OAA Picks Week Nine.

Written Tuesday October 18th at 8:00 PM

SAMMY 80-37

ANT 83-34

KEITH 86-31

SEAN 84-33

DAN 82-35

BURNEY 87-30

1. Groves @ Saline:

This one maybe the toughest game in the State as two undefeated teams will go at it with each other. The Hornets ran through the Southeastern Conference Red virtually unopposed. They have been a scoring machine scoring 314 points and allowing only 89 points. The Falcons have played in the tough White has only allowed 65 points and scoring 213 points. This one could be a low scoring game and features some great talent on both sides. It is likely it will be one of the top games in the State in Washtenaw County.

SAMMY PICK: SALINE 6. GROVES 3.

ANT PICK: SALINE 24, GROVES 14.

KEITH PICK: SALINE 28, GROVES 24.

DAN PICK: SALINE 21, GROVES 20.

SEAN PICK: SALINE 21, GROVES 7.

BURNEY PICK: GROVES 28, SALINE 27.

2. Oak Park @ 7. Southfield Arts and Tech:

Nothing like a rivalry to get you ready for the playoffs. The Warriors went up to Oxford and beat the Wildcats 35-20 clinching a share of the Red crown but they still haven’t secured their sixth win yet. Oak Park won 50-14 over Southfield last season which should be a motivation for the new Southfield Arts and Tech. The Knights are getting ready for the playoffs and they beat Seaholm 34-15 last week. This one will be a good one between these two neighborhood rivals.

SAMMY PICK: OAK PARK 35, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 7.

ANT PICK: SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 28, OAK PARK 24.

KEITH PICK: OAK PARK 13, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 12.

DAN PICK: OAK PARK 35, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 27.

SEAN PICK: OAK PARK 18, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 14.

BURNEY PICK: OAK PARK 33, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 30.

5. Adams @ 3. Clarkston:

The Highlanders and Wolves renew a rivalry that has been good in recent years for both teams. Adams and Clarkston would like to get this win to get them ready for the playoffs and hope to get a home game as well. Clarkston destroyed Orion 45-16 last week on the road while Adams won 24-6 over Stoney Creek at home last week. This will be a good one at Clarkston as the Highlanders look to give the Wolves their first home loss since 2012.

SAMMY PICK: ADAMS 31, CLARKSTON 24.

ANT PICK: CLARKSTON 35, ADAMS 14.

KEITH PICK: CLARKSTON 17, ADAMS 10.

DAN PICK: CLARKSTON 28, ADAMS 21.

SEAN PICK: CLARKSTON 21, ADAMS 14.

BURNEY PICK: CLARKSTON 26, ADAMS 24.

9. Orion @ 4. Bloomfield Hills:

The Blackhawks won the Blue by beating Berkley 42-16 on their homecoming last week keeping their record at 8-0. This might be their toughest test of the season as Orion comes into town, hoping to ruin the perfect season. The Dragons are also trying to get into the playoffs after failing miserably on their first attempt. Orion was blown out 45-16 by Clarkston last week on their homecoming but they have been much better on the road this season going 4-1 in that span. The Dragons have played a much tougher schedule than Bloomfield Hills but it’s the Blackhawks that are undefeated right now.

SAMMY PICK: ORION 49, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 35.

ANT PICK: ORION 35, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 14.

KEITH PICK: ORION 24, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 20.

DAN PICK: ORION 21, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 20.

SEAN PICK: ORION 28, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 21.

BURNEY PICK: BLOOMFIELD HILLS 24, ORION 21.

Dearborn Edsel Ford @ 6. Ferndale:

The Eagles made the playoffs for the first time since 2008 by winning 29-28 at Royal Oak last week. Ferndale will have a tough test this week against a team trying to get into the playoffs in Dearborn Edsel Ford. The Thunderbirds have been in three close games, losing two heartbreakers to Romulus 20-15 two weeks and to Belleville 20-14 last week. Dearborn Edsel Ford will bring their best game into Ferndale hoping to get enough points to get into the playoffs.

SAMMY PICK: DEARBORN EDSEL FORD 28, FERNDALE 27.

ANT PICK: FERNDALE 28, DEARBORN EDSEL FORD 24.

KEITH PICK: FERNDALE 21, DEARBORN EDSEL FORD 20.

DAN PICK: FERNDALE 27, DEARBORN EDSEL FORD 21.

SEAN PICK: DEARBORN EDSEL FORD 35, FERNDALE 14.

BURNEY PICK: FERNDALE 23, DEARBORN EDSEL FORD 20.

