Week Two Picks.

Written Wednesday August 30th at 8:30 AM

Welcome to the 2023 football season, here are our pickers for the season. Here are everyone who is doing picks this season.

 

SANDY DUNES is Sammy Taormina, OAA Now host and blogger.

COTTER is Sean Cotter, Walled Lake Western football and North Farmington basketball video coordinator

DUNLAP is Keith Dunlap, WDIV freelance writer

STICK is Dan Stickradt, North Oakland Sports writer

BURNEY is Scott Burnstein, MIPrepZone and State Champs sports writer.

TIM is Tim English, High School Sports Historian and Blogger.

 

We'll get TIM's picks when we can.

 

SANDY DUNES 10-8

COTTER 13-5

BURNEY 11-7

DUNLAP 8-10

STICK 11-7

TIM 12-6

 

 

1. West Bloomfield at 6. Groves: This should be a very interesting matchup of two teams that have Division One College Prospects. The Lakers survived 22-21 over Chippewa Valley last week while the Falcons hammered North Farmington 36-3 behind a strong second half last week. This should be a very interesting matchup in Beverly Hills.

 

SANDY DUNES: WEST BLOOMFIELD 35, GROVES 7.

COTTER: WEST BLOOMFIELD 35, GROVES 14.

DUNLAP: WEST BLOOMFIELD 28, GROVES 21.

STICK: WEST BLOOMFIELD over GROVES.

BURNEY: WEST BLOOMFIELD 32, GROVES 27.

TIM: WEST BLOOMFIELD 35, GROVES 21.

 

8. Clarkston at 2. Southfield Arts and Tech: This should be a very interesting matchup between two teams that know each other well. The Wolves are coming off a very tough 24-10 loss to Northville. The Warriors are coming off a 29-27 win over Detroit Cass Tech. These two teams played to a classic 62-56 Clarkston win last season in Clarkston. It should be a very interesting matchup in Southfield.

 

SANDY DUNES: SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 63, CLARKSTON 20.

COTTER: SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 42, CLARKSTON 21.

DUNLAP: SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 24, CLARKSTON 17.

STICK: SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH over CLARKSTON.

BURNEY: SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 34, CLARKSTON 20.

TIM: CLARKSTON 35, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 28.

 

4. Lake Orion at 3. Harper Woods: This game could be very similar to the Oklahoma/Texas game in 2021 when that game had a crazy fourth quarter. Both teams have proven experience, explosive playmakers, good lines, and solid defenses. The Pioneers went into Stoney Creek and won 34-21 behind four Colby Taylor touchdowns while the Dragons won 54-33 over Livonia Stevenson behind four rushing touchdowns from Billy Roberson. This looks like it could be a shootout to that game’s magnitude on the new gray turf in Wayne County.

 

SANDY DUNES: LAKE ORION 56, HARPER WOODS 51.

COTTER: LAKE ORION 35, HARPER WOODS 22.

DUNLAP: LAKE ORION 28, HARPER WOODS 27.

STICK: LAKE ORION over HARPER WOODS.

BURNEY: LAKE ORION 26, HARPER WOODS 25.

TIM: LAKE ORION 28, HARPER WOODS 24.

 

Rochester at 5. Adams: The Highlanders have won 24 straight games in this rivalry with the Falcons including beating them twice last season. Adams is coming off a 22-8 win over Orchard Lake St. Marys last week behind two Matteo Humbert defensive touchdowns along with a Brady Prieskorn receiving touchdown. Rochester is coming off a tough 22-21 loss to Utica after blowing a 15-6 lead in that game. Jack Lower was solid for the Falcons in that game. It should be a very interesting game but Adams has Prieskorn, Humbert, among others who can fill the void in this game.

 

SANDY DUNES: ADAMS 28, ROCHESTER 6.

COTTER: ADAMS 42, ROCHESTER 13.

DUNLAP: ADAMS 21, ROCHESTER 14.

STICK: ADAMS over ROCHESTER.

BURNEY: ADAMS 33, ROCHESTER 31.

TIM: ADAMS 49, ROCHESTER 21.

 

7. Seaholm vs Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit at Hazel Park: This is a rematch of a 21-20 Maples win over the Cubs last season. Both teams have some proven experience in this game. Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit won 47-14 over Oak Park last week. Seaholm is coming off a 27-14 win over Bloomfield Hills. This should be a fun matchup in Hazel Park to watch.

