Nov. 13 Prognosticating Pigskin Prodigies

Dennis Garcia

Record: 159-61

Last week: 13-7

“We’re coming down the stretch with just a few weeks to go. It’s time to bring out my inner Dale Earnhardt Jr. My inner Patrick Mahomes. My inner Jared Goff. My inner Mariana Rivera. Can’t wait to see what I look like with all my inners out.”
 

SWAIN COUNTY AT EASTERN RANDOLPH — You could insert most teams into the Eastern Randolph vs. insert name here, and the Wildcats shouldn’t have any trouble at all. ER, 42-13.

EAST GASTON AT RANDLEMAN — Not exactly the way you want to enter the playoffs as the Tigers have lost two straight, but this team is too talented to see that go any further. RHS, 35-14.

ASHEBORO AT DUDLEY — Another step up the ladder toward the program Calvin Brown and his coaching staff hope to implement. The first time in the playoffs since 2016. Remember, one step at a time. Dudley, 42-21.

SW RANDOLPH AT EAST SURRY — The Cougars have been up and down this season. Winning on the road is never easy. Especially during the playoffs. East Surry, 35-27.

WAKE FOREST AT UNC — The Tar Heels had a week off to prepare and although Wake Forest had an extra day after playing last Friday night, a week off beats an extra day off. Right? UNC, 34-21.

COMMANDERS AT EAGLES — The top two teams in the NFC East meet with a lot on the line. Gotta go with the Eagles. Eagles, 34-26.
 

OTHER GAMES

James Madison 42, Appalachian State 34

Western Carolina 30, VMI 20

No. 19 Clemson 31, No. 23 Pitt 21

No. 10 Notre Dame 35, Virginia 14

SMU 37, Boston College 21

Syracuse 27, California 20

No. 25 Louisville 40, Stanford 20

No. 2 Georgia 30, No. 7 Tennessee 20

No. 21 Colorado 32, Utah 22

Ravens 30, Steelers 24

Bills 27, Chiefs 24

Packers 31, Bears 24

Browns 23, Saints 10

Vikings 40, Titans 17 

Ray Criscoe

Record: 148-72

Last week: 11-9

“Round and round and round we go, who will finish second, nobody knows. Is this what we came out of picking slumber for? To watch Dennis run away from the field? It might be time to get my brown bag out and put it over my head. And not just because I’m a Cowboys fan.”

SWAIN COUNTY AT EASTERN RANDOLPH — These early games for top seeds, you just try to work on some things and escape injury-free. Then Round 2, you face someone else who’s had a playoff win, and the game is afoot. ER, 45-10.

EAST GASTON AT RANDLEMAN — Sometimes, when you know you’re good and it’s all about the playoffs, you can struggle making that journey. Now it’s Go Time, and I expect the Tigers to Go, Go, Go! Tigers, 37-10.

ASHEBORO AT DUDLEY — Kudos to an entertaining season. Even when it goes wrong this week (sorry for the certainty, but it is my alma mater, Dudley), it was a fun ride. I won’t, however, miss that Rick Flair message on the AHS scoreboard, lol. Two claps and a wooooo? Noooooo. Dudley, 36-26.

SW RANDOLPH AT EAST SURRY — These middle-seed games are full of optimism for both teams. Should be a good one. East Surry, 27-24.

WAKE FOREST AT UNC — I’d like to go for the upset, but Carolina’s offense and Wake’s defense is not a good match. UNC, 45-30.

COMMANDERS AT EAGLES — The bloom is starting to come off the Commanders’ rose, but maybe they have one more in them. Commanders, 32-31.

OTHER GAMES

James Madison 47,  Appalachian State 27

Western Carolina 27, VMI 17

No. 19 Clemson 30, No. 23 Pitt 19

No. 10 Notre Dame 35, Virginia 23

SMU 30, Boston College 23 (I smell upset, but ...)

California 34, Syracuse 31 (Stupid pick, but ...)

