By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
Dowagiac Police Chief Tom Atkinson will take a two-game lead into the bowl season.
The Football Forecasters wrapped up the regular season this past weekend and will now set their sights on the 34 bowl games, which begin Dec. 20 and conclude with the Bowl Championship Series title game on Jan. 8 with Florida and Oklahoma.
Atkinson is 114-36 overall, just two games ahead of FOX 28's Allison Hayes, who stands at 112-38.
There is quite a log jam after that and a lot of things will be decided over the next couple of weeks.
There are three forecasters tied at 111-39 – Dowagiac City Clerk Jim Snow, Dowagiac Softball Coach Mike Behnke and Cass County Family Court Judge Sue Dobrich.
Cassopolis Police Chief Frank Williams is alone at 110-40, while Leader Publications General Manager Bryan Clapper is alone in seventh place at 108-42.
Another trio of forecasters sit at 106-44.
They are Leader Publications Sports Editor Scott Novak, Dowagiac Athletic Director Greg Younger and Congressman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph.
Daily News managing editor John Eby and Bryan Wild are 11th and 12th respectively with identical records of 104-46.
With only 10 games seperating first and 12th place and 34 games yet to be played, everyone has a chance at claiming the 2008 Football Forecaster crown.
The first bowl selections will appear on Thursday, Dec. 18.