November 2008 Archives

Before I get into it, I'm going to say how it would be a sham if Oklahoma gets ranked ahead of Texas in the BCS. And no, its not because they are so bad on defense that Florida would be guaranteed to beat them by 20-plus points. And its not entirely because they lost to Texas at a neutral site - though that should be reason enough for anyone sane.

No, my reasons for Texas to get the nod over Oklahoma and Texas Tech in the Big 12 title game are as follows. Oh yeah, and boo to the Big 12 for making this a tiebreaker. Just awful.

1) Texas is the only one of the three not to get a home game over the other two.

2) Texas is the only one of the three to win away from home against the other two.

3) Texas had the toughest in-conference strength of schedule, having to play Big 12 North champion Missouri while the other two didn't. With that said, if Oklahoma gets the nod, Texas will have beaten both participants in the Big 12 championship game by 10-plus points - participants that have equal or worse records than Texas.

4) Texas had the closest loss and Texas' loss came in the toughest circumstances. Texas was on game four of a four-week gauntlet (Oklahoma, Missouri, Okla. State and Tech) without a bye. Tech had a bye before its loss and Oklahoma had its tough opponents divided evenly.

5) Texas had the toughest non-conference schedule according to win/loss record. Oklahoma did beat Cincinnati and TCU, but also played 0-11 Washington and 1-11 FCS Chattanooga. Tech played two FCS teams.

Yeah, the voters need to do the right thing here. We'll see if they do. Now to the rankings:

1. Alabama (1) - Still undefeated and broke a six-game losing streak to Auburn. Has its hands full with Florida.

2. Florida (2) - The Gators are straight pile-driving fools right now. Look to be the favorites to win the title.

3. Texas (3) - Beat Texas A&M by 40. Explained the rest above.

4. Oklahoma (4) - The Oklahoma State victory was a good one. But I'm sorry, I'm not ranking them above Texas.

5. USC (5) - Embarrassed Notre Dame. What else is new.

6. Utah (6) - Still undefeated and will remain that way until January. Good enough for me.

7. Penn State (8) - They move up because Texas Tech struggled again. Nits should have a good Rose Bowl matchup with USC.

8. Texas Tech (7) - Almost made the BCS picture infinitely easier by almost losing to Baylor. Get penalized because they didn't.

9. Boise State (9) - All I know is that it was 13-10 over Fresno State before I left to drive to Temecula Friday night and it ended up being 61-10.

10. Ohio State (10) - Oregon State loss likely sews up BCS bid.

11. Ball State (13) - Big win over Western Michigan moves undefeated Cardinals up.

12. TCU (15) - Move up 3 despite regular season being over. Must be nice.

13. Cincinnati (16) - The Bearcats locked up the Big East title and a BCS berth. And no, Bob Huggins had nothing to do with it.

14. Georgia Tech (19) - The Yellow Jackets put on a triple-option clinic against Georgia, getting a bump in the rankings in the process.

15. Boston College (20) - Eagles' fourth win in a row sends them to ACC title game against Virginia Tech for the second straight year.

16. Oregon (21) - Ducks throw up 65 on Oregon State, ruining the Beavers' BCS hopes while making USC and Ohio State very happy.

17. BYU (18) - Teams losing ahead of them give the Cougars a tiny bump up.

18. Oklahoma State (12) - 41 points should have been enough to beat Oklahoma. But it was 20 short.

19. Georgia (11) - The Bulldogs' house of cards were crumbled by Georgia Tech. The preseason No. 1 leaves the regular season without a win over a ranked team.

20. Pittsburgh (23) - The Panthers take down West Virginia to win the Backyard Brawl for the second year in a row, driving the Mountaineers crazy again.

21. Missouri (14) - Loss to Kansas leaves Missouri in same boat as Georgia, great against inferior teams and inferior to great teams. Could really screw things up with a Big 12 upset next week.

22. Michigan State (24) - Spartans move up with losses by others and a newly-minted win over a top 25 team in Iowa.

23. Mississippi (25) - The Rebels killed Mississippi State to continue their late-season surge.

24. Oregon State (16) - Losing 65-38 in a must-win game is a tough end to what was a great season for the Beavers.

25. Iowa (NR) - The Hawkeyes sneak into the rankings. And hey, they can say they were the only ones to beat Penn State.

Under consideration: Northwestern, Florida State, Tulsa

Dropped out: No. 22 Florida State (lost to Florida).

Went 2-1 on Thanksgiving. Sweet. Let's keep it up.

Denver (+8) at N.Y. Jets - N.Y. Jets 31, Denver 17
San Francisco (+6.5) at Buffalo - Buffalo 30, San Francisco 21
New Orleans (+4) at Tampa Bay - Tampa Bay 28, New Orleans 20
Carolina (+3) at Green Bay - Carolina 24, Green Bay 23
N.Y. Giants (-3.5) at Washington - N.Y. Giants 27, Washington 17
Miami (-8) at St. Louis - Miami 24, St. Louis 17
Baltimore (-7) at Cincinnati - Baltimore 24, Cincinnati 9
Indianapolis (-5) at Cleveland - Indianapolis 34, Cleveland 21
Atlanta (+5) at San Diego - San Diego 27, Atlanta 23
Pittsburgh (+1) at New England - New England 28, Pittsburgh 17
Kansas City (+3) at Oakland - Oakland 24, Kansas City 16
Chicago (+3.5) at Minnesota - Minnesota 23, Chicago 20
Jacksonville (+3) at Houston - Houston 28, Jacksonville 23

Here are six more. Kind of disheveled this week, but its OK.

Notre Dame (+31.5) at USC: USC 38, Notre Dame 14
Oregon (+3) at Oregon State: Oregon State 28, Oregon 23
Washington State (+28.5) at Hawaii: Hawaii 51, Washington State 16
Oklahoma (-7.5) at Oklahoma State: Oklahoma 42, Oklahoma State 27
Auburn (+14.5) at Alabama: Alabama 28, Auburn 9
Florida (-16.5) at Florida State: Florida 38, Florida State 17

This is the longer version of the story which ran in Thursday's paper.

By T.J. Berka
Staff Writer
Being one of eight teams in a division alive for a CIF championship is what practicing on Thanksgiving Day is all about, as the chosen few teams get to continue their seasons while most around them have been eliminated.
"Practicing on Thanksgiving is something we take a lot of pride in," Aquinas coach Josh Henderson said. "We've done it five years in a row and six times since I've been here. You are one of eight teams still left playing in your division, which is a standard which we are proud to have in our program."
Thanksgiving practice is typically held in the morning, giving players plenty of time to spend the rest of the holiday with their respective families. Coming a day before quarterfinal games are typically played, the practices are mostly walk-throughs -- last-minute workouts and fine-tuning before game day.
But Thanksgiving walkthroughs have taken on a life of their own over the years. That is especially true among the Dick Bruich Fontana High School coaching tree, as "The Turkey Story" has almost become as big of a part of Thanksgiving practice as finalizing game plans.
"The Turkey Story is great," Redlands East Valley junior quarterback Tyler Shreve said. "It's one thing we all rally around. Last week we were telling each other 'If we win, we get to practice and hear the Turkey Story' It's a fun thing we all enjoy."
Both REV coach Kurt Bruich and Henderson played their high school football at Fohi under Dick Bruich, whose legendary 292-win, four CIF-title career concluded at Kaiser High School with a 13-12 loss to Banning in the first round of the CIF-SS Eastern Division playoffs last week.
During his 23 years at Fontana from 1976-98, Thanksgiving practices could have been scheduled as early as July, as the Steelers were regular players in late-November, early-December football. Because of that, there was some conflict between Thanksgiving pigouts and playoff football.
"It actually came about by mistake in the mid-70s," Dick Bruich said. "We'd have an assistant telling kids not to pig out until Saturday, and that lasted a few years. Then we'd have assistants telling the kids to pig out, and that went for a few years. Finally it turned into a story.
"Some were really funny, others were terrible, but everyone seemed to enjoy them. The kids treated it like a bedtime story -- if they were good and got past the first round of the playoffs, they could hear it."
Its effects last 30 years later, as the Fohi Thanksgiving tradition has spread its wings around the Inland Empire.
"It's really a fun thing," Kurt Bruich said. "I'm pretty different from my dad and I don't do a lot of the same things he did, but that's one thing that I brought from him that I'll always do."
Kurt was a wide receiver on Fohi's 1987 mythical national championship team, preceding Henderson and Aquinas assistant Jeff McCarthy, who both last played at Fohi in 1992.
The story had kicked into high gear by then, something that stuck with McCarthy.
"There are things that are really talked up that let you down," McCarthy said. "The Turkey Story is one of those things that always delivers. It's one of the more enjoyable things we do."
McCarthy is in control of the Turkey Story duties, a job that has taken a life of its own since he joined Henderson at Aquinas in 2000. It's an exclusive, almost invitation-only event, with Falcon alumni returning Thanksgiving morning to hear the latest installment alongside the current players. He also assigns the reader of the Turkey Story, something he's done himself in 2000 and 2005 -- CIF championship years for the Falcons.
"Coach Henderson is challenging all the coaches," said McCarthy jokingly. "He's challenging them to read well and lead us to a CIF title, since I'm the only one that's had that happen."
The Turkey Story also has been the foundation of further Aquinas hijinks, such as coaches splicing goofy home videos into game film, implementing hilarity into what is supposed to be a serious instructional session.
"It's one of those stupid things that just breaks up the tension," McCarthy said. "Coach Henderson will be doing his thing, just tearing into this and that and harping on players to fulfill this or that assignment and a clip of a coach fooling around will pop up.
"Most of the kids sit there shocked, as if they'll get in trouble if they laugh. The 'tough guys,' the ones who don't care about being yelled at, will chuckle, but the rest of them are pretty confused on whether its OK to laugh."
While McCarthy runs the Turkey Story festivities at Aquinas, defensive backs coach Citos Marinez is the creative force at REV.
The 27-year old Marinez, who played under Kurt Bruich when Bruich was an assistant at Rowland Heights Rowland, was chosen due to his youth and hipness.
"Citos is a young guy, so the players think he's cool or something," Kurt Bruich said. "They think he's funny and he does a great job with it. They all love it."
Marinez, like McCarthy at Aquinas, takes his job as the Turkey Story czar seriously. After Tuesday morning practices Thanksgiving week, Marinez and the REV coaching staff go out to eat, brainstorming about story ideas.
"It's always something that sounded cool to me," Marinez said. "When I was playing at Rowland, Coach Bruich would always talk about the Turkey Story and how cool it was.
"We never got to play Thanksgiving weekend, so I never heard one. But once I got here, it was something that I was excited about being a part of."
Marinez tends to try to incorporate the upcoming opponent (this year, it's the Temecula Chaparral Pumas) and movies into his story, which he tells on the hill overlooking the REV practice field.
Last year before the Wildcats played Norco, Marinez based his story on the movie '300', which the Wildcats watched as a team earlier that season.
"I would tell part of the story and then give them the line 'Wildcats, what is our profession?'" Marinez said. "They'd say 'Hooo! Hooo!' real loud and I'd continue.
"I gave players Greek nicknames in the story to keep them involved. Tyler Shreve was 'The Tall One', Chris Polk was 'Flashitis' and Coach Bruich was 'Bruitis.'"
While Dick Bruich never gave his players Greek nicknames, or really told the stories for the most part, he's proud of their legacy.
"I was hoping to do one last one for my Kaiser kids this week, but it didn't work out," Bruich said. "I'm proud that something like this has had a positive effect. It shows that we must have been doing something right over the years."

