Kaz's Fearless Forecast

Playoff Games This Week

WEST ORANGE-STARK (11-2) over LAGRANGE (13-0) 7:30 p.m. Friday at Moorhead Stadium in Conroe—The Mustangs seem to be getting stronger with each playoff game and will need to have their “A-Game” again Friday night when they take on undefeated LaGrange in this crucial Region III championship contest.

NEWTON (10-3) over ROGERS (11-2) 7:30 p.m. Friday at Woodforest Bank Stadium in The Woodlands—The Eagles got off to a shaky start earlier this season but appeared to turn things around with a stunning upset victory over the Class 4A West Orange-Stark Mustangs. Rogers ripped past Crockett 51-28 in the regional semifinals last week and should be quite a test for Newton Friday night.

HIGH SCHOOL PLAYOFFS OF INTEREST—Class 6A—Dickinson (13-0) over Cypress Ranch (11-2), Houston Westfield (12-1) over Spring (10-3), Manvel (13-0) over Katy (12-1); Class 5A—George Ranch (12-1) over Temple (11-1), Tyler (11-2) over McKinney North (11-2), Crosby (12-1) over Hutto (11-2), Kerrville Tivy (10-3) over Cedar Park (10-3); Class 4A—Stephenville (9-3) over Graham (11-2), Argyle (13-0) over Texarkana Liberty Eylau (8-5), Navasota (13-0) over Henderson (11-2), Burnet (11-2) over Liberty Hill (11-2), Yoakum (10-3) over Sinton (10-3), Sweetwater (13-0) over Celina (11-2), Gilmer (13-0) over Atlanta (12-1); Class 3A—Rockdale (12-1) over Cameron Yoe (9-4), Edna (8-5) over Hallettsville (10-3), Blanco (13-0) over Odem (12-1); Class 2A—Alto (11-0) over Centerville (9-3), Refugio (12-0) over Mason (12-0), Tenaha (10-1) over Iola (11-0), Bremond (12-0) over Bruni (10-2).

FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SUBDIVISION PLAYOFFS (Second Round all on Sat.)—Sam Houston State over Jacksonville State, New Hampshire over Fordham, Chattanooga over Indiana State, Richmond over Coastal Carolina, Northern Iowa over Illinois State, North Dakota State over South Dakota State, Eastern Washington over Montana, Villanova over Liberty.

COLLEGE GAMES—East Carolina over Central Florida (Thursday); Northern Illinois over Bowling Green (MAC Championship), Oregon over Arizona ( Pac-12 Championship) both Fri; Marshall over Louisiana Tech (Conf. USA Championship), Alabama over Missouri (SEC Championship), Florida State over Georgia Tech (ACC Championship), Wisconsin over Ohio State (Big-10 Championship), Boise State over Fresno State (Mountain West championship); Connecticut over SMU, TCU over Iowa State, Temple over Tulane, Cincinnati over Houston, Baylor over Kansas State, Oklahoma over Oklahoma State (all Sat.).

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