OAA Picks Week One

Written Thursday August 21st, at 9:00 PM

For picks this week, my Between Taorminas co host and History Now host Anthony Taormina will also be picking games this week for this first week of the football season. More on depth of these games tune in to my podcast OAA Now.

Pontiac vs. North Farmington: The Raiders under coach Kyle Schultz have experience returning and is led by a two year starting quarterback in Kyle Berry and have wide receiver Jerome Budda Rogers. The Phoenix under first year coach John Lloyd has some very good lineman and a strong corner in Henry Rowe. The key is skill positions and North Farmington has that. DD PICK: NORTH FARMINGTON 42, PONTIAC 7. ANT PICK: NORTH FARMINGTON 49, PONTIAC 17.

Livonia Clarenceville vs. Ferndale: The Trojans were 11-1 and won the Wayne Western Red division last season. Ferndale fell 21-14 last season to Livonia Clarenceville. The Eagles have a new coach in Eric Royal who takes over for Ryan Dunlap. This will be a battle but the Trojans find a way and sneak one out. DD PICK: LIVONIA CLARENCEVILLE 28, FERNDALE 21. ANT PICK: LIVONIA CLARENCEVILLE 24, FERNDALE 21.

Warren Fitzgerald vs Hazel Park: The Spartans were 2-7 last season and they scored points in bunches. The defense was a disaster though for them in the MAC Silver. The Vikings have a new coach in Kyle Rowley and his pound the rock scheme but last season Hazel Park was 0-9 and has not won a game in 13 tries. The Vikings slow down offense should get them a win close for their first win since 2012.  DD PICK: HAZEL PARK 27, WARREN FITZGERALD 20. ANT PICK: HAZEL PARK 28, WARREN FITZGERALD 17.

Walled Lake Northern vs Bloomfield Hills: Defense will be optional in this game, expect both the Knights and Blackhawks to score a lot of points in this game. First one to 50 wins. For me it’s the team that plays in the OAA. Ant on the other hand doesn't think so. DD PICK: BLOOMFIELD HILLS 52, WALLED LAKE NORTHERN 45. ANT PICK: WALLED LAKE NORTHERN 30, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 20.

Detroit Southeastern vs Southfield Lathrup: This is a trap game for the Chargers, going up against a Jungaleers team that has won four straight games. Southfield Lathrup is 6-30 since 2009 and soon will be 6-31. DD PICK: DETROIT SOUTHEASTERN 30, SOUTHFIELD-LATHRUP 14. ANT PICK: SOUTHFIELD LATHRUP 21, DETROIT SOUTHEASTERN 10.

Holly vs Berkley: Bears coach Chris Sikroia should have an advantage up front, coaching, and on defense against a Bronchos team that is loaded with skill players and depth. Offense and depth will decide this game and that favors Holly: DD PICK: HOLLY 17, BERKLEY 7. ANT PICK: HOLLY 28, BERKLEY 7.

Lapeer vs Rochester: Falcons will be young and inexperienced. Going up against a team that just merged and is now a new school called the Lightning is not a good feeling. Add to mention traffic going up to Lapeer will be bad. The Lightning will strike on a good note. DD PICK: LAPEER 35, ROCHESTER 0. ANT PICK: LAPEER 24, ROCHESTER 21.

Utica Ford II vs Royal Oak: The Ravens have a new coach in Tim Chapman and an offense that will have huge numbers against the Falcons. Usually going up against a MAC White team is tough but Royal Oak is in a lot better position then Utica Ford right now. Ravens start the Chapman era strong. DD PICK: ROYAL OAK 35, UTICA FORD II 0. ANT PICK: ROYAL OAK 20, UTICA FORD II 17.

Sterling Heights Stevenson vs Troy:  New Titans coach Kevin Frederick comes to Macomb County and will have a good team this season to work with in the MAC Red. The Colts will have issues in this game and it could be tough for coach Gary Griffith and his crew to score points. DD PICK: STERLING HEIGHTS STEVENSON 56, TROY 0. ANT PICK: STERLING HEIGHTS STEVENSON 49, TROY 0.

Macomb L’Anse Creuse North vs Troy Athens: Red Hawks coach Josh Heppner says this is his biggest team he has had at Troy Athens but problem is the Crusaders were a playoff team a season ago and you have been 4-14 since 2011. The Red Hawks will struggle here especially defensibly. Quarterback Alex Muscat must play perfect if Troy Athens has any chance of an upset. DD PICK: MACOMB L’ANSE CRUSE NORTH 41, TROY ATHENS 20. ANT PICK: MACOMB L’ANSE CRUSE NORTH 42, TROY ATHENS 7.

