Blitz Picks November 12/13
It is playoff time in Texas as the boys in 4A-1A hit the field for their bi-district games this week. A few have already been decided due to COVID, and we hope that trend can come to an end sooner rather than later.
Abilene High, Cooper and Wylie continue their regular seasons with key games as well.
The picks stayed pretty hot in the final week of the regular season, now it is time to test my luck in the playoffs.
Week 11: 19 for 21 (90.5%)
Week 10: 25 for 28 (89.3%)
Week 9: 23 for 25 (92.0%)
Week 8: 22 for 24 (91.7%)
Week 7: 26 for 27 (96.3%)
Week 6: 20 for 25 (80.0%)
Week 5: 21 for 28 (75.0 %)
Week 4: 22 for 26 (84.6%)
Week 3: 22 for 29 (75.9%)
Week 2: 22 for 30 (73.3%)
Week 1: 25 for 30 (83.3%)
Season: 247 for 293 (84.3%)
PLAYOFF PICKS
4A DIVISION I
Brownwood (4-5) at Kennedale (9-0-1) - Friday, 7:30 p.m.
The Lions will hopefully be healthy as they get set to take on yet another powerful team this season. Brownwood battled four playoff teams, and one pending playoff team in Wylie, in their non-district schedule, and also had to take on state ranked La Vega and playoff qualifier Stephenville in district play. Needless to say, the Lions are tested and will face an unbeaten Kennedale team that really was not. The Wildcats best win was 17-14 over a Wimberley team that spent some time in the 4A Division II rankings earlier this season. The makings of an upset are there, it will be very interesting to see if the Lions can pull it off.
The pick: Kennedale
4A DIVISION II
Levelland (2-8) at Sweetwater (7-1) - Friday, 7 p.m.
Sweetwater has had plenty of time off lately as well. The Mustangs last took the field on October 30 in a 48-32 win over Monahans that helped them clinch the District 1-4A Division II title. They get to host a Levelland team that won just twice this season, 26-10 over Snyder in September and 27-14 over Borger, which was the win that got them into the postseason. The Lobos have given up 40 or more points in seven games this season: look for that tally to reach eight in a Mustangs win on Friday.
The pick: Sweetwater
3A DIVISION I
Early (5-5) vs #1 Brock (10-0) - Thursday, 7 p.m. - Stephenville
The Longhorns first playoff game since 2008 will not be an easy one as they draw top-ranked Brock. Early played some stiff competition this season in losses to the likes of Bangs, Jim Ned and Wall. They’ll have to step it up considerably to take down a dominant Brock squad that is aiming for a trip to Jerry World.
The pick: Brock
#6 Jim Ned (8-1) vs Paradise (7-3) - Friday, 7:30 p.m. - Dublin
The Indians saw a promising playoff run come to an early end in the bi-district round a year ago, and they’re focused to not let that happen again. Jim Ned ends the regular season at #6 in the 3A Division II rankings and hopes to start a deep run Friday in Dublin. Paradise has a pretty good record for a #4 seed, but lost by an average of 30.3 points per game to the top three seeds from District 4 (Boyd 42-13, Brock 60-21, and Pilot Point 44-21).
The pick: Jim Ned
Clyde (4-6) vs Pilot Point (7-3) - Friday, 7 p.m. - Stephenville
Clyde is in the playoffs for the second straight season and draws Pilot Point, the District 4 runner-up. The Bearcats had a shot at the district crown before falling to Brock last week, much like the Bulldogs did against Jim Ned.
The pick: Pilot Point
3A DIVISION II
Bangs (8-1) vs Tornillo (3-3) - Tornillo not playing, Bangs Advances
Tornillo had to cancel Thursday morning and the Dragons advance to face top ranked Canadian.
Eastland (7-3) vs Callisburg (5-5) - Thursday, 7 p.m. - Decatur
The Mavericks look to extend their winning streak to eight as they meet Callisburg in Decatur. Eastland is looking more and more like the team that was ranked in the preseason, winning their five district contests by an average of 31.6 points per game. The Wildcats earned the fourth seed from District 6 with a 21-14 win last week over 1-9 Valley View.
The pick: Eastland
Ballinger (10-1) vs Odessa Compass (1-7) - Compass not playing, Ballinger advances
No pick needed here, as Ballinger advances courtesy of a Compass COVID forfeit. The Bearcats officially get their first playoff victory since 2007 and will take on the winner of Spearman and Lubbock Roosevelt in the area round.
2A DIVISION I
Hawley (8-2) vs Goldthwaite (3-7) - Thursday, 7 p.m. - Brownwood
The Bearcats made a state semifinal run a year ago and hope to get another great one started against Goldthwaite. Hawley beat Forsan 14-8 last week to win another district title, while Goldthwaite got an almost miraculous win over De Leon to clinch the four seed from District 4. The Eagles are in the playoffs for the first time since 2017 and will likely have their hands full against a playoff seasoned Bearcat squad.
The pick: Hawley
#6 Cisco (7-3) vs Stamford (5-5) - Thursday, 7 p.m. - Clyde
Two Big Country teams collide in Clyde Thursday night as red-hot Cisco meets Stamford. The Bulldogs knocked off Haskell in week 11 to reach the playoffs, while Cisco clobbered San Saba to win the District 4 title. Stamford has played some good teams this year in state ranked Hamlin and Childress, but the Loboes have the look of a state championship contender after the way they handled San Saba last week.
