Blitz Picks: September 18
We are on to week four and COVID-19 is robbing us of another handful of games.
Eastland at Breckenridge, Hamilton at Bangs and Veribest at Rotan (although this game is not a coronavirus cancellation) are all off the schedule.
As for the picks last week: about the same. Just a tiny bit better, only because there was one less game to pick. Maybe it was beginners luck in week one?
Week 3: 22 for 29 (75.9%)
Week 2: 22 for 30 (73.3%)
Week 1: 25 for 30 (83.3%)
Season: 69 for 89 (77.5%)
Brownwood (1-2) at Burnet (2-1)
The Lions bounced back from a loss in week one to Lampasas with a big win over Greenwood in week two. We’ll see if they can bounce back again at Burnet after falling to state ranked China Spring last Friday night. The Bulldogs lost to state ranked Boerne last week, and have victories over Jarrell and Gonzales so far in 2020.
The pick: Brownwood
Lake View (2-1) at Snyder (1-2)
The Chiefs simply could not stop Leo Holsey and Sweetwater at home last week, now they hit the road to Snyder to face a Tiger team that scored a season, and Wes Wood era, high 40 points last week at Lamesa.
The pick: Snyder
Sweetwater (1-1) at #7 4A D1 Boerne (3-0)
The Mustangs hit the road again, this time for a 3.5+ hour visit to face seventh ranked Boerne. The Greyhounds beat Burnet last week 30-7, and have a 42-13 win over Beeville Jones and a 37-9 win over Splendora under their belts as well. Sweetwater hopes to keep momentum rolling after scoring 58 points at Lake View a week ago.
The pick: Boerne
Jim Ned (1-1) at #4 2A D2 Cisco (2-1)
Another week, another tough opponent for Jim Ned. The same could be said for Cisco. The Indians blasted Eastland last week while the Loboes shut out Breckenridge 14-0. This is truly the toughest game to pick this week.
The pick: Jim Ned
Early (1-2) at Merkel (2-1)
The Badgers suffered their first loss of the season last week at Hawley 35-21, while the Longhorns had a rough go of things in a 35-7 loss to Comanche. Dave Campbell’s has the Badgers as one-point favorites in what could be an exciting battle in Badgerland.
The pick: Merkel
Clyde (1-2) at Ballinger (3-0)
Clyde beat up on Riesel in a neutral site game in Dublin Saturday to pick up win number one on the season. They will need that momentum to carry over as they visit unbeaten Ballinger. The Bearcats got their offense rolling in a 34-2 victory over Colorado City a week ago.
The pick: Ballinger
#9 2A D2 Albany (2-1) at Haskell (1-2)
The Indians picked up their first victory last week, knocking Cross Plains out of the state rankings in the process. The task at hand will be a bit tougher this week, however, as Haskell hosts a state ranked Albany squad hoping to get back on track after their 42-6 home loss to Hamlin.
The pick: Albany
Anson (3-0) at #2 2A D2 Hamlin (3-0)
This one is up there with Jim Ned at Cisco for Big Country game of the week honors. One of the “oh’s” has got to go in Hamlin in this battle of unbeaten Jones County rivals. Anson outlasted Dublin a week ago, while Hamlin flexed a bit of muscle with a 36-point victory at Albany.
The pick: Hamlin
Stamford (1-2) vs Sudan (1-2) in Floydada
The Bulldogs and Hornets will meet somewhat in the middle as both teams hope to get things headed in the right direction after slow starts. Stamford fell 58-14 at now ninth ranked (3A D2) Childress while Sudan, ranked at the beginning of the season in 2A Division I, suffered a 32-7 home loss to Farwell.
The pick: Stamford
Hawley (2-1) at Winters (0-3)
The Bearcats returned to form with a home win over Merkel a week ago, and now visit a Winters team that battled hard with unbeaten Bangs before losing 42-19.
The pick: Hawley
(2-1) Coleman at Grape Creek (1-2)
Coleman got past Brady in a 15-12 slug-fest Friday night, now the Bluecats head to San Angelo to face a Grape Creek squad feeling good after picking up their first victory of the season 42-12 over TLCA San Angelo.
The pick: Coleman
Coahoma (3-0) at Colorado City (0-3)
The Wolves rough start to 2020 may get worse when host unbeaten Coahoma Friday night. The Bulldogs beat Elorado a week ago 59-34, and have a 49-0 victory over Miles and a 15-13 win against Forsan on their ledger as well.
