By Robert Hudson

The Selma Times-Journal

 

After weeks of competing against others and picking the winners of the year’s high school and college football games, a winner of The Selma Times-Journal Pigskin Picks has been crowned. Doug Fortner, manager of Spiller Furniture, was crowned the winner of pigskin picks for the second straight year and third time overall after compiling a record of 117-23. Fortner said his love of sports is why he enjoys participating in the competition.

“I enjoy just doing it,” Fortner said. “I’m a numbers man first of all, and number two, I love sports. I’ve never played, but I just love sports. To me, it’s a challenge to be number one.”

Fortner said his picking philosophy involves researching the teams on the internet and he picks based on trends, streaks and other factors.

“I think about it, I look them over, I look to see how many points they’ve scored offensively and defensively,” Fortner said. “I spend a little bit of time actually researching.”

Fortner said a big key to picking is choosing who you think will win and not who you want to win.

“I’m a big Kentucky fan, and I’ve had a few of my friends this year call me and tell me ‘you didn’t pick Kentucky,’ and I tell them that Kentucky ain’t gone win that game,” Fortner said.  “It’s not about who my favorites are, it’s about who I think is going to win. It’s not a favoritism thing.”