Kaz's Fearless Forecast

High School Playoff Games This Weekend

ORANGEFIELD (9-2) over CAMERON YOE (8-3)—7 p.m. Friday at Freedom Field in Alvin--This looks like a pretty-even match-up. I don’t know much about the Yoemen except that several area teams have faced them in the state playoffs over the years with mixed results. The Bobcats are fresh off a lop-sided 55-12 bi-district win over Shepherd while the Yoemen took a 39-28 victory over Yoakum last week. It won’t be easy but I believe the Bobcats will continue to be the only Orange County team still in the state playoffs when this game concludes Friday night.

DEWEYVILLE (8-3) OVER SIMMS BOWIE (9-2)—7 p.m. Friday at Roughrider Stadium in Center—The Pirates got the best of a real good football program, beating Tenaha 28-14 last week while Bowie downed Hico 34-22. Deweyville will have to continue to play solid football to advance to the next round and I believe the Pirates will comply.

McNEESE STATE over LAMAR—The Cowboys are hoping to finish the season with their third win in a row in this grudge match against the Cardinals Saturday night in Lake Charles after whipping Houston Christian 21-10 Saturday. The Cards weren’t as fortunate against the New Mexico State Aggies, losing 51-14 and also would like to finish the regular season on a winning note. I just don’t think that will happen.

OTHER PLAYOFF GAMES OF INTEREST TO AREA—Port Arthur Memorial (10-1) over Frisco Wakeland (7-4), Lumberton (10-1) over Stafford (7-4), Silsbee (11-0) over Smithville (5-6), Waco Connally (9-2) over Hamshire-Fannett (8-3), Franklin (11-0) over Anahuac (9-2), Woodville (9-2) over Hitchcock (10-1), Newton (10-1) over New Boston (6-5), Tyler Chapel Hill (9-2) over Bay City (8-3), Kilgore (8-3) over El Campo (9-2), Bellville (11-0) over Madisonville (7-4), Columbus (10-1) over Diboll (8-3).

COLLEGE—Kent State over Boston College, Northern Illinois over Miami, O. and Central Michigan over Northern Michigan (all Today); Tulane over SMU (Thursday); Tulsa over South Florida and San Diego State over New Mexico (both Friday); Georgia over Kentucky, Ohio State over Maryland, Michigan over Illinois, TCU over Baylor, Tennessee over South Carolina, Oregon over Utah, LSU over UAB, UCLA over USC (Upset Special), Alabama over Austin Peay, Clemson over Miami, Ole Miss over Arkansas, Penn State over Rutgers, North Carolina over Georgia Tech, North Carolina State over Louisville, Texas over Kansas, Kansas State over West Virginia, Notre Dame over Boston College, Central Florida over Navy, Florida State over Louisiana-Lafayette, Washington over Colorado, Abilene Christian over Stephen F. Austin, Alabama A&M over Texas Southern, Jackson State over Alcorn State. Grambling State over Southern, Tarleton State over Houston Christian, Incarnate Word over Northwestern State, Prairie View A&M over Mississippi Valley State, Southeastern Louisiana over Nicholls State, Sam Houston State over Southern Utah, Purdue over Northwestern, Army over UConn, Wisconsin over Nebraska, Pittsburgh over Duke, Liberty over Virginia Tech, Florida over Vanderbilt, Michigan State over Indiana, Texas A&M over UMass, UTSA over Rice, Washington State over Arizona, Houston over East Carolina, James Madison over Georgia State, Oregon State over Arizona State, Appalachian State over Old Dominion, Troy over Louisiana-Monroe, Louisiana Tech over Charlotte, Florida Atlantic over Middle Tennessee State, Buffalo over Akron, South Alabama over Southern Mississippi, Coastal Carolina over Virginia, UTEP over Florida International, Minnesota over Iowa, Cincinnati over Temple, Auburn over Western Kentucky, Texas State over Arkansas State, Stanford over California, Marshall over Georgia Southern, Iowa State over Texas Tech, Boise State over Wyoming, Missouri over New Mexico State, Oklahoma over Oklahoma State, Wake Forest over Syracuse, Air Force over Colorado State, Utah State over San Jose State, Fresno State over Nevada, UNLV over Hawaii (all Saturday).

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