Blitz Picks November 19/20
A dozen Big Country teams are still alive in the playoffs, while Abilene, Cooper and Wylie continue to battle to reach the postseason.
This is the point of the playoffs where some of our area teams will have to pull off upsets to keep their season alive.
The picks were pretty good once again, as we hit at least 90 percent for the fifth time in six weeks and have correctly called almost 85 percent of games played this season!
Week 12: 19 for 21 (90.5%)
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: 266 for 314 (84.7%)
PLAYOFF PICKS
4A DIVISION II
Sweetwater (8-1) vs Celina (4-4) - Friday, 7 p.m. - Stephenville
The Mustangs face one of their bigger tests of the season against a Celina squad that is much better than their record indicates. The Bobcats have losses to three current 4A Division I playoff teams and the champion of their district, Aubrey, who is also still in the postseason. Sweetwater will have to keep their high-powered offense rolling against a Celina defense that has allowed just 16 points over their last three games.
The pick: Celina
3A DIVISION I
Jim Ned (9-1) vs Dalhart (8-3) - Friday, 7 p.m. - Levelland
The Indians avoided a first-round upset with a 21-18 victory over Paradise, now they turn their attention to Dalhart. The Wolves have won three straight after falling to Bushland in a game that decided the district title, and also have losses to 3A Division II power Spearman and 4A Division I playoff team Pampa. While Dalhart is tested, they’ve lost all their “big” games this season. Meanwhile, Jim Ned has four what I would call impressive wins on their resume over Eastland, Cisco, Hallettsville and Wall.
The pick: Jim Ned
3A DIVISION II
Bangs (8-1) vs Canadian (10-1) - Friday, 7 p.m. - Vernon
The Dragons will face their biggest test of the season when they meet top ranked Canadian in Vernon Friday night. Bangs is in the area round for the first time since 2013 after their forfeit win against Tornillo last week, while the Wildcats have made at least the state semifinals in each of the past six seasons. Canadian’s only loss this season is to Iowa Park, who is still alive in the 4A Division II playoffs. The Dragons will have to play their best game of the year to pull off the upset.
The pick: Canadian
Ballinger (10-1) vs Spearman (10-1) - Friday, 7 p.m. - Floydada
Ballinger meets Spearman Friday in one of the better playoff games West Texas has to offer. The only loss for the Lynx this season was a forfeit to Canadian, and their only close game all year was a 43-36 win over Childress. Ballinger cruised through district play and has impressive wins over Bangs and Jim Ned on their resume to go along with a shorthanded loss at state ranked Llano from 3A Division I. Despite being a district runner-up, Spearman is a five point favorite according to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football.
The pick: Ballinger
Eastland (8-3) vs Bells (9-2) - Friday, 7:30 p.m. - Boyd
The Mavericks look to run their winning streak to nine games as they meet up with Bells. The Panthers, located 12.4 miles east of Sherman (I know I had to look it up), beat Edgewood 38-12 last week. They have losses to Holliday, 34-21, and Gunter, 41-7, this season, two of the 3A Division II Region II favorites along with Eastland. The Mavericks have been on a roll during their current streak, winning those eight contests by an average of 29.6 points per game.
The pick: Eastland
2A DIVISION I
Hawley (9-2) vs Sundown (9-2) - Friday, 4 p.m. - Big Spring
The Bearcats and Roughnecks meet in what is becoming an annual playoff showdown. This is the third straight season the two have met in the postseason: Sundown won by a point two years ago and Hawley returned the favor on the way to the regional finals in 2019. The Roughnecks got past Farwell a week ago, and their two losses this season came to Abernathy, a 3A Division II playoff team, and district champion Post. Hawley has not been as dominating this season as they were a year ago, but did come away with a district title.
The pick: Sundown
Cisco (8-3) vs Olton (8-3) - Friday, 7 p.m. - Colorado City
The Loboes are big favorites once again, 28 points according to DCTF, as they look to reach the third round. Olton has a forfeit loss to eventual district champ Panhandle and two on-field losses to Sudan, a 2A Division II playoff team, and Hale Center, who fell in the first round of the 2A Division I playoffs. Cisco is on a six-game winning streak and has won those contests by an average of 34 points per game.
The pick: Cisco
Anson (8-2) vs Post (11-0) - Friday, 7 p.m. - Clyde
The Tigers are in the area round for the first time since 2016, and to reach round three will have to pull off an upset. Post has been state ranked all season and is coming off a state runner-up finish in 2019. The Antelopes have given up just 47 points all season, which is the second best mark in program history (the 1975 9-1 Post team gave up just 43 points). Anson’s high-powered offense, that scored 45 against Winters last week and averages 36.8 points per game, will have to be in top form, and the Tiger defense will have its hands full with an Antelope offense that puts up 53.5 points per contest. The Tigers advantage may be in that they have actually played the past two weeks, while Post has settled for forfeit wins over Tahoka and Stinnett West Texas.
