Week Four Picks.

Written Tuesday September 12th at 11:00 PM

Welcome to the 2017 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 19-23

ANT 27-15

SEAN 28-14

STICK 31-11

KEITH 33-9

BURNEY 27-15

1. CLARKSTON at 7. WEST BLOOMFIELD

The Wolves may have the best offensive line in football and they showed who they were in beating Bloomfield Hills 34-20 last week. Clarkston trailed 20-13 late in the game before scoring 21 straight points. The Lakers which may have the best passing attack in the State used it to full capacity, scoring five touchdowns with it in a 49-21 win over Orion last week. This will be a fun game in the Swamp.

SAMMY PICK: WEST BLOOMFIELD 42, CLARKSTON 35.

ANT PICK: CLARKSTON 24, WEST BLOOMFIELD 21.

SEAN PICK: CLARKSTON 28, WEST BLOOMFIELD 21.

STICK PICK: CLARKSTON 35, WEST BLOOMFIELD 34.

KEITH PICK: WEST BLOOMFIELD 28, CLARKSTON 21.

BURNEY PICK: CLARKSTON 28, WEST BLOOMFIELD 24.

4. OAK PARK at 2. GROVES

This matchup could possibly decide the White. The Falcons beat the Knights 13-12 in Knight Valley last season. This season’s matchup in Beverly Hills looks like it could live up to the hype again but Oak Park is veteran heavy and is motivated after what happened last season. Groves is also undefeated as well but the Knights haven’t allowed a point in the league as of yet.

SAMMY PICK: OAK PARK 35, GROVES 14.

ANT PICK: OAK PARK 35, GROVES 17.

SEAN PICK: OAK PARK 28, GROVES 7.

STICK PICK: OAK PARK 35, GROVES 14.

KEITH PICK: OAK PARK 22, GROVES 20.

BURNEY PICK: OAK PARK 25, GROVES 21.

3. ADAMS at 5. BLOOMFIELD HILLS

This will be a matchup based on two different styles of attacks. The Blackhawks like to use their passing duo of John Paddock and Ty Slazinski to do the balk of Bloomfield Hills damage. The Highlanders will like to slow things down with their veer attack and have two quarterbacks that can-do damage whether it’s Carter Farris with what he did against Orion in the air or with Zach Solodan with what he did against Oxford last week. Whoever’s style of play works will win this game in Bloomfield Hills.

SAMMY PICK: ADAMS 31, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 14.

ANT PICK: ADAMS 38, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 17.

SEAN PICK: BLOOMFIELD HILLS 28, ADAMS 24.

STICK PICK: ADAMS 31, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 21.

KEITH PICK: ADAMS 31, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 28.

BURNEY PICK: ADAMS 27, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 26.

OXFORD at 6. SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH

The Warriors bounced back last week getting a big 50-20 win over Troy Athens. Southfield Arts and Tech will use that athleticism and talent once again this week against a Wildcats team that loves to Pound the Rock. Oxford lost to Adams 33-13 last week. I’m worried for the Wildcats in this matchup against the Warriors with the game being a 5:30 PM start.

SAMMY PICK: SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 42, OXFORD 14.

ANT PICK: SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 35, OXFORD 14.

SEAN PICK: SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 35, OXFORD 17.

STICK PICK: SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 21, OXFORD 14.

KEITH PICK: SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 28, OXFORD 14.

BURNEY PICK: SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 41, OXFORD 22.

8. HARRISON at SEAHOLM

This is a must win game for the Maples in the Maple Forest. Seaholm lost 28-0 last week to Oak Park and is a veteran heavy team. The Hawks won 47-8 against Stoney Creek last week. It seems that Harrison is getting things back on the right track. Harrison is a team that is under the radar. This will be an interesting game in the Maple Forest.

SAMMY PICK: HARRISON 35, SEAHOLM 14.

ANT PICK: HARRISON 35, SEAHOLM 21.

SEAN PICK: HARRISON 21, SEAHOLM 7.

STICK PICK: HARRISON 28, SEAHOLM 21.

KEITH PICK: HARRISON 21, SEAHOLM 10.

BURNEY PICK: HARRISON 34, SEAHOLM 24.

9. TROY at STONEY CREEK

The Colts have been putting things together early in the season but they will be tested when they travel to Rochester to play the Cougars. Stoney Creek’s problems have been up front in which the Cougars have been dominated in that stretch despite having a 1-2 start. Troy will try to keep the momentum going after winning 27-20 against Rochester last week. This will be an interesting game to keep an eye on.

SAMMY PICK: STONEY CREEK 17, TROY 14.

ANT PICK: TROY 17, STONEY CREEK 14.

SEAN PICK: TROY 26, STONEY CREEK 17.

STICK PICK: STONEY CREEK 24, TROY 21.

KEITH PICK: TROY 24, STONEY CREEK 21.

BURNEY PICK:  TROY 30, STONEY CREEK 20.

