Week Eight Picks.

Written Wednesday October 10th at 3:00 PM

Welcome to the 2018 OAA football season. We will pick games this season with my good friends in the media this season, here are the pickers for the season. Anthony Taormina-Host Between Taorminas and History Now on ONTV, Scott Burnstein-State Champs insider and blogger, Oakland Press sports writer, Keith Dunlap-Detroit Free Press sports writer, Dan Stickradt-North Oakland Sports director, and Sean Cotter-Farmington video coordinator. Anyway good luck everyone this season.

DUNES 66-24

TRAIN 66-24

DUNLAP 71-19

STICK 66-24

BURNEY 68-22

COTTER 66-24

7. West Bloomfield at 1. Oak Park

This is an interesting matchup between the Knights and Lakers. This is the first meeting since 2011 when West Bloomfield won 18-16 but the difference is now is that coach Greg Carter is now at Oak Park. I’m curious how the Lakers will respond after being upset 37-35 to Southfield Arts and Tech last week in the Swamp. The Knights won ugly beating Rochester 41-33 last week. The question in this game will be is which defense will show up in this game, I think that West Bloomfield with all of that Division One talent on defense has the most to prove but Oak Park has a Division One quarterback and multiple Division One players as well.

DUNES: OAK PARK 42, WEST BLOOMFIELD 39

TRAIN: WEST BLOOMFIELD 35, OAK PARK 28

DUNLAP: WEST BLOOMFIELD 35, OAK PARK 34

STICK: OAK PARK 34, WEST BLOOMFIELD 27

BURNEY: WEST BLOOMFIELD 28, OAK PARK 27

COTTER: WEST BLOOMFIELD 35, OAK PARK 32

8. Harrison at 2. Groves

The Falcons are on a five game winning streak since starting 0-2. Groves did have some trouble with Rochester but ever since they haven’t had any trouble since then including a 38-0 win over Troy last week. The Falcons have won the last three meetings with the Hawks including last season’s 32-31 and 14-10 two seasons ago wins in Farmington Hills. This one is in Beverly Hills and Harrison is coming off a tough 24-17 loss to Adams last week. This will be one of the top games in the area this week.

DUNES: GROVES 24, HARRISON 21

TRAIN: GROVES 24, HARRISON 21             

DUNLAP: GROVES 24, HARRISON 17

STICK: HARRISON 27, GROVES 21

BURNEY: GROVES 24, HARRISON 23

COTTER: GROVES 14, HARRISON 10

Bloomfield Hills at 3. Oxford

The Wildcats are on cloud nine after pulling off one of the biggest upsets in the State by upsetting Clarkston on their homecoming 20-17 last week after scoring a late touchdown to pull off the upset. Oxford has beating their two arch rivals Lake Orion and Clarkston in the same season for the first time since 2011. They should not have any problems with the Blackhawks whom Oxford lost 26-14 to last season and it’s homecoming for the Wildcats as well. Bloomfield Hills has lost three straight meetings until that game last season and have really struggled this season. The Blackhawks lost 42-14 to Lake Orion last week. It could be a long ride for Bloomfield Hills having to come back to Lapeer Road this week.

DUNES: OXFORD 42, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 7

TRAIN: OXFORD 49, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 14

DUNLAP: OXFORD 35, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 14

STICK: OXFORD 25, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 14

BURNEY: OXFORD 36, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 16

COTTER: OXFORD 49, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 7

9. Farmington at 4. Seaholm

This is the match that will decide the Blue title. Both team’s losses were to non league foes, the Maples were to South Lyon 31-28 and the Falcons to Madison Heights Madison 28-6. Seaholm hammered Berkley 42-13 while Farmington took home the Farmington Cup with a 27-7 win over North Farmington. Whomever wins this game will have momentum heading to the playoffs and next week’s games which both teams have tough matchups, the Maples at Groves while the Falcons will be at Harrison.

