Wednesday, October 16, 2024

Week Eight Picks

Written Wednesday October 16th at 8:30 AM

Here are the pickers and the picks for week eight.

 

SANDY DUNES: Sammy Taormina, host of OAA Now, blogger and host of Between Taorminas, and Last Three Brain Cells on Orion Neighborhood Television.

 

TIM: Tim English, writer, and blogger-Lake Orion 1996 Alumni.

 

COTTER: Sean Cotter, Walled Lake Western video coordinator, and North Farmington boys basketball scouter.

 

KEITH: Keith Dunlap, writer works as a free lance writer for the MHSAA.

 

SCOTT: Scott Burnstein, writer for MIPrepZone and State Champs.

 

SANDY DUNES: 61-29

TIM: 64-26

COTTER: 70-20

KEITH: 66-24

SCOTT: 64-26

 

WEATHER FORECAST: Mostly Clear-Lows 54-57 degrees.


1. Groves at Royal Oak: The Falcons have been rolling all season long posting the fourth most points in Division Two. Groves really hasn't been tested and has won over their opponents by two touchdowns or more. The Falcons will head to Royal Oak to take on a Ravens team that has really struggled all season. Groves will likely use this game as a tune up to prepare for arch rival Seaholm next week.

SANDY DUNES: GROVES 56, ROYAL OAK 0.

TIM: GROVES 125 TRILLION, ROYAL OAK 0.

COTTER: GROVES 42, ROYAL OAK 0.

KEITH: GROVES 31, ROYAL OAK 7.

SCOTT: GROVES 46, ROYAL OAK 22.

 

Oak Park at 2. Oxford: It has been a special season for the Wildcats. They won the Red for the first time in school history and are coming off an impressive 38-14 win in the Swamp last week. Oxford is also a team that is locked in for the postseason sitting at 11th. The Knights postseason dreams took a hit falling 26-12 to Lapeer last week. If they can upset the Wildcats then that will go a long way when it comes to postseason dreams but it will be a really tall task especially when the other side has Jack Hendrix and especially Luke Johnson to deal with.

SANDY DUNES: OXFORD 45, OAK PARK 12.

TIM: OXFORD 56, OAK PARK 7.

COTTER: OXFORD 45, OAK PARK 6.

KEITH: OXFORD 34, OAK PARK 13.

SCOTT: OXFORD 36, OAK PARK 14.

 

3. Lake Orion at Farmington: This is a very interesting game between two teams that have been trending in the right direction. This is a huge game for the Falcons when it comes to postseason positioning, I think they are safe when it comes to postseason dreams where they are 18th in Division Two at the moment and have beaten three Division One schools in Troy Athens, Bloomfield Hills, and in a hard fought 32-23 win over Troy last week. The Dragons pose a really tough task for Farmington. Lake Orion is ninth in Division One when it comes to the postseason but they are playing for home field in the postseason after earning a 20-13 win over Clarkston. This should be a really interesting matchup on Farmington TV 10 at Falcon Field.

SANDY DUNES: LAKE ORION 56, FARMINGTON 14.

TIM: LAKE ORION 42, FARMINGTON 35.

COTTER: LAKE ORION 38, FARMINGTON 6.

KEITH: LAKE ORION 35, FARMINGTON 7.

SCOTT: LAKE ORION 34, FARMINGTON 21.

 

6. North Farmington at 4. Adams: These are two teams that are trending in the right direction after being locked in when it comes to the postseason. (Adams 12th in Division One, North Farmington 14th in Division Two.) The Highlanders won 21-13 over Stoney Creek which is their first win without quarterback Ryland Watters who suffered a foot injury after their loss to Lake Orion and was ruled out for the season. The Raiders are coming off an emotional 24-23 win over Seaholm. This should be a fun matchup between Duke Blanch and Matteo Humbert at running back. The coaching matchup is also a good one between Coach Jon Herstin and Coach Tony Patritto. This should be a fun matchup on the corner of Adams and Tienken Road.

SANDY DUNES: ADAMS 28, NORTH FARMINGTON 14.

TIM: ADAMS 35, NORTH FARMINGTON 14.

COTTER: ADAMS 35, NORTH FARMINGTON 6.

KEITH: ADAMS 31, NORTH FARMINGTON 13.

SCOTT: ADAMS 30, NORTH FARMINGTON 16.

 

Bloomfield Hills at 5. Clarkston: The Wolves are coming off a really tough 20-13 loss to Lake Orion last week. Their postseason spot is locked so that isn't too much of a concern (18th in Division One.) It's about getting back on track for Coach Justin Pintar's team and cleaning up the penalties. Clarkston will host a Bloomfield Hills squad that has really struggled all season long. The Blackhawks are coming off a very tough 28-25 loss to Troy Athens last week. This could be a golden opportunity for Pintar and company to see the backups play a ton and build that depth heading into the postseason.

SANDY DUNES: CLARKSTON 56, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 0.

TIM: CLARKSTON 999 TRILLION, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 0.

COTTER: CLARKSTON 49, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 7.

KEITH: CLARKSTON 35, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 10.

SCOTT: CLARKSTON 35, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 12.

