We’ve come to the point of the season where teams have to ante up.
As the saying goes: it’s “put up or shut up” time.
The playoff picture is starting to take shape. A select few teams have even clinched playoff berths at this point – I see you Westminster Christian and Chaminade.
Others have either “essentially” been eliminated or have “essentially” earned a playoff spot.
That word – “essentially” – is funny though. I’ve seen some strange things happen when it comes down to district playoff races. So, until the math teacher can no longer figure out an equation in which your team makes the playoffs, keep playing.
I had what I’d call a “strange” week last week, going 35-12. Not exactly what I envision at this point of the season. But my confidence isn’t shaken though.
Because the playoffs can be seen in the not-so-far-away distance, things get even trickier to predict. You don’t know how teams will respond when they’re backed into a corner and you don’t know how teams handle success.
Time to ante up.
Record last week: 35-12
Season record: 273-66 (.805 Correct Pick Percentage)
53 games picked this week with four games in the Bald Predictions Spotlight.
(1) American Heritage Patriots (5-1) vs. C. Gibbons Chiefs (3-3)
Friday at Cardinal Gibbons HS, 7pm
This rivalry has been a bit one-sided in recent years.
American Heritage, which has climbed all the way to the top of the SFHSSports Top 20 rankings, not only has a seat at the “big boy table” it has etched its name into one of the chairs.
The Patriots are a complete football team. The coaching is top notch, they have solid leadership from their seniors and they have a great crop of young players to build around for the next couple of years.
Cardinal Gibbons has been a hard team to understand this season. Losing to Class 4A Chaminade-Madonna, then coming back to beat district rival Jackson makes you scratch your head about who this team really is.
It’s not like Gibbons doesn’t have the players to be more than a .500 team at this point. I’m fan of running back Deon McIntosh and have been increasingly impressed with twins Elijah and Elisha Daniels. Still, this team is missing something.
I think American Heritage comes out and flexes its muscle – taking an early lead on Cardinal Gibbons – and doesn’t look back. The Pats have had an extra week to heal and prepare, which only makes me think that Heritage head coach Mike Rumph will have his guys ready to play and will want to make sure they send a message.
Bald Prediction = American Heritage wins 41-20
(2) South Dade Buccaneers (6-0) vs. Killian Cougars (2-3)
Thursday at Southridge Field, 7pm
As the weeks go by, I am more and more impressed with South Dade.
This team, which caught my eye all the way back in the spring, is playing good football right now and they look like a team destined for a deep playoff run.
The running back tandem of Ivan Smith and Jawon Hamilton is the best in South Florida – hands down. Also, the Bucs’ offensive line is arguably one of the best in the state. And a great offensive line makes an offense more versatile and it makes everyone else look that much better because of the work that they do up front.
After Killian had a great 2014 season, 2015 hasn’t been as kind.
As good a season as the Cougars had last year, they were still an offensively feeble team. Those issues have been exacerbated by the graduation of key players. In five games, Killian has only eclipsed the 20-point mark once.
The Cougars defense still plays with a lot of pride and can make a night hard on opposing offenses, but it’s just not enough to contend for 48 minutes – especially against a team as good as South Dade.
I think South Dade keeps things simple in this game. The Bucs run the ball, move the clock, and manufacture another district win – one that will clinch a playoff spot.
Bald Prediction = South Dade wins 38-14
(3) Carol City Chiefs (6-1) vs. Norland Vikings (2-3)
Friday at Traz Powell Stadium, 7:30pm *Co-Game Of The Week*
This game is going to be an all-out battle.
It’s a rivalry game, better yet a neighborhood rivalry.
The Miami Gardens Bowl Trophy is on the line.
And, just to really kick things up 47 more notches – it’s a district game, in which one of the teams can nearly clinch a playoff spot (Carol City) and the other is playing for its playoff life (Norland).
Like I’ve said about this district, Carol City is in the best position going into the final three weeks, but the Chiefs aren’t out of the woods yet.
Winning this game would go a long – like, really long – way to putting Carol City in the playoffs. A win, at the very least, puts them in position to be a part of any potential district playoff.
Norland on the other hand, has its back up against the wall. The Vikings, who are riding a three-game losing streak and haven’t played a game since September 26th, desperately need a win. Even though, technically, the Vikings could still have a chance to get into the playoffs if they lose this game – I don’t think they would want to be in that position.
This game has a couple of easy factors.
The biggest is the health of Carol City senior quarterback Stephen Buckshot Calvert. I spoke with “Buck” myself and I spoke with his head coach Aubrey Hill and they both affirmed that Calvert “should be ready to go against Norland”.
Calvert left during the first quarter of Carol City’s win over Central and did not play in the Chiefs 33-0 win over Southwest during week seven.
If Calvert is healthy and can play, that gives the Chiefs a big edge. Although, I know the Vikings defense will be blitzing all night and go after “Buck” and test how healthy he really is.
The other factor is Carol City’s ability to run the football. As good as Norland’s defense is, it was shown a few weeks ago by American Heritage that the Vikes defense can be run on.
Freshman Nayquan Wright looks nothing like a ninth grader. He’s certainly already a top-10 ball carrier in South Florida. So, it would behoove the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator to put the ball in the hands of Wright and fellow running back Darnell Rolle – no matter if Calvert is healthy or not.
