STICK’S PICKS: From playoffs berths to sports bars
As we allow the public to vote on their favorite postgame sports bar, it’s time to delve into the final weeks of the prep football season. Playoff berths are on the line for multiple area teams.
Only three local squads have already clinched berths — Clarkston, Lake Orion and Pontiac Notre Dame Prep — while Auburn Hills Avondale, Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes, Rochester, Rochester hills Lutheran Northwest and Troy are all in good position to reach the postseason.
Additionally, Oxford will need to win out to go 6-3 and make the cut, while Rochester Stoney Creek and Holly are long shots but could finish 5-4 and sneak into the postseason if they win out.
As for our search for the area’s best sports bar, here is the top 10 in the voting from 10th to first after a few weeks of voting: 10. Buffalo Wild Wings-Rochester Hills; 9. CK Diggs-Rochester Hills; 8. G’s Pizza-Lake Orion; 7. CJ’s Upper Deck-Waterford; 6. Hamlin Pub-Rochester Hills; 5. 24th Street Tavern-Oxford; 4. Orion Sports Bar-Orion Twp.; 3. CJ Mahoney’s-Rochester Hills; 2. CJ Mahoney’s-Troy; 1. RJ’S Pub-Rochester Hills.
Feel free to vote today.
Now, onto the Week 7 picks.
(Last week 9-2, .818 PCT.; Season, 48-14, .775 PCT.)
Friday’s Games
HIGHLAND PARK AT AUBURN HILLS AVONDALE (7 p.m.): This is a replacement game for Avondale, which had a bye week with the collapse of the Bloomfield Hills Andover program. This win vaults Avondale into the postseason for the third straight season.
PICK: Avondale by 20.
TROY ATHENS AT ROCHESTER (7 p.m.): Rochester will regroup and keeps inching towards its second playoffs berth in three years.
PICK: Rochester by 10.
TROY AT CALRKSTON: Clarkston sets up its Week 8 showdown against Lake Orion with a win here.
PICK: Clarkston by 12.
WEST BLOOMFIELD AT ROCHESTER STONEY CREEK: The Cougars still have a shot at a postseason berth. A win is a must here.
PICK: Stoney Creek by 7
PONTIAC AT LAKE ORION (1 p.m.): Lake Orion has become a machine in recent weeks.
PICK: Lake Orion by 28.
SOUTHFIELD AT ROCHESTER ADAMS (7 p.m.): This game has often meant something, but not this time. Adams will not reach the postseason this year. Southfield will.
PICK: Southfield by 15.
PONTIAC NOTRE DAME PREP AT MACOMB LUTHERAN NORTH (7 p.m.): How many straight regular season wins will this be for the Irish?
PICK: Notre Dame Prep by 8.
SOUTHFIELD LATHRUP AT OXFORD (7 p.m.): Oxford must win out to reach the postseason. The Wildcats will get the job done here.
PICK: Oxford by 14.
HOLLY AT NORTH BRANCH (7 p.m.): Holly is one on the best 2-4 teams around.
PICK: Holly by 14.
ORTONVILLE B RANDON AT LINDEN (7 p.m.): It’s just one of those years for winless Brandon.
PICK: Linden by 10.
AUBURN HILLS OAKLAND CHRISTIAN VS. SOURHFIELD CHRISTAIN AT BIRMINGHAM GROVES (4 p.m.): Both teams are 1-5. Toss a coin on this one.
PICK: Oakland Christian by 3.
ROCHESTER HILLS LUTHERAN NORTHWEST AT MAYVILLE (7 p.m.): The Crusaders do not want to get caught looking ahead to the Week 8 showdown with Grosse Pointe Woods University-Liggett. They won’t.
PICK: Northwest by 14.
Saturday’s Games
DETROIT LOYOLA AT WATERFORD OUR LADY OF THE LAKES (1 p.m.): Don’t see Loyola losing this season.
PICK: Loyola by 10.
(Stick’s Picks is a legend in his own mind and part of the prep sports family of seers in Michigan. You can\contact him through his boss at dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com.)
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