 

8. West Bloomfield at 7. Seaholm: This is a huge game for both teams for different reasons. The Lakers are coming off a really disappointing 38-14 loss to Oxford at the Swamp last week. The postseason picture looks murky at the moment for West Bloomfield sitting at 27th in Division One despite playing one of the toughest schedules in the State but this is a game that the Lakers need if they want to get to the postseason. I'm not saying that West Bloomfield needs to win out to feel safely in the postseason but it looks like they do. The Maples are coming off a very disappointing 24-23 loss to North Farmington last week but they look firmly locked into the postseason with the fifth spot in Division Two at the moment. This should be a very interesting in the Maple Forest.

SANDY DUNES: WEST BLOOMFIELD 34, SEAHOLM 31.

TIM: WEST BLOOMFIELD 28, SEAHOLM 21.

COTTER: WEST BLOOMFIELD 35, SEAHOLM 14.

KEITH: WEST BLOOMFIELD 28, SEAHOLM 21.

SCOTT: WEST BLOOMFIELD 37, SEAHOLM 32.

 

Stoney Creek at 9. Avondale: This is a really interesting game at Dick Bye Field this week with a ton of storylines. The Cougars hold the last postseason spot in Division One despite a tough 21-13 loss to Adams last week. Stoney Creek needs to win out to secure their spot into the postseason. The Yellow Jackets have been red hot since their 0-2 start and especially offensively. Avondale looks safe in the postseason in Division Three sitting 14th at the moment. This is going to be the toughest game of the season for the Yellow Jackets especially up front with the likes of Spencer Beckeman and Peyton Rummler along with the physically of running back Sam Fogler but the Cougars will have to deal with Justin Sykes and Cooper Voeferray and the coaching matchup is very interesting between an offensive mind in Bob Meyer and a defensive mind in Rick Powell. This should be a fun one in Auburn Hills.

SANDY DUNES: STONEY CREEK 21, AVONDALE 14.

TIM: STONEY CREEK 35, AVONDALE 7.

COTTER: STONEY CREEK 28, AVONDALE 0.

KEITH: STONEY CREEK 28, AVONDALE 14.

SCOTT: STONEY CREEK 24, AVONDALE 20.

 

10. Harper Woods at Pontiac: The Pioneers have been on a roll in the last two weeks outscoring their opponents by a combined 94-21 which is a good sign for Coach Rob Oden and company. Harper Woods is secure in Division Four having the eighth most playoff points but they could use more especially if they want to get multiple home games like they did on their way to the Division Four State title last season. The Phoenix have really struggled ever since their week one win over Detroit Fredrick Douglass. It could get really ugly for Pontiac in this game especially with the way Harper Woods is playing these last two weeks.

SANDY DUNES: HARPER WOODS 63, PONTIAC 12.

TIM: HARPER WOODS 70, PONTIAC 7.

COTTER: HARPER WOODS 48, PONTIAC 0.

KEITH: HARPER WOODS 35, PONTIAC 6.

SCOTT: HARPER WOODS 45, PONTIAC 23.

 

Rochester at Berkley: These are two teams that are coming off very tough losses last week. The Bears fell 49-7 to Avondale while the Falcons fell 44-15 to Harper Woods last week. Both teams are battling for pride when it comes to postseason dreams at the moment. It's the pink game at Hurley Field this week. This should be a very interesting game.

SANDY DUNES: ROCHESTER 28, BERKLEY 14.

TIM: ROCHESTER 35, BERKLEY 7.

COTTER: ROCHESTER 35, BERKLEY 7.

KEITH: ROCHESTER 24, BERKLEY 14.

SCOTT: ROCHESTER 32, BERKLEY 21.

 

Troy Athens at Troy: These are two rivals that are heading in opposite directions right now. The Colts postseason dreams took a big hit falling 32-23 to Farmington last week. Troy needs to win both games (North Farmington and this game) to have a shot at the postseason and that still might not be guaranteed especially with them needing to catch Stoney Creek, Jenison, Kalamazoo Central, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix, and Chippewa Valley. The Red Hawks have really struggled all season but are coming off a 28-25 win over Bloomfield Hills last week. If Troy Athens can upset Troy that will not only take the Colts out of the postseason but that could give them some optimism heading into next season.

SANDY DUNES: TROY 24, TROY ATHENS 21.

TIM: TROY 35, TROY ATHENS 7.

COTTER: TROY 28, TROY ATHENS 7.

KEITH: TROY 21, TROY ATHENS 17.

SCOTT: TROY 33, TROY ATHENS 25.

 

Southfield Arts and Tech at Ferndale (4:30 PM): These are two teams that are heading in opposite directions right now. The Eagles are battling for one of the last postseason spots in Division Two (27th.) The 20-12 win at Ron Holland Field in week two is huge at the moment for the Eagles. Ferndale will play a Division One opponent in Southfield Arts and Tech. The Warriors have struggled after winning the Division One State title last season. This is shaping up to be a very interesting game in Ferndale

SANDY DUNES: FERNDALE 28, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 7.

TIM: FERNDALE 56, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 0.

COTTER: FERNDALE 28, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 12.

KEITH: FERNDALE 14, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 10.

SCOTT: FERNDALE 34, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 24.


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