Games This Weekend

WEST ORANGE-STARK over HARDIN-JEFFERSON—It’s always good when you start district play with the area’s strongest team and end it with the district’s weakest team, especially when it means a trip to the state playoffs.

LITTLE CYPRESS-MAURICEVILLE over HUFFMAN-HARGRAVE—The Battlin’ Bears need a solid victory in the final game of the regular season and head into the playoffs on a winning note. That should happen Friday night at Battlin’ Bear Stadium.

BRIDGE CITY over LIBERTY—This will be my Upset Special in this week’s high school regular-season final game. The Cardinals have had more downs than ups this year, but a victory at home would be a superb way to get ready for the 2023 season.

ORANGEFIELD over EAST CHAMBERS—This is the most important game of the season for the Bobcats, with a victory giving them the District 10-3A championship. I need not say any more!!!

VIDOR over SPLENDORA—The Pirates used a strong ground game to dispose of Huffman last week and should continue to pound the football again Friday night before the playoffs next week.

LOVELADY over DEWEYVILLE—The Pirates are also matched up with the strongest team in District 12-2A which will determine their position in next week’s state playoffs. An upset would be a wonderful way to enter the post-season.

SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA over LAMAR—I picked Lamar to lose to Nicholls State last week and they upset the Colonels 24-17. So, I’m picking the Lions from Hammond to win over the Cardinals Saturday by using some reverse psychology.

McNEESE STATE over EASTERN ILLINOIS---The Cowboys came ever so close to upsetting Southeastern Louisiana last week—losing 28-27—and getting their second win of the season. The Pokes are hosting Eastern Illinois—a team that won only one game last season—and are favored to get that second win Saturday in Lake Charles.

HIGH SCHOOL—Humble over Beaumont United, Houston C.E. King over Beaumont West Brook, Texas City over Nederland, Galena Park over Port Neches-Groves, Port Arthur Memorial over Kingwood Park, Silsbee over Jasper, Lumberton over Livingston, Newton over New Waverly, Warren over Kountze, Woodville over Westwood, Anahuac over Tarkington, Buna over Hardin, Evadale over Hull-Daisetta, Chester over High Island, Colmesneil over Sabine Pass, Fort Bend Christian over Beaumont Kelly, First Baptist Pasadena over Beaumont Legacy Christian.

COLLEGE---Northern Illinois over Central Michigan and Bowling Green over Western Michigan (both today); Rice over UTEP and Appalachian State over Coastal Carolina (both Thursday); UConn over UMass, Duke over Boston College and Washington over Oregon State (all Friday); Georgia over Tennessee, Ohio State over Northwestern, Michigan over Rutgers, Notre Dame over Clemson (Upset Special), Alabama over LSU, TCU over Texas Tech, Oregon over Colorado, Oklahoma State over Kansas, North Carolina State over Wake Forest, USC over California, UCLA over Arizona State, Penn State over Indiana, Utah over Arizona, Syracuse over Pitt, Illinois over Michigan State, Missouri over Kentucky, Cincinnati over Navy, North Carolina over Virginia, Texas over Kansas State, Tulane over Tulsa, South Carolina over Vanderbilt, Tarleton State over Abilene Christian, Alabama A&M over Mississippi Valley State, Prairie View A&M over Alcorn State, Grambling State over Arkansas-Bluff, Florida A&M over Southern, Incarnate Word over Houston Christian, Jackson State over Texas Southern, Texas A&M-Commerce over Northwestern State, Villanova over Towson, Army over Air Force and Missouri over Kentucky (Upset Specials), Purdue over Iowa, TCU over Texas Tech, Western Kentucky over Charlotte, Minnesota over Nebraska, Wisconsin over Maryland, Texas A&M over Florida, Tulane over Tulsa, Virginia Tech over Georgia Tech, Marshall over Old Dominion, South Florida over Temple, Southern Mississippi over Georgia State, Middle Tennessee State over Louisiana Tech, Oklahoma over Baylor, Iowa State over West Virginia, Central Florida over Memphis, Washington State over Stanford, UAB over UTSA, Utah State over New Mexico, North Texas over Florida International, South Alabama over Georgia Southern, Arkansas over Liberty, Louisiana-Monroe over Texas State, Louisiana-Lafayette over Troy, SMU over Houston, Boise State over BYU, San Diego State over UNLV, Mississippi State over Auburn, Louisville over James Madison, Miami over Florida State, San Jose State over Colorado State, Fresno State over Hawaii (all Saturday).

PRO PICKS---Philadelphia over Houston (Thursday Night); LA Chargers over Atlanta, Miami over Chicago, Cincinnati over Carolina, Green Bay over Detroit, New England over Indianapolis, Buffalo over NY Jets, Minnesota over Washington, Jacksonville over Las Vegas, Seattle over Arizona, LA Rams over Tampa Bay, Kansas City over Tennessee (all Sunday); Baltimore over New Orleans (Monday Night). Bye week for Dallas, Cleveland, Denver, NY Giants, Pittsburgh and San Francisco.

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