Last year the sports section of the Banner ran a competition in which the writers and editors predicted the outcomes of the week’s primetime sporting matches. Unsurprisingly, sports editor Alex Settle had the best record after he correctly predicted the Packers over the Steelers in the Super Bowl. This year, two of his opponents (and a chicken) are back for revenge. Will Alex win for a second straight year? Will Ryan Smith, the web editor, improve on his second place finish? Can Holden McGinnis, science and technology editor, make a title bid? Will the editors get beaten by Clucko the Chicken? Ask the Experts returns for 2011 now.

Here’s the deal: The editors will pick eight games per week. Whoever has the best record after the Super Bowl is officially the winner (Also, Clucko the Chicken is a coin flip with a fancy name). Without further ado, here are the first picks of the year:

NFL:

Ravens at Titans
Alex: Ravens
Ryan: Ravens
Holden: Ravens
Clucko: Titans

Bears at Saints
Alex: Bears
Ryan: Saints
Holden: Saints
Clucko: Bears

Chargers at Patriots:
Alex: Patriots
Ryan: Patriots
Holden: Patriots
Clucko: Patriots

Eagles at Falcons:
Alex: Eagles
Ryan: Eagles
Holden: Eagles
Clucko: Falcons

Rams at Giants:
Alex: Giants
Ryan: Rams
Holden: Giants
Clucko: Rams

NCAA Football:

LSU at Mississippi State
Alex: LSU
Ryan: LSU
Holden: LSU
Clucko: Mississippi State

Oklahoma at Florida State
Alex: Oklahoma
Ryan: Oklahoma
Holden: Oklahoma
Clucko: Oklahoma

Michigan State at Notre Dame
Alex: Notre Dame
Ryan: Notre Dame
Holden: Michigan State
Clucko: Michigan State