DUNES: SEAHOLM 28, FARMINGTON 7

TRAIN: SEAHOLM 49, FARMINGTON 14

DUNLAP: SEAHOLM 21, FARMINGTON 13

STICK: FARMINGTON 35, SEAHOLM 28

BURNEY: SEAHOLM 31, FARMINGTON 28

COTTER: SEAHOLM 21, FARMINGTON 14

5. Ferndale at Berkley

The Eagles are on a roll outscoring their last two opponents by a combined 101-6, including last week’s 46-6 blowout of Pontiac. Ferndale has won four straight since losing 10-7 to Farmington in week three. This week, the Eagles will head to Hurley Field and take on a Bears team that has really struggled. Berkley has lost four straight games including a 42-13 defeat to Seaholm. The Bears have been outscored 151-27 in that span. I don’t know if I see Berkley stopping the Ferndale express on their homecoming, also the Eagles are 2-0 in those games.

DUNES: FERNDALE 56, BERKLEY 0

TRAIN: FERNDALE 49, BERKLEY 0

DUNLAP: FERNDALE 38, BERKLEY 10

STICK: FERNDALE 28, BERKLEY 14

BURNEY: FERNDALE 29, BERKLEY 22

COTTER: FERNDALE 35, BERKLEY 7

6. Clarkston at T-10. Lake Orion

The Clarkston Wolves were riding on cloud nine going through an undefeated season and living on the edge pulling out wins over Grandville, Southfield Arts and Tech, and West Bloomfield but it couldn’t save them last week when they were upset 20-17 on their homecoming by Oxford. This week, the Wolves will enter the Cancer for a Cure/Pink Out game with their arch rivals whom they have won seven straight games against. The Dragons won 42-14 over Bloomfield Hills on their homecoming last week and have seemed to be picking up steam lately. This will be an interesting matchup to say the least at Lake Orion.

DUNES: LAKE ORION 17, CLARKSTON 14

TRAIN: LAKE ORION 21, CLARKSTON 14

DUNLAP: CLARKSTON 28, LAKE ORION 14

STICK: CLARKSTON 21, LAKE ORION 17

BURNEY: CLARKSTON 33, LAKE ORION 26

COTTER: CLARKSTON 24, LAKE ORION 21

T-10. Avondale at Hazel Park

This is a rivalry game that will have its final meeting for a while now that Hazel Park will be leaving for the Macomb Area Conference next season. The Yellow Jackets had won the last seven meetings until last season which the Vikings upset Avondale 24-21 in Auburn Hills. This matchup in Hazel Park features two teams heading into opposite directions. The Yellow Jackets beat Royal Oak 34-12 while the Vikings won 36-13 last week at Madison Heights Lamphere. It looks like it could be a blowout in this matchup.

DUNES: AVONDALE 49, HAZEL PARK 6

TRAIN: AVONDALE 35, HAZEL PARK 6

DUNLAP: AVONDALE 42, HAZEL PARK 7

STICK: AVONDALE 28, HAZEL PARK 21

BURNEY: AVONDALE 28, HAZEL PARK 18

COTTER: AVONDALE 35, HAZEL PARK 6

Southfield Arts and Tech at Adams

This is an interesting matchup between the Warriors and the Highlanders. Southfield Arts and Tech picked up a huge win beating West Bloomfield in the Swamp 37-35 and sit at 3-4 on the season. The Warriors need to win this game and also go to River Rouge and win if they want to make the playoffs. This week they play Adams, whom sits at 4-3 and needs this game bad as well. The Highlanders have two huge playoff wins beating Oxford 17-8 a few weeks ago and winning at Harrison 24-17 last week. This will be a good matchup for sure between two teams that aren’t too fond of each other including last season which Adams won 38-24 over Southfield Arts and Tech. Someone will be happy after this game for sure.

DUNES: ADAMS 35, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 24

TRAIN: ADAMS 28, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 24

DUNLAP: ADAMS 24, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 21

STICK: ADAMS 28, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 26

BURNEY: SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 35, ADAMS 32

COTTER: SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 28, ADAMS 24

Rochester at Stoney Creek

This has been a close series between the Falcons and Cougars with Rochester holding a 6-5 edge over Stoney Creek which included winning 17-16 last season. The Falcons lost a tough one to Oak Park 41-33 in Knight Valley last week. The Cougars have had a rough season under first year coach Nick Merlo who came to Stoney Creek from Rochester but they snapped a five game losing streak by beating Troy Athens 34-14 last week. This is a rivalry game so expect this one to be close.

