Westpac Week 9

[superstar25]

Last week 2-3, 32-8 overall. Interesting week last week but a tough one for my picks. I think there is some parity in the league this year with no dominant teams. The top 4 have beat each other up a bit.

Portage (6-2) at Shade (4-4) - This one could be a tight game. Both teams are looking for some momentum heading towards the playoffs. Shade has played tough all season but hasn't been able to get that big win against a quality opponent. Mustangs are looking to bounce back from a poor showing against Berlin. Panthers defense will keep them in this one but I'm not sure they have enough offense to win it. I will go with the Mustangs in a close one 17-14.

Conemaugh Township (7-1) at Blacklick Valley (1-7) - With a win on Friday night, the Indians will win the conference championship, get a date next week in the Appalachian bowl against undefeated Ligonier Valley, and secure the number 1 seed in the 5A playoffs. They bounce back and thump the Vikings 42-0.

Meyersdale (6-2) at Conemaugh Valley (2-6) - Red Raiders pulled the upset of the year in the conference knocking off previously unbeaten Township. 5 wins in a row. A win here will most likely lock up the 2 seed and home field advantage for the first round of the playoffs. They need to be on letdown/upset alert against the Blue Jays who played well last week. Meyersdale wins 24-13.

Ferndale (3-5) at North Star (1-7) - Yellow Jackets had a bad game last week getting blown out against a one win team. Apparently their offensive line has not been blocking well. They need to turn it around to solidify their playoff chances. They get a win over the struggling Cougars 20-7.

Berlin (7-1) at Windber (3-5) - Mountaineers finally showed up and played good ball last week at Portage. Berlin's defense has been playing great and will need another solid performance to slow down Evan Quinn, who is leading the league in rushing at 165 yards/game. Ramblers need to win their last 2 games to have any shot at making the playoffs, so they should be hungry. I think Berlin's run defense is too good though, they win 35-7.

[stang4life]

Great job...every week! Thanks to you for taking the time to write up your predictions. Your Portage- Shade score may be spot on "either way", lackluster play calling from Portage staff surely didn't help the cause last week. Thinking this game is a pick-em, the rest you got. Your average will climb this week.

[CoffinCorner]

Seriously, Portage is ranked in the state and one of the top seeds in A, if they don't run all over Shade, something is wrong

[stang4life]

All I can say is the Portage kids have been playing their guts out all year, yes they make their share of mistakes. But in the two losses I would put the blame on the staff. But,hey we'll take the ranking.  

[youngbuck]

Great job...every week! Thanks to you for taking the time to write up your predictions. Your Portage- Shade score may be spot on "either way", lackluster play calling from Portage staff surely didn't help the cause last week. Thinking this game is a pick-em, the rest you got. Your average will climb this week.

Here is the talk of Shade being such a tough game for Portage,but when United beat them, they are a bad team.   Interesting 

[ExRaided]

Shade is good and tough when they decide to show up and play. Problem is they only do that half of the their schedule. The other half they lay down and play like shade from 10 years ago.

[youngbuck]

Good and tough against North Star,BV and CV,
Is that what you are saying

[ExRaided]

20-14 loss against CT. 28-12 loss against Berlin.16-8 loss against Meyersdale. 34-26 loss against Portage. All quality teams and good games? I'm not saying those four teams are amazing or anything but the way you talk they're only good and tough against north star, bv, and cv.. yet they played the best teams in the westpac very tough.

[youngbuck]

I have nothing against Shade , but felt like there were posts down playing United beating them.

[ExRaided]

I have absolutely no idea how good or bad United is. All I know is Shade is the same team they've been the last 5 years or so. Either they show up and play a team tough as hell or they get rolled over. There hasn't really been an in between for them.