> SOUTHERN INDIANA — I’m really good at making high school football picks. Honestly, I am.

Weeks 1 and 2 have typically been an exception and this year is no different.

This is one of the most mysterious weeks when it comes to what to expect from the local teams at the start of the season that I can ever recall.

With 20-plus starters return, Charlestown is the most clear. It’s pretty obviously after last year’s pinball-type games that Silver Creek is going to score a lot of points and will likely struggle to stop teams again. Outside of that, it’s really hard to tell.

Floyd Central lost Kyle Bramble and eight starters on defense, Jeff lost Dalton Conway and a lot of weapons, Providence and New Albany have the smallest teams (both in roster size and player size) I can ever recall. Clarksville has one of the best receivers in Southern Indiana in Aiden McEwen, but do they have anybody to get him the ball?

The answer is I don’t know. The answer to a lot of questions about Southern Indiana football this year is I don’t know.

Of course, that won’t stop me from trying. I’ll start with one game I’m almost absolutely certain about.



CHARLESTOWN AT MADISON

I feel bad for Madison.

Not only are they going to be the first team to unsuccessfully try to stop the vaunted Charlestown offense that is itching to get on the field. Not only are the Cubs bad nearly every year, and this year is no exception. Not only did the Cubs lose a really, really good running back in Ryan Fish.

The worst thing that probably happened to the 2012 Madison team is the 2011 Cubs beat Charlestown.

The Pirates fumbled away a 17-point first-half lead and fell to Madison 37-29. Charlestown, of course, went on to an 8-3 season while the Cubs haven’t won since.

Just how pumped are the Pirates going to be after being embarrassed a year ago.

Charlestown coach Jason Hawkins would never run up the score. He may have to stop his team from getting completely out of hand.

Prediction: Charlestown 55, Madison 0.



LOUISVILLE EASTERN AT JEFFERSONVILLE

A couple of things really stood out from Kevin Harris’s Eastern-Jeff capsule:

1. Jeff hasn’t won a season opener in 20 years. That’s astounding. It’s not like the Red Devils have a horrible program — average at worst.

2. The Devils haven’t beaten a team from Louisville in 56 years. The last time was 1956.

Again, this is the mystery edition of football picks and I could be way, way off here, but I think both end on Friday.

Jeff has a ton of weapons and the Eagles lost a ton from a team that went 10-3 a year ago.

Prediction: Jeff 27, Eastern 21.



NEW ALBANY AT PROVIDENCE

In a week full of mysterious games, no game is a bigger mystery than Providence-New Albany.

The last couple of years could have gone either way, and I can’t see any reason this year is different.

Both quarterbacks (Nathan Diehl from New Albany and Nathan Banet have drawn praise from their coaches. Both teams should be able to run the ball, as well. So you should expect a lot of yards and a lot of points (although nothing like the 47-46 thriller from 2010).

With both teams apparently so evenly matched, turnovers are likely going to be the difference.

Prediction: New Albany 34, Providence 28.



SPRINGS VALLEY AT SILVER CREEK

This is going to seem like a homer pick. It’s not.

Silver Creek has a lot of weapons. The Dragons scored a ton of points last year in their first full varsity season and they have nearly everyone back and reportedly have some key additions.

Creek may struggle to stop opposing offenses. However, if they can get its defense right, the Dragons have the potential to be the story of the year. There are five or six wins to be on their schedule.

This will be a good indicator if they’re capable of taking them.

Prediction: Silver Creek 42, Springs Valley 34



FLOYD CENTRAL AT MALE

Floyd Central couldn’t beat Male last year when the Highlanders had Kyle Bramble and eight senior starters on defense. Beating one of the Kentucky state powers — particularly in Week 1 — may be too much to ask for a team that is replacing so much.

Prediction: Male 42, Floyd Central 21.



CLARKSVILLE AT SOUTHRIDGE

I have a feeling this is the year Steve Cooley starts to get the Clarksville program turned around. The bottom of the Mid-Southern Conference appears to be weak and the Generals should finish in the top-half.

With that said, Clarksville is coming off four straight losing seasons while the Raiders haven’t had one since 2005.

That should tell you everything you need to know about this one. Then again, this is the “Week of Mystery.”

Prediction: Southridge 35, Clarksville 7.



OTHER AREA GAMES

• Bedford North Lawrence at Bloomington South: Expect the Stars to be down 17-0 at halftime and storm back for the one. Isn’t that what happens ever week for Bedford? Prediction: Bedford 21, Bloomington South 17.

• Brownstown Central at Mitchell: In 2005, Brownstown had an experienced team a lot like this one and Mitchell stunned them in both teams’ openers. Don’t expect a repeat. Prediction: Brownstown 35, Mitchell 7.

• Perry Central at Corydon Central: Perry Central has dominated this series over the years, but the Panthers have had the upper-hand recently. This year, it’s a toss-up (always take Corydon coach Darin Ward in a toss-up). Prediction: Corydon Central 28, Perry Central 20.

• Columbus East vs. Bloomington North (Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium): East has struggled against Conference Indiana at time recently, and in the first game in eight years without a Kiel at quarterback, I can envision an upset. Prediction: Bloomington North 28, Columbus East 24.