The pick: Cisco
Anson (7-2) vs Winters (3-6) - Friday, 7 p.m. - Roscoe
The Tigers and Blizzards meet in a week one rematch Friday night. Anson took the season opener at Winters 34-22 back in late August, and both teams have shown improvement since. Anson was a one-point loss to Hawley from winning a district title, while Winters played hard against some stiff competition and racked up some wins late in the year.
The pick: Anson
2A DIVISION II
Roscoe (1-9) vs Quanah (5-4) - Thursday, 6:30 p.m. - Abernathy
The Plowboys squeaked into the playoffs with a week 11 win, while Quanah has been hot down the stretch, handily winning their four district games after going 1-4 in non-district play.
The pick: Quanah
#2 Hamlin (9-0) vs Olney (5-4) - Thursday, 7 p.m. - Breckenridge
The playoff savvy Pied Pipers draw a playoff newbie Thursday night. Olney is in for the first time since 2006, but their stay likely won’t be long against #2 Hamlin.
The pick: Hamlin
Cross Plains (7-2) vs Petrolia (6-3) - Friday, 7 p.m. - Breckenridge
The Buffaloes make their sixth straight trip to the playoffs to meet a Petrolia team that is in for the first time since 2017. Cross Plains has been solid all season, only falling to state ranked Albany and 2A Division I Haskell, while Petrolia has losses to state ranked Windthorst and McCamey this season and fell 48-0 to Muenster their last time out.
The pick: Cross Plains
#5 Albany (8-1) vs Chico (1-7) - Chico not playing, Albany advances
Chico had to forfeit due to COVID concerns, getting Albany into the area round for an amazing 18th straight season. The Lions will take on Ralls or Seymour next week.
1A DIVISION I
Hermleigh (9-1) vs #1 Sterling City (10-0) - Thursday, 7:30 p.m. - Robert Lee
The Cardinals suffered their only loss of the season to Ira in their season finale, and now will have to bounce back against the top ranked Sterling City Eagles. Hermleigh has been good all year, but will have to play their best game of the season to knock off the Eagles.
The pick: Sterling City
#4 May (9-1) vs Irion County (9-1) - Friday, 7:30 p.m. - Robert Lee
The fourth-ranked Tigers begin their quest for a state title against a solid Irion County squad in the bi-district round. The Hornets only loss this season, their first back in the UIL six-man ranks since 1975, was a 62-16 district setback to #10 Water Valley. May cruised through district play with mercy rule wins in all four games.
The pick: May
Baird (5-5) vs #10 Water Valley (5-2) - Friday, 7 p.m. - Blackwell
The Bears draw tenth-ranked Water Valley in their first UIL six-man playoff game Friday night. Baird knocked off Gorman to get in last week and will have to play even better to contend with a Wildcat squad that dominated with four mercy rule wins in district action.
The pick: Water Valley
Ira (8-2) vs #3 Westbrook (9-1) - Friday, 7:30 p.m. - Colorado City
District 7 champion Ira opens with a tough matchup against Westbrook. The Wildcats came out of nowhere to reach the top of the rankings this season before suffering their only loss to new number one Sterling City 38-28. Ira is young this season, but a program that knows what playing in the postseason is all about. The Bulldogs, currently on a six-game winning streak, will need to stay hot to knock off the Wildcats.
The pick: Westbrook
1A DIVISION II
Loraine (6-4) vs #1 Balmorhea (7-1) - Thursday, 7:30 p.m. - Rankin
The Bulldogs are in the playoffs for the third straight season, and they will have to be at their best to contend with top-ranked Balmorhea. The Bears have been the number one ranked team in Division II most the season and have won seven in a row after a 38-36 season opening loss to Rankin, the current #5 team in Division I. Loraine came up shy of a district title with a 52-44 loss to Blackwell last week.
The pick: Balmorhea
Lueders-Avoca (2-7) vs #9 Fannindel (9-0) - Friday, 7 p.m. - St. Jo
The Raiders won their final two games of the season to reach the postseason, now they try to take down unbeaten and ninth ranked Fannindel. Lueders-Avoca and Trinidad are the only two Division II teams that made the playoffs with losing records. The Raiders are big underdogs, but played six other playoff teams (Petersburg, Ira, Hermleigh, Loraine, Baird and Throckmorton) in the regular season.
The pick: Fannindel
REGULAR SEASON
Wolfforth Frenship (2-5, 1-3) at Abilene High (1-4, 1-2)
The Eagles are still in the playoff mix, and a win against Frenship could go a long way toward getting them back in the postseason for the first time since 2016. Abilene plays Frenship, Odessa, and Midland to close the season: three winnable games, on paper at least. The Tigers fell to Midland Lee last week 50-21, while the Warbirds lost to Lee 51-19 their last time on the field on Oct. 30.
The pick: Abilene High
Cooper (4-1, 3-0) at Saginaw (0-7, 0-4)
The Cougars are heavy favorites as they travel to winless Saginaw. Cooper did not play last week due to COVID concerns, while the Rough Riders lost to Arlington Heights 49-14, their sixth loss by double-digits this season. Look for the Cougars to cruise to a victory to stay atop the district standings.
The pick: Cooper
Wylie (3-1, 1-1) at Canyon Randall (3-4, 1-2)
The Bulldogs are back on the road after finally playing, and winning, a home game a week ago. Other than a loss at state ranked Rider, Wylie has looked good this season under first-year head coach Clay Martin. A win in Canyon would be big for the Bulldogs in the 3-5A Division II playoff race.
The pick: Wylie
