At the end of another thrilling and entertaining college football bowl season, John Zawacki has earned the title of the area’s best college football prognosticator.

After checking through more than 400 entries for this year’s Beat the Geek contest, Zawacki was the only player to correctly pick 19 out of 20 bowl games correctly, making him this year’s Beat The Geek winner.

The only blemish on Zawacki’s entry form was the Outback Bowl, where he picked Auburn instead of Minnesota. Zawacki was also nearly spot on with his championship prediction, picking LSU over Clemson and 64 points to be scored in the championship game; the actual number was 67.

Perhaps, we should have seen this coming. After all, Zawacki, known to local radio listeners as Doc Z and the father of News’ sports writer Jonny Zawacki, is an avid sports fan.

Not only that, but it’s safe to say winning Beat the Geek runs in the family. Zawacki’s brother Rich won the contest during the 1998-99 season on a second tiebreaker.

Zawacki’s record of 19-1 was one game better than Makenna Grulke, who went 18-2 after missing both the Outback Bowl and the Cheez-It Bowl (Air Force beat Washington State).

Jacob Nowaczewski finished third after going 17-3 and picking 65 total points for the title game.

Emma Jore took fourth after also going 17-3 and picked 62 points for the title game.

The Geek had a 12-8 record this bowl season, which is respectable, but far from his high standards.

In all, 156 entries can lay claim to beating the Geek out of the 410 total entries.

As always, The Geek thanks everyone for playing and vows to do better next season.

The Geek also thanks Thunder Bay River Restaurant, Big Mike’s Pizza, Cliff Anschuetz Chevrolet and Arby’s of Alpena for their prize donations this season.

Those who picked 17 games correctly were: Jacob Nowaczewski, Emma Jore, Mike Dotsch, Colleen Carroll and Roy Kunath.

Those who picked 16 games correctly were: Dennis Dorr, Julie Jones, Tim Grulke, Gary Bonkosky, Tyler Kollien, Doug Hall, Betsy Smith, Curt McLaren, Nick McLaren, Tina Wilson, Kai Smith, Kim Middleditch, Colin Donajkowski, Janet Mott and John Ludwiczak.

Those who picked 15 games correctly were: George Stevens, Sue Krafft, Pat Carr, Cory Lamp, Joshua Idalski, Katelynn Scheider, LeeAnn Ludwig, John Kruse, Courtney Wicklund, Martin Malfroid, Ralph Weise, Lisa Melville, Jenna Melville, Travis Kaiser, Tom Karsten, Philip Naylor, Roger Griffin, Mark Birmingham, Nadine Donajkowski and Lisa Kuznicki.

Those who picked 14 games correctly were: Paul Detloff, Gailen Thornton, Dale Kaiser, Betty Tyra, Tom Pelleran, Fred Siebert, Tom Dutcher, Ed Zbytowski, Reilly Atkinson, John Kolleth, Brenda Gauthier, Joan Carr, Ryan Dubey, Mike Kollien, Stephanie Idalski, Tanner Orban, Lorna Stoppa, Sarah McLaren, Marlon Smith, Jim Bowen, Matt Frampton, Russ Rich, Krystle Werblow, Brett Werblow, Blaise Nugent, Andrew Graham, Suzanne Kelly, Bev Spleet, Deb Kelley, Larry R. Smith, Glen Schwartz, Jackie Donajkowski, Dale Middleditch, Derek Badder, Kevin Middleditch, Joe Gentry, Aric Donajkowski, Craig T. Zelazny, Mary E. Leavesley, Jeremy Timmreck, Patrick T. Smylie, Ken Kindt, Anna M. Wright, Cecelia Burrow, Terry Snider, Frank Joslin and Lilliana Downs.

Those who picked 13 games correctly were: Tom Daoust, Tim Carr, Michael F. Collins, Larry Cirillo, Kenneth Melville, Janice Melville, Jennifer Dutcher, Kam Potter, Jeff Kristoia, Steve Nohren, Chris Male, Dan Standen, Bill Burns, Carolynne Schaedig, Janet Winfield, Patrick Lyons, the Counter Guys at RA Townsend, Tom Lamp, Dana Dubey, Diane Amlotte, N.W. Alexander, Joanne Bowen, Joel Kendzorski, Paul Ludwig, Joan Ludwig, Karen Frampton, Bob Ghidoni, Jean Ghidoni, Jeri Rich, N.S. Alexander, Tracie Granata, David Stoppa, Crystal Spleet, Jackson Birmingham, Blaize Ryan, Dan Kibbe, Barbara A. Donajkowski, Michael Melville, Christian Wicklund, Michelle Cho, John McMurray, Levi Vogt, Joe Moran, Jean Hanner, Benjamin Joslin, Brandon Downs, Joe Kuznicki, Aleisha Kuznicki, Donna Bowan, Andy Lappan and Kam Middleditch.