Kaz's Fearless Forecast

Games This Week

WEST ORANGE-STARK over BRIDGE CITY—This match-up could very well be a blast from the past when the Cardinals and the West Orange Chiefs were battling for more than just pride. Both teams are undefeated, both are defensive stalwarts and both teams are expected to lay it all on the line Friday night at Larry Ward Stadium just like it used to be. The only difference this time is that the Mustangs are a three touchdown favorite.

LITTLE CYPRESS-MAURICEVILLE over HARDIN-JEFFERSON—The Battlin’ Bears have been struggling in their losses to Jasper and the West Orange-Stark Mustangs and should have benefited from the early-season mistakes and be ready to post their first victory of the season Friday Night at Bear Stadium. But it won’t be easy because the Hawks will be flying in undefeated.

ORANGEFIELD over WOODVILLE—The Bobcats got a taste of what a really good team is made of last week at Kirbyville and have an opponent just as salty coming into F.L. McClain Stadium Friday night. The Eagles come to town with notches in their victory belts after disposing of Corrigan-Camden and Madisonville, both very stout football programs. A maximum effort might give the ‘Cats a slim victory.

BEAUMONT CENTRAL over VIDOR—Both teams got “off the schneide” last week with impressive victories after losing their season openers the week before and should both be ready for the start of District 22-5A competition. This Saturday afternoon (4 p.m.) contest should bring out the best each team had to offer in last week’s wins. The team that makes the fewest mistakes should come out on top and get league play started on the right foot.

EVADALE over DEWEYVILLE—This is a huge meeting between two undefeated teams, with the Rebels having the home field advantage. Evadale made the state playoffs last year while the Pirates just missed. This is one game I hope the prediction is all wet.

ORANGE COMMUNITY CHRISTIAN over HIGH ISLAND—Both six-man football teams posted impressive wins last week, with the Cardinals excited to play their first game before the home fans. Let’s hope the Lions disappoint these boosters.

HOUSTON over LAMAR—The Cardinals had the misfortune of blowing an 11-point lead last week in their home loss to Coastal Carolina. Two things not happening for the Redbirds Saturday is the game is not at Provost-Umphrey Stadium in Beaumont and Lamar won’t have a chance to blow another 11-point lead against these highly-ranked Cougars after their impressive upset victory over the Oklahoma Sooners Saturday.

LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE over McNEESE STATE—This contest is considered the Cowboys’ “sacrificial lamb” game where they play a team from Division I for a nifty payday. However, I think the Pokes have a chance to make this game close or maybe even score and upset win against these Ragin’ Cajuns.

HIGH SCHOOL—East Chambers over Hamshire-Fannett, Nederland over Livingston, Port Neches-Groves over Lumberton, Beaumont Ozen over Baytown Lee, Houston C.E. King over Beaumont West Brook, Jasper over Silsbee, Anahuac over Buna, Kirbyville over Palestine Westwood, Kountze over Hull-Daisetta, Tarkington over Warren, New Waverly over Hardin, Newton over Diboll, Sabine Pass over Acadiana, Huntington over West Hardin, West Sabine over Hemphill, Beaumont Kelly over Beaumont Legacy Christian.

COLLEGE—Central Arkansas over Samford, Abilene Christian over Northern Colorado, Texas Southern over Houston Baptist, Northwestern State over Incarnate Word, Georgia over Nicholls State, Southern Utah over Southeastern Louisiana, Stephen F. Austin over Western Alabama, Alabama over Western Kentucky, Clemson over Troy, Oklahoma over Louisiana-Monroe, LSU over Jacksonville State, Ohio State over Tulsa, Michigan over Central Florida, Stanford over USC, Virginia Tech over Tennessee, Notre Dame over Michigan State, TCU over Arkansas, Washington over Idaho, UCLA over UNLV, Iowa over Iowa State, Louisville over Syracuse, USC over Utah State, Oklahoma State over Central Michigan, North Carolina over Illinois, Baylor over SMU, Oregon over Virginia, Florida over Kentucky, Air Force over Georgia State.

Wisconsin over Akron, Mississippi Valley State over Alabama A&M, Alcorn State over Alabama State, Appalachian State over Old Dominion, Arizona over Grambling State, Arizona State over Texas Tech, Auburn over Arkansas State, Indiana over Ball State, Boise State over Washington State, Boston College over Massachusetts, Bowling Green over North Dakota, Utah over BYU, California over San Diego State, Purdue over Cincinnati, Colorado over Idaho State, Colorado State over UT-San Antonio, Navy over Connecticut, Duke over Wake Forest, North Carolina State over East Carolina, Missouri over Eastern Michigan, Miami over Florida Atlantic, Maryland over Florida International, Florida State over Charleston Southern, Fresno State over Sacramento State, South Alabama over Georgia Southern, Georgia Tech over Mercer, Hawaii over Tennessee-Martin, Tennessee State over Jackson State, Kansas over Ohio, Kent State over North Carolina A&T, Louisiana Tech over South Carolina State, Marshall over Morgan State, Miami, O. over Eastern Illinois, Vanderbilt over Middle Tennessee, Minnesota over Indiana State, Ole Miss over Wofford, Mississippi State over South Carolina, Nebraska over Wyoming, Notre Dame over Nevada, New Mexico State over New Mexico, North Texas over Bethune-Cookman, Northern Illinois over South Florida, Northwestern over Illinois State, Pittsburgh over Penn State, Texas A&M over Prairie View, Rutgers over Howard, San Jose State over Portland State, Tulane over Southern, Southern Mississippi over Savannah State, Temple over Stony Brook, Texas over UTEP, Toledo over Maine, West Virginia over Youngstown State.

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