The Sierra League and CBL take it on the chin, while the Baseline and Desert Sky League take care of business.

CENTRAL DIVISION
No. 1 Rancho Cucamonga 28, Menifee Paloma Valley 20
No. 4 Cajon 34, Ayala 14
No. 2 Los Osos 28, Chino Hills 24
Upland 54, Glendora 14

EASTERN DIVISION
No. 1 Perris Citrus Hill 56, Palm Desert 28
Serrano 21, Banning 12
Silverado 59, No. 2 Hesperia 44
Barstow 34, No. 3 Palm Springs 20

EAST VALLEY DIVISION
No. 1 St. Margaret's 17, Yucca Valley 6
Maranatha at Big Bear, Saturday
Twentynine Palms 40, No. 3 Aquinas 0
Fillmore 21, No. 2 Brentwood 14

INLAND DIVISION
No. 1 Corona Centennial 41, Vista Murrieta 14
Murrieta Valley 27, No. 4 Miller 6
Norco 40, Riverside North 26
No. 3 Temecula Chaparral 20, Redlands East Valley 0

MID-VALLEY DIVISION
Rosemead 59, San Dimas 22
Monrovia 41, Duarte 21
Temple City 17, Azusa 0

SOUTHEAST DIVISION
Charter Oak 40, Crescenta Valley 9
Diamond Ranch 15, West Covina South Hills 12 (OT)
Rowland Heights Rowland 52, La Serna 28
West Covina 49, Burbank 28

I'm being somewhat deficient with my picking. It'll get better this weekend.

UCLA (+10) at Arizona State - Arizona State 23, UCLA 17
West Virginia (-3) at Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh 24, West Virginia 20
LSU (-4.5) at Arkansas - LSU 30, Arkansas 19

Don't really got time to do the whole slate now, so here's the quickie. Happy Thanksgiving to all.

College
Texas A&M (+35) at Texas: Texas 40, Texas A&M 13

Pro
Tennessee (-10.5) at Detroit: Tennessee 34, Detroit 13
Seattle (+12) at Dallas: Dallas 31, Seattle 10
Arizona (+3) at Philadelphia: Arizona 27, Philadelphia 21

Doing this a little early, as I'm off doing the holiday thing for the next two days. Not a bad week last week, though its fair to say that I screwed up games involving public schools in the Redlands Metropolitan Area.

CENTRAL DIVISION

Paloma Valley at No. 1 Rancho Cucamonga
So my upset special wasn't special. Actually, my real upset special was Glendora, but it's all good. Paloma Valley did well, but they'll have their hands full with Rancho, which received quite a scare last week for Colton. Look for Greg Watson and the Rancho passing attack to carry their big fourth quarter over.
Rancho Cucamonga 33, Paloma Valley 20

No. 4 Cajon at Ayala
I was at the Cajon-Etiwanda game last week and it was a hum-dinger, as both teams played their hearts out. The win was big for the Cowboys' psyche, just because they don't have to hear the 'Well, you are just a product of the SAL' talk as much. What they will have to deal with is a darn good Ayala team that can come at you in waves. I picked Ayala before the playoffs and am sticking with that.
Ayala 30, Cajon 27

Glendora at Upland
The jaw-dropping score of the week definitely came from Glendora, which destroyed No. 3 Hemet West Valley. I'll pat my back because I predicted an upset, but I didn't expect the beatdown that took place. Upland beat down Chaffey, which was expected, and plays the Tartans for the third time since last November. Each team has one, and I'm predicting Upland to win the rubber match.
Upland 34, Glendora 28

No. 2 Los Osos at Chino Hills
Richard Brehaut used his legs more than his arm to lead the Grizzlies to victory last week. That's nice, but that ain't going to fly against Chino Hills. The Huskies bulldozed San Gorgonio 52-14 thanks to a monster day from RB A.J. Johnson. Chino Hills keeps plugging along to little fan fare (despite Fowler's exemplary article) and will do so again, "upsetting" Los Osos.
Chino Hills 27, Los Osos 21

EASTERN DIVISION

No. 1 Perris Citrus Hill 36, Palm Desert 25

Serrano at Banning
I'm not going to lie, Banning's win over Kaiser shocked me. I did not see that coming. I guess i should get to know more about Banning, but I don't think they are going to knock off another Eastern power. Serrano trounced La Quinta behind junior RB Dionza Bradford and could very well be the dark horse in this bracket. The Banning story is a good one, but one that will end.
Serrano 28, Banning 14

No. 3 Palm Springs at Barstow
The Aztecs are another one of those teams that doesn't get hype but wins. They can throw three RBs at you in the double-wing and have some massive hombres blocking. But Palm Springs is red-hot and this is pretty much what they do. After whipping Summit, Palm Springs will have its way with Barstow late.
Palm Springs 23, Barstow 16

No. 2 Hesperia at Silverado
Don't look now but the Hawks, who started 0-6, are amazingly still alive and quite a threat behind QB Jemeryn Jenkins. Jenkins is a ridiculous talent, slicing and dicing Patriot for 406 yards last week. However, Hesperia put on a clinic against Notre Dame, barely breaking a sweat in winning 55-27. The rested Scorpions have a little too much sting.
Hesperia 31, Silverado 19

EAST VALLEY DIVISION

No. 1 St. Margaret's at Yucca Valley
Yucca Valley has been an awesome story, recovering from several tattered years to win a De Anza League co-championship and a playoff game. It's a great job Tim Connavo is doing out there. However, this isn't going to be pretty. St. Margaret's hasn't been challenged all year and Yucca, for all their strengths, don't have the ability to.
St. Margaret's 41, Yucca Valley 16

Pasadena Maranatha at Big Bear
The Bears made me look smart, which is hard to do, coming up with the brassy 33-32 upset over No. 4 Santa Paula. It's been a tough year at Big Bear, but you know the Bears will growl at playoff time. I'll be up the hill to watch them take on Maranatha, which is just annoying to type. So I'll predict. I am tempted to take the Bears, but I picked the other team (see what I did there?) last week. Can't change now.
Maranatha 24, Big Bear 20

No. 3 Aquinas at Twentynine Palms
I kind of wish I was at this game Friday, because this one is going to be a war. Aquinas has been rolling over fools this year behind QB Tyler Stirewalt and his merry band of skill-position playmakers, but the Falcons' only loss came to Twentynine Palms - a team that put 63 up on Brethren Christian last week. I expect the Palms to be jumping, but Aquinas to exact revenge.
Aquinas 28, Twentynine Palms 26

No. 2 Brentwood 27, Fillmore 13

INLAND DIVISION

No. 1 Corona Centennial 42, Vista Murrieta 10

No. 4 Miller at Murrieta Valley
The Rebels looked awesome on offense in their 48-21 victory over Roosevelt, gaining well over 500 yards and looking like the juggernaut unit it was last year under A.J. Springer. yeah, Juan Flores and David Dash next year could be mad scary. However, the defense has showed some signs of slippage lately, which won't be helped by Murrieta Valley. I have the Rebels losing a heartbreaker on the road, similar to their loss to Chaparral last year.
Murrieta Valley 28, Miller 23

Redlands East Valley at No. 3 Temecula Chaparral
After impaling the Santiago Sharks, REV looks to take out a Chaparral team that's been hell on the CBL in recent years. The Pumas took out REV two years ago and Miller this year, meaning they have run up quite a tab. The REV offense has erupted lately, but I don't see them evening the bill this week. I will be at the game though to see if I'm wrong and to see if Lindsay Soto is there. I can always hope.
Chaparral 23, Redlands East Valley 19

Norco 27, Riverside North 17

Last week: 26-6. Overall: 232-54-4.

Hesperia and Silverado is now at 7 p.m. at Victor Valley High School. If you guys know of any other games that have been moved, drop a comment or e-mail me at tj.berka@inlandnewspapers.com.

What we know so far:
Hesperia vs. Silverado at Victor Valley HS, 7 p.m.
Cajon at Ayala, 7 p.m.
Palm Springs at Barstow, 7 p.m.
Pasadena Maranatha vs. Big Bear at Big Bear Middle School, 1 p.m. Saturday.

Sorry about the late posting of comments fellas. My comment updater wasn't working. Keep up the good work.

T.J.

The Central Division quarterfinal between Cajon and Ayala has been moved to 7 p.m. It's one of three games that has moved, as Palm Springs at Barstow was moved to 7 p.m., while Maranatha at Big Bear was moved to 1 p.m. Saturday.

As expected, the East Valley quarterfinal between Pasadena Maranatha and Big Bear will be on Saturday afternoon at Big Bear Middle School. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. The Palm Springs-Barstow game has been moved to 7 p.m. Friday as well.

