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PrepZone's Week 8 Game Picks
Posted October 22, 2008
Rolling along now, sorry this post hasn't been as timely as the past couple of posts, but we had to spend a little extra time on PrepZone Playbook today... which reminds me to remind you - be sure to watch it! Last week's Barron and Naples game really lived up to the hype once the second half started, but I'm not sure if there is going to be a game this week that is going to be particularly hard to choose. The Immokalee-Golden Gate matchup is intriguing because now Immokalee knows that they can win, and the Titans - believe it or not - seem like they are finding themselves a little bit... even though there isn't much of the season left. Just the same, we'll continue on to this week's games. Good luck picking and thanks for continuing to participate!
--Nick Krueger
Records after last week:
Nick: 31-14
Adam: 31-14
John: 18-7
Here we go for this week:
Riverdale at South Fort Myers (Thursday)
Adam: South Fort Myers
This game is essentially for the runner-up spot in District 3A-13. Both teams have lost to Dunbar, and their remaining schedules are cake. Riverdale pitched a shutout last week against Lehigh, but there's no stopping the Wolfpack scoring machine.
John: South Fort Myers
Here's why I'm picking South Fort Myers: We at the Naples Daily News cover the school and some of those affiliated with it will read this. Riverdale on the other hand... well we really have nothing to do with them. So here's my shout out to all you NDN readers out there (a la Sarah Palin). South wins.
Nick: Riverdale
South has found a variety of ways to score not on offense, but a solid mistake-free game with good special teams coverage should be able to beat that. Riverdale knows just as much as South that this could be for the runner-up spot in the district, and if this game wasn't for it, I would pick South. Riverdale's size and the meaning of the game might be too much, though.
Glades Day at Neumann
Adam: Glades Day
After a tough road loss last week, the last thing the Celtics want to see is Glades Day come to town. The Gators have owned District 1A-6 and Neumann the past three years. Contrary to what some Neumann fans believe, we at PrepZone don't hate the Celtics – Steve Howey is my boy! – but I can't pick 'em to win here.
John: Glades Day
One word. MASSACRE. I really enjoy when the Neumann brass reads these picks and gets upset, so I'm going to go against them again!
Nick: Glades Day
I had faith (no pun intended) in Neumann to take down Bishop last week, but they didn't even keep it a little close for me. Maybe they'll play better this week, but I don't know if Glades Day is the type of team you play looking for a rebound win.
Lely at Estero
Adam: Lely
The road keeps getting tougher for Estero. Lely might not drop 91 on the Wildcats, but the Trojans will put up about 60. That, my friends, is the last time I will mention the number 91 in reference to Estero. I promise. Lely's defense is questionable, so the Wildcats should score some points.
John: Lely
Easy win for Lely. If not, Steve Pricer and myself need to sit down and have a serious discussion about life.
Nick: Lely
I know my sympathy probably doesn't mean much to Estero, and those who have manned-up and made the decision to stay on the team could still probably do without our weekly commentary on them, but they're still on the schedule, so we still have to pick the winner of their game, but they're not going to have a chance against Lely or anyone else until they get healthier.
Golden Gate at Immokalee
Adam: Immokalee
All the Indians needed was the first win to build a little confidence. They haven't played terribly, just caught some bad breaks. Golden Gate keeps improving, but Immokalee wins again.
John: Golden Gate
This isn't your father's Immokalee team. Golden Gate wins.
Nick: Immokalee
I love how John continues to pick Golden Gate every week. I also like how Immokalee discovered their strength is to run the ball with halfbacks and not quarterbacks last week. That being said, I want to see the long ball to Sadath Jean-Pierre. That man is like a mini-TO and I love seeing a high school team that can actually throw a successful vertical pass.
Barron Collier at East Lee County
Adam: Barron Collier
East Lee gives up a lot of points, and the Cougars have been scoring a lot. Put them together, and this will be the third straight game Barron's Quin Thornton goes over 300 yards of total offense. With Gulf Coast out of the way, the Cougars should win District 4A-15.
John: East Lee County
I met a girl that went to Barron a few years ago at a local watering hole recently. She was pretty but a little wacky - just like this game will be. East Lee County makes a statement and wins.
Nick: Barron Collier
You know how Ohio State always loses to USC or some other big non-conference opponent and immediately everyone in Buckeye Nation says "we'll still take the Big Ten," like it's just as good... That's what Barron is like right now - Beanie Wells, I mean Quin Thornton is the team, and they lost to USC, I mean Naples, but still have a shot at winning the Big Eleven, I mean 4A-15.
Gulf Coast at Lehigh
Adam: Gulf Coast
Sharks quarterback Jeff Schmidt looks better and better every week. So does receiver Zac Rittberg and Gulf Coast's offensive line. What's most impressive is the Sharks' defense. I say Gulf Coast bottles the Lightning and puts a whoopin' on Lehigh.
John: Gulf Coast
I'm a BIG fan of the Gulf Coast cheerleaders, so I'll give this one to the Sharks.
