By Chuck McGill -- Daily Staff Writer

Eight wins, 12 losses. It's a humbling performance and the worst overall record by a prognosticator in the "We're the experts?" picks in my time as the Daily's sports editor.

I'd love to break out a laundry list of excuses — my upcoming wedding on Oct. 4, being flustered by my alma mater's (West Virginia) 1-2 start, or Tommy Keeler changing my picks — but I cannot. I was two measly games behind Tim Tassa for the overall lead, and I threw a Hail Mary pass when our contest is still in the first quarter.

So now I have to explain an 8-12 week and why I'm now buried in last place while my three compatriots vie for the crown — for now. The truth is, I'm content with my picks even with the poor results. Unfortunately, all that matters are the W's and L's, and I had more of the latter.

It's always interesting to scan the picks each week and see which Daily sports staffer is by himself on a certain game. This past weekend, I was alone on five games.

I went 0-5 in those games.

I won't say it was gutsy, because I make my picks before I see everyone else's, but in hindsight, I could have played it safer. That said, three games made the difference between me sitting here trying to explain an 8-12 week and me being tied for first place and Craig Juer sitting alone in last place.

1. Auburn-LSU: My gut said to go with Auburn, which led late 21-20 at home and with a stingy defense. LSU scored and missed a two-point conversion in the waning moments to secure the 26-21 victory and put me in a significant hole.

2. UNC-Virginia Tech: After watching the Tar Heels dismantle Rutgers, I felt really good about this pick. And as I stopped in the clubhouse at the turn during my 18 holes at Blue Ridge Shadows on Saturday, I noticed on television that UNC was controlling the game against the Hokies. Then UNC quarterback Tyler Yates broke his ankle, the Tar Heels squandered a 10-3 lead, and the backup QB threw an interception in the red zone late to send me to another loss. To add insult to injury, I lost a half-dozen balls on the back nine.

3. Iowa-Pittsburgh: It's not like — as a Mountaineers fan — Pitt hasn't tortured me enough in the past year. The Panthers lost at home to one MAC team and barely beat another last week, couldn't muster any offense against the undefeated Hawkeyes and then somehow escaped with a 21-20 victory.

Three single-possession games, all decided late, and I'm left floating on a last-place island in this contest.

But let me be clear: I'm not whining. I'm not the Yankees' Hank Steinbrenner. Whether the games were decided by one point or 40, the teams I picked lost. It's my fault, and now I have to hope for Tim Tassa, Tommy Keeler and Craig Juer to make similarly poor decisions in the coming weeks.

But for two weeks, I will turn this column space over to Craig Juer as I step away from the sports desk to get married. And since all I hear about is how the wife will call the shots from now on, maybe I can get her to make my picks on our honeymoon.

She certainly can't do any worse.

Skyline at Millbrook

This is such a tricky pick. The Hawks are 4-0 and poised to make the leap in the Northwestern District, but the Pioneers (1-2) have that scary talent and home field advantage that make picking the visitors here risky. Interesting stat: Skyline has outscored its opponents 147-18 in the first four games.

Hawks 27, Pioneers 22

James Wood at Central

The Fightin' Yews need a perfect performance here against the Colonels.

Colonels 27, Falcons 26

Clarke County at Riverheads

The Eagles struggled in the red zone last week while sorting out their QB situation. Trying to do that on the road against a good Riverheads team won't work out well.

Gladiators 25, Eagles 13

Stonewall Jackson at Strasburg

Mark Roller's bunch pulled off an impressive road win last week. The Rams will need a similar performance to make it two in a row.

Generals 21, Rams 13

Sherando at Handley

The Warriors' first stiff test comes against a Judges team that has looked tough on both sides of the ball.

Warriors 38, Judges 21

Virginia at Duke

The Cavs are bad, and the Blue Devils can snap their long, long, long ACC losing streak.

Blue Devils 20, Cavaliers 17

Virginia Tech at Nebraska

The Hokies caught a "break" last week against UNC. This week they'll need another.

Cornhuskers 30, Hokies 20

Redskins at Cowboys

And finally, the Washington Redskins (2-1) against the Dallas Cowboys (3-0). In the competitive NFC East, this game has serious playoff implications and it's still only September. Why? Because this is the toughest division in football, and a win by the Cowboys will give them a two-game lead over one team, and two wins over divisional foes. It would give the Redskins two losses against the NFC East, and put them behind the eight-ball for the remainder of the season.

Cowboys 34, Redskins 17