8. Rochester @ Stoney Creek:

The Falcons have been playing their home games at Stoney Creek this season while the field is being renovated but they get to return to Stoney Creek to play the host Cougars team. Now Rochester is deemed the home team in this match up but for places sake this one is at Stoney Creek and I put the Cougars the home team here. Stoney Creek will want to ruin Rochester’s chance of making the playoffs for the first time since 2010. The Cougars have played a tougher schedule than the Falcons but in a rivalry game anything is possible.

SAMMY PICK: ROCHESTER 38, STONEY CREEK 35.

ANT PICK: ROCHESTER 28, STONEY CREEK 24.

KEITH PICK: ROCHESTER 27, STONEY CREEK 13.

DAN PICK: ROCHESTER 35, STONEY CREEK 14.

SEAN PICK: STONEY CREEK 26, ROCHESTER 14.

BURNEY PICK: ROCHESTER 22, STONEY CREEK 15.

10. Berkley @ Royal Oak:

The Bears failed on their first attempt to get into the playoffs by getting crushed 42-16 by Bloomfield Hills last week. Now they get another chance as Berkley goes into Royal Oak for their rivalry game hoping to clinch a playoff spot. The Bears haven't been consistent this season though. The Ravens have been my major disappointment this season with losses to Lakeview, and Hazel Park. I thought with the returning talent they had back they would take the next step but they have not done that. Royal Oak could ruin Berkley’s season if they pull off the upset in this rivalry game. It would be unthinkable if the Bears lose this game.

SAMMY PICK: BERKLEY 35, ROYAL OAK 21.

ANT PICK: BERKLEY 42, ROYAL OAK 21.

KEITH PICK: BERKLEY 21, ROYAL OAK 10.

DAN PICK: BERKLEY 34, ROYAL OAK 14.

SEAN PICK: BERKLEY 28, ROYAL OAK 21.

BURNEY PICK: BERKLEY 26, ROYAL OAK 23.

Harrison @ Oxford:

The winner of this game has an outside shot at making the playoffs at 5-4 while the loser is out of the playoffs. It has been rough seasons for both the Hawks and the Wildcats as both of them sit at 4-4 but hope to making to the playoffs is all these teams have. This could be an interesting game to keep an eye on in the Blue Turf of Oxford.

SAMMY PICK: OXFORD 27, HARRISON 20

ANT PICK: OXFORD 21, HARRISON 20.

KEITH PICK: HARRISON 24, OXFORD 10.

DAN PICK: HARRISON 24, OXFORD 20.

SEAN PICK: HARRISON 28, OXFORD 7.

BURNEY PICK: HARRISON 24, OXFORD 22.

Farmington @ West Bloomfield:

The Lakers have an outside shot of returning to the playoffs sitting at 4-4. To do that they must beat a Farmington team that has been a major disappointment this season. The Falcons have struggled and could be in turmoil. I expect major changes in Farmington likely after this season. West Bloomfield if they win this game and get some help from other teams could sneak into the playoffs like Novi did last year and took the Lakers out of the playoffs with a 31-28 win. If I’m a West Bloomfield fan or student in the Swamp, I’d take care of business and then I’m scoreboard watching on Friday night.

SAMMY PICK: WEST BLOOMFIELD 70, FARMINGTON 0.

ANT PICK: WEST BLOOMFIELD 49, FARMINGTON 0.

KEITH PICK: WEST BLOOMFIELD 35, FARMINGTON 14.

DAN PICK: WEST BLOOMFIELD 31, FARMINGTON 7.

SEAN PICK: WEST BLOOMFIELD 42, FARMINGTON 7.

BURNEY PICK: WEST BLOOMFIELD 31, FARMINGTON 18.

Redford Thurston @ North Farmington:

Well if there is one team that needs a change or a reboot it’s the Raiders. North Farmington had to forfeit their game with Harrison last week because they did not have enough players. It will not get any better for the Raiders as they play a Redford Thurston team that was at one point 3-1 and then lost four straight games getting outscored 160-55 in that stretch. North Farmington has scored 32 points this season and it looks like this could get worse, much worse.

SAMMY PICK: REDFORD THURSTON 49, NORTH FARMINGTON 0.

ANT PICK: REDFORD THURSTON 2, NORTH FARMINGTON 0.

KEITH PICK: NORTH FARMINGTON 10, REDFORD THURSTON 7.

DAN PICK: REDFORD THURSTON 13, NORTH FARMINGTON 7.

SEAN PICK: REDFORD THURSTON 20, NORTH FARMINGTON 14.

BURNEY PICK: REDFORD THURSTON 39, NORTH FARMINGTON 18.

