Keith and I are matching our knowledge of the area and high school football by offering our picks on the area’s games.
LAIR: 147-22 (16-2 last week)
RAMIREZ: 145-24 (16-2 last week)
San Marino will try to avoid this…Can they?
(Staff photo by Keith Birmingham)
Last week: It was a break even week as Keith and I both went 16-2. We both missed on La Canada’s win over South Pasadena and Duarte over Bassett.
This week: It’s championship week in the West Valley, with three games that will put the league title on the line. The big one is Monrovia at San Marino in a battle of two of the area’s top five teams with 8-1 records. Both teams have showed the ability to score at will, but Monrovia, at this point in time, looks to have the better defense. I like the Cats in a game similar to last season, which when to the Green Machine. The Mission Valley League is also up for grabs, but go with Arroyo over Rosemead, which barely squeaked by Gabrielino last week. You can also take Maranatha over Valley Christian for the Olympic League title. The Minutemen have been on a roll since losing to La Salle, and that won’t change this week. There will be no title on the line when St. Francis visits Chaminade, but a top four seed in the Western Division playoffs could await the winner. After nearly shocking Serra, you have to like the Golden Knights on the blue field.
This week’s schedule and predictions
Thursday
Arcadia vs. Crescenta Valley at Glendale HS — Ramirez (CV); Lair (Crescenta Valley)
Campbell Hall vs. Marshall at Pasadena HS — Ramirez (Marshall); Lair (Marshall)
Friday
Monrovia at San Marino — Ramirez (Monrovia); Lair (Monrovia)
Pasadena vs. Muir at Rose Bowl — Ramirez (Muir); Lair (Muir)
Arroyo at Rosemead — Ramirez (Arroyo); Lair (Arroyo)
St. Francis at Chaminade — Ramirez (St. Francis); Lair (St. Francis)
Maranatha at Valley Christian — Ramirez (Maranatha); Lair (Maranatha)
Temple City at La Canada — Ramirez (Temple City); Lair (Temple City)
Gabrielino at El Monte — Ramirez (Gabrielino); Lair (Gabrielino)
Duarte at Ganesha — Ramirez (Duarte); Lair (Duarte)
Alhambra at San Gabriel — Ramirez (San Gabriel); Lair (Alhambra)
Keppel at Bell Gardens — Ramirez (Bell Gardens); Lair (Bell Gardens)
La Salle at Bosco Tech — Ramirez (La Salle); Lair (La Salle)
Flintridge Prep at Chadwick, 3 p.m. — Ramirez (Flintridge Prep): Lair (Chadwick)
Rio Hondo Prep at Webb, 2:30 p.m. — Ramirez (Rio Hondo Prep); Lair (Rio Hondo Prep)
South Pasadena vs. Blair at Muir HS — Ramirez (South Pasadena); Lair (South Pasadena)
Pasadena Poly vs. St. Anthony at Daniels Field — Ramirez (Poly); Lair (Poly)
ALL GAMES BEGIN AT 7 P.M., UNLESS NOTED