The Redlands East Valley volleyball team, fresh off a CIF title victory over Corona del Mar Saturday, was named the No. 1 seed in the Southern California bracket in the Division II state playoffs. The Wildcats (35-1) open with El Cajon Valhalla on Tuesday at 7 p.m. With a win, REV would face the La Canada-Hanford winner on Saturday. The state championship match is scheduled for December 6 at the Bren Center on the campus of UC Irvine.

Crazy weekend in the Big 12, which is more jumbled than ever. Should be a fun homestretch.

1. Alabama (2) - This one is pretty simple, as the Tide is the only BCS team that hasn't lost. Look for them to even six years worth of scores against Auburn.

2. Florida (3) - I should penalize Florida for playing a weak I-AA team like The Citadel, but you can't dispute how the Gators have looked against I-A competition lately.

3. Texas (4) - I put Texas ahead of Oklahoma because it beat Oklahoma at a neutral site, are the only one of the Big 3 to not get a home game against the others and because they have the toughest Big 12 schedule. The Longhorns will be right in the middle of an old-fashioned BCS controversy.

4. Oklahoma (5) - Sooners looked awesome in beating Texas Tech, but I can't justify putting Oklahoma ahead of Texas right now. I just can't at all.

5. USC (6) - Trojans move up because of the severity of Texas Tech's loss. They'll need to kill Notre Dame and UCLA to have any sort of shot at a title.

6. Utah (7) - The Utes capped off an undefeated season with a big win over hated rival BYU. A BCS bid should follow in two weeks.

7. Texas Tech (1) - Well, Tech might have kept its national title shot if it had hung with Oklahoma. But 65-21 ain't going to do it.

8. Penn State (8) - The Nittany Lions clinched a Big Ten championship and a Rose Bowl berth with a blowout over Michigan State. The Rose Bowl committee and networks are hoping to God its not a rematch with Oregon State.

9. Boise State (9) - The Broncos are now one win away from an undefeated regular season. However, Utah's victory will likely leave Boise State on the outside looking in at the BCS.

10. Ohio State (10) - The Buckeyes smacked Michigan around for the fifth straight year to end the regular season at 10-2. Now they'll root against Oregon State in hopes of sneaking into the BCS as an at-large.

11. Georgia (12) - The Bulldogs had the week off and are basically playing for New Year's Day positioning at this point. A rivalry game with Ga. Tech looms.

12. Oklahoma State (13) - The Cowboys could be the latest team to throw a monkey wrench in the title hunt if they beat Oklahoma this upcoming week.

13. Ball State (14) - The Cardinals grabbed a huge win at two-time MAC champion Central Michigan Wednesday. A win over Western Michigan would leave Ball State one win away from an undefeated regular season.

14. Missouri (15) - If Oklahoma State can't do the job against Oklahoma this week, it might be the Tigers who have a chance to screw up the BCS.

15. TCU (16) - The Horned Frogs destroyed Air Force to conclude a 10-win season, with its only losses coming to Oklahoma and Utah.

16. Oregon State (18) - The Beavers winning the Pac-10, which they would with a victory over Oregon this weekend, would be a great story. But the Rose Bowl committee, ABC, USC and Ohio State will be rooting like heck against them.

17. Cincinnati (20) - The Bearcats took a huge step towards a Big East title and a BCS berth by beating Pittsburgh. A win over Syracuse this week would clinch that.

18. BYU (11) - The Cougars couldn't quite topple Utah, and take a tumble as a result. Still, 10-2 isn't something to be scoffed at.

19. Georgia Tech (25) - Any time you can run for over 400 yards, as the Yellow Jackets did against Miami, you have something. An upset win over Georgia would do wonders for the Georgia Tech program.

20. Boston College (NR) - Three straight wins have the Eagles surging at exactly the right time. We'll see if they can keep it up this week against Maryland.

21. Oregon (NR) - Must be nice to jump this high into the rankings without playing. The Ducks can make a lot of people happy with an upset win at Oregon State this week.

22. Florida State (NR) - The Seminoles were the source of the coolest story of the weekend, as star junior safety Myron Rolle was named a Rhodes Scholar. Good to see true student-athletes of that caliber.

23. Pittsburgh (19) - A close loss to Cincy drops the Panthers a bit, but they can improve their bowl positioning with a win over West Virginia Friday.

24. Michigan State (17) - For the second time this season, the Spartans had a chance for a big win against the Big Ten's elite. For the second time, Sparty was blown out. However, a 9-3 record is definitely an achievement in East Lansing.

25. Mississippi (NR) - The Rebels make their first appearence in the poll after blasting LSU. Oh yeah, the Rebels are also the only team to beat Florida.

Under consideration: Iowa, Northwestern, West Virginia

Dropped out: No. 21 Miami (Fla) (lost to Georgia Tech), No. 22 LSU (lost to Mississippi), No. 23 Maryland (lost to Florida State), No. 24 North Carolina (lost to N.C. State).

I really should stop publishing my record against the spread. It sucks. But I'm pretty much obligated at this point.

Houston (+3) at Cleveland
Well, Brady Quinn was rolling along, then he gets hurt against the Bills. Houston is scrappy, but I think Cleveland takes this and keeps its playoff hopes barely alive.
Cleveland 27, Houston 23

Buffalo (-3) at Kansas City
I took a shot for the Chiefs last week and fell short. Against a Buffalo team that's lost four straight, I'm taking another one for KC.
Kansas City 24, Buffalo 17

N.Y. Jets (+5.5) at Tennessee
Huge win for the Jets last week in New England and at 7-3, they are red hot. But Tennessee still is unscathed and you know what they say - don't mess with a streak.
Tennessee 20, N.Y. Jets 13

New England (even) at Miami
The winner here remains in good position for a wild-card spot or a divison title - the loser goes into scramble mode a bit. After being shellacked the last time, you know the Patriots have been studying up on the "Wildcat" formation quite a bit. Give Belichick 10 days and good things usually happen.
New England 21, Miami 17

San Francisco (+9.5) at Dallas
Uh, oh TO is starting to get a little anxious. Dallas' offense wasn't great against Washington, but it got the job done. The Cowboys will win this, but it won't be a pretty win.
Dallas 24, San Francisco 16

Tampa Bay (-8) at Detroit
Lions had their shot at Carolina, but a muffed 2-point conversion and a bad interception sealed their fate. I think they'll give Tampa a run, but there's no way you can actually pick Detroit to win straight up.
Tampa Bay 28, Detroit 21

Philadelphia (+1.5) at Baltimore
Well, at least Donovan McNabb knows that NFL games can end in a tie. If there's anything positive that comes out of the 2008 NFL season, its that. Eagles are struggling and I can't see McNabb finding his rhythm against the Ravens.
Baltimore 21, Philadelphia 16

Chicago (-7.5) at St. Louis
The Rams, after a few good performances under Jim Haslett, have gone back to being the Rams of September. That's exactly what the Bears need after a rough trip to Green Bay last week.
Chicago 31, St. Louis 14

Minnesota (+2.5) at Jacksonville
I finally got a Vikings game right last week. So of course they play the Jaguars in a virtual coin-flip scenario this week. I think Jacksonville is a bit more desperate and pulls out the win.
Jacksonville 23, Minnesota 20

Carolina (+1) at Atlanta
Finally I join the Falcons' bandwagon. Finally, the Falcons lose. It's funny how that happens. Well, I'm back off, which means the Falcons have a better shot of winning than they did before I wrote this.
Carolina 27, Atlanta 20

Oakland (+9) at Denver
The Raiders actually gave the Dolphins a tussle last week. However, Denver seems to be getting its mojo back on offense, which is a horrible sign for Oakland.
Denver 30, Oakland 14

Washington (-3.5) at Seattle
The Redskins sure could use a break after two straight home losses. So they go to Seattle and face the feckless Seahawks. I'm all about using the word feckless.
Washington 27, Seattle 17

N.Y. Giants (-3) at Arizona
Brandon Jacobs may be a bit gimpy and Arizona may be a pretty solid team, but its hard to go against the defending champs in this spot - especially in the stadium where they shocked the world and defeated the unbeaten Patriots.
N.Y. Giants 28, Arizona 20

Indianapolis (+3) at San Diego
Well, its officially desperation time for the Chargers. They are at home against a Colts team who they've had great success again, so San Diego will tease its fans one more time.
San Diego 31, Indianapolis 24

Green Bay (+2.5) at New Orleans
Neither of these teams have been able to put a real streak of above-average play together. They both won last week, but I think the Packers are slightly more solid.
Green Bay 28, New Orleans 26

Overall: 87-70-1. Record against spread: 68-88-2.

This is what we got. All games are preliminarily set for Friday at 7:30 p.m.

CENTRAL DIVISION
Paloma Valley at No. 1 Rancho Cucamonga
No. 4 Cajon at Ayala
Glendora at Upland
No. 2 Los Osos at Chino Hills

EASTERN DIVISION
No. 1 Perris Citrus Hill at Palm Desert
Serrano at Banning
No. 3 Palm Springs at Barstow
No. 2 Hesperia at Silverado

EAST VALLEY DIVISION
No. 1 St. Margaret's at Yucca Valley
Maranatha at Big Bear
No. 3 Aquinas at Twentynine Palms
No. 2 Brentwood at Fillmore

INLAND DIVISION
No. 1 Corona Centennial at Vista Murrieta
No. 4 Miller at Murrieta Valley
Redlands East Valley at No. 3 Chaparral
Riverside North at Norco

Got back from a great one between Etiwanda and Cajon. Awesome game.

