WEEKLY PICKS: Can it get any tougher?

As delightful as the games were a week ago, they might be better this week. 5A is loaded with local flavor, 4A has some tantalizing games and in 2A, we’re building towards a possible semifinal showdown between Curtis and Evangel.

Here’s how we all did a week ago:
Me: 6-4
J.A. Borne: 5-5
Cody Borne 5-5
Professor 5-5
Prep Guru: 7-3
SuperWebGirl: 9-1
Anonymous: 4-6

Here’s how we stand going into the Elite 8 of each classification:

The Big Picture (for those who have picked in the playoffs)
Super Gold Level (60 or more picks)
Professor (53-17, 75.7%)
Prep Guru (59-21 (73.8%)
Me (77-33, 70%)

Gold Level (50-59 picks)
SuperWebGirl (35-15, 70%)

Silver Level (20-49 picks)
J.A. Borne (25-15, 62.5%)

Mauve Level (1-19 picks)
Cody Borne (5-5, 50%)
Anonymous (4-6, 40%)

Everyone else
Ron Held (52-18, 74.3%)
SoccerFreak (43-27, 61.4%)
Mr. Held Over (33-27, 55%)
CG (1-0, 100%)
Christopher Mire (9-1, 90%)
Mark (17-2, 89.5%)
Mariah (0-1, 0%)

And here’s an update on those who picked the semifinals of each classification:
(person, # of picks still left)
Me: 13
Jerome A. Borne: 11
Ron Held: 15
Prep Guru: 14
SoccerFreak: 14
Professor: 14

Well, here we go. Tell me what you think and who you think will win. Pick these 10 games, including the Game O’ the Week. Either leave them in the comment section below, or email them to me so I can put them up. Have the picks in by 7 p.m. Friday.

Good luck.

Quarterfinals
Destrehan 24, St. Paul’s 17 (Both teams are good, Destrehan is on a mission)
Shaw 27, Eunice 13 (@Memtsas) (Shaw is back to early-season form)
O.P. Walker 28, Holy Cross 21 (@Yenni) (Duplessis is too much for HC defense to handle)
Vandebilt Catholic 35, Benton 14 (Benton gave up 50 to McD35)
Bastrop 31, Franklinton 24 (I picked Bastrop for the semis. Hard to go against that.)
Westlake 28, E.D. White 17 (Westlake is on a roll)
Curtis 34, St. John 17 (Curtis is playing better in the postseason)
St. James 31, Donaldsonville 14 (St. James too much at home)
West St. John 21, Kentwood17 (WSJ pre-district schedule comes through)

Game O’ The Week
Ehret at Mandeville
Two dynamic offenses led by different quarterbacks. Ehret relies on Rico Jones, who has a cannon for an arm and is mobile, at QB. Mandeville relies on Chad Plaisance, who is as accurate a passer as you’ll find in the area and is smart with the football, at QB.

Both defenses are solid. Ehret hasn’t allowed more than 13 points since an 18-10 loss to Higgins on Oct. 5. Mandeville held a high-flying St. Thomas More team to 14 points.

Mandeville has won eight in a row since an early-season loss to St. Paul’s, while Ehret is back on its feet with five consecutive victories since a mid-season three-game slide.

Yeah, I’m throwing all of this information out there. But what does it mean? I think these teams are evenly matched. Neither team really has an advantage over the other on offense because they both run the same style attack. That means both defenses will be used to all of the screen passes and underneath throws.

I’m going with my gut, which right now is hungry for Thanksgiving turkey and dressing. Mandeville 17, Ehret 14