Week Five Picks.

Written Wednesday September 20th at 12:10 PM

Welcome to the 2017 OAA Football Season, this season we will pick games that include OAA Teams. This year we have Anthony Taormina from History Now and Between Taorminas on Orion Neighborhood Television, Scott Burnstein from MIPrepZone and State Champs, Dan Stickradt from North Oakland Sports, Keith Dunlap a free-lance writer at the Detroit Free Press, and Sean Cotter Ford worker and Farmington loyalist.

SAMMY 28-26

ANT 37-17

SEAN 37-17

STICK 41-13

KEITH 43-11

BURNEY 36-18

4. West Bloomfield at 1. Adams

This will be one of the biggest games in the State this weekend in Rochester. The Lakers have had two bounce back games where they outscored both Orion and Clarkston 86-36 in that span which included a 37-15 victory over the Wolves. The Highlanders have been rolling this season, including putting 39 on Orion, and 54 against Bloomfield Hills in a 54-14 beatdown last week. Adams has dominated their opponents this season 164-41. West Bloomfield could be defensive prone at times. The points against will be put to the test against the Lakers and their pass happy college recruit attack. This will be the biggest test the Highlanders have faced at home this season.

SAMMY PICK: WEST BLOOMFIELD 28, ADAMS 14.

ANT PICK: WEST BLOOMFIELD 35, ADAMS 14.

SEAN PICK: ADAMS 34, WEST BLOOMFIELD 28.

STICK PICK: ADAMS 35, WEST BLOOMFIELD 34.

KEITH PICK: WEST BLOOMFIELD 27, ADAMS 24.

BURNEY PICK: WEST BLOOMFIELD 28, ADAMS 27.

2. Oak Park at Stoney Creek

The Knights made a statement going into Beverly Hills and beating Groves 34-14 last week. Since the 24-7 loss to Utica Eisenhower, Oak Park has only allowed 14 points and have put up 110 points so far in the season. The points should continue against a Cougars team that lost a ugly 7-3 game to Troy. Stoney Creek has not been good offensively scoring only 33 points this season. The Cougars are in big trouble in this game.

SAMMY PICK: OAK PARK 49, STONEY CREEK 7.

ANT PICK: OAK PARK 56, STONEY CREEK 7.

SEAN PICK: OAK PARK 49, STONEY CREEK 0

STICK PICK: OAK PARK 47, STONEY CREEK 7.

KEITH PICK: OAK PARK 31, STONEY CREEK 13.

BURNEY PICK: OAK PARK 40, STONEY CREEK 18.

7. Groves at 3. Harrison

If there is one team that needs a bounce back week it’s the Falcons. Groves lost 34-14 to Oak Park last week with the Knights wearing them down in the second half. This week they play a Hawks team that remembers what happened to them last season when Groves went into Farmington and beat Harrison 14-7. The Hawks destroyed Seaholm 49-7 last week and have been rolling since, getting closer to the all-time win total for their coach John Herrington. This one could be an interesting matchup to keep an eye on.

SAMMY PICK: HARRISON 28, GROVES 14.

ANT PICK: HARRISON 24, GROVES 21.

SEAN PICK: HARRISON 31, GROVES 6.

STICK PICK: HARRISON 28, GROVES 21.

KEITH PICK: HARRISON 17, GROVES 14.

BURNEY PICK: HARRISON 20, GROVES 17.

5. Clarkston at Oxford

The Wolves saw a three-game win streak snapped at the hands of West Bloomfield last week losing 37-15. The Wildcats have struggled this season especially on the defensive side of the football in which they have allowed 102 points, including a 32-12 loss to Southfield Arts and Tech. Clarkston has a ton of depth in this matchup which is a problem for Oxford in this game

SAMMY PICK: CLARKSTON 35, OXFORD 7.

ANT PICK: CLARKSTON 35, OXFORD 14.

SEAN PICK: CLARKSTON 28, OXFORD 10.

STICK PICK: CLARKSTON 28, OXFORD 14.

KEITH PICK: CLARKSTON 21, OXFORD 14.

BURNEY PICK: CLARKSTON 31, OXFORD 21.

6. Southfield Arts and Tech at Orion

The Warriors have been red hot since losing to Clarkston 17-7 two weeks ago. They have outscored their last two opponents in Troy Athens and Oxford 82-32 in that span, including a 32-12 victory last week over the Wildcats. Southfield Arts and Tech will face a Dragons team that beat them last season in Southfield 21-14 and seems to be turning the corner a bit after winning their first game of the season 26-6 last week over Troy Athens. Orion will be wearing special jerseys for their Mothers Wish game in which they are 1-1 in those games.

SAMMY PICK: ORION 24, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 21.

ANT PICK: ORION 17, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 14.

SEAN PICK: SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 39, ORION 14.

STICK PICK: ORION 21, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 20.

KEITH PICK: SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 35, ORION 17.

BURNEY PICK: SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 34, ORION 20.

8. Ferndale at North Farmington

This matchup fits two teams that wear gold and brown as their colors. The Eagles took back the yard last week shocking Birmingham Detroit Country Day 17-7 on the road. This week Ferndale take on a Raiders team that struggled last week losing 47-0 to Avondale. North Farmington has allowed 148 points this season, which is tied with Pontiac. The Eagles are scoring a ton of points, this one could get ugly in Farmington Hills.

SAMMY PICK: FERNDALE 48, NORTH FARMINGTON 7.

ANT PICK: FERNDALE 35, NORTH FARMINGTON 7.

SEAN PICK: FERNDALE 42, NORTH FARMINGTON 0.

STICK PICK: FERNDALE 34, NORTH FARMINGTON 14.

KEITH PICK: FERNDALE 34, NORTH FARMINGTON 10.