CENTRAL DIVISION
Rancho Cucamonga 21, Colton 17
Menifee Paloma Valley 42, Ontario 21
Cajon 28, Etiwanda 27
Ayala 38, Colony 7
Glendora 56, Hemet West Valley 21
Upland 52, Chaffey 18
Chino Hills 52, San Gorgonio 14
Los Osos 53, Wildomar Elsinore 31

EASTERN DIVISION
Perris Citrus Hill 50, Rim of the World 19
Palm Desert 41, Ridgecrest Burroughs 7
Banning 13, Kaiser 12
Serrano 34, La Quinta 13
Palm Springs 35, Summit 6
Barstow 47, San Jacinto 20
Hesperia 55, Riverside Notre Dame 27
Silverado 41, Riverside Patriot 35

EAST VALLEY DIVISION
Big Bear 33, Santa Paula 32
Pasadena Maranatha 16, Ontario Christian 3
Aquinas 48, Kern Valley 7
Twentynine Palms 63, Huntington Beach Brethren Christian 22

INLAND DIVISION
Corona Centennial 62, Yucaipa 7
Vista Murrieta 28, Moreno Valley 20
Murrieta Valley 43, Riverside Arlington 6
Miller 48, Roosevelt 21
Temecula Chaparral 48, Moreno Valley Vista del Lago 10
Redlands East Valley 30, Corona Santiago 20
Riverside North 14, Redlands 11
Norco 19, Moreno Valley Rancho Verde 9

MID-VALLEY DIVISION
Monrovia 34, El Monte 7
Rosemead 45, Cerritos Valley Christian 14
San Dimas 67, Sierra Vista 12
Covina Northview 43, City of Industry Workman 6
Paraclete 42, San Marino 14
Temple City 7, Arroyo 6
Azusa 27, Covina 6

SOUTHEAST DIVISION
Charter Oak 55, Bell Gardens 15
Crescenta Valley 22, Whittier California 21
La Serna 42, San Gabriel 14
Rowland Heights Rowland 22, Burbank Burroughs 21
Diamond Ranch 21, Pasadena Muir 7
West Covina South Hills 40, Schurr 21
West Covina 28, Bonita 18
Burbank 20, Santa Fe 14

Kind of a small Pac-10 slate this week, which might not be a bad thing, as I was a gross 3-7 against the spread. Disgusting I know.

Oregon State (+2.5) at Arizona
The Beavers' unlikely road to a Rose Bowl continues against an improved Arizona squad that should be bowling for the first time in 10 years. I'm pretty sure the Rose Bowl committee is crossing fingers, making voodoo hexes and doing whatever it can to prevent Oregon State from winning out. However, the Beavers are going to continue to make them nervous.
Oregon State 31, Arizona 26

Stanford (+8.5) at California
The Cardinal broke through in this game last year, putting the finishing touches on a regular season-ending 1-6 stretch for Cal. Well, Cal has lost two in a row and Stanford is playing for its bowl life. I don't think Stanford will win per se, but I think a cover is definitely in the works.
California 28, Stanford 21

Washington (-7) at Washington State
Besides watching REV graduate Ronnie Fouch trying to pilot U-Dub to its first win, there's no real reason to watch this game. Please, find something else to do. Do some work around the house. Go to the gym. Netflix "Facts of Life: Season 3" and watch that. This game could be the worst in-state rivalry game in the history of the United States. I love hyperbole.
Washington 30, Washington State 20

Texas Tech (+6.5) at Oklahoma
The lastest game of the year in the Big 12 is in Norman this week, as Oklahoma has a prime opportunity to really throw a monkey wrench in the BCS. Texas Tech is a legitimate title contender, but hardly anyone gets out of Norman alive. I see the Sooners pulling away late for the cover.
Oklahoma 38, Texas Tech 27

Michigan (+20.5) at Ohio State
The best rivalry in college football is a footnote this week, as the Wolverines have struggled big-time under first-year head coach Rich Rodriguez. A 3-8 Michigan team has to go to Columbus and play a team it's lost four in a row to and six of the last seven. And they have to do that with a backup, former walk-on QB. I'd like to see this game be close, but its not going to happen.
Ohio State 35, Michigan 13

Michigan State (+15.5) at Penn State
The Spartans still have a chance at the Rose Bowl with an upset win and a Michigan win. Not sure who the Rose Bowl committee would root for here, as Michigan State doesn't have much national panache and Penn State, while more of a national program, has already destroyed Oregon State already this year. It won't matter. MSU doesn't have the panache to take this game on the road.
Penn State 34, Michigan State 17

Florida State (-1.5) at Maryland
The Terps aren't that hard to figure out for most people, having a great record at home and losing to teams such as Middle Tennessee on the road. Of course, I picked against Maryland at home last week, so I'm an idiot. I'm not making that mistake twice, especially against an inconsistent FSU squad.
Maryland 17, Florida State 13

BYU (+7) at Utah
The battle for the Beehive State has huge BCS complications, as Utah is one win away from qualifying for a major bowl. However, that win is going to be a tough one against bitter rival and two-time defending conference champion BYU. The Cougars played very well last week against Air Force and will carry it over for the upset win.
BYU 21, Utah 20

Pittsburgh (+6) at Cincinnati
This game should be more competitive, as least from the Cincinnati perspective, than the NFL matchup between the two cities yesterday. The Bearcats, despite losing their top two QBs for the year with injuries, continue to roll. The Panthers, despite breaking through this year, have Dave Wannstedt as coach. That's enough to make me go with Cincy.
Cincinnati 28, Pittsburgh 17

Mississippi (+3.5) at LSU
LSU was down 28 to Troy last week before coming back to win. There are a couple of ways to look at it. a) LSU is a team with some crazy resilience or b) LSU has some issues. I'm going with B this week against a Rebels team that actually somehow beat Florida. That alone has me whistling Dixie, or whatever comes closest to that without actually whistling.
Mississippi 28, LSU 24

Overall record: 86-34. Against the spread: 59-60-1

Leaving the biggest division for last (not for any build-up, just for alphabetizing's sake), here are my Inland Division picks, both for this week and the future.

Yucaipa at No. 1 Corona Centennial
The prediction here is pain. Yucaipa did a good job under first-year coach John Hallenbeck to make it this far, but they are playing against a team that is among the elite nationally. Centennial has a linebacker going to USC, a wideout going to UCLA, a quarterback going to Nebraska and several others with D-1 aspirations. It will be tough for Yucaipa to stay within 40.
Centennial 56, Yucaipa 7

Roosevelt at Miller
The Rebels have never really been given their props this year. They are one of those "yeah, but" teams. Miller is 10-0. Yeah, but the CBL was kind of weak this year. Miller has a great defense. Yeah, but have the honestly played against real offenses? And so on and so forth. This week, Roosevelt is a yeah, but team, as their 6-4 record will be propped up by a "Yeah, but they play in the Big VIII." I'm not betting against a disrespected Miller team.
Miller 27, Roosevelt 10

Corona Santiago at Redlands East Valley
A tasty rematch of last year's Inland semifinal, won by the Sharks in upset fashion. A repeat wouldn't be nearly as surprising this year, as the 9-1 Wildcats just don't have the firepower that they've had the last two years. The defense has done a wonderful job of keeping the Wildcats in the win column, but Santiago isn't going to be intimidated.
Santiago 20, Redlands East Valley 17

Redlands at Riverside North
This could be the most even, most intriguing matchup. Redlands may be the second-best team in the CBL (they'll admit that they should have won the REV game) and they have a star RB in Cam Phillips. North has won two straight CIF titles in the Eastern Division, but this division is a drastic step up. I have a feeling that the Terriers are going to pull a minor upset here.
Redlands 23, North 21

Other games of note:
No. 2 Moreno Valley Rancho Verde 27, Norco 9
No. 3 Temecula Chaparral 31, Moreno Valley Vista del Lago 10
Murrieta Valley 28, Riverside Arlington 6
Vista Murrieta 27, Moreno Valley 21

Quarterfinals
No. 1 Corona Centennial over Vista Murrieta
Murrieta Valley over Miller
No. 2 Rancho Verde over Redlands
No. 3 Chaparral over Santiago

Semifinals
No. 1 Corona Centennial over Murrieta Valley
No. 3 Chaparral over No. 2 Rancho Verde

Final
No. 1 Corona Centennial over No. 3 Chaparral

San Gorgonio junior wide receiver/defensive back Anthony Carradine is going to take an unofficial visit to USC next weekend for its game against Notre Dame, according to a call placed by Carradine's dad. The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Carradine and the Spartans will start what they hope to be a long playoff run tonight when they play at Chino Hills in the first-round of the CIF-SS Central Division playoffs.

Same drill as the other two leagues. In-depth first-round predictions here, then a quick prediction for the rest of the bracket.

Arrowhead Christian at No. 2 Brentwood
Just getting to the playoffs is huge for the Eagles, as Wayne Cochrun was faced with a heck of a rebuilding project when he arrived at ACA three years ago. This is definitely a huge step for the program. Unfortunately, its the only step. Brentwood is quite good, they'll be at home and it's where O.J. Simpson used to live. Ok, that last point is irrelevant, but my prediction isn't.
Brentwood 38, Arrowhead Christian 13

Kern Valley at No. 3 Aquinas
I really don't see how Aquinas loses this game. The Falcons have been something to behold this year, with the QB-WR combo of Tyler Stirewalt and Jim Jones really giving them a shot in the arm. Kern Valley is going to need a lot more than a shot in the arm to hang with this Aquinas team.
Aquinas 42, Kern Valley 17

Big Bear at No. 4 Santa Paula
It's hard to get a read on the Bears. They definitely have the pedigree to make a run in the playoffs, with a CIF title two years ago and a narrow loss to Citrus Hill last year, but due to injuries and inconsistency, haven't quite been able to get in full stride. Since they lost last week, I think Big Bear is capable of upsetting Santa Paula.
Big Bear 24, Santa Paula 21

Ontario Christian at Pasadena Maranatha
Two of the bigger names in this division take the stage tonight. It's been a struggle for the Knights, who have had plenty of growing pains in the transition to the spread offense. While Ontario Christian, with QB Andrew Lachelt, should be awesome next year, it hasn't been all that this year. And won't tonight.
Maranatha 26, Ontario Christian 16

Huntington Beach Brethren Christian at Twentynine Palms
Everyone wants Twentynine Palms to win this, just to set up a great quarterfinal game with Aquinas. Ok, maybe not everyone, but that game certainly would be easy for County football fans to get up for. Brethren Christian is 4-6, but did beat ACA in the regular season. However, the Wildcats are better than ACA. Get the hype going, as 29 and Aquinas are on a collison course.
Twentynine Palms 34, Brethren Christian 12

Yucca Valley at Bishop
It's been a fun year for the Trojans, who surprisingly emerged from near the bottom of the De Anza League to grab second place and a playoff berth. Now, they'll have a fun trip to Bishop. To be honest, I have no idea what roads you would take for that. If Yucca gets there, it should be all set for a good, solid game, though I'll take a more playoff-tested Bishop squad.
Bishop 20, Yucca Valley 15

Other games of note:
No. 1 St. Margaret's 43, North Hollywood Campbell Hall 14
Fillmore 24, Desert 20

Quarterfinals
No. 1 St. Margaret's over Bishop
Maranatha over Big Bear
No. 2 Brentwood over Fillmore
No. 3 Aquinas over Twentynine Palms

Semifinals
No. 1 St. Margaret's over Maranatha
No. 3 Aquinas over No. 2 Brentwood

Final
No. 1 St. Margaret's over No. 3 Aquinas

This is another division with huge local representation, as the High Desert schools and Sunkist League go at it here.

