UNION – Once again, the Union Daily Times’ panel of pigskin prognosticators was outdone by a guest picker — well, the ones with a Y chromosome anyway. The sole female forecaster hung with Clemson basketball star Devin Booker pick for pick and finished the weekend with a 14-3 record, but I don’t like to brag.

This week we’re testing our knowledge against a local celebrity. Trans-South Wrestling heavyweight champion Deon Johnson has agreed to step into the ring with our clique of combative contenders.

Deon might be the Champion of TSW but ‘round here Steven Addis reigns supreme, clinging to a one-point lead after 12 correct picks this weekend.

“I’ll show ya what it means to be a real champion,” Deon declared.

That a fact?

“That’s a fact, jack,” he said.

Deon is accustomed to being the fan favorite but he’ll find that Doc Lipsey has assumed that role in this particular outfit.

(Everybody loves Doc.)

Everybody also loves to root for the underdog, a reputation that Sam Phipps is gradually earning.

He continues his downward spiral this week and is now six points behind the leader. Sam claims to be taking a page from Kevin’s book and laying low for a few weeks. We hope he knows what he’s doing.

However, his prediction that Arkansas will beat South Carolina at Williams Brice gives one pause.

Another pick to ponder is Deon’s winner of the Clemson/Maryland game. Really, sir? Clemson is 31.5 point favorite.

Yes, Mr. Phipps, like Steven, I do occasionally check the spread before proclaiming my prophesies.

Sam likes to go with his gut. We’re not altogether sure what method Deon is using.

Check back next week to see whose preferred style of picking pays off!

Here’s a look at this week’s games and predictions:

Union County @ Greer

Greenville @ Chester

Stratford @ Dorman

Easley @ Northwestern

Ninety Six @ Blacksburg

Fort Mill @ Greenwood

Boiling Springs @ Blythewood

York @ Laurens

BHP @ AC Flora

Baylor @ Oklahoma

Penn State @ Nebraska

Georgia Tech @ North Carolina

Texas A&M @ Alabama

Maryland @ Clemson

Arkansas @ South Carolina

Oregon State @ Stanford

Steven Addis

Last week: 12-5

Overall: 101-43 overall

Greer

Chester

Dorman

Northwestern

Ninety Six

Greenwood

Blythewood

York

BHP

Oklahoma

Nebraska

North Carolina

Alabama

Clemson

South Carolina

Oregon State

Kevin Shropshire

Last week: 12-5

This week: 100-44

Greer

Chester

Dorman

Northwestern

Blacksburg

Greenwood

Boiling Springs

York

AC Flora

Oklahoma

Nebraska

North Carolina

Alabama

Clemson

South Carolina

Stanford

Tiffany Grady-Hudgins

Last week: 14-3

Overall: 100-44

Union County

Chester

Dorman

Easley

Blacksburg

Greenwood

Boiling Springs

York

AC Flora

Oklahoma

Nebraska

North Carolina

Texas A&M

Clemson

South Carolina

Oregon State

Doc Lipsey

Last week: 12-5

Overall: 98-46

Union County

Chester

Dorman

Easley

Ninety Six

Greenwood

Boiling Springs

York

BHP

Oklahoma

Nebraska

North Carolina

Alabama

Clemson

South Carolina

Oregon State

Sam Phipps

Last week: 9-8

Overall: 95-49

Greer

Greenville

Dorman

Northwestern

Blacksburg

Greenwood

Boiling Springs

York

AC Flora

Oklahoma

Nebraska

Georgia Tech

Alabama

Clemson

Arkansas

Stanford

Deon Johnson

Greer

Chester

Dorman

Northwestern

Blacksburg

Greenwood

Blythewood

York

AC Flora

Oklahoma

Nebraska

Georgia Tech

Alabama

Maryland

South Carolina

Oregon State