Nick: Gulf Coast
If 4A-15 is like the Big Ten, then this game is like Penn State (Gulf Coast) taking on Michigan (Lehigh). Too bad Gulf Coast isn't undefeated like Penn State, but they run that HD Spread offense to a tee!
Palmetto Ridge at Cypress Lake
Adam: Palmetto Ridge
I've picked the Bears three straight weeks, and where has that gotten me? Surely Palmetto Ridge can't lose six games in a row... right? Cypress Lake might have a field day on the Bears' porous defense, and these two teams could combine to score 100 points. Just for kicks and giggles, I'm taking Palmetto Ridge.
John: Cypress Lake
I'm just glad there's not another Lee County directional school in this one. I don't believe the Bears swim in this Lake, Cypress gets by.
Nick: Palmetto Ridge
Based on the players on both teams, you can make an argument for both, but I don't think the Cypress secondary is big enough, fast enough, or strong enough to stop Sean Smikle. Mike Pinter can get back into a late-season groove in this game.
BONUS
Since you guys all got into this last week, I figured I would take a crack at it; here are the (very) unofficial Naples Daily News Power Rankings:
1. Naples
2. Barron Collier
3. South Fort Myers
4. Gulf Coast
5. Lely
6. Immokalee
7. Palmetto Ridge
8. Golden Gate
9. Neumann
10. Estero
I know you guys are going to hate those... Discuss!
Do you agree?
Comments
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Let me answers nonesense08s pop quiz first , then we'll get back to having a little fun and stop busting each others chops. cover 1 can mean different things to different teams. To some it means to chuck the receiver at the line. In other words, if a catcher in baseball puts down two fingers, does it really mean he wants the curve ball? Second, 3-4 for speed,(usually passing downs) 4-3 for power. Now for my picks.
Glades Day @ SJN- Glades Day at 3-3 are not having their usual strong season. Maybe the competion they are playing with is making it somewhat deceiving. SJN had a chance to show us what they had. Not much I'm afraid to say G.D wins 37-17. For the most part Lely has been playing a soft schedule this year. This week they have the easiest game by far on the schedule.
Give your players plenty of rest and ease into the playoffs Lely 45-10. Palmetto @ Cypress--A miracle is needed for both teams to even have any chance for the playoffs. Cypress win with ease 28-7. I really hope I get this one wrong! Barron @ E. Lee-- E. Lee has had some good moments this season. At 1-1 district play so far, they are in good shape for the playoffs. One problem! His name is Quin Thorton and if Naples didn't stop him, how will ELC? Barron eaks out a win 42-16. GG @ Immokalee-- Last week Immokalee took advantage of a very poor performing football team. It is hard to judge how much improved from that game. I have not seen GG play since game one. So going on what I have read in the past few weeks and by pure hunch, I have chosen GG to get their 1st victory this week. GG 24-21.
Gulfcoast@ Lehigh-- If I remember right, these two teams have a history for some real classics. Lehigh as usual 2-4 (2-0 dist) finds a way to win the district games. A very enenly matched game that should go to the wire. GC-33-30. By the way, did you all know that a punt returner can catch a ball in the air with one foot out of bounds and still be able to return it? Saw it on a game on espn about a week ago. According to the announcer, about 80 thousand in the stands didn't know of the rule either.
#1 Posted by waterboy on October 23, 2008 at 3:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As far as the list goes, I would say you are about right on. The only change I would make is GG at #7 and Palmetto to #8. I think this weeks games will really show the true character of every team. Except maybe Lely, I think the may do some resting of players and possibly experiment with some personnal.
CAS
#2 Posted by waterboy on October 23, 2008 at 3:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Nonesense- It's nice to have a civilized forum for a change. You are right to say I don't know jack about football to some extent. I never played a lick of football in my life. Baseball was my primary sport. It doesn't mean I can't try to pick who's gonna win and what the score might be. I do it every year just for the fun of it. Sometimes I am right, sometimes wrong. If you look at my previous picks, you'll notice I'm usually pretty close. Of course high school sports can be unpredictable at times. So in the future don't take the picks so serious. Life is too short.It's all in fun! As a matter of fact...that goes out to everyone that reads this!
REMEMBER CAS
#3 Posted by waterboy on October 23, 2008 at 10:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Nonesense- Quick question. Were you known as mok-villa or I-town on that other snoozpapers forum last year? I seem to remember that same question asked back then.
#4 Posted by waterboy on October 23, 2008 at 10:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
5-1 for the week, not bad.GG did not do me any favors, I really though they had a decent chance. In the meantime Lely is in the playoffs, Naples needs one victory to notch a position in the playoffs. More or less a gimme. Technically Immokalee, GG and Estero are still in it. But we all know better. The Coconut bowl will be hyped big time this year. In the 4a No one is locked in yet, however Barron and GC have the upper hand. With victory over Cypress, Barron will lock in a playoff spot. Palmetto is done unless a miricle happens. Here's the scenerio... PR beats both GC & ELC, ELC beats Lehigh & losses to PR, and Cypress losses to Barron & beats GC. That would in essence create a mess of a 5 way tie at 2-3 district play.
#5 Posted by waterboy on October 25, 2008 at 12:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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