Rim of the World at No. 1 Perris Citrus Hill
It's impressive that the Fighting Scots are here, having made a 21-point second-half comeback at Apple Valley to do it. But Citrus Hill, with QB Caleb Herring having committed to UNLV and RB Deontae Cooper receiving D-1 interest as a junior, has way too much firepower. This will be like a 16-1 matchup you'd see in the NCAA men's basketball tournament.
Citrus Hill 48, Rim of the World 6

Riverside Notre Dame at No. 2 Hesperia
Speaking of Division I players, Notre Dame probably wishes it had RB Kenjon Barner, now a freshman at Oregon, back this year. The Titans will have a hard time matching up with Hesperia's physicality up front. And the Scorpions, with RB Gavin Santos and WR Jay Waddell, can beat you up top too.
Hesperia 38, Notre Dame 7

Summit at No. 3 Palm Springs
A lot of people are calling this upset. Ok, well maybe one reader, but still, this is an interesting matchup. The SkyHawks are young, but have a lot of speed, athleticism and moxie, as evidenced by their comebacks against Norte Vista and Bloomington. Palm Springs may be lacking in the speed department, but the Indians have size. Its that size that will make the difference late.
Palm Springs 23, Summit 20

Banning at No. 4 Kaiser
The Dick Bruich watch is going on, as any game could be the last for the legendary coach. But it won't be this game. Kaiser hasn't lost in six straight games and are coming off a dominating 435 rushing-yard performance against Riverside Patriot. Banning, which was 0-10 two years ago, is a great story, but it won't be the team that ends Bruich's career.
Kaiser 36, Banning 7

La Quinta at Serrano
As far as name matchups go, this one might be the most vibrant. Both of these schools are always in the CIF title discussion, but it might be far-fetched to get much of a run out of either school this year. La Quinta, though second in the Desert Valley League, was 0-5 and usually noncompetitive during the nonleague season, while Serrano lost three games as well. But I can't see the D-backs going down at Snowline Stadium.
Serrano 31, La Quinta 17

Barstow at San Jacinto
San Jac was a power in the East Valley Division, playing runner-up the last two years to Big Bear and Citrus Hill, respectively. I'm not sure they've gone up against a running attack as comphrensive as Barstow's double-wing though. It will be a physical matchup, but I think the Desert Sky represents here. Then again, I'm always wrong on Barstow predictions.
Barstow 24, San Jacinto 19

Silverado at Riverside Patriot
One look at the Hawks' 3-7 record could cause one to shudder, but Silverado took on one of the more brutal nonleague schedules in the section. That rugged slate will help Silverado immensely, as Patriot's physical running attack won't seem nearly as intimidating. It's been a long time for Patriot/Rubidoux, and it will be a short time in the postseason.
Silverado 20, Patriot 14

The other game of note between teams that aren't in San Bernardino County:
Palm Desert 34, Ridgecrest Burroughs 23

Quarterfinals
No. 1 Citrus Hill over Palm Desert
Serrano over No. 4 Kaiser
No. 2 Hesperia over Silverado
No. 3 Palm Springs over Barstow

Semifinals
No. 1 Citrus Hill over Serrano
No. 2 Hesperia over No. 3 Palm Springs

Final
No. 1 Citrus Hill over No. 2 Hesperia

Well, the regular season ended with me going 23-3 overall, giving me a wicked awesome record of 206-48-4. I know, I'm the man, but the playoffs are the true measure of manhood. So we'll break them up to give everyone extra-special attention, starting with the Central Division. And in friendly competition with Clay Fowler, I'll add my complete division picks at the bottom.

Colton at No. 1 Rancho Cucamonga
If I'm Rancho, I'm furious at this matchup. Not necessarily because Colton is great - this isn't a vintage Yellowjacket team - but because preparing for the double-wing is annoying. It's not run very often and its almost impossible for the JV or scout team to simulate. Except some hiccups early from unfamiliarity, Rancho should control this game though.
Rancho Cucamonga 28, Colton 16

Wildomar Elsinore at No. 2 Los Osos
I know that Elsinore went to the title game two years ago and lost to Colony. I know they are south of here. Besides that, I don't know much about them. I know Los Osos can score with Richard Brehaut and Arby Fields and they can defend better than usual. It's the latter which will allow Osos to pull away.
Los Osos 27, Elsinore 10

Etiwanda at No. 4 Cajon
The San Andreas League champion against an at-large. Easy win right? Not so fast. I think this may be the most entertaining game involving local teams in any division, as the Angel Santiago experience will be matchup up with Walter Kazee, Marlon Pollard and his Cajon buddies. This game is pretty big for the SAL's morale, as a loss to the No. 4 Baseline team would be a rough one to swallow. Cajon will gut past a tough-luck Etiwanda squad.
Cajon 34, Etiwanda 31

Colony at Ayala
Colony isn't exactly rolling coming into the playoffs, losing to Chaffey and Ontario down the stretch. But they are the two-time Central champions, which should mean something, even though the Central Division is infinitely better than it was when Colony won. The Titans have talent and will fight, but Ayala will be too much. I'm boring with these picks I know.
Ayala 23, Colony 14

San Gorgonio at Chino Hills
It's almost like I've seen this game before. Oh wait, I have. Actually, I didn't see the 42-20 Huskies win in person, but I seriously enough has changed to drastically alter the result. San G has won five of six since then, but Chino Hills has too much talent and balance.
Chino Hills 31, San Gorgonio 16

Ontario at Paloma Valley
I want to pick an upset. I really do - I almost feel its my duty as a blogger to pick a ridiculous upset, then take the prerequisite ribbing once that pick goes completely to waste. You see where I'm going here. Ontario is scrappy under QB Herman Huezo and will pull the shocker. I guess.
Ontario 18, Paloma Valley 16

Upland at Chaffey
I guess I could have been extremely lame and called this my upset, saying that Upland's No. 3 seed in the Baseline and being on the road is probable cause for calling this an upset. But I'm not going to insult your intelligence any more than I already have. Chaffey's physical running game might do some things early, but Upland has way too much firepower.
Upland 30, Chaffey 12

Other game of note that I'm not writing about because the teams aren't in the County:
Glendora 28, No. 3 Hemet West Valley 24

Quarterfinals
No. 1 Rancho Cucamonga over Ontario
Ayala over No. 4 Cajon
Upland over Glendora
Chino Hills over No. 2 Los Osos

Semifinals
No. 1 Rancho Cucamonga over Ayala
Upland over Chino Hills

Finals
No. 1 Rancho Cucamonga over Upland

According to the CIF, all of Friday's playoff games are to start at 7:30 p.m. unless noted. Well, there are plenty of games to be noted involving area teams that are moving to 7 p.m.

Games being played at 7 p.m. include the following:

Roosevelt at Miller (Inland Division)
Etiwanda at Cajon (Central Division)
Riverside Notre Dame at Hesperia (Eastern Division)
Summit at Palm Springs (Eastern Division)
Silverado vs. Riverside Patriot at Rubidoux HS (Eastern Division)
Yucca Valley at Bishop (East Valley Division)
Ontario Christian at Pasadena Maranatha (East Valley Division)

All other games are at 7:30 as of right now.

Here we go. Some new additions and a few tweaks here and there.

BOYS BASKETBALL
Perris Blackwell, Etiwanda - San Francisco
Andrew Bock, Eisenhower - Creighton
Curtis Eatmon, Los Osos/Citrus College - University of Detroit-Mercy
Jordan Finn, Etiwanda - Air Force
Chris Cunningham, Diamond Ranch - Santa Clara
Garrett Johnson, Diamond Ranch - Fresno State

GIRLS BASKETBALL
Darshae Burnside, Cajon - Arkansas
Lauren Bushong, Yucca Valley - Cal State Fullerton
Layshia Clarendon, Cajon - California
Cierra Warren, Los Osos - North Carolina
Meghin Williams, Summit - Nebraska
Cierra Windham, Norco - Texas A&M

BASEBALL
David Andriese, Redlands East Valley - UC Riverside
Chris Carlson, Chino Hills - UC Irvine
Matt Davidson, Yucaipa - USC
Jeff Gelalich, Bonita - UCLA
Wes Hatton, Norco - Cal State Fullerton
Matt Hobgood, Norco - Cal State Fullerton
Phillip Holinsworth, Chino Hills - UC Riverside
David Kiriakos, Pacific - Cal State Fullerton
Kyle Lengyel, Diamond Ranch - Loyola Marymount
Jordan Leyland, San Dimas - Washington State
Matt Lowenstein, Chino Hills - Loyola Marymount
Frankie Martin, Yucaipa - Cal State Fullerton
Giovanni Mier, Bonita - USC

SOFTBALL
Megan Allen, Yucaipa - Pacific
Melise Brown, Alta Loma - Eastern Illinois
Kimberly Bruins, Redlands - Texas
Ashley Carter, Bloomington - Cal State Fullerton
Kelli Frye, Norco - Sacramento State
Teagan Gerhart, Norco - Stanford
Stevie Goldstein, Aquinas - Loyola Marymount
Katelyn Mann, Los Osos - Louisville
Brehanna Rodrigues, Cajon - Alabama State
Nani St. Germain, Ayala - Long Beach State
Elizabeth Santana, Etiwanda - UC Davis
Skyler Segura, Chino Hills - Loyola Marymount
Stephanie Thompson, Chino Hills - Brown
Breja'e Washington, Cajon - Texas

VOLLEYBALL
Tori Brummett, Redlands East Valley - Colorado State
Terran Poindexter, Sultana - Gonzaga
Tara Roenicke, Los Osos - Houston

GIRLS GYMNASTICS
Nicolette Lew, Ayala - California

Here's a big glumping of high school football games. Enjoy.