 

SANDY DUNES: SEAHOLM 31, DETROIT UNIVERSITY-DETROIT JESUIT 24.

COTTER: DETROIT UNIVERSITY-DETROIT JESUIT 28, SEAHOLM 14.

DUNLAP: DETROIT UNIVERSITY-DETROIT JESUIT 28, SEAHOLM 14.

STICK: SEAHOLM over DETROIT UNIVERSITY-DETROIT JESUIT.

BURNEY: SEAHOLM 30, DETROIT UNIVERSITY-DETROIT JESUIT 29.

TIM: SEAHOLM 28, DETROIT UNIVERSITY-DETROIT JESUIT 24.

 

9. Avondale at Brandon: These are two programs that are no strangers to one another. The Blackhawks are well coached under former Pontiac and Stoney Creek coach Brad Zube and has a really talented player in Drew Hickmott. Brandon also won 51-12 over Bay City John Glenn last week. The Yellow Jackets survived a 21-10 win over Warren Cousino despite being only up 10-7 early in the fourth quarter. This could be a high scoring game but also it’s a dangerous game for Avondale as well.

 

SANDY DUNES: BRANDON 31, AVONDALE 21.

COTTER: BRANDON 42, AVONDALE 28.

DUNLAP: BRANDON 28, AVONDALE 17.

STICK: AVONDALE over BRANDON.

BURNEY: BRANDON 40, AVONDALE 39.

TIM: BRANDON 56, AVONDALE 14.

 

Detroit Lincoln King Academy at 10. Pontiac: This could be shaping up to be a very interesting game of two 1-0 teams that are coming off monster wins last week. The Phoenix snapped a 42 game losing streak by beating Madison Heights Bishop Foley 52-22 last week. The Wolves earned their first ever school win by beating Southfield Bradford Academy 28-6 after falling 12-6 to them last year. Someone is going to be 2-0 after this week.

 

SANDY DUNES: PONTIAC 50, DETROIT LINCOLN KING ACADEMY 28.

COTTER: PONTIAC 38, DETROIT LINCOLN KING ACADEMY 12.

DUNLAP: PONTIAC 27, DETROIT LINCOLN KING ACADEMY 20.

STICK: PONTIAC over DETROIT LINCOLN KING ACADEMY.

BURNEY: PONTIAC 28, DETROIT LINCOLN KING ACADEMY 21.

TIM: PONTIAC 42, DETROIT LINCOLN KING ACADEMY 7.

 

Oak Park at Oxford: These are two teams that are coming off tough losses. The Wildcats played well defensively despite falling 20-6 to Utica Eisenhower last week. The Knights were embarrassed 47-14 by Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit. Coach Greg Carter will be back on the sidelines for Oak Park which helps but Oxford should be motivated and has I think more options than the Knights.

 

SANDY DUNES: OXFORD 27, OAK PARK 7.

COTTER: OXFORD 35, OAK PARK 6.

DUNLAP: OXFORD 14, OAK PARK 7.

STICK: OXFORD over OAK PARK.

BURNEY: OXFORD 25, OAK PARK 23.

TIM: OXFORD 42, OAK PARK 14.

 

Stoney Creek at Bloomfield Hills: This is a rematch of a 42-7 Cougars win over the Blackhawks last season. Stoney Creek fell 34-21 to Harper Woods last week while Bloomfield Hills fell 27-14 to Seaholm last week. No one wants to start 0-2 but someone will.

 

SANDY DUNES: STONEY CREEK 49, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 14.

COTTER: STONEY CREEK 28, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 21.

DUNLAP: STONEY CREEK 35, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 28.

STICK: STONEY CREEK over BLOOMFIELD HILLS.

BURNEY: STONEY CREEK 27, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 24.

TIM: STONEY CREEK 35, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 14.

 

Muskegon Reeths Puffer at Farmington: This is the first meeting between the Falcons and the Rockets. Muskegon Reeths Puffer beat Grand Haven 41-13 last week. Farmington won 52-6 over Detroit Henry Ford. This is a big game for the Falcons against a really good Rockets program.

 

SANDY DUNES: MUSKEGON REETHS PUFFER 42, FARMINGTON 28.

COTTER: MUSKEGON REETHS PUFFER 49, FARMINGTON 14.

