STICK’S PICKS: Week 2 offers some delicious early-season, all-important matchups
Early in the season it’s sometimes hard to gage just how a team will fare over the length of the football campaign. There are winning streaks, losing streaks, the unexpected, the expected, injuries and teams that come from out of the blue.
There are also games in the early stages that turn out to be huge in terms of playoffs or league title implications. There are a few of such contests in Week 2 highlighting the area in Week 2.
If you are looking for a quality game to help kick off your Labor Day weekend, there’s plenty of action on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. There’s a few local games that you might not want to miss.
(Last week: 10-5; Season 10-5).
Thursday, Aug. 30
TROY AT ROCHESTER (7 p.m.): Both of these teams have been tagged as two of the more improved teams in the entire three-division Oakland Activities Association and the two teams most likely to stay near the top of the OAA Red and challenge perennial powers Lake Orion and Clarkston. This one has classic written all over it.
PICK: Troy by 3 in overtime.
BIRMINGHAM GROVES AT AUBURN HILLS AVONDALE (7 p.m.): Groves rolled all over Avondale en route to sharing the OAA Blue Division crown. Avondale has plans on gaining back the title this season.
PICK: Auburn Hills Avondale by 10.
DEARBORN HEIGHTS STAR INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY AT PONTIAC NOTRE DAME PREP: (7 p.m.): The fighting Irish compiled an impressive 17-14 road win at Almont last week in a game that featured squads that finished the regular season unbeaten last year. This game won’t be that close.
PICK: Notre Dame Prep by 20.
HOLLY AT LINDEN (7 p.m.): Holly stumbled out of the gates against Swartz Creek last week, ineffective in stopping the pass. Linden would love to keep the Bronchos limping.
PICK: Linden by 8.
LAPEER WEST AT ORTONVILLE BRANDON (7 p.m.): Unfortunately for Brandon, losing 23 players from last year’s team is going to sting a lot this season.
PICK: Lapeer West by 7.
Friday, Aug. 31
WEST BLOOMFIELD VS. CLARKSTON (7 p.m.): This year Clarkston will redefine the term “Big Bad Wolves.”
PICK: Clarkston by 21.
OXFORD AT NORTH FARMINGTON (7 p.m.): Oxford suffered a close loss to Lake Orion last week after leading for most of the first three quarters. The Wildcats won’t let another one slip through their fingers.
PICK: Oxford by 10.
LAKE ORION VS. TROY ATHENS (at Ford Field, 5:45 p.m.): Neither team was impressive in Week 1. Lake Orion struggled to beat Oxford in Week 1, while Athens never showed up at all against Warren Mott. This game was supposed to be key in the OAA Red Division race. Maybe not after all.
PICK: Lake Orion by 10.
FARMINGTON HARRISON AT ROCHESTER ADAMS (7 p.m.): Two teams that are accustomed to engaging in league championship runs and post season berths always makes for an interesting matchup. Should be again this year.
PICK: Farmington Harrison by 6.
ROCHESTER STONEY CREEK AT PONTIAC (7 p.m.): Brad Zube used to coach at Pontiac and is now the head man at Stoney Creek. Here’s a question for Zube and Co. When was the last time the Cougars opened 2-0?
PICK: Stoney Creek by 10.
Saturday, Sept. 1
AUBURN HILLS OAKLAND CHRISTIAN AT STERLING HIEGHTS PARKWAY CHRISTIAN (4 p.m.): Jumping on the bandwagon right now. Oakland Christian will be the most improved team in the MIAC this season.
PICK: Oakland Christian by 3.
BRITTON-MACON-DEERFIELD AT WATERFORD OURLADY OF THE LAKES (1 p.m.): Not even the strength of three combined towns will be enough to derail Our Lady.
PICK: WOLL by 10.
(Stick’s Picks is prep seer for www.northoaklandsports.com. His majesty can be reached at results@northoaklandsports.com. Follow on Twitter @LocalSportsFans.)
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