CIF-SS FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS
First-round matchups (all games on Friday)

CENTRAL DIVISION
Colton (6-3-1) at Rancho Cucamonga (9-0-1); Ontario (6-4) at Menifee Paloma Valley (7-3); Colony (5-5) at Ayala (8-2); Etiwanda (5-5) at Cajon (9-1); Glendora (7-3) at Hemet West Valley (9-1); Upland (8-2) at Chaffey (8-2); San Gorgonio (6-4) at Chino Hills (9-1); Wildomar Elsinore (5-5) at Los Osos (8-2).

EASTERN DIVISION
Rim of the World (6-4) at Perris Citrus Hill (10-0); Palm Desert (8-2) at Ridgecrest Burroughs (6-4); La Quinta (4-6) at Serrano (7-3); Banning (6-4) at Kaiser (6-3-1); Summit (8-2) at Palm Springs (7-3); Barstow (7-3) at San Jacinto (7-2-1); Silverado (3-7) at Riverside Patriot (7-3); Riverside Notre Dame (6-4) at Hesperia (10-0).

EAST VALLEY DIVISION
North Hollywood Campbell Hall (5-5) at San Juan Capistrano St. Margaret's (10-0); Yucca Valley (6-4) at Bishop (5-4); Ontario Christian (5-5) at Pasadena Maranatha (9-1); Big Bear (6-3-1) at Santa Paula (8-2); Kern Valley (5-5) at Aquinas (9-1); Huntington Beach Brethren Christian (4-6) at Twentynine Palms (7-3); Edwards AFB Desert (7-3) at Fillmore (8-2); Arrowhead Christian (6-4) at Brentwood (9-1).

INLAND DIVISION
Yucaipa (5-5) at Corona Centennial (10-0); Vista Murrieta (8-2) at Moreno Valley (7-3); Riverside Arlington (5-5) at Murrieta Valley (7-3); Roosevelt (6-4) at Miller (10-0); Moreno Valley Vista del Lago (5-5) at Temecula Chaparral (9-1); Corona Santiago (6-4) at Redlands East Valley (9-1); Redlands (5-5) at Riverside North (6-4); Norco (6-4) at Moreno Valley Rancho Verde (10-0).

MID-VALLEY DIVISION
El Monte (5-5) at Monrovia (8-2); Duarte (5-5) at Los Angeles Baptist (6-4); Cerritos Valley Christian (7-3) at Rosemead (8-2); Baldwin Park Sierra Vista (4-6) at San Dimas (9-1); City of Industry Workman (5-4) at Covina Northview (8-2); San Marino (8-2) at Paraclete (7-3); El Monte Arroyo (3-7) at Temple City (5-4-1); Covina (4-6) at Azusa (9-1).

SOUTHEAST DIVISION
Bell Gardens (5-5) at Covina Charter Oak (9-0-1); Whittier California (8-2) at Crescenta Valley (8-2); San Gabriel (5-5) at Whittier La Serna (9-1); Burbank Burroughs (7-3) at Rowland Heights Rowland (8-2); Diamond Ranch (4-6) at Pasadena Muir (9-1); West Covina South Hills (8-2) at Montebello Schurr (7-3); Bonita (7-3) at West Covina (8-2); Burbank (5-5) at Santa Fe (9-1).

PAC-5 DIVISION
La Puente Bishop Amat at Long Beach Poly; San Clemente at Anaheim Esperanza; Los Angeles Loyola at Mission Viejo; Lakewood at Anaheim Servite; Los Alamitos at Rancho Santa Margarita Tesoro; Long Beach Jordan at Santa Ana Mater Dei; Orange Lutheran at Fountain Valley; Compton at Sherman Oaks Notre Dame.

WESTERN DIVISION
Redondo Union at Palmdale; West Hills Chaminade at Beverly Hills; San Monica at Downey Warren; Lancaster Eastside at Manhattan Beach Mira Costa; La Canada St. Francis at Quartz Hill; Palos Verdes Peninsula at Lynwood; Downey at Culver City; Palmdale Highland at Mission Hills Alemany

NORTHERN DIVISION
Newbury Park at Ventura St. Bonaventure; Oxnard Pacifica at Paso Robles; Santa Maria Righetti at Saugus; Santa Barbara at Thousand Oaks; Westlake at Oxnard; Ventura at Valencia; Newhall Hart at Atascadero; Camarillo at Moorpark.

SOUTHWEST DIVISION
Garden Grove Pacifica at Santa Ana Foothill; Anaheim Magnolia at Tustin; Anaheim Canyon at Cypress; Santa Ana Valley at Fullerton; Fullerton Sunny Hills at Anaheim Western; Trabuco Hills at Placentia Valencia; Huntington Beach at Placentia El Dorado; Anaheim at La Habra.

SOUTHERN DIVISION
Artesia at Laguna Hills; Garden Grove Santiago at Costa Mesa; Norwalk at Garden Grove; Irvine at Westminster; Santa Ana Calvary Chapel at Lakewood Mayfair; Santa Ana Segerstrom at Fountain Valley Los Amigos; Laguna Beach at Santa Ana; La Mirada at Corona Del Mar.

NORTHWEST DIVISION
South Torrance at Westlake Village Oaks Christian; Los Angeles Cathedral at Santa Maria Pioneer Valley; Torrance Bishop Montgomery at North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake; Morro Bay at North Torrance; Montebello Cantwell-Sacred Heart at Santa Maria St. Joseph; El Segundo at Oxnard Santa Clara; Carpinteria at Los Angeles Verbum Dei; Templeton at Gardena Serra

NORTHEAST DIVISION
Mojave at San Juan Capistrano Saddleback Valley Christian; Webb at Silver Valley; Banning Twin Pines at Panorama City St. Genevieve; La Canada Flintridge Prep at Riverside Christian; Mammoth at Temecula Linfield Christian; Burbank Bellarmine-Jefferson at Anaheim Fairmont Prep; Long Beach St. Anthony at Arcadia Rio Hondo Prep; Inglewood Amino Leadership at Boron

The CIF-Southern Section football playoff brackets were released a few hours ago. Definitely some interesting things going on in the pairings. Here are some early observations on the brackets, which can be downloaded from www.cifss.org.

Central Division
- Rancho Cucamonga wasn't done any favors. Although the 9-0-1 Cougars were awarded the No. 1 seed, they got paired up with Colton in the first round. The Yellowjackets may not be as good as they usually are, but that double-wing offense is a headache to defend. Los Osos, on the other hand, got the No. 2 seed and is hosting Elsinore out of the Sunbelt League. If it wins, it'll face the Chino Hills-San Gorgonio winner.

- Chaffey also should be a little perturbed, as the Mt. Baldy League champions get the pleasure of hosting Upland, the third-place team in the Baseline League. It will be tough for the Tigers to match up with that firepower.

- Chino Hills-San G is a rematch of a game played on Oct. 3 at San G, won 42-20 by Chino Hills. Needless to say, tough draw for the Spartans.

- Cajon, the SAL champ, gets wild-card Etiwanda in the first round. The Cowboys were the No. 4 seed but will be tested by an explosive Eagles team. Ayala, the Sierra No. 1 seed, also gets a tough draw by hosting two-time defending division champion Colony.

Eastern Division
- Hesperia has a pretty favorable draw. As expected, the Scorpions got the No. 2 seed in the division behind Citrus Hill and draws Riverside Notre Dame in the first round. It'll get the Silverado at Patriot winner in the quarterfinals if it wins. The other league champion on its side of the bracket - Palm Springs - was 7-3 in a mediocre Desert Valley League.

- Rim of the World has a rough matchup, having to face No. 1 seed Perris Citrus Hill and its star RB Deonte Cooper. Ridgecrest Burroughs wasn't done many favors either, as it hosts Palm Desert - which was ranked near the top of the division rankings all year.

- Kaiser gets Banning in the first round and has a very intriguing second-round matchup if it wins, as it will face the La Quinta at Serrano winner.

East Valley Division
- Aquinas gets the No. 3 seed and hosts Kern Valley in the first round. Should it win, it could have a tasty rematch with Twentynine Palms, which dealt the Falcons their only loss. There's also potential for a Big Bear-Ontario Christian rematch in the second round.

- Arrowhead Christian and Big Bear qualify as at-larges and have tough first round matchups, as the Eagles play at No. 2 seed Brentwood while the Bears head to Santa Paula.

Inland Division
- Miller gets the No. 4 seed and hosts Roosevelt, which is making its first playoff appearance in school history.

- Lots of revenge possibilities. Redlands East Valley is on the same side of the bracket with Redlands, and the Wildcats get a chance to avenge their loss to Corona Santiago in the Inland semifinals a year ago. If Redlands wins at Riverside North and Norco wins at Moreno Valley Rancho Verde, a rematch of their overtime semifinal two years ago would happen.

- Rancho Verde, the No. 2 seed, got a tough first-round matchup with a seasoned Norco squad and isn't done any favors in round two, having to face Redlands or two-time Eastern Division champ North.

- Yucaipa gets the unenviable task of facing Corona Centennial. That could get ugly quick.

Pretty standard top 15, as there were no real big games, hence no real big upsets among the top tier.

1. Texas Tech (1) - Red Raiders didn't play, but still have been the most impressive of the undefeateds in my opinion. The Oklahoma game should be a doozy.

2. Alabama (2) - The Crimson Tide struggled for a while before putting away Miss. State. Now only Auburn sits between them and a showdown with Florida.

3. Florida (3) - I keep on trying to rationalize keeping a Gator team that lost to Ole Miss this high, and then I see them hang 56 on South Carolina. That's as good of an argument as any.

