OAA Picks Week Seven.

Written Sunday October 6th, at 7:15 PM

1. Clarkston (5-1, 5-0 Red) at Troy (2-4, 2-3 Red): This will be Troy’s Homecoming this week but the Colts have been a disaster lately. Two weeks ago against Lake Orion, the Colts were tied 17-17 in the third quarter, only to be outscored 35-0 in the fourth quarter. Last week against West Bloomfield on their homecoming they were shell shocked as they trailed 41-0 at one point and eventually lost 41-7. Troy has been outscored 93-24 in the last two weeks and it is likely not going to get better with Clarkston coming to Troy. The Wolves are balanced, quick, and big on both sides of the football. It could be a long night in Colt Country and Coach Gary Griffith on Friday night on Homecoming. As for the Wolves it will be welcome to the playoffs. PICK: CLARKSTON 45, TROY 7.

9. Rochester Adams (4-2, 3-2 White) at 2. Southfield (5-1, 5-0 White): This will be Southfield’s Homecoming this week. The Blue Jays return home to meet Rochester Adams whom has won two straight games. The Highlanders might have some very bad news at their starting quarterback Matt Sokol injured his leg in the game last week against Farmington is out for the season with a broken leg and a dislocated ankle. Southfield is very aggressive up front, has speed and could pose problems for Adams veer option attack. The Blue Jays last week shutout Oxford 21-0 on the road and stopped two Wildcats drives inside their ten yard line. Southfield also needs this game to make the playoffs and clinch the White. They will do both of that this week. PICK: SOUTHFIELD 28, ADAMS 0.

Pontiac (0-6, 0-5 Red) at 3. Lake Orion (5-1, 4-1 Red): The Dragons have been vulnerable the last two weeks especially with their slow starts. They were tied with Troy at 17-17 two weeks ago and were only up 19-17 at halftime against Rochester last week. The fourth quarter has been the Dragons money quarter as they have outscored their opponents in the last two weeks 50-0. Pontiac has struggled all season long and last week the Phoenix lost to Clarkston 41-16. This week is Homecoming at Lake Orion and the Dragons haven’t lost a homecoming game in a while. Lake Orion should be very careful of not overlooking the Phoenix, along with the Homecoming hype, and look ahead to Clarkston. The Dragons should win this game and get ready for Clarkston next week. PICK: LAKE ORION 56, PONTIAC 7.

6. Oak Park (5-1, 4-1 White) at 4. Harrison (5-1, 4-1 Red) 1 PM Saturday: This is a game that favors Harrison. The Hawks are playing on a Saturday and have done well on Saturday games and coach John Herrington likes to play these type of games but Oak Park coach Greg Carter is an experienced coach on Saturday Games, having coached at Detroit DePorres is used to playing on these type of days. The road weary Knights have been shaky lately until last week when they beat Bloomfield Hills 37-7 on the road and have no pressure in this game. All the pressure will be on Harrison concerting it is their Homecoming. The Hawks will win this game because of the quarterback match up but it will be closer than the experts think. PICK: HARRISON 28, OAK PARK 24.

5. Stoney Creek (5-1, 4-1 Red) at West Bloomfield (3-3, 2-3 Red): This is a huge game for both teams concerting that this game has major playoff implications. For the Cougars if they win this game then Stoney Creek would have clinched a playoff spot for the first time since 2007 and would be Coach Brad Zube’s second playoff appearance as a head coach. For the Lakers they need this game to keep the momentum going especially when they shocked Troy 41-7 last week on their homecoming. Also let’s not forget there is some bad blood in this game considering last season in Rochester when a fight broke out after Stoney Creek scored a touchdown with their second stringers. West Bloomfield didn’t take kindly to that and then the fight broke out between Cougars and Lakers players and coaches. It led to an arrest of a West Bloomfield player where he punched Stoney Creek assistant coach Buzz Zube (father of Brad Zube.) This game will be a close one in West Bloomfield but in the end it will be too much triple option and the Cougars will be in the playoffs and eliminate the Lakers from the playoffs. PICK: STONEY CREEK 31, WEST BLOOMFIELD 14.

7. Birmingham Seaholm (6-0, 5-0 Blue) at Ferndale (1-5, 1-4 Blue): The Maples have been playing well lately and made the playoffs last week after a 49-6 win over Hazel Park. Birmingham Seaholm should have no problem against a Ferndale team that has been struggling all season long. The Eagles lost 21-7 to Berkley last week on Homecoming but this could be a lot worse for Ferndale against the Maples team that is not only focused on this week but has a huge showdown next week against arch rival Beverly Hills Wylie E. Groves. PICK: SEAHOLM 49, FERNDALE 0.

Berkley (3-3, 3-2 Blue) at 8. Beverly Hills Wylie E. Groves (6-0, 5-0 Blue): Berkley coach Chris Sikora said that Ross Williams (Groves star running back) was just another player after it’s 21-7 win over Ferndale. Williams clinched 1,000 rushing yards last week in a 36-0 victory over Royal Oak last week for the Falcons. The Bears have been red hot lately, one included a big 34-31 win over Avondale two weeks ago in Auburn Hills. Groves better be careful of Berkley this week and not get caught up looking ahead to Birmingham Seaholm next week. PICK: GROVES 31, BERKLEY 21.

10. North Farmington (4-2, 3-2 Blue) at Royal Oak (2-4, 2-3 Blue): The Raiders are one win away from the playoffs after winning and eliminating Avondale from the playoffs with a 35-14 victory at home last week. The Ravens lost 36-0 last week to Groves but Royal Oak should give North Farmington a game but it won’t be enough. PICK: NORTH FARMINGTON 35, ROYAL OAK 21.

Rochester (3-3, 2-3 Red) at Troy Athens (1-5, 1-4 Red): The Falcons were in it with Lake Orion until two questionable coaching decisions to punt the ball cost Rochester dearly last week in a 41-20 loss. The Red Hawks were destroyed by Stoney Creek 39-14 last week but it’s Homecoming for Troy Athens this week but in the end it will be Rochester rolling on because of their offensive weapons and the need to win out just to make the playoffs. PICK: ROCHESTER 35, TROY ATHENS 21.

Oxford (2-4, 2-3 Blue) at Southfield-Lathrup (1-5, 0-5 Blue): The Wildcats offense was shutout last week by Southfield 21-0 at home. Now they go on the road for the final three games of the regular season still with an outside shot at making the playoffs. Oxford needs to win out and get the teams whom beat them to win out as well. The Wildcats losses are to teams with a combined 19-5 record. So if they win out and they win out they will make the playoffs as a 5-4 team but that starts this week against Southfield-Lathrup which they will. The game they need is next week in Knight Valley when they play Oak Park. PICK: OXFORD 49, SOUTHFIELD-LATHRUP 6.

Bloomfield Hills (1-5, 1-4 White) at Farmington (1-5, 1-4 White): The playoffs is a lost cause for both of these teams but it’s Homecoming at Farmington and the Falcons will roll in this game because of the emotion of Homecoming. The Blackhawks were crushed last week at home to Oak Park while the Falcons lost 42-21 to Rochester Adams last week. PICK: FARMINGTON 35, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 14.

Avondale (2-4, 1-4 Blue) at Hazel Park (0-6, 0-5 Blue): The Yellow Jackets are likely out of the playoff race after losing four of their last five games but running back Josh Holloman will have a field day against the Vikings. Hazel Park lost 49-6 last week to Birmingham Seaholm and could give up more yards and points in this game. PICK: AVONDALE 35, HAZEL PARK 14.