DUNLAP: MUSKEGON REETHS PUFFER 31, FARMINGTON 17.

STICK: MUSKEGON REETHS PUFFER over FARMINGTON.

BURNEY: FARMINGTON 34, MUSKEGON REETHS PUFFER 27.

TIM: MUSKEGON REETHS PUFFER 49, FARMINGTON 7.

 

North Farmington at Caledonia: This is a rematch of a 68-14 Scotts win over the Raiders at Ron Holland Field last season but North Farmington will have Ryan Shelby for this game. Caledonia made the Division One State Finals last season and beat Romeo 35-28 last week. The Raiders fell 36-3 to Groves last week. Caledonia is opening their new field and North Farmington is struggling, this doesn’t look good for the Raiders.

 

SANDY DUNES: CALEDONIA 80, NORTH FARMINGTON 31.

COTTER: CALEDONIA 63, NORTH FARMINGTON 7.

DUNLAP: CALEDONIA 42, NORTH FARMINGTON 7.

STICK: CALEDONIA over NORTH FARMINGTON.

BURNEY: CALEDONIA 33, NORTH FARMINGTON 23.

TIM: CALEDONIA 84, NORTH FARMINGTON 3.

 

Detroit Mumford at Troy: The Colts rolled behind three Noah Oury touchdowns in their 21-0 win over Macomb L’Anse Creuse North last week. The Mustangs got crushed 51-0 by Birmingham Detroit Country Day last week. When describing Troy, please watch my podcast with Scott Burnstein and Tyler Kieft for your answer.

 

SANDY DUNES: TROY 42, DETROIT MUMFORD 0.

COTTER: TROY 28, DETROIT MUMFORD 0.

DUNLAP: TROY 23, DETROIT MUMFORD 16.

STICK: TROY over DETROIT MUMFORD.

BURNEY: TROY 38, DETROIT MUMFORD 20.

TIM: TROY 42, DETROIT MUMFORD 7.

 

Troy Athens at Berkley: This is a big game for both teams for their confidence. The Red Hawks were without six starters and were upset by Fraser 14-6 at home last week which might hurt their postseason chances with the non conference. The Bears were very disappointing in their 42-0 blowout loss at Hurley Field to Walled Lake Central. Whoever goes 0-2 could be in some serious trouble heading into division play next week.

 

SANDY DUNES: TROY ATHENS 24, BERKLEY 7.

COTTER: TROY ATHENS 21, BERKLEY 7.

DUNLAP: BERKLEY 17, TROY ATHENS 7.

STICK: TROY ATHENS over BERKLEY.

BURNEY: TROY ATHENS 44, BERKLEY 22.

TIM: TROY ATHENS 28, BERKLEY 7.

 

Ferndale at Holly: This is a must win game for the Eagles to get some confidence back after falling 31-12 to Macomb L’Anse Creuse on their home field last week. Cullen Hock had five turnovers in that game. Ferndale takes on a Bronchos team that scored 35 unanswered points in their 35-7 win over Royal Oak. It’s tough going up against a Coach Billy Keenest and a Coach Dave Tooley defense. The Eagles will have it tough up in northwest Oakland County.

 

SANDY DUNES: HOLLY 35, FERNDALE 21.

COTTER: HOLLY 28, FERNDALE 18.

DUNLAP: HOLLY 21, FERNDALE 18.

STICK: HOLLY over FERNDALE.

BURNEY: FERNDALE 38, HOLLY 23.

TIM: HOLLY 28, FERNDALE 14.

 

Taylor at Royal Oak: These are two programs that have been struggling as of late. Taylor is 8-36 since 2018. The Griffins fell 41-0 to Allen Park at Wayne State last week. The Ravens put together a strong defensive first half despite the 35-7 loss to Holly last week. Royal Oak has something to look at and a possible recipe to success if they played like they did in the first half of the Holly game. This should be a very interesting game.

 

SANDY DUNES: TAYLOR 21, ROYAL OAK 14.

COTTER: ROYAL OAK 14, TAYLOR 6.

DUNLAP: TAYLOR 24, ROYAL OAK 10.

STICK: TAYLOR over ROYAL OAK.

BURNEY: ROYAL OAK 27, TAYLOR 25.

TIM: ROYAL OAK 28, TAYLOR 14.