Groves vs Seaholm: Must win game for the Maples here in the battle of Birmingham/Beverly Hills because they compete in a much tougher division than the Falcons. Quarterback Tommy Sheppard must prove it now since Seaholm lost nine starters on defense from a team that upset Southfield in the playoffs last season. Groves no longer has Ross Williams but they still have a good quarterback in Zach Van Fossen and wide receiver/ cornerback Daveon Curry.  Last season’s 28-22 loss at Seaholm will be on the minds of the Falcons. Groves wins this one close however Ant likes Seaholm. DD PICK: GROVES 28, SEAHOLM 24. ANT PICK: SEAHOLM 21, GROVES 20.

10. Stoney Creek vs 4. Adams: Last season was the best season the Cougars had since 2007 but the season ended with a 17-6 loss to the Highlanders. Adams returns most of their team back and Stoney Creek will convert people to different positions. The Cougars want this one bad but the Highlanders have too much depth for Stoney Creek to overcome. DD PICK: ADAMS 21, STONEY CREEK 14. ANT PICK: ADAMS 34, STONEY CREEK 18.

Orchard Lake St Marys vs. 9. Southfield (Wayne State): The Blue Jays 3-3-5 defense was one of the best last season and with three division one recruits to go along with an already stocked secondary Southfield looks poise to win this game. The Eaglets have something to prove as well since last season they did not make the playoffs. I like the Blue Jays close in this one. DD PICK: SOUTHFIELD 17, OLSM 14. ANT PICK: SOUTHFIELD 35, OLSM 14.

Redford Union vs 8. Avondale: Josh Holloman is back and last season was 42-0 in Auburn Hills, get ready for another rout yet again. DD PICK: AVONDALE 70, REDFORD UNION 0. ANT PICK: AVONDALE 48, REDFORD UNION 3.

Dearborn vs 7. West Bloomfield (Wayne State): The first game of the season in the MHSAA is an interesting one. The Pioneers will be a good test for the Lakers but West Bloomfield has athletes on the field as well. Expect a low scoring game here but got to go with the show time team. DD PICK: WEST BLOOMFIELD 17, DEARBORN 7. ANT PICK: WEST BLOOMFIELD 28, DEARBORN 7.

Romeo vs 6. Oxford: This game will be a battle of quarterbacks as Paul Hurley of the Bulldogs take on Glacier Wallington and the Wildcats. Key is line play and depth and that would favor Romeo. Oxford needs this game more than Romeo. It’s a close call here. DD PICK: ROMEO 27, OXFORD 24. ANT PICK: OXFORD 28, ROMEO 27.

Chippewa Valley vs 5. Orion: Both teams are evenly matched here both teams have good running backs and good corners. Orion has the edge up front while Chippewa Valley has the edge at receiver. Key is quarterback and whoever has it wins this game. Both teams need this game bad to kick off the season on a high note. DD PICK: ORION 28, CHIPPEWA VALLEY 21. ANT PICK: ORION 21, CHIPPEWA VALLEY 17.

Farmington vs 3. Harrison: The Hawks have owned the Falcons in this rivalry lately and it hasn't been close. I'm disappointed that this game wasn't a week eight game but glad they kept the rivalry. Both teams have athletes but the key is discipline and that favors Harrison despite the fact the game is at Farmington but it won'r matter. DD PICK: HARRISON 41, FARMINGTON 14. ANT PICK: HARRISON 49, FARMINGTON 7.

Detroit Cass Tech vs 2. Oak Park (Wayne State): The Knights are loaded this season and so are the Technicians. The key in this game is the quarterback battle between Oak Park’s Chauncey Lowman and Detroit Cass Tech’s Rodney Hall. Both teams have star athletes especially at running back with Mike Weber of Detroit Cass Tech and Oak Park's John Kelly but there is one team at full strength right now and that is the team from Knight Valley. DD PICK: OAK PARK 35, DETROIT CASS TECH 21. ANT PICK: DETROIT CASS TECH 28, OAK PARK 15.

Macomb Dakota vs 1. Clarkston: This a top notch game right here but there is key flaw in this game and that is the Wolves defense. I think missing  David Bettle and Caine Wattington will hurt Clarkston in this game against the Cougars. Macomb Dakota is 0-4 all time against OAA teams away from Macomb County and two of those losses was to Clarkston (2000, and 2009) (Lake Orion (2012, and Adams 2001 were the other two losses.) Expect a slugfest to the very end. DD PICK: MACOMB DAKOTA 31, CLARKSTON 28. ANT PICK: CLARKSTON 31, MACOMB DAKOTA 17.