BURNEY PICK:  FERNDALE 26, NORTH FARMINGTON 16.

Clinton Township Clintondale at 9. Hazel Park

This will be a big test for the Vikings as the Dragons come in at 4-0 and have scored over 50 points in three of their four games including last week 50-14 beatdown of Warren Lincoln. Hazel Park whom won 18-7 last week over Farmington has really improved on their defense since Gary Griffith has come over from Troy. This will be a challenging game for coach Kyle Rowley’s team with Clintondale. They are solid.

SAMMY PICK: HAZEL PARK 19, CLINTON TOWNSHIP CLINTONDALE 12.

ANT PICK: HAZEL PARK 14, CLINTON TOWNSHIP CLINTONDALE 13.

SEAN PICK: HAZEL PARK 26, CLINTON TOWNSHIP CLINTONDALE 6.

STICK PICK: HAZEL PARK 28, CLINTON TOWNSHIP CLINTONDALE 27.

KEITH PICK: HAZEL PARK 17, CLINTON TOWNSHIP CLINTONDALE 13.

BURNEY PICK: CLINTON TOWNSHIP CLINTONDALE 34, HAZEL PARK 28.

Berkley at 10. Troy

The Colts have won their last two games by a combined 11 points including a 7-3 win over Stoney Creek last week. Troy still has to play Oak Park, Seaholm, Groves, and Troy Athens in the regular season and their only loss was when they allowed 30 points to Harrison in week two. They need this game against a Bears team that has not been the same since beating Farmington 28-23 in week one. Berkley has given up 132 points this season and has only scored 18 points since putting the 28 points on the Falcons since. The Bears lost 32-16 to Rochester last week. This will be a trap game for the Colts knowing what awaits them, also Troy lost 28-23 to Berkley last season.

SAMMY PICK: BERKLEY 21, TROY 17.

ANT PICK: TROY 24, BERKLEY 7.

SEAN PICK: TROY 35, BERKLEY 6.

STICK PICK: TROY 14, BERKLEY 7.

KEITH PICK: TROY 24, BERKLEY 10.

BURNEY PICK: TROY 24, BERKLEY 23.

Avondale at Royal Oak

The Yellow Jackets have picked it up lately since losing 24-21 to Hazel Park two weeks ago. Avondale won 47-0 last week over North Farmington. The Ravens have had a strong start to their season winning more than three games for the first time since 2015. Royal Oak destroyed Pontiac 42-6 last week. This one could be interesting but I think the Yellow Jackets athleticism will be too much for the Ravens.

SAMMY PICK: AVONDALE 27, ROYAL OAK 17.

ANT PICK: AVONDALE 28, ROYAL OAK 17.

SEAN PICK: AVONDALE 28, ROYAL OAK 14.

STICK PICK: AVONDALE 28, ROYAL OAK 21.

KEITH PICK: ROYAL OAK 24, AVONDALE 21.

BURNEY PICK: ROYAL OAK 30, AVONDALE 22.

Troy Athens at Bloomfield Hills

The Blackhawks defense was exposed last week allowing 54 points to Adams in a 54-14 blowout loss at home. This week Bloomfield Hills takes on a Red Hawks team that has really struggled this season with lack of numbers. Troy Athens lost 26-6 last week to Orion on their Homecoming. The Red Hawks pass defense is not the greatest which should open up doors for the Blackhawks to get a much-needed win at home this week.

SAMMY PICK: BLOOMFIELD HILLS 35, TROY ATHENS 14.

ANT PICK: BLOOMFIELD HILLS 35, TROY ATHENS 14.

SEAN PICK: BLOOMFIELD HILLS 35, TROY ATHENS 14.

STICK PICK: BLOOMFIELD HILLS 35, TROY ATHENS 21.

KEITH PICK: BLOOMFIELD HILLS 35, TROY ATHENS 14.

BURNEY PICK: BLOOMFIELD HILLS 25, TROY ATHENS 16.

Rochester at Seaholm

This will be a matchup of two Senior heavy led teams that have been very disappointing this season. The Maples with their Senior experience I thought would have turned the corner but they have lost two straight where they were outscored 77-7 in that span. Seaholm should give them a pass because they played Oak Park and Harrison in which they lost both games. This week they play a Falcons team that really got a much-needed win beating Berkley 32-16 on Friday night at home. Rochester will be playing a different type of animal in the Maples. Whomever wins this game will be in good shape for another day.

SAMMY PICK: SEAHOLM 35, ROCHESTER 21.

ANT PICK: SEAHOLM 49, ROCHESTER 7.

SEAN PICK: SEAHOLM 28, ROCHESTER 14.

STICK PICK: ROCHESTER 24, SEAHOLM 21.

KEITH PICK: SEAHOLM 21, ROCHESTER 20.

BURNEY PICK: SEAHOLM 23, ROCHESTER 20.

Farmington at Pontiac

These are two 0-4 teams that one was expected to be here while the other not so much. The Phoenix were blown out by Royal Oak 42-6. The Falcons weren’t expected to be where they are at and they have no one to blame but themselves for what has gone on with them. Both sides of the football have been the big problem for Farmington in which they haven’t scored much and are giving up a ton of points. The Falcons have scored 58 points this season but only had seven last week in a 18-7 loss to Hazel Park. One of these two teams will get a win this week at Wisner Stadium.

SAMMY PICK: FARMINGTON 6, PONTIAC 3.

ANT PICK: FARMINGTON 7, PONTIAC 3.

SEAN PICK: FARMINGTON 35, PONTIAC 12.

STICK PICK: FARMINGTON 21, PONTIAC 7.

KEITH PICK: FARMINGTON 31, PONTIAC 6.

BURNEY PICK: FARMINGTON 28, PONTIAC 18.