DUNES: ROCHESTER 35, STONEY CREEK 28

TRAIN: ROCHESTER 42, STONEY CREEK 7

DUNLAP: ROCHESTER 35, STONEY CREEK 21

STICK: ROCHESTER 35, STONEY CREEK 14

BURNEY: ROCHESTER 32, STONEY CREEK 22

COTTER: ROCHESTER 35, STONEY CREEK 6

Troy Athens at Troy

The battle of Troy is this week and the Red Hawks and Colts are on similar directions right now. Both teams are wearing military uniforms for this game. Troy Athens is coming off a tough 34-14 loss to Stoney Creek while Troy lost 38-0 to Groves last week. The Colts only victory this season was over Stoney Creek where they needed overtime to win that game. Troy needed a late touchdown to win at Troy Athens 20-19 last season to make the playoffs. They have won eight of the last 12 meetings against the Red Hawks. I wonder if they are doing a pink out game like they did last season??? I think an upset is looming in this one.

DUNES: TROY ATHENS 13, TROY 10

TRAIN: TROY ATHENS 21, TROY 7

DUNLAP: TROY 31, TROY ATHENS 7

STICK: TROY 21, TROY ATHENS 20

BURNEY: TROY 30, TROY ATHENS 21

COTTER: TROY 17, TROY ATHENS 7

Detroit Edison at Royal Oak

This is an interesting matchup that both teams scheduled before the start of the OAA Now Media Day football preview show. The Ravens might have lost out on their playoff hopes after losing 34-12 to Avondale last week. The Pioneers have won two straight games including a hard fought 24-16 victory over Melvindale Academy for Business and Tech last week. Royal Oak is in Class A while Detroit Edison is in Class C, do the math here.

DUNES: ROYAL OAK 30, DETROIT EDISON 0

TRAIN: ROYAL OAK 35, DETROIT EDISON 0

DUNLAP: ROYAL OAK 28, DETROIT EDISON 7

STICK: DETROIT EDISON 22, ROYAL OAK 21

BURNEY: ROYAL OAK 25, DETROIT EDISON 15

COTTER: ROYAL OAK 35, DETROIT EDISON 0

Macomb Lutheran North at North Farmington

The Raiders have taken step back lately getting outscored 41-14 in the last two games including a 27-7 loss to Farmington last week. This week, it’s a very good and talented Mustangs squad that comes to North Farmington. Macomb Lutheran North should test the Raiders, their only loss was to Riverview Gabriel Richard where they lost 57-54. The Mustangs won 10-0 last week over Royal Oak Shrine. North Farmington better come ready to play in this matchup or this will be a blowout.

DUNES: MACOMB LUTHERAN NORTH 40, NORTH FARMINGTON 14

TRAIN: MACOMB LUTHERAN NORTH 49, NORTH FARMINGTON 13

DUNLAP: NORTH FARMINGTON 14, MACOMB LUTHERAN NORTH 10

STICK: NORTH FARMINGTON 21, MACOMB LUTHERAN NORTH 14

BURNEY: MACOMB LUTHERAN NORTH 18, NORTH FARMINGTON 17

COTTER: MACOMB LUTHERAN NORTH 17, NORTH FARMINGTON 7

Pontiac at Clawson

This is the first meeting between the Phoenix and the Trojans. Clawson comes in with a 4-3 record including in their four wins they have scored over 34 points including last week’s 42-0 blowout of Warren Lincoln. Pontiac has not been competitive lately getting outscored 295-28 in seven games, including a 46-6 loss to Ferndale last week at Wisner Stadium. I commend the Phoenix for playing this game but it’s going to get ugly really quick.

DUNES: CLAWSON 42, PONTIAC 6

TRAIN: CLAWSON 28, PONTIAC 14

DUNLAP: CLAWSON 17, PONTIAC 6

STICK: PONTIAC 14, CLAWSON 13

BURNEY: CLAWSON 34, PONTIAC 20

COTTER: CLAWSON 49, PONTIAC 6

Here is the Podcast
https://soundcloud.com/user-539915961/oaa-now-10-09-18