4. Texas (4) - Nice win against Kansas. Now the Longhorns have to beat Texas A&M and hope for some help from the Oklahoma schools.

5. Oklahoma (5) - Like Tech, got a week to rest up before the showdown. Should be a good one.

6. USC (6) - Stanford was freaking out USC for a while, but the Trojans took care of business. Now they get a week off before ending with rivalries.

7. Utah (7) - Huge Beehive State showdown with BYU is all that seperates the Utes from the BCS.

8. Penn State (8) - Got off to a slow start before overwhelming Indiana. A win over Michigan State clinches a Rose Bowl berth.

9. Boise State (9) - Still rolling through the decrepit WAC, though Nevada and Fresno State will present some challenges for the Broncos.

10. Ohio State (10) - Nice revenge win over Illinois. Next the Buckeyes got Michigan in the biggest rivalry game in college football. Should be worth watching, even with the Wolverines reeling.

11. BYU (11) - The Cougars showed some moxie by beating Air Force. A win over Utah, plus help, might get BYU in the BCS yet.

12. Georgia (12) - I was thinking of dropping the Bulldogs, who struggled with a bad Auburn team. But who was I really going to drop them behind?

13. Oklahoma State (14) - Jumped the Cowboys up one and almost jumped them past Georgia. Oklahoma looms in two weeks.

14. Ball State (13) - The Cardinals looked kind of sluggish against Miami (Ohio), hence the drop. But games against Central Michigan and Western Michigan will prop them up should they continue to win.

15. Missouri (15) - The Tigers clinched the Big 12 North with a win over Iowa State, meaning they'll adopt plenty of fans in three weeks.

16. TCU (17) - Horned Frogs have Air Force standing between them and a 10-win season. Impressive indeed.

17. Michigan State (18) - Spartans can still go to the Rose Bowl. They just have to win at Penn State and (gasp!) hope for a Michigan victory over Ohio State.

18. Oregon State (21) - Beavers keep rolling along. Two more wins, and Oregon State goes to the Rose Bowl. Definitely crazy.

19. Pittsburgh (20) - After a week off, Panthers have tough two-game stretch with Cincinnati and West Virginia.

20. Cincinnati (24) - Now that the Bearcats have won the Keg of Nails over Louisville, they can make a huge step to a Big East title with a win over Pitt.

21. Miami (Fla) (NR) - The Canes make their first appearance in the Top 25 after beating Virginia Tech for their fifth win in a row. However, it seems as if ACC teams blow their first game after moving into the rankings.

22. LSU (22) - Tigers don't move up and quite frankly, probably should have been penalized for being down 31-3 to Troy at home. But they won, therefore they stay put. LSU is definitely on notice though.

23. Maryland (NR) - The Terps rock at home, stink on the road. But with that said, a win over North Carolina is reason enough to re-rank them.

24. North Carolina (16) - Tough loss for the Tar Heels, who apparently aren't quite ready to take the role of the top dog in the ACC.

25. Georgia Tech (NR) - Didn't play, but I ranked them anyway. Yep, that rhymes.

Under consideration: Oregon, Boston College, Florida State

Dropped out: No. 19 Florida State (lost to Boston College), No. 23 South Carolina (lost to Florida), No. 25 Tulsa (lost to Houston).

Not a great week last week, but what else is new? At least I'm safely above .500 straight up at this point.

Denver (+6.5) at Atlanta
I've resisted the Falcons all year and have paid for it in my crappy record. So I'm on board Atlanta. Plus, Denver's porous run D + Atlanta's running game equals a big day in the Dirty South.
Atlanta 30, Denver 20

Oakland (+10) at Miami
The Raiders pick off four passes last week and still lose by double-digits? Yikes. Against a good Miami team, this could get ugly quick.
Miami 27, Oakland 6

Baltimore (+7) at N.Y. Giants
It's amazing how well Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan have played as rookie quarterbacks. Playing the defending champs will be tough on Flacco, but I think the Ravens hang around enough to cover.
N.Y. Giants 23, Baltimore 17

Houston (+8) at Indianapolis
Are the Colts truly back to being the Colts? Well, wins over the Patriots and Steelers aren't to be taken lightly. I can't see Houston being much of a road threat.
Indianapolis 31, Houston 16

Tennessee (-3) at Jacksonville
I realize the Jags killed the Lions, but I don't think they are still all the way back. Tennessee tends to play well against Jacksonville even when they aren't unbeaten.
Tennessee 20, Jacksonville 14

Chicago (+3.5) at Green Bay
The Packers have got to be pretty desperate at this point. However, desperation doesn't matter when you can't stop the run. With Miller grad Nick Barnett out for the season, a thin Green Bay D gets thinner.
Chicago 24, Green Bay 21

Philadelphia (-9) at Cincinnati
The Eagles beat the crap out of bad teams, lose to good teams. Cincinnati is definitely a bad team.
Philadelphia 33, Cincinnati 17

New Orleans (-5) at Kansas City
The Chiefs have shown some spunk lately, taking the Bucs to OT and coming a 2-point conversion short of shocking the Chargers. I'm taking the upset here.
Kansas City 24, New Orleans 20

Detroit (+14) at Carolina
The Lions very well could go 0-16. I'm not kidding, I don't see a win on their schedule from here on out. Carolina certainly isn't going to be the win.
Carolina 35, Detroit 13

Minnesota (+4) at Tampa Bay
I don't think its possible for the Vikings to go on a winning streak. Therefore, I don't see this win happening.
Tampa Bay 21, Minnesota 14

St. Louis (+6.5) at San Francisco
I don't trust either team at this point. How can you? I'll go with the underdog to cover just cause.
San Francisco 20, St. Louis 17

Arizona (-3) at Seattle
The good news for the Seahawks is that Matt Hasselbeck is back. The bad news is that Seattle is still lacking good wide receiver play.
Arizona 24, Seattle 14

San Diego (+5) at Pittsburgh
The Chargers have to come on sometime right? This is way too talented to be an 4-5 team. However, I don't see the Steelers losing two in a row at home. So we'll go with Pittsburgh to win, the Diego to cover.
Pittsburgh 26, San Diego 24

Dallas (-1.5) at Washington
Tony Romo is back. Clinton Portis is not playing. But are the Cowboys really capable mentally of making a run? There's no questioning the talent. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.
Dallas 27, Washington 19

Cleveland (+5) at Buffalo
Two teams that need a win bad. I was impressed with Brady Quinn in his first start - the Cleveland D, not so much. I think this battle of Lake Erie could be entertaining.
Buffalo 24, Cleveland 21

Overall: 77-66. Record against spread: 62-79-2.

Here we go going into the playoffs. The same 10 teams make up the poll for the third straight week.

1. Miller (10-0)
After a pseudo-scare against Eisenhower last week, the Rebels got back to dominating by whupping Fontana this week. I wasn't surprised by it, as the Rebel players I saw at the REV-Redlands game last week guaranteed a better effort this week. It will be interesting to see where they are slated tomorrow.

2. Rancho Cucamonga (9-0-1)
Wind gusts at Los Osos High School really changed the dynamic of their game against Upland, but Rancho, as has been the case all season, stepped it up. Winning a loaded Baseline this year is extremely impressive.

3. Hesperia (10-0)
The Scorpions are straight ballin' right now, just destroying everyone in the High Desert at this point. I'm expecting Hesperia to be the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Division when brackets are released tomorrow.

4. Redlands East Valley (9-1)
The Wildcats showed no emotional hangover from the Redlands win, disposing of a decent Eisenhower team pretty easily. It will be interesting to see how REV's bend-but-don't-break defense plays in the postseason.

5. Los Osos (8-2)
Arby Fields celebrated his commitment to Northwestern by running wild against Etiwanda, assuring the Grizzlies of a high seed in the Central Bracket tomorrow. This team is probably the most complete one that Osos has seen.

6. Cajon (9-1)
The Cowboys laid waste to the San Andreas League, breaking the Colton strangehold on that lead. How their game will translate against teams from the Baseline and Sierra Leagues remains to be seen.

7. Chino Hills (9-1)
The Huskies avoid the late-season swoon that has happened the past couple of years by beating Diamond Bar. They are definitely a team no one wants to face in the Central Division.

8. Upland (8-2)
This seems a little harsh, but your offense needs to be able to score points no matter what the conditions are. But, barring another onslaught of gale-force winds, Upland is a No. 3 seed that is going to anger whoever is unlucky to face them this week.

9. Ayala (8-2)
Losing to Glendora isn't the best way to celebrate the Chino Hills victory, but it was ultimately harmless in the grand scheme of things, as Ayala won the coin flip and the No. 1 seed anyway.

10. Kaiser (6-3-1)
The Cats are rolling and will be a tough team to beat in the Eastern playoffs. Sure, Patriot was overrated a bit, but it doesn't detract from the impressive nature of Friday's victory.

Just missed the cut: Chaffey (8-2), Serrano (7-3), Aquinas (9-1).

This is what I got now. I'll keep updating as scores come in.

Aquinas 56, Arrowhead Christian 0
Barstow 24, Granite Hills 8
Cajon 55, San Bernardino 6
Colton 24, Arroyo Valley 13
Corona Centennial 31, Norco 7
Covina Northview 27, Pomona 7
Damien 25, Chino 6
Hesperia 52, Apple Valley 9
Kaiser 35, Riverside Patriot 14
Los Osos 27, Etiwanda 14
Miller 35, Fontana 0
Ontario Christian 54, Western Christian 33
Rancho Cucamonga 13, Upland 2
Redlands 16, Carter 7
Redlands East Valley 41, Eisenhower 0
Ridgecrest Burroughs 30, Victor Valley 16
Rim of the World 34, Lynwood Firebaugh 0
Riverside North 30, Roosevelt 27 (OT)
San Dimas 62, Ganesha 19
San Gorgonio 39, Pacific 0
Serrano 39, Sultana 0
Yucaipa 35, Rialto 0
Yucca Valley 42, Desert Mirage 20

More party on the bloggy, where we don't ask for trouble and don't bother nobody. It's been a party in the college ranks lately, where a second straight winning week against the spread (6-4 this time) has me a few games over .500. Hip hop hooray.