No. 25 Louisville 34, Stanford 27

No. 2 Georgia 27, No. 7 Tennessee 24

No. 21 Colorado 27, Utah 26

Ravens 30, Steelers 20

Bills 23, Chiefs 20

Packers 27, Bears 23 (Thought Bears, but ...)

Browns 27, Saints 19 (But ... OK, no more buts ...)

Vikings 23, Titans 20

Tony Bolick

Record: 146-74

Last week: 8-12

“I can only keep plugging away. Seems for every pick I know, I lose on crazy stuff. And then the ones I chickened out on, they go through. But as the Indian on Josey Wales said, ‘We shall endeavor to persevere.’ ”
 

SWAIN COUNTY AT EASTERN RANDOLPH — Too good of a team against a victim of the expanded playoffs. ER, 48-6.

EAST GASTON AT RANDLEMAN — Bouncing back and aiming to go deep into the postseason. Tigers, 37-10.

ASHEBORO AT DUDLEY — That loss to Montgomery might have cost them a much better pairing in round one. Dudley, 24-13.

SW RANDOLPH AT EAST SURRY — I wonder ... a Cougars upset in round 1? It’s not the craziest possibility. East Surry, 18-7.

WAKE FOREST AT UNC — You think I’m crazy. All but the two blowouts was there. It was all on their hands, by ther hands and because of their hands they lost those — ALL of them. Wake, 28-26.

COMMANDERS AT EAGLES — Hmmm, wait a minute. What week is this? The one Daniels looks good? The one Philly plays lights out? Or the one the defense flubs up a hail mary to lose? Eagles to try not to lose, 30-27.
 

OTHER GAMES

James Madison 31,  Appalachian State 18

WCU 24, VMI 18 (if our #1 QB’s still out)

No. 19 Clemson 24, No. 23 Pitt 20

No. 10 Notre Dame 28, Virginia 17

SMU 21, Boston College 13

California 31, Syracuse 26

No. 25 Louisville 20, Stanford 10

No. 7 Tennessee 27, No. 2 Georgia 23

Utah 24, No. 21 Colorado 20

Ravens 23, Steelers 18

Chiefs 27, Bills 23

Packers 17, Bears 12

Saints 30, Browns 16

Vikings 28, Titans 24

Megan Crotty

Record: 143-77

Last week: 8-12

“Some advice: If you’re predicting football games, just pick the opposite of the team I pick. At least I’m so far in the basement, Dennis, Ray and Tony can feel safe. Yeah, that’s what I’m doing. My altruism is showing through. Hope it’s not too noticeable.”

SWAIN COUNTY AT EASTERN RANDOLPH — Wildcats enter the playoffs averaging almost 40 points a game while allowing a stingy just-over 10. ERHS, 34-14.

EAST GASTON AT RANDLEMAN — The Tigers finished the regular season with two heartbreaking losses — by two points against THS and one point against ERHS. They’re going to want to start the playoffs right and get rid of that bad taste in their mouths. RHS, 28-10.

ASHEBORO AT DUDLEY — Blue Comets ended the regular season with a loss. It doesn’t get any easier in the playoffs. DUDLEY, 24-14.

SW RANDOLPH AT EAST SURRY — Cougars won two straight to finish off the regular season. They’ll need their D to show up for this one. EAST SURRY, 31-21.

WAKE FOREST AT UNC — Tar Heels winning streak continues. I guess? UNC, 21-14.

COMMANDERS AT EAGLES — I’m standing by last week’s comment. Eagles, 28-24.

OTHER GAMES

James Madison 21, Appalachian State 14

Western Carolina 28, VMI 7

No. 19 Clemson 24, No. 23 Pitt 21

No. 10 Notre Dame 31, Virginia 24

SMU 42, Boston College 10

Syracuse 14, California 3

No. 25 Louisville 21, Stanford 7

No. 2 Georgia 28, No. 7 Tennessee 27

No. 21 Colorado 24, Utah 14

Steelers 31, Ravens 28

Bills 21, Chiefs 20

Bears 14, Packers 13

Saints 28, Browns 21

Vikings 32, Titans 24