Troy Athens @ Troy:

This will be the 44^th meeting all time between these two city rivals with the Red Hawks winning four of the last five meetings. Troy Athens has had a rough season with injuries and inconsistency. Troy has struggled as well but the Colts have three wins, which is the most for them since 2012. Troy did pick up their first home win since 2013 when they beat Pontiac 20-9 last week. If coach Gary Griffith’s team can win this game over their city rival, it would be a nice thing to ride into the offseason with a two-game winning streak.

SAMMY PICK: TROY ATHENS 24, TROY 14.

ANT PICK:  TROY ATHENS 35, TROY 7.

KEITH PICK: TROY ATHENS 24, TROY 17.

DAN PICK:  TROY 21, TROY ATHENS 20.

SEAN PICK: TROY ATHENS 21, TROY 17.

BURNEY PICK: TROY 22, TROY ATHENS 20.

Almont @ Avondale:

The Yellow Jackets have been a completely different team in the last three games winning all three of them. Avondale has outscored their three opponents 99-12 but sadly they will be missing out on the playoffs for a fourth straight season. The Yellow Jackets will be tested in this game against a very good Almont team needing a win to make the playoffs. The Raiders destroyed Imlay City 55-8 last week and have been on a tear offensively scoring 276 points this season and 86 points in the last two weeks. This one could be a shootout in Auburn Hills.

SAMMY PICK: ALMONT 63, AVONDALE 56.

ANT PICK:  ALMONT 35, AVONDALE 32.

KEITH PICK: ALMONT 23, AVONDALE 16.

DAN PICK: ALMONT 24, AVONDALE 17.

SEAN PICK: ALMONT 21, AVONDALE 18.

BURNEY PICK: ALMONT 27, AVONDALE 26.

Seaholm @ Pontiac Notre Dame Prep:

It’s been a rough season for the Fighting Irish as they sit at 4-4 but they did have their ups and also their downs as well. Now they will have to face a team that runs the pistol veer offense in Seaholm to close the season. The Maples have had their ups and downs like Pontiac Notre Dame Prep but they have had more downs then ups but they could spoil the Fighting Irish’s slim playoff hopes. The Irish defense has been a disaster in their last two games against Benton Harbor and Bloomfield Hills by giving up 82 points in that stretch. This could be a good game in Pontiac for both teams and for the winner to go into the offseason with some hope to build around.

SAMMY PICK: PONTIAC NOTRE DAME PREP 20, SEAHOLM 17.

ANT PICK: PONTIAC NOTRE DAME PREP 14. SEAHOLM 13.

KEITH PICK: PONTIAC NOTRE DAME PREP 18, SEAHOLM 14.

DAN PICK: PONTIAC NOTRE DAME PREP 24, SEAHOLM 21.

SEAN PICK: PONTIAC NOTRE DAME PREP 21, SEAHOLM 14.

BURNEY PICK: PONTIAC NOTRE DAME PREP 30, SEAHOLM 20.

Hazel Park @ Flat Rock:

The Vikings have surpassed their win total than in the last three seasons by winning two games this season. Hazel Park would look to close the season with their third win, which would be the most since 2012 when they finished at 4-5. They will travel to Wayne County to meet a Flat Rock team that beat New Boston Huron 13-12 last week. Both the Vikings and Rams have had trouble scoring this season but it’s an opportunity to finish the season strong.

SAMMY PICK: FLAT ROCK 20, HAZEL PARK 14.

ANT PICK: FLAT ROCK 30, HAZEL PARK 27.

KEITH PICK: FLAT ROCK 17, HAZEL PARK 7.

DAN PICK: HAZEL PARK 24, FLAT ROCK 16.

SEAN PICK: FLAT ROCK 35, HAZEL PARK 12.

BURNEY PICK: FLAT ROCK 17, HAZEL PARK 14.

Harper Woods @ Pontiac:

The Phoenix have had a rough first season under coach John Thompson but they have an opportunity to spoil someone’s playoff hopes in Harper Woods. The Pioneers come into the game at 4-4 needing to win at Wisner Stadium to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. Harper Woods has lost four of their last five games allowing 172 points (34.4 ppg) in that span. Life is not easy for Pontiac but if they can get this one then it will be a stepping point to next season.

SAMMY PICK: HARPER WOODS 22, PONTIAC 15.

ANT PICK: HARPER WOODS 14, PONTIAC 10.

KEITH PICK: HARPER WOODS 21, PONTIAC 7.

DAN PICK: PONTIAC 19, HARPER WOODS 17.

SEAN PICK: PONTIAC 12, HARPER WOODS 6.

BURNEY PICK: HARPER WOODS 20, PONTIAC 13.