USC (-24) at Stanford
I can see the Trojan fans getting the shakes already from the memory. 41-point favorites. John David Booty playing with a broken thumb and throw picks up for grabs. Stanford making a fourth-and-goal from the 10 to go ahead 23-21. Yeah, if I were a USC fan, I'd punch myself in the face for bringing those memories up. Just imagine how the players feel. You know USC will be balls to the wall in this one.
USC 41, Stanford 13

UCLA (-7) at Washington
If you have insomnia, this might be the game to watch this weekend, if it's even on (haven't checked the TV listings yet). In UCLA, you have a team that just hasn't figured it out on offense - not having an offensive line will do that to ya - while Washington is the only team in Division I-A not to have a win. They can blame North Texas, which had the temerity to beat Western Kentucky two weeks ago. Anyway, I picked U-Dub against the spread last week and looked dumb. Not doing it again.
UCLA 21, Washington 10

California (+3) at Oregon State
Did you know the Beavers control their Rose Bowl destiny? I'm sure I mentioned it last week but it definitely deserves to be said again. How terrible would a Michigan State-Oregon State Rose Bowl be for the networks? It could happen. This was the game last year that sent Cal's season into a downward spiral, as QB Kevin Riley had a brain fart and ran out time deep in Oregon State territory when a FG would have caused OT. It won't be that dramatic this time.
Oregon State 28, California 20

Arizona (+6) at Oregon
While we are talking about seasons that were destroyed suddenly, this marks the one-year anniversary (give or take a couple days) of when Dennis Dixon's knee exploded when the No. 2 Ducks were in Arizona. Oregon, likely on its way to a BCS title game, never recovered until the Sun Bowl, which is in El Paso. FYI, El Paso is not cool. Arizona is improved and will cover, though after two straight wins over the Ducks, won't make it three in a row.
Oregon 31, Arizona 27

Washington State (+36.5) at Arizona State
It was a big week at Washington State. First of all, the men's basketball team season is starting up. Second of all, the Cougars covered. Yeah, they still gave up over 50 points, but progress is progress. Arizona State broke a six-game losing streak and has offensive talent, so this is going to be ugly. Oh well.
Arizona State 54, Washington State 14

South Carolina (+22.5) at Florida
This is the only matchup of two ranked teams this week, which pretty much stinks, because there's a good possibility this game won't be very competitive. However, Steve Spurrier has done decent against his alma mater, beating them in 2005, almost beating them in 2006 and getting smacked last year. He'll probably get somewhat smacked, as Florida is rolling, but the Gators could fall prey to Ole Miss disease.
Florida 38, South Carolina 17

Texas (-13.5) at Kansas
The Longhorns are actually sitting pretty, as they are No. 3 in the BCS right now despite losing two weeks ago. However, they should be somewhat annoyed with Kansas, who killed any sort of quality-win bump Texas could have gotten here by losing to Nebraska. I'm guessing the 'Horns won't show much sympathy towards the Jayhawks, whose defense has been absolutely shelled over the last month.
Texas 41, Kansas 23

North Carolina (-3) at Maryland
I would have picked Boston College-Florida State for the ACC game, but it was taken off the board because a bunch of Florida State players were suspended after taking part in a fight on campus. So you get this game, which isn't a bad one. Maryland is tough at home (ask Cal) and will be a nice test for a Tar Heel team coming off a couple of big home wins. However, I think Butch Davis and Carolina prevail.
North Carolina 24, Maryland 19

Ohio State (-9.5) at Illinois
The Buckeyes still have Rose Bowl and at-large BCS hopes, but they face their nemesis this week. Illinois has always been a thorn in Ohio State's side, as evidenced by its win at Columbus last year. The Fighting Illini have been extremely up-and-down this year, capable of putting up 50 points one week and losing to Western Michigan the next. I feel Illinois will be up and will pull the upset against a Buckeye team that's inconsistent offensively.
Illinois 27, Ohio State 21

BYU (-4) at Air Force
The Mountain West should really get a BCS berth this year and it would be an absolute tragedy if it doesn't, as the MWC is better than the Big Ten, Pac-10 and Big East this year and not that far behind the ACC. Air Force has emerged as a really good No. 4 team in this league, as Troy Calhoun might be the best coach you've never heard of. BYU has a huge rivalry game with Utah next week, so it'll be caught looking ahead.
Air Force 26, BYU 23

Overall record: 79-31. Against the spread: 56-53-1

Mountains, deserts, a lake here and there. The De Anza League has it all, including a playoff breakdown now.

1. Twentynine Palms (7-3, 3-1): The Wildcats have already clinched a playoff spot. Would grab the No. 1 spot in the league with a Big Bear loss and holds the tiebreaker over Yucca Valley by virtue of a win over the Trojans a couple weeks ago. Should Big Bear and Yucca Valley win, a three-way flip to determine the seeding for all three spots would take place.

2. Yucca Valley (5-4, 2-1): Would clinch with a win over Desert Mirage and get the No. 2 seed with a win and a Big Bear loss. A win and a Big Bear win would cause a three-way tie at the top, therefore a coin flip would determine seeding. A loss and a Big Bear win would knock the Trojans down to fourth, where they'd have to sweat out an at-large bid. A loss and a Big Bear loss would cause a three-way flip between Yucca, Big Bear and Desert Mirage for two spots.

3. Big Bear (6-2-1, 2-1): The Bears would clinch a playoff spot with a win over Desert Hot Springs or a Desert Mirage loss. They would grab the No. 1 seed in the league with a win and a Yucca Valley loss by virtue of a victory over Twentynine Palms last week. A win and a Yucca Valley win would cause a three-way flip for seeding. A loss and a Desert Mirage win would cause a three-way flip for the final two spots behind Twentynine Palms, though Big Bear would be a cinch at-large pick if available.

4. Desert Mirage (4-5, 1-2): Desert Mirage would clinch a playoff spot with a win over Yucca Valley and a Big Bear win by virtue of its win over the Trojans. A win and a Big Bear loss would cause a three-way flip for two spots, with Desert Mirage having to sweat out an at-large bid should it come short on the flips. A loss spells elimination in any and all situations more than likely.

5. Desert Hot Springs (3-6, 0-3): Eliminated from playoff consideration.

As I start to wrap this up, it's time to throw some love to the smallest league we have in our coverage area, the Christian League. When you only have two league games played up to this point, it leaves some wacky possibilites.

1. Aquinas (8-1, 2-0): Will clinch a playoff spot and a second straight league title with a win over Arrowhead Christian. Should the Falcons lose and Ontario Christian beats Western Christian, a three-way flip for two playoff spots would ensue. If Aquinas and Ontario Christian both lose, then the Falcons grab the No. 2 seed. Should Aquinas somehow get shut out of the two playoff spots, it is guaranteed to be an at-large selection in the East Valley Division playoffs.

2. Ontario Christian (4-5, 1-1): Only way the Knights can win the Christian League is with a win over Western Christian, an Arrowhead Christian win and a win in a three-way coin flip. Most likely scenario is the No. 2 spot, which comes with a win and an Aquinas win. A loss and an Aquinas win would cause a three-way flip between Arrowhead Christian, Western Christian and the Knights for one spot. A loss and an Arrowhead Christian win would leave the Knights out of the two automatic spots, causing a then 4-6 OC team to sweat out the at-large selections.

3. Arrowhead Christian (6-3, 1-1): ACA athletic director Richard Yaross gave me a breakdown of the Eagles' chances in an e-mail this week, feeling that they have a good shot at an at-large should they not finish in the top two spots. With that said, ACA can win the league and get the top spot with a win and an Ontario Christian loss. A win and an Ontario Christian win causes a three-way flip for two spots, while a loss and an Ontario Christian loss causes a three-way flip for one spot. A loss and an Ontario Christian win would put the Eagles third, needing that at-large bid.

4. Western Christian (5-4, 0-2): The Lancers have no shot at the title, but can notch the No. 2 seed via coin flip with a win and an Aquinas win. A win in any situation would increase Western's at-large possibilties immensely, while a loss would almost certainly eliminate them from consideration, as they would have lost five straight games to end the season.

Another mediocre week for my picking, as I only went 19-7 in my picks. I'll blame Chino Hills for that...no, actually Chino Hills should blame me for jumping on their bandwagon and causing a flat tire.

Upland at Rancho Cucamonga
Another big Baseline battle, as the team with 3-4 senior Division I prospects this year (Upland) plays the team that will have that many next year (Rancho Cucamonga). Expect lots of passing, lots of scoring and lots of fun. Yeah, it sounds like I'm advertising an afternoon at Knotts Berry Farm, but this one should be a good one. I'm going with the home team because I can't think of any other way to seperate these stud teams.
Rancho Cucamonga 38, Upland 31

Kaiser at Riverside Patriot
It's only fitting that Dick Bruich's last game will be for the Sunkist League championship, something that has been almost taken for granted by Kaiser fans and sportswriters. Like Kaiser, Patriot employs a hard-nosed, downhill running game and a physical defense. But no one plays sock-your-mouth football better than the Cats, at least in the Sunkist League.
Kaiser 23, Patriot 10

Colton at Arroyo Valley
For all intents and purposes, this game is for the final playoff spot in the San Andreas League. Sure, there are some weird coinflips that could happen with upsets and things of the like, but barring a San Berdoo High shocker, this is the game. Colton seems to have a little more momentum coming in and seriously, can you imagine the playoffs without Harold Strauss? Neither can I.
Colton 28, Arroyo Valley 14

Glendora at Ayala
Pop quiz hotshot. You've just beaten your crosstown rival in an upset. What are you going to do? What are you going to do? Host another game with league-championship implications of course. It might be tough for Tom Inglima to get his Bulldogs down from the high of the Chino Hills win but he'll have to, as defending Sierra champion Glendora is no slouch. However, it seems to be a rule in the Sierra League that allows for equal title time in football. So Ayala wins this year and Diamond Bar is the favorite in 2009.
Ayala 31, Glendora 25

Eisenhower at Redlands East Valley
The Eagles played their hearts out