Kaz's Fearless Forecast

Games This Week

WEST ORANGE-STARK over LITTLE CYPRESS-MAURICEVILLE -- This cross-town rivalry will pit friends against friends and perhaps even kinfolks against kinfolks as it resumes after a short respite due to scheduling difficulties. Both teams are expected to be improved from last year and raring to start the season with a “W.” We’ll see late Friday night how much of an advantage the Mustangs have playing the Dan R. Hooks Stadium.

BRIDGE CITY over NEWTON -- When a larger school plays a smaller one it generally comes out with an easy victory. But IF the Cardinals happen to be on the high of the point count, it certainly won’t be an easy win. The Eagles are ranked No. 4 in the state Class 2A polls and the Big Red should find out exactly why Newton is picked so high.

EAST CHAMBERS over ORANGEFIELD -- This is another case of a larger school traveling to meet the smaller one. The Bobcats have had some problems in the past winning this season opener from the Buccaneers, and hopefully Friday night will be the exception.

VIDOR over SANTA FE -- The Pirates are coming off their best season since back in the 1960’s and are determined to establish some sort of tradition by playing well enough to get back into the state playoffs in a couple of months. The Indians were 3-7 last season and are picked to finish dead last in District 24-4A by the Houston area scribes.

DEWEYVILLLE over SABINE PASS -- Neither team set the woods on fire last season with the Pirates posting a 2-8 record while the Sharks finished 2-7. The Pirates should be stronger this season, although they play a murderous schedule, and should far well against a team their own size or smaller.

ORANGE COMMUNITY CHRISTIAN over HUNTSVILLE A.O. -- We don’t know much about this Saturday night contest but the Lions are ready to come out roaring for this season opener on the road and try to improve on their 6-4 record last year.

LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE over LAMAR -- The Cardinals are hunting pretty big game so early in the season. But they appear ready for the trip down IH-10 to Lafayette to lock horns with the Ragin’ Cajuns.

McNEESE STATE over MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE -- This Thursday night game certainly won’t be any cakewalk for the Cowboys, who are bound and determined to improve on last year’s 6-5 debacle.

HIGH SCHOOL -- Bun over Center, Hamshire Fannett over Splendora, Anahuac over Hardin-Jefferson, Port Neches-Groves over Silsbee, Port Arthur Memorial over Beaumont Central, Beaumont West Brook over Beaumont Ozen, Lumberton over Goose Creek Memorial, Nederland over Crosby, Jasper over Liberty, Hardin over Hull-Daisetta, Cleveland over Kirbyville (Thurs.), Beaumont Legacy over Deweyville JV, Beaumont Kelly over West Sabine, Kountze over Shepherd, Evadale over Warren, New Waverly over Woodville, West Hardin over Burkeville, Fort Bend Christian over High Island, Tarkington over Huntington, Coldspring over C.E. King, Huffman over Houston Kashmere, Dayton over Elkins, Barbers Hill over Tigres Juvenile, La Porte over Clear Brook, Lufkin over Tyler, Katy over Klein, Brenham over Foster.

COLLEGE -- Central Florida over Akron, Stephen F. Austin over Southwestern Oklahoma, Arizona State over Northern Arizona, Ball State over Eastern Michigan, Brigham Young over Washington State, Central Michigan over Southeast Missouri State, Connecticut over Massachusetts, Idaho over Eastern Washington, Kent state over Towson, Texas A&M over Louisiana Tech, Minnesota over UNLV, New Mexico State over Sacramento State, UCLA over Rice, South Alabama over UT San Antonio, South Carolina over Vanderbilt, Utah over Northern Colorado, Utah State over Southern Utah (all Thurs.); Michigan State over Boise State, Florida Atlantic over Wagner, Tennessee over North Carolina State, Stanford over San Jose State, Temple over Villanova (all Fri.); Ole Miss over Central Arkansas, Oregon State over Nicholls State, Texas Tech over Northwestern State, Missouri over Southeastern Louisiana, Stephen F. Austin over Southwestern Oklahoma, Houston over Texas State, Air Force over Idaho State, Alabama over Michigan, UAB over Troy, Arizona over Toledo, Arkansas over Jacksonville State, Oregon over Arkansas State, Auburn over Clemson, Miami over Boston College, Florida over Bowling Green, Georgia over Buffalo, California over Nevada, Colorado over Colorado State, Duke over Florida International, East Carolina over Appalachian State, Florida State over Murray State, Fresno State over Weber State, USC over Hawaii, Illinois over Western Michigan, Indiana over Indiana State, Iowa over Northern Illinois, Iowa State over Tulsa, Kansas over South Dakota State, Kansas State over Missouri state, LSU over North Texas, West Virginia over Marshall, Maryland over William and Mary, Memphis over Tennessee-Martin, Ohio State over Miami, O., Mississippi State over Jackson State, Notre Dame over Navy, Nebraska over Southern Mississippi, New Mexico over Southern, North Carolina over Elon, Syracuse over Northwestern, Penny State over Ohio, Oklahoma over UTEP, Oklahoma State over Savannah State, Pittsburgh over Youngstown State, Purdue over Eastern Kentucky, Rutgers over Tulane, Washing over San Diego State, South Florida over Chattanooga, Texas over Wyoming, Virginia over Richmond, Wake Forest over Liberty, Western Kentucky over Austin Peay, Wisconsin over Northern Iowa (all Sat.); Baylor over SMU, Kentucky over Louisiville (both Sun); Virginia Tech over Georgia Tech (Mon.).