The pick: Post
2A DIVISION II
Hamlin (10-0) vs Petrolia (7-3) - Friday, 7 p.m. - Seymour
The Pied Pipers are 43-point favorites, according to DCTF, to beat Petrolia when they meet in Seymour Friday night. Hamlin’s biggest test this season was a 14-0 win at Windthorst, a district rival to Petrolia that downed the Pirates 64-18. The Pirates have momentum after pulling off a slight upset against Cross Plains in the bi-district round, but Hamlin is the clear favorite to move on.
The pick: Hamlin
Albany (9-1) vs Ralls (7-3) - Thursday, 7 p.m. - Snyder
Albany will have their biggest test since falling to Hamlin in early September as they meet the second place team from the Pipers’ district. The Lions could be a little rusty, their last game was a won over Cross Plains on Oct. 30. Their defense has been stout, giving up just 14 total points over the past six games, and will need to be ready against a Ralls offense that scored 54 points against Seymour last week and has scored at least 40 five times.
The pick: Albany
1A DIVISION I
May (10-1) vs Jonesboro (10-1) - Friday, 6:30 p.m. - Dublin
The Tigers and Eagles meet in Dublin with a trip to the Region IV final on the line. May has not been tested (eight straight 45-point mercy rule wins) since a 44-40 loss to top ranked Sterling City in week two and a 60-56 win over state ranked Knox City in week three. Jonesboro has mercy rule victories in nine of their ten wins this season, and their lone loss came to Division II power Borden County 77-31 in early October.
The pick: May
Westbrook (10-1) vs Garden City (6-5) - Friday, 8 p.m. - Big Spring
Westbrook will be a big favorite to move on when they face Garden City on Friday night. The Wildcats shut out a very good Ira team in the first round and now faces a Garden City squad that they beat 69-24 on Oct. 2. The Bearkats five losses have all come to state ranked opponents.
The pick: Westbrook
1A DIVISION II
Throckmorton (8-1) vs Strawn (9-2) - Friday, 7 p.m. - Lake Worth
The Greyhounds meet the Greyhounds in the Metroplex Friday night. Throckmorton is a 41 point underdog according to sixmanfootball.com and a 21 point underdog by DCTF’s estimation, and will have to play their best game of the season to knock off state ranked Strawn. Strawn has shut out their last four opponents, including Walnut Springs 46-0 in the bi-district round.
The pick: Strawn
Blackwell (8-3) vs Motley County (8-2) - Friday, 7 p.m. - Hermleigh
Blackwell was among the state title favorites when the season kicked off, and they’ll have a chance to prove it this week against a Motley County team that played in the state championship game a year ago. The Hornets have three losses to Division I teams this season, while the Matadors only losses have been to state ranked Westbrook and Jayton.
The pick: Motley County
TAPPS 6-MAN DIVISION III
Abilene Christian (5-1) vs Dallas Fairhill (1-4) - ACS Advances
No pick necessary as ACS advances to face Greenville Christian Saturday, Nov. 28 at 2 p.m. in Hico.
REGULAR SEASON
Abilene High (2-4, 2-2) at Odessa (0-5, 0-4)
The Eagles postseason chances will get a big shot in the arm with a win at winless Odessa Friday night. The Warbirds rolled past Frenship last week and look for their first two-game winning streak of the season Friday. An Abilene win and a Midland loss to Midland Lee would clinch the Eagles first playoff bid since 2016.
The pick: Abilene
Azle (5-1, 3-0) at Cooper (5-1, 4-0)
The District 3-5A Division II title will likely be decided at Shotwell Stadium Friday night in this contest. Cooper knocked Azle out of the playoffs a year ago and come in as 17-point DCTF favorites to get the job done again. Brewer, 3-1 in district play, is the only other team that could challenge Cooper for the district crown if the Cougars are able to get past Azle this week.
The pick: Cooper
Wylie (3-2, 1-2) at #9 Lubbock Cooper (5-1, 2-0)
The Bulldogs fell on the road at Randall last week and are on the road again, for the fifth and final time on their seven game 2020 schedule, this week against ninth ranked Lubbock Cooper. The Pirates haven’t played since an Oct. 30 42-6 victory over Plainview. Wylie wraps up the regular season against Plainview next week.
The pick: Lubbock Cooper