10. FERNDALE at Birmingham Detroit Country Day

The Eagles came off a bad 21-13 home loss to Avondale last week still control their own destiny in the Blue. This week Ferndale will travel to Birmingham to take on a Division Four State power in the Yellow Jackets. Birmingham Detroit Country Day has had their fair share of struggles this season at 1-2. The Yellow Jackets lost 26-19 in overtime to Flushing last week. This will be a tough matchup for the Eagles.

SAMMY PICK: FERNDALE 28, BIRMINGHAM DETROIT COUNTRY DAY 21.

ANT PICK: BIRMINGHAM DETROIT COUNTRY DAY 42, FERNDALE 14.

SEAN PICK: BIRMINGHAM DETROIT COUNTRY DAY 28, FERNDALE 7.

STICK PICK: BIRMINGHAM DETROIT COUNTRY DAY 28, FERNDALE 14.

KEITH PICK: BIRMINGHAM DETROIT COUNTRY DAY 34, FERNDALE 20.

BURNEY PICK: BIRMINGHAM DETROIT COUNTRY DAY 25, FERNDALE 18.

ORION at TROY ATHENS

These are two 0-3 teams that are oddly mirror images of each other heading into Friday night. This was oddly supposed to be a home game for Orion but the game was moved to Troy to celebrate Homecoming for Troy Athens. The Dragons lost 49-21 to West Bloomfield but showed signs of coming out of their recent struggles. The Red Hawks lost 50-20 to Southfield Arts and Tech but looking at this matchup, one of these teams will get their first win of the season on Friday night.

SAMMY PICK: ORION 31, TROY ATHENS 14.

ANT PICK: ORION 42, TROY ATHENS 7.

SEAN PICK: ORION 21, TROY ATHENS 14.

STICK PICK: ORION 24, TROY ATHENS 21.

KEITH PICK: ORION 17, TROY ATHENS 7.

BURNEY PICK: ORION 21, TROY ATHENS 20.

BERKLEY at ROCHESTER

These are two teams that are struggling this season with both teams being a combined 1-5. The Bears were expected to struggle after moving up a division, having a new coach, and new system to adjust too. Berkley lost to Groves 24-0 last week. The Falcons have a ton of Senior experience especially from the offensive side of the football but they really haven’t put things together especially on the defensive side of the football. Rochester lost 27-20 to Troy last week. This will be an interesting game to keep an eye on over at Rochester.

SAMMY PICK: ROCHESTER 24, BERKLEY 21

ANT PICK: ROCHESTER 35, BERKLEY 28.

SEAN PICK: ROCHESTER 35, BERKLEY 6.

STICK PICK: ROCHESTER 21, BERKLEY 14.

KEITH PICK: BERKLEY 21, ROCHESTER 18.

BURNEY PICK: BERKLEY 28, ROCHESTER 26.

ROYAL OAK at PONTIAC

The Ravens were a disappointment from an offensive standpoint only scoring seven points against Hazel Park last week in a 13-7 loss now Royal Oak heads to Pontiac to take on a Phoenix team that had a solid first half against North Farmington but couldn’t put things together and fell 26-16 to the Raiders. This one looks to be an interesting matchup at Wisner Stadium.

SAMMY PICK: ROYAL OAK 14, PONTIAC 6.

ANT PICK: ROYAL OAK 24, PONTIAC 7.

SEAN PICK: ROYAL OAK 42, PONTIAC 6.

STICK PICK: ROYAL OAK 28, PONTIAC 19.

KEITH PICK: ROYAL OAK 35, PONTIAC 0.

BURNEY PICK: ROYAL OAK 30, PONTIAC 20.

FARMINGTON at HAZEL PARK

The Falcons have been a big disappointment heading into the season, allowing 107 points in the last three games. The Vikings have been a big surprise and a lot of that has to do with Gary Griffith coming from Troy to be the defensive coordinator. Hazel Park has pulled off two big wins so far and looks to be the leader in the clubhouse in the Blue race.

SAMMY PICK: HAZEL PARK 14, FARMINGTON 7.

ANT PICK: HAZEL PARK 24, FARMINGTON 14.

SEAN PICK: HAZEL PARK 32, FARMINGTON 21.

STICK PICK: HAZEL PARK 28, FARMINGTON 21.

KEITH PICK: HAZEL PARK 14, FARMINGTON 10.

BURNEY PICK: HAZEL PARK 23, FARMINGTON 21.

AVONDALE at NORTH FARMINGTON

The Raiders were fresh off getting their first win since 2015 and the first under coach Bob Chiesa when they beat Pontiac 26-16 on Friday night. North Farmington will host a Yellow Jackets team that got a big time win at Ferndale 21-13 last week. This is a big game for both teams to see where they are at in the middle of the season.

SAMMY PICK: NORTH FARMINGTON 26, AVONDALE 21.

ANT PICK: AVONDALE 42, NORTH FARMINGTON 17.

SEAN PICK: AVONDALE 35, NORTH FARMINGTON 6.

STICK PICK: AVONDALE 21, NORTH FARMINGTON 20.

KEITH PICK: AVONDALE 23, NORTH FARMINGTON 16.

BURNEY PICK: AVONDALE 33, NORTH FARMINGTON 23.