Kaz’s Fearless Forecast

Playoff Games This Week

WEST ORANGE-STARK (9-1) over WEST COLUMBIA (4-6) 7 p.m. Friday Ray Maddry Stadium at Channelview—The Mustangs showed they also are a prolific passing team by setting a school record in Thursday’s 41-9 bi-district victory over Huffman. But Columbia showed they are pretty good too by mauling Houston Yates 41-12 in last week’s opening round of the state playoffs. The Chain Gang defense will be the difference in this one.

VINTON (9-2) over ROSEPINE (7-4) 7 p.m. Friday Lions Stadium at Vinton—The Lions lucked out by having another playoff game at home after thrashing General Trass 49-14 in last week’s bi-district opener. Rosepine was successful on a two-point conversion to nip Pine High School 51-50 last week with eight seconds left in the game. The two teams had three common opponents in the regular season with both beating Pickering, both losing to Welsh and the Lions beating Lake Arthur while Rosepine lost to them.

McNEESE STATE over LAMAR—This season finale should demonstrate what a fierce rivalry exists between the two Southland Conference schools that are 60 miles apart, but in different states. The Cowboys (9-2) romped past Northwestern State 43-17 Saturday while the Cardinals (5-6) squeaked by SFA 46-45 and would love to finish the season at .500 with a win over the Pokes in Beaumont Saturday night.

HIGH SCHOOL PLAYOFFS (Area)—Silsbee (8-2) over Stafford (9-1), Jasper (7-3) over Waco La Vega (6-5), Sweeny (8-3) over Hardin-Jefferson (7-4), Nederland (10-1) over Georgetown (9-2), Newton (11-0) over Whitney (6-5), Franklin (11-0) over Kirbyville (9-2), Port Arthur Memorial (8-3) over Elkins (9-2), West Sabine (11-0) over Colmesneil (6-5), Alto (9-2) over Hull-Daisetta (6-4);

Other Playoff Games of Interest—Crosby (10-1) over Elgin (11-0), Humble Summer Creek (11-0) over Magnolia West (8-3), Brenham (10-1) over Dayton (7-4), Houston Stratford (9-2) over Friendswood (9-2), Navasota (10-1) over Carthage (10-1), Rockdale (7-4) over Center (3-8), Coldspring (10-1) over La Marque (8-3), Tatum (11-0) over Godley (8-3), White Oak (10-0) over Grandview (9-2), Cameron Yoe (10-1) over Aransas Pass (9-2), Waskom (11-0) over Rosebud-Lott (9-2), Garrison (11-0) over Centerville (10-1).

COLLEGE—Northern Illinois over Toledo (Today Wed.); Southeastern Louisiana over Nicholls State, Rice over UAB, Central Florida over Rutgers, Air force over UNLV (all Thurs.); Sam Houston State over Central Arkansas, Stephen F. Austin over Northwestern State, Alabama over Chattanooga, Florida State over Idaho, Ohio State over Indiana, Baylor over Oklahoma State, Stanford over California, Oregon over Arizona, Clemson over The Citadel, Missouri over Ole Miss, Texas A&M over LSU, South Carolina over Coastal Carolina, Arizona State over UCLA, Michigan State over Northwestern, Fresno State over New Mexico, Wisconsin over Minnesota, Louisville over Memphis, Oklahoma over Kansas State, Miami over Virginia, Georgia over Kentucky, Houston over Cincinnati, SMU over South Florida, Temple over Connecticut, Kansas over Iowa State, East Carolina over North Carolina State, Florida Atlantic over New Mexico State, North Texas over UT-San Antonio, Middle Tennessee State over Southern Miss, Tulane over UTEP, Marshall over Florida International, Tulsa over Louisiana Tech, Mississippi State over Arkansas, Florida over Georgia Southern, Tennessee over Vanderbilt, Georgia Tech over Alabama A&M, Prairie View over Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Penn State over Nebraska, Pittsburgh over Syracuse, Illinois over Purdue, Duke over Wake Forest, Maryland over Boston College, Central Michigan over Massachusetts, Bowling Green over Eastern Michigan, Wyoming over Hawaii, Western Kentucky over Texas State, Iowa over Michigan, Utah State over Colorado State, USC over Colorado, Notre Dame over BYU, Oregon State over Washington, South Alabama over Louisiana-Monroe, Utah over Washington State, Boise State over San Diego State.

PRO PICKS—New Orleans over Atlanta (Thurs. Night); Houston over Jacksonville, Minnesota over Green Bay, Kansas City over San Diego, Chicago over St. Louis, Pittsburgh over Cleveland, Detroit over Tampa Bay, Baltimore over NY Jets, Carolina over Miami, Oakland over Tennessee, Arizona over Indianapolis, NY Giants over Dallas, Denver over New England; San Francisco over Washington (Monday Night). Bye Week for Buffalo, Cincinnati, Philadelphia and Seattle.