OAA Picks Week One

Written Saturday August 24th, at 1:30 PM

Here are the picks for Week One for this upcoming football season. Most games are Friday but some is on Thursday. Unless something noted all games is Friday.

Detroit Cass Tech vs. #1 Southfield (at Wayne State): This game has a lot of talent on both sides of the football, whether it’s offensively or defensibly in this match up. The difference could be the kicking game and also experience and that favors the Technicians. PICK: DETROIT CASS TECH 20, SOUTHFIELD 16.

#2 Clarkston vs. #6 Rochester Adams: The Highlanders have motivation to return to the playoffs after missing out for the first time in 15 years. Adams veer option attack will keep this game close for a half. The problem is this is Clarkston. PICK: CLARKSTON 42, ADAMS 14.

#3 Lake Orion vs. #4 Oxford: The key will be line play like it was last season but experience should prevail here in another wild finish. PICK: LAKE ORION 21, OXFORD 14.

#5 Stoney Creek vs. Royal Oak (Thursday): Coach Brad Zube will be doing cartwheels with his cane. This won’t even be close and the Ravens will be 2-44 since 2007. PICK: STONEY CREEK 56, ROYAL OAK 7.

Orchard Lake Saint Marys vs. #7 Oak Park (4 PM at Wayne State): Tough match up for coach Greg Carter and the Knights especially going up against a team that lost in triple overtime in the Division Three State Finals to Grand Rapids Christian. The Knights will be in for a tough game but it will be close for a long while. PICK: ORCHARD LAKE SAINT MARYS 34, OAK PARK 21.

Detroit Renaissance vs. #8 Farmington Hills Harrison (Thursday): Nobody is talking about the Hawks and they will prevail heading into a big showdown next week with Rochester Adams in Farmington Hills. PICK: HARRISON 42, DETROIT RENAISSANCE 0.

#9 Avondale vs. Redford Union (Thursday): This game won’t be close. The Yellow Jackets should roll in Redford heading into their major showdown with Birmingham Seaholm next week in Auburn Hills. PICK: AVONDALE 35, REDFORD UNION 0.

Bay City John Glenn vs. #10 North Farmington (Thursday): The Raiders went into Bay County and beat the Bobcats by two touchdowns last season now the Bobcats travel into Oakland County and that won’t be a pleasant four hour trip either. PICK: NORTH FARMINGTON 35, BAY CITY JOHN GLENN 14.

Ann Arbor Pioneer vs. Birmingham Seaholm (Thursday): The Maples toughened up their non conference schedule and will contend for the Blue this season. Maples fans, players, and coaches remember the beat down by Oxford in the playoffs last season. The bad news is the Pioneers are always tough. It won’t surprise anyone if Birmingham Seaholm starts off 0-3. PICK: ANN ARBOR PIONEER 42, BIRMINGHAM SEAHOLM 21.

Troy Athens vs. Warren Mott (Thursday): The Red Hawks were absolutely crushed last year by the Marauders in Troy. This season could be different but it will be close on 12 Mile in Warren. PICK: TROY ATHENS 28, WARREN MOTT 21.

Troy vs. Romeo: The Colts beat the Bulldogs last season at Troy but this game is at Dan Barnabo Field and that’s not good for the visitors unless you’re named Lake Orion. PICK: ROMEO 17, TROY 13.

Farmington vs. Westland John Glenn (Thursday): If Farmington’s line play can’t hold up then it will be a long season in Farmington and the schedule isn't pretty after this game. Falcons should win this game in Westland but it will be close for a while. PICK: FARMINGTON 31, WESTLAND JOHN GLENN 20.

Beverly Hills Wylie E. Groves vs. Bloomfield Hills: First game as the new Blackhawks will be a happy one for the purple and silver but the White not so much. PICK: BLOOMFIELD HILLS 42, GROVES 21.

Redford Thurston vs. Berkley (Thursday): The Chris Sikora era at Berkley will be off to a good start. PICK: BERKLEY 21, REDFORD THURSTRON 6.

Rochester vs. Utica (Thursday): Chieftains have no chance. PICK: ROCHESTER 56, UTICA 0.

West Bloomfield vs. Jackson: The Lakers should go into Jackson County and handle the Vikings but it will be close for a while. PICK: WEST BLOOMFIELD 28, JACKSON 14.

Madison Heights Bishop Foley vs. Hazel Park (Thursday): Vikings with the new upgrades will be put into good use. The Ventures could be in for a long night but Hazel Park won’t play any defense either. PICK: HAZEL PARK 56, MADISON HEIGHTS BISHOP FOLEY 45.

Pontiac vs. Southfield-Lathrup (Thursday): The Keith Stephens era in Lathrup Village will be off to a good start. Stephens was the former head coach at Pontiac Northern and should know the area real well. Feel real bad for the Phoenix with all the financial distractions but this one will be close. PICK: SOUTHFIELD-LATHRUP 20, PONTIAC 17.

Livonia Clarenceville vs. Ferndale: The term 14-22 never gets old in Ferndale. Oakland Press thinks the Eagles are a playoff team this season BUT this is Ferndale and in the end they will disappoint. PICK: LIVONIA CLARENCEVILLE 21, FERNDALE 13.