Gridiron Challenge analysis: Week 7 gets more interesting

Week 6 of our Gridiron Challenge shook out just about how I expected it to. Which makes me an excellent prediction predictor. (However, I'm not the best at actual game predictions. Exhibit A: The Gridiron Challenge leaderboard.)

With a 13-1 record last week, Brandon Stoneburg had the best week of our staffers, gaining a point on the field thanks to his correct prediction that South Western would beat Red Lion. Mike Rubin was the only other person to predict that outcome, but he was burned by West York's win against Pius X, which allowed Brandon pulled a point away from Mike.

That pushes Brandon into a tie for fourth place with Lyzz Jones. We already knew Lyzz would stay put in fourth because she, Steve Navaroli and Tom Sixeas made the exact same picks.

Matt Goul, meanwhile, lost a point on the entire field courtesy of his incorrect pick of Hanover over Fairfield. So his lead over Tom is down to one point, and Tom has a one-game edge over Steve entering Week 7.

And speaking of Week 7 ...

This week gets a little more interesting, with less consensus across our pickers.

Lyzz and Matt have made the same picks, so their margin of separation will stay the same. They were the only two to pick Reading over Dover, though, so Matt has a chance to add some insurance back into his lead in the standings.

Brandon, meanwhile, continues the "lone wolf" trend that has helped him pass Mike in the standings. He's the only one who says South Western beats Dallastown, and the only one who picked Biglerville over York Catholic. The rest of his picks are the same as Steve's -- except the Central York-Spring Grove game. So if Brandon could get wins from South Western, Biglerville and Spring Grove, he would pass Steve for third place.

Our predictors are split over that Central York-Spring Grove game, as well as the Hanover-Littlestown matchup. Matt, Steve and Lyzz picked the Panthers, so Tom has a chance to gain a point on Matt with a Rockets win.

Here's a quick look at best-case scenarios for each picker, in order of their standings entering Week 6:

Matt: Wins by Central York and Reading would add two points to his lead over Tom.

Tom: Wins by Spring Grove and Dover would allow him to pass Matt for the lead. He'd be ahead of Matt by one point.

Steve: Wins by Dover, Central and Hanover would move Steve into a first-place tie with Matt, with Tom a point back.

Lyzz: Wins by Reading and Littlestown would put her in a third-place tie with Steve. That outcome would also knock back Brandon and Mike by two points apiece.

Brandon: Wins by South Western, Biglerville and Dover would let him pass Steve for third place. Those results would also give him a three-point cushion against Lyzz and two points against Mike.

Mike: Wins by Dallastown and York Catholic would move him back into a tie for fifth place with Brandon.

Don't forget to make your predictions before kickoff tonight for a shot at this week's Gridiron Challenge crown. Need some help with your picks? Get the skinny on each matchup in our preview capsules. And watch this week's GameTimePA 717 episode to see Matt and Steve break down the best games.