevin’s “medicine season.”
The booty Todd Lavergne won this week is up for grabs every week of the NFL’s regular and post-seasons, and it’s not too late to join in the Pick Dat competition. Click here to register.