Kaz's Fearless Forecast

Games This Week

WEST ORANGE-STARK over SILSBEE—This could very well determine the District 11-4A-II champion. Both teams are loaded with talent, great defenses and stellar quarterbacks. Silsbee has the home-field advantage, but will probably need more than that Friday night.

HUFFMAN over LITTLE CYPRESS-MAURICEVILLE—The Battlin’ Bears have had a difficult time putting points on the scoreboard and will have to in order to keep up with these explosive Falcons. But it’s a brand-new season for the Bears as far as District 10-4A-I is concerned. Here’s hoping for an upset.

BRIDGE CITY over HARDIN-JEFFERSON—The Cardinals were able to dispose of Hamshire-Fannett last week after they were softened up by the Mighty Mustangs. Perhaps this will work again when these Hawks fly in Friday night after being routed by WO-S 47-7 last week.

ORANGEFIELD over LIBERTY—This will have to be classified as an upset, although both schools lost to Silsbee only by a single touchdown. I look for a hard-nosed defensive battle with the team making the fewest mistakes coming out the winner.

VIDOR over SPLENDORA—Don’t let the name Splendora get mixed up with bumpkins, because they are not. This should be a tough battle for the Pirates, who use the home field as their advantage in this District 10-4A-l lid-lifter.

DEWEYVILLE over HULL-DAISETTA—The Pirates will enjoy a whole new beginning Friday night on their home field in this opening game of District 12-2A-II.

HIGH SCHOOL—Humble Episcopal over Beaumont West Brook, Beaumont United over Baytown Sterling, Port Arthur Memorial over La Porte, Nederland over Jacksonville, Tomball over Port Neches-Groves, Lumberton over Livingston, Carthage over Center, Jasper over Rusk, Madisonville over Shepherd, East Chambers over Anahuac, Buna over Hardin, Kirbyville over Tarkington, Hemphill over Anderson-Shiro, Corrigan-Camden over Kountze, Newton over New Waverly, San Augustine over Joaquin, West Hardin over Shelbyville, Lovelady over Colmesneil, Tenaha over West Sabine, Burkeville over Sabine Pass, Evadale over High Island, Beaumont Legacy Christian over Houston Northland Christian, Beaumont Kelly over Addison Trinity Christian.

COLLEGE—Houston over Tulane (Thursday); Louisville over Georgia Tech (Friday); Mississippi State over Kentucky, Syracuse over Duke, Pittsburgh over Boston College, Virginia over North Carolina State, South Florida over East Carolina, Clemson over Miami, North Carolina over Virginia Tech, Georgia over Tennessee, Texas over Oklahoma, Iowa State over Texas Tech, Alabama over Ole Miss, Auburn over Arkansas, LSU over Missouri, Florida over Texas A&M, TCU over Kansas State, South Carolina over Vanderbilt, Troy over Texas State, Liberty over Louisiana-Monroe, BYU over UTSA, Florida Atlantic over Southern Mississippi, Temple over Navy, Florida International over Middle Tennessee State, Louisiana Tech over UTEP, Notre Dame over Florida State, North Texas over Charlotte, Marshall over Western Kentucky, Louisiana-Lafayette over Coastal Carolina.

PRO PICKS---Tampa Bay over Chicago (Thursday Night); Houston over Jacksonville, Baltimore over Cincinnati, Pittsburgh over Philadelphia, Atlanta over Carolina, Kansas City over Las Vegas, LA Rams over Washington, Buffalo over Tennessee, Arizona over NY Jets, San Francisco over Miami, Dallas over NY Giants, New England over Denver, Cleveland over Indianapolis, Seattle over Minnesota (all Sunday); New Orleans over LA Chargers (Monday Night). Bye week for Detroit and Green Bay.