Sometimes knowledge proves powerful, and profitable.

Wahiawä's David Carl, 39, combined his football smarts with his gut feeling to win the weekly Pigskin Picks contest and the accompanying prize of a trip for two to Las Vegas and $100 worth of pizza from Papa John's.

Pigskin Picks winners are announced on the air by Billy V of Hawaiian 105 KINE on Mondays.

Carl correctly picked the winners of 14 of 15 games and won the tiebreaker. He had the top ballot in both print and online.

"I would say, basically, look at the win-loss records and home-and-away records," said Carl, 39, originally from Texas who works for a book store and a golf course. "Beyond that, you're gonna have to pick a few upsets and take a few chances. Start out with straight favorite picks, then throw in a few going with your gut."

Carl's ballot included a handful of upsets, each based on sound reasoning.

"For Oklahoma-Nebraska, I figured with (OU QB Sam) Bradford being out for year and Nebraska having a good year, they would have a shot.

"Tampa Bay was coming off a bye and plus there were going with their new quarterback (Josh Freeman) and maybe Green Bay being down after getting beat by (Brett) Favre again.

"San Diego-New York Giants, I figured both very good teams and just a thought that San Diego was better than their record and would pull it off.

"Tennessee-San Francisco, same thing with new quarterback Vince Young, who did well last week (in Tennessee's first win)."

What Carl might know less about than football is Las Vegas.

"(I) only been there a few times and it's been about 10 years," he said.