The thing that’s going to hurt Norland is the fragility of its offense.
Chiefs run the ball, they win.
Bald Prediction = Carol City wins 20-16
(T-8) Central Rockets (5-2) vs. Northwestern Bulls (3-3)
Saturday at Traz Powell Stadium, 7pm *Co-Game Of The Week*
This game became a lot more interesting when Northwestern took down Booker T. Washington last week.
I’ve been preaching all year that the Bulls are trending in the right direction. I maintain that head coach Max “Why The Defense Ain’t Working” Edwards is the right guy for the job and that Northwestern is a program that has much brighter days ahead of it.
I like sophomore quarterback Chatarius “Tutu” Atwell – but I really like Northwestern senior running back Corey Lane. He’s a playmaker and he’s one of those guys that you want in your foxhole.
Central seemed to “get right” last week against Jackson. The Rockets were able to manufacture 39 points – their second highest point total of the season.
Believe it or not, Central too is in a must-win situation. A loss in this game and the Rockets’ chances of making the playoffs are slim to none – and slim would have bought a one-way ticket out of town.
That pressure, coupled with Central’s still stout defense gives me confidence in picking the “Roc Boys”. Northwestern is going to put up a strong fight because its defense is good also, it’s a rivalry game and Central’s offense can disappear; but I still give the edge to Central.
Bald Prediction = Central wins 19-14
Other Games
(4) Columbus vs. Miami Beach = Columbus wins by 26
(5) Deerfield Beach vs. Stoneman Douglas = Deerfield Beach wins by 20
(6) St. Thomas Aquinas vs. Fort Lauderdale = St. Thomas Aquinas wins by 40
(7) Hallandale vs. Miramar = Hallandale wins by 18
(T-8) Flanagan vs. Everglades = Flanagan wins by 23
(10) Coral Gables vs. Coral Park = Coral Gables wins by 42
(11) Boyd Anderson vs. Boynton Beach = Boyd Anderson wins 17
(12) Plantation vs. Western = Plantation wins by 13
(13) Piper vs. Taravella = Piper wins by 7
(14) Dillard vs. Northeast = Dillard wins by 20
(15) Mater Academy vs. Miami Springs = Mater Academy wins by 14
(16) Archbishop McCarthy vs. Key West = Archbishop McCarthy wins by 11
(18) University School vs. Belle Glade Glades Central = U-School wins by 6
(19) Sunset vs. A&T Mourning = Sunset wins by 21
Archbishop Carroll vs. Somerset Academy Silver Palms = Somerset Academy Silver Palms wins by 42
Westland Hialeah vs. Ronald Reagan = Reagan wins by 38
Doral Academy vs. Goleman = Doral Academy wins by 14
Ransom Everglades vs. Scheck Hillel = Hillel wins by 14
Pompano Beach Highlands Christian vs. Miami Country Day = Miami Country Day wins by 26
Gulliver Prep vs. Booker T. Washington = Booker T. Washington wins by 10
Pembroke Pines Charter vs. Pompano Beach = Pompano Beach wins by 30
Hialeah Gardens vs. Dr. Krop = Dr. Krop wins by 21
Pinecrest Prep vs. Miami Community Charter = Miami Community Charter wins by 27
Varela vs. Belen Jesuit = Belen Jesuit wins by 9
Southwest vs. Coral Reef = Coral Reef wins by 6
Stranahan vs. Jackson = Jackson wins by 12
Coconut Creek vs. Blanche Ely = Coconut Creek wins by 20
Somerset Academy Pines vs. Clewiston = Clewiston wins by 35
North Broward Prep vs. Boca Raton St. Andrews = North Broward Prep wins by 21
Archbishop Curley vs. Melbourne Holy Trinity = Holy Trinity wins by 38
Nova vs. Cooper City = Nova wins by 7
Palmer Trinity vs. Marathon = Palmer Trinity wins by 13
Edison vs. Monsignor Pace = Edison wins by 19
Inlet Grove vs. Coral Glades = Coral Glades wins by 10
Monarch vs. Coral Springs = Monarch wins by 6
Delray Beach Village Academy vs. Dade Christian = Dade Christian wins by 9
Westminster Academy vs. Calvary Christian = Calvary Christian wins by 7
Cypress Bay vs. South Plantation = South Plantation wins by 4
Hollywood Hills vs. McArthur = McArthur wins by 14
West Broward vs. South Broward = West Broward wins by 24
Champagnat vs. Belle Glade Glades Day = Glades Day wins by 14
Pine Crest vs. Palm Beach King’s Academy = Pine Crest wins by 13
North Miami vs. North Miami Beach = North Miami wins by 3
Southridge vs. Homestead = Southridge wins by 19
Miami High vs. Palmetto = Miami High wins by 5
Coral Shores vs. Florida Christian = Coral Shores wins by 14
Coral Springs Charter vs. LaSalle = Coral Springs Charter wins by 21
Keys Gate Charter vs. Hialeah-Miami Lakes = Hialeah-Miami Lakes wins by 14
Braddock vs. Ferguson = Braddock wins by 18
Hialeah vs. American = American wins by 12
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