Preps

Hillsborough: Football Friday Picks

Times staff writers Joey Knight and Keith Niebuhr give their predictions on tonight’s football games. All games start at 7:30 p.m.

By JOEY KNIGHT AND KEITH NIEBUHR
Published November 2, 2007

Brandon (6-2) at Plant City (5-3)

East Hillsborough's oldest schools vie for the Class 5A, District 7 title. Brandon two-way star Samir Baker has been hampered by a high-ankle sprain, but we like the Eagles' depth. Heck, they rotate eight linemen.

Our pick: Brandon

Jefferson (4-4) at Plant (7-1)

We're not sure if Dragons coach Mike Fenton, appealing a one-game suspension, will be on the Dragons' sideline for this 4A-10 championship tilt. What we do know is, Aaron Murray will be in the Panthers' huddle, and that's good enough for us.

Our pick: Plant

Alonso (5-4) at Sickles (6-3)

One of these teams will back into the 5A playoffs tonight. Sickles is coming off a loss to previously-winless Blake, and Alonso has totaled five points in its past four games.

Our pick: Alonso

Wharton (5-4) at Gaither (6-3)

Nine games into the season, we still haven't been able to get a good read on either of these programs. What we know for sure is, the winner captures the 5A-5 title.

Our pick: Gaither

Armwood (9-0) at Middleton (5-3)

Middleton's slim payoff hopes hinge on a win tonight; Can Tigers tailback Carlton Jones (275 yards last week) produce against the county's top scoring defense?

Our pick: Armwood

TBT (5-3) at Hillsborough (7-2)

The Titans can make a mess of the 4A-11 playoff race if they upset the Terriers. We don't think they will.

Our pick: Hillsborough

Durant (4-4) at Riverview (3-5)

We like Riverview, two points from a three-game win streak, to prevail, possibly creating a three-way tie for the runnerup spot in 6A-6.

Our pick: Riverview

Chamberlain (6-3) at King (2-6)

One of the few games in the county with zero playoff implications. Chamberlain, the 5A-6 champion, probably still is seething from last week's seven-point loss to Plant. Just what King needs.

Our pick: Chamberlain

East Bay (3-5) at Freedom (1-7)

We're still scratching our heads over Freedom's 49-point outburst against Middleton two weeks ago. For the skeptic in us, Patriots, do it again and we'll start to believe your program's back on track.

Our pick: East Bay

Robinson (0-8) at Spoto (3-5)

Factoid of the week: Robinson, which opened in 1959, never has had a winless season. Considering Plant is the last opponent on Robinson's schedule, this represents the Knights' last legitimate chance at victory in 2007.

Our pick: Robinson

Blake (1-8) at Leto (3-6)

The Yellow Jackets' victory against Sickles last week revealed some character; these kids haven't folded. But they're still a bit too one-dimensional for our taste.

Our pick: Leto

Newsome (4-5) at Bloomingdale (2-6)

Three most baffling questions in all of football: (A) Will Bowden retire before Paterno? (B) Has the prevent defense ever prevented anything? (C) Can anyone explain why Bloomingdale never has had a winning season?

Our pick: Newsome

Berkeley Prep (4-4) at Frostproof (7-1)

We get the feeling Dominick Ciao's squad will have a long bus ride home. Really, really long. Note to bus driver: Take State Road 60 east all the way through Lake Wales, turn right at the orange groves, then start looking for stadium lights.

Our pick: Frostproof

Jesuit (4-4) at Lakeland Kathleen (7-1)

We're picking the Red Devils, which means Jesuit must defeat arch-rival Tampa Catholic next week to avoid its first losing season since 1989.

Our pick: Kathleen

Mulberry (4-4) at Lennard (1-8)

The intriguing commonality shared by these teams is the fact they've both played Tampa Catholic tough lately. Lennard fell to the Crusaders by only 10; Mulberry by one.

Our pick: Mulberry

Cambridge (5-3) at Academy at the Lakes (1-6)

We don't like getting overly scientific with these prognostications, but we can't help ourselves - Cambridge does a cannonball on the "Lakes."

Our pick: Cambridge

Tampa Catholic (7-1) at Fort Myers Bishop Verot (5-2)

How do we know the Crusaders aren't looking ahead to next week's grudge match against Jesuit? Because this game is for the 2A-5 title.

Our pick: TC

[Last modified November 1, 2007, 23:57:51]