The pick: Coahoma
De Leon (0-3) at Cross Plains (2-1)
The Buffs entered the state rankings and quickly dropped back out of them after their somewhat surprising 20-16 loss at Haskell last Friday night. They will host a Bearcat team still in search of victory after season opening losses to Dublin, Windthorst and Millsap.
The pick: Cross Plains
Ranger (0-2) at Itasca (0-1)
Ranger had the night off last week, now they get set to take on a contender for top mascot in the state, the Wampus Cats, Friday night. Itasca has only been able to play one game this year, a 34-6 season opening loss to Wortham.
The pick: Itasca
Roscoe (0-3) at Christoval (2-1)
The Plowboys dropped their third straight to start the season as previously winless Miles took them down 29-7 on their home field a week ago. Now Roscoe visits a Christoval Cougar squad with back-to-back wins over Grape Creek (23-18) and Sonora (22-14) under their belts.
The pick: Christoval
Aspermont (1-2) at Lueders-Avoca (0-3)
The Hornets got on track with a 74-36 beat down of Benjamin last week, while the Raiders dropped their third consecutive game to start the season, 54-0 at Hermleigh.
The pick: Aspermont
Robert Lee (1-1) at Hermleigh (3-0)
Hermleigh kept their perfect season rolling with a 54-0 shut out of Lueders-Avoca a week ago. They face Robert Lee, who squeaked past Veribest 33-32 to get in the win column for the first time this season.
The pick: Hermleigh
Highland (3-0) at Loraine (2-1)
The Hornets put themselves on the list of six-man contenders with their win over state ranked Blackwell last week, while Loraine got shut out by now #1 in 1A D1 Westbrook 49-0 to suffer their first loss of the season.
The pick: Highland
Knox City (1-2) at Ira (2-1)
Ira hosts the high scoring Greyhounds in what could be an entertaining battle Friday night. Knox City has scored 54, 67 and 56 points in their three outings this season, but have given up 68 (to 1A D2 #5 Motley County) and 60 (to 1A D1 #7 May) in losses the last two weeks. The Bulldogs are coming off a 66-18 victory over Eden.
The pick: Ira
#7 1A D1 May (2-1) vs Nueces Canyon (1-1) in Eden
Here is a contest that came about after game shuffling this week, and it gives the Tigers a shot at revenge. Nueces Canyon knocked May out of the playoffs a year ago 66-62 in the second round. Now the Tigers, fresh off a 60-56 win at Knox City, get to face a Nueces Canyon team that is licking their wounds after a 46-0 loss to top ranked Balmorhea.
The pick: May
Moran (0-3) at #10 1A D2 Blackwell (1-2)
The Bulldogs have had a rough start to the 2020 season, and it only gets tougher at a state ranked Blackwell squad that is smarting after a 20-point loss to Highland a week ago. Moran got shut out at Rotan, 52-0.
The pick: Blackwell
Rising Star (1-2) at Three Way (1-2)
The Wildcats came up short at home to Santa Anna, while the Braves fell 42-36 to Mullin a week ago. This game is one of three closest to a pick ‘em this week according sixmanfootball.com, as the Wildcats enter as three point favorites.
The pick: Rising Star
Roby (2-1) at Rule (2-1)
The Lions and Bobcats meet in a battle of 2-1 teams Friday night in Haskell County. Roby got a 45 when they blasted Bronte 54-6 last week, while Rule outlasted Patton Springs 51-28 to bounce back from their loss the week before at Vernon Northside.
The pick: Rule
Brookesmith (1-1) at Santa Anna (3-0)
The Mountaineers look to stay perfect as they host Brookesmith. The Mustangs outlasted Rochelle last week 70-68, while Santa Anna rolled past Rising Star 68-22. The Mountaineers could go a long way toward proving they are “for real” with a win.
The pick: Brookesmith
TLCA Abilene (0-2) at TLCA Midland (0-2)
Two first-year schools in the Texas Leadership Charter Academy group meet in Midland, with the victor gaining its first ever varsity win.
The pick: TLCA Midland
Morton (1-2) at Trent (0-3)
The Gorillas continue a five-game home stand to start the season with a battle against Morton. The Indians were shut out by Whitharral last week 48-0. Their lone win was in week two over Medina 35-32. Trent is coming off a loss to the Jayton JV.
The pick: Morton
Also, Abilene Christian will become the first Big Country college team to hit the field when they face UTEP in El Paso Saturday night at 8 p.m. It is the first of six games the Wildcats were able to scramble and put together this fall. UTEP will be playing for the third time the season. The Miners knocked off Stephen F. Austin 24-14 but got blown out in Austin by the Longhorns 59-3 last week.
