Keith and I are matching our knowledge of the area and high school football by offering our picks on the area’s games.

Lair: 39-8 (14-3 last week)
Ramirez: 38-9 (13-4 last week)
Last week: Keith edged me by one, taking advantage of Montclair’s 38-14 victory over Duarte. We both missed on Crescenta Valley outlasting San Marino, 56-53; Rosemead’s 41-33 win over South Torrance, and Maranatha losing to Azusa, 33-14.
This week: There’s three big games this week, highlighted by the annual showdown for the private bragging rights in Pasadena when La Salle hosts Maranatha. La Salle won easily last season, and I like the Lancers again this year, who might be too physical for the Minutemen. The other two big games in the area are St. Francis hosting La Mirada on Thursday, and Monrovia at home vs. San Dimas on Friday. The Golden Knights are my pick to keep the Matadores’ reeling, while Monrovia has too much for San Dimas, which will be trying to avoid an 0-4 start.

This week’s schedule and predictions:
Thursday
La Mirada at St. Francis — Ramirez (St. Francis); Lair (St. Francis)
Marshall vs. Diego Rivera at Pasadena HS — Ramirez (Marshall); Lair (Marshall)
Friday
Maranatha at La Salle — Ramirez (La Salle); Lair (La Salle)
San Dimas at Monrovia — Ramirez (Monrovia); Lair (Monrovia)
Azusa at Arcadia — Ramirez (Arcadia); Lair (Arcadia)
Calvary Murrieta at Rio Hondo Prep — Ramirez (Rio); Lair (RH Prep)
Crescenta Valley at La Canada — Ramirez (CV); Lair (Crescenta Valley)
Keppel at Sierra Vista — Ramirez (SV); Lair (Sierra Vista)
Rosemead at Warren — Ramirez (Warren); Lair (Rosemead)
Salesian at Pasadena — Ramirez (Salesian); Lair (Salesian)
San Gabriel at Beverly Hills — Ramirez (Bev. Hills); Lair (Beverly Hills)
San Marino at Nogales — Ramirez (San Marino); Lair (San Marino)
South Pasadena at Glendale — Ramirez (South Pas); Lair (South Pas)
Westminster at Bosco Tech — Ramirez (Westminster); Lair (Westminster)
Alhambra at L.A. Wilson — Ramirez (Alhambra); Lair (Wilson)
Blair at Douglass — Ramirez (Douglass) ; Lair (Douglass)
Eagle Rock at Temple City — Ramirez (Temple City); Lair (Eagle Rock)
Mar Vista (Imperial Beach) at Gabrielino — Ramirez (Gabrielino); Lair (Gabrielino)
Verdugo Hills at Muir — Ramirez (Muir); Lair (Muir)
Flintridge Prep at Boron — Ramirez (Boron); Lair (Boron)
Saturday
Malibu at Pasadena Poly, 3 p.m — Ramirez (Poly); Lair (Poly)