FROM THE PRESS BOX: WEEK 12 PICKS — POSTSEASON HEATS UP (2024-11-08)
The postseason rolls on in Pa., and gets underway in New York with Waverly at home Friday, and Tioga at a neutral site Saturday in sectional semi-final games.
Football fans can find a number of interesting games to watch tonight, including the Troy-Southern Columbia game at Mansfield University, and the Line Mountain-Muncy game for the District 4, Class A title.
Week 11 was a pretty good one for the Pigskin Prognosticators with Country Bob and Little Red both posting perfect 13-0 marks, The Mick going 12-1, and my bringing up the rear at 11-2.
On the season, The Mick leads the pack at 103-18, while Little Red is 99-22, I am 97-24, and Country Bob is 96-25.
So what do the pigskin pickers see in Week 12? Let’s take a look:
Windsor (7-2) at Waverly (8-1): The Wolverines are coming off a 42-10 win over Whitney Point, while the Black Knights closed the regular season with a 47-14 win over Susquehanna Valley.
Waverly has played a tougher schedule, with its only loss to Maine-Endwell (ranked No. 1 in Class B), while Windsor's losses came to the only two teams (Tioga and Chenango Forks) it played with winning records.
Prediction: The Wolverines are on a collision course with Chenango Forks. ... WAVERLY 42, WINDSOR 14.
The Mick: Waverly 54, Windsor 13. ... Country Bob: Waverly 47, Windsor 0. ... Little Red: Waverly 56, Windsor 6.
SVEC (5-4) vs. Tioga (6-3): The Tigers are coming off a 35-28 win over B-G, while the Eagles thumped Schuyler, 47-21.
Tioga is getting healthy, and has found its identity behind the bruising running of senior tailback Jake Browne, who has 713 yards and 11 TDs in the last two games.
SVEC has also featured a physical running game, so this game could be a quick one.
Prediction: Tioga appears to be on a collision course with Delhi. ... TIOGA 41, SVEC 13.
The Mick: Tioga 28, SVEC 7. ... Country Bob: Tioga 35, SVEC 14. ... Little Red: Tioga 49, SVEC 13.
Norwich (6-3) at Owego (7-1): The River Hawks dropped a 21-7 decision to Maine-Endwell in the final week of the regular season, while the Purple Tornadoes rolled to a 46-12 win over Chenango Valley.
Prediction: Owego is a bit banged-up, but should have more than enough to earn another shot at M-E. ... OWEGO 34, NORWICH 6.
The Mick: Owego 44, Norwich 0. ... Country Bob: Owego 42, Norwich 13. ... Little Red: Owego 36, Norwich 14.
Warrior Run (7-4) at Towanda (9-2): The Black Knights rolled to a 42-20 win over Bloomsburg, while the Defenders topped Loyalsock, 21-7.
Prediction: It's really difficult to bet against Towanda's Riley Vanderpool, but Warrior Run has played well against a tougher schedule. ... WARRIOR RUN 27, TOWANDA 22.
The Mick: Towanda 21, Warrior Run 20. ... Country Bob: Warrior Run 42, Towanda 41. ... Little Red: Warrior Run 42, Towanda 28.
Southern Columbia (7-4) at Troy (11-0): The Trojans are coming off a 63-27 rout of South Williamsport, while the Tigers blanked Hughesville, 39-0.
Prediction: This is Troy's year. ... TROY 20, SOUTHERN COLUMBIA 15.
The Mick: Troy 28, Southern Columbia 15. ... Country Bob: Troy 21, Southern Columbia 20. ... Little Red: Troy 28, Southern Columbia 14.
Line Mountain (8-3) at Muncy (9-2): Line Mountain is coming off a 49-19 win over Montgomery, while Muncy thumped Canton, 56-14.
Prediction: Muncy has had a great year, but Line Mountain has played a brutal schedule. ... LINE MOUNTAIN 35, MUNCY 32.
The Mick: Line Mountain 28, Muncy 24. ... Country Bob: Line Mountain 28, Muncy 14. ... Little Red: Line Mountain 36, Muncy 21.
Ithaca (2-7) at Elmira (4-4): The Express is coming off a 50-0 win over Binghamton, while Ithaca ended the regular season with a 38-19 loss to Oneonta.
Prediction: Elmira beat Ithaca, 45-14, earlier this season. ... ELMIRA 48, ITHACA 13.
The Mick: Elmira 35, Ithaca 16. ... Country Bob: Elmira 36, Ithaca 6. ... Little Red: Elmira 43, Ithaca 14.
Jersey Shore (8-3) at Shamokin (11-0): Jersey Shore is coming off a 48-7 win over Selinsgrove, while Shamokin blitzed Athens, 50-6.
Prediction: Shamokin has had its best season in years, while Jersey Shore is down a bit, but still dangerous. ... SHAMOKIN 28, JERSEY SHORE 26.
The Mick: Shamokin 30, Jersey Shore 27. ... Country Bob: Jersey Shore 30, Shamokin 28. ... Little Red: Shamokin 21, Jersey Shore 14.
Montoursville (6-5) at Danville (10-0): Montoursville edged Mifflinburg, 28-27, last week, while Danville has been off since a 49-7 win over Selinsgrove in the regular-season finale Oct. 25.
Prediction: The Ironmen are still one of the best games in the country. ... DANVILLE 48, MONTOURSVILLE 6.
The Mick: Danville 36, Montoursville 14. ... Country Bob: Danville 49, Montoursville 13. ... Little Red: Danville 44, Montoursville 13.
Mount Carmel (8-3) at Lewisburg (9-1): Mount Carmel is coming off a 55-26 win over Milton, while Lewisburg has been off since beating Mifflinburg, 49-28 in the regular-season finale Oct. 25.
Prediction: Both these teams have some big wins, and close losses. ... LEWISBURG 26, MOUNT CARMEL 20.
The Mick: Mount Carmel 20, Lewisburg 17. ... Country Bob: Mount Carmel 21, Lewisburg 17. ... Little Red: Lewisburg 17, Mount Carmel 13.