Week 8 Predictions

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

#1 Booker T Washington (6-0, 4-0) District 1

#3 Bixby (5-2, 3-1) District 1

Bixby may have fallen down the rankings a little bit after being upset by Bartlesville, but only a fool would count them out of the race for the state title. BTW barely held off Bville for a 3-point win last week to remain perfect, but this late in the season all eyes are focused in on the gold and anything can happen. Booker T wins by an average of 36 points this season, but knock out the pushovers from that lineup and things have been a lot closer. The only real challenges they've had have been #8 Midwest City whom they beat 28-16 in week one and #2 Bartlesville last week. Bixby, meanwhile, opened the season by running up 24 points against the top team in the state, the number 12 team in the nation. The only team to score more points against Jenks this season was Union who only outdid the Spartans by a field goal. This is the game to watch this week and while I'm picking BTW, if I had to pick an upset, this would be it.

I say Bixby scores first, BTW gets the run of things, Bixby surges late in the fourth for the last two TDs of the game with conversions on each but ultimately falls short.

The pick: BTW 35, Bixby 30

#2 Bartlesville (6-1, 3-1) District 1

#13 Sapulpa (1-5, 0-4) District 1

Get ready for another beat-down, Sapulpa, the Bruins are leaving ruins in their wake. The Chieftains are putting up decent points on everyone, but they're allowing far too many to stand a chance against this double headed offense. Expect Colton Penrod to clear 2000 season-passing yards this game while running-back Jarron Hilger should easily drum up another 100 yards rushing. Sapulpa is not without its stars, however. Keep your eyes on Dae Williams who just passed 1000 yards rushing for the season in last week's loss to Bixby. 

After last week's loss to BTW, Bartlesville will be looking to prove themselves before the playoffs. They should have no problem riding a 3-0 streak into the post season, but how they get those wins will be the true judge of their playoff-potential.

The pick: Bartlesville 47, Sapulpa 20.

#4 Charles Page (3-3, 3-1) District 1

#6 Muskogee (3-4, 3-1) District 1

The second-biggest game of the week will be in Sand Springs, and while the Bixby vs BTW game will be the most exciting, this game will have the most playoff implications. Unless something crazy happens, it looks like BTW, Bville, and Bixby have the top three spots locked up, so the Sandites and Roughers will be battling it out for the bottom-seed. The Sandites have one of the top ranked defenses in the state and get the home-field advantage. While Sand Springs has won 47% of games under Dustin Kinard, they've won 57% of home games.

Both teams tend to keep a pretty even pass-rush split. Sandite QB Hunter Greathouse should surpass 1000 season-passing yards this game while runningbacks Payton Scott and Lane Lettich will both likely pass 500 rushing yards.

The pick: CPHS 35, Muskogee 21

#5 Lawton (5-1, 4-0) District 2

TX #754 Triple A Academy (4-4)

The Wolverines get a bye week not just from district play, but from challenging play, as they travel to Texas to take on Triple A Academy.

The pick: Lawton 61, Triple A 7.

#7 Stillwater (3-4, 2-1) District 2

#9 Putnam City West (3-4, 1-2) District 2

This is another either-or game with the potential to throw things around in District 2. The West side of the state is a lot less settled than the Tulsa Metro and Lawton is the only clear top dog. Three weeks ago I would have picked PCW hands down. Now I'm not so sure either way. PCW had the more decisive victory over Choctaw, but Stillwater pulled off an upset over Midwest City, while PCW was floored. PCW lost by more points to Lawton, but Stillwater was shut out. 

I'm calling this game a shootout with Stillwater pulling it off by a late-fourth field goal for the win, but I'm prepared to be wrong.

The pick: Stillwater 38, PCW 36

#8 Midwest City (5-2, 3-1) District 2

#12 Choctaw (4-3, 2-2) District 2

MWC pretty much has playoffs locked in, despite an upset by Stillwater. But if they let a game go to the Pioneers then I wouldn't be surprised at all if whatever went wrong there continues to go wrong this week. Stillwater barely held off a last minute surge by Choctaw last week and I think after this game we'll see that the Bombers loss to the Pioneers was just a fluke. Or we could see Choctaw rallying for a late-season attempt at the playoffs.

The pick: MWC 27, Choctaw 13.

#10 Ponca City (1-5, 0-4) District 1

#11 Claremore (2-5, 0-4) District 1

Its the battle for the bottom spot in District 1. The only reason I have Ponca ahead of Claremore is because so many of Claremore's starters are injured, including their starting quarterback. While Noah Grimett has been a great fill-in for the Zebras, ultimately I see this one going to the Wildcats.

The pick: Ponca 44, Claremore 30

#14 Enid (1-6, 0-3) District 2

#15 Eisenhower (0-7, 0-3) District 2

These two teams will be battling it out to see who gets stuck with the title of "worst team in 6A." It may sound harsh, but it's a position somebody has to occupy. Not everybody gets a trophy in this sport--not yet anyway. 

The pick: Enid 27, Ike 16. 

My Record

  • Week 1: 10-2 (.833)
  • Week 2: 12-2 (.857)
  • Week 3: 6-3 (.666)
  • Week 4: 6-2 (.750)
  • Week 5: 5-3 (.625)
  • Week 6: 8-0 (1.00)
  • Week 7: 8-0 (1.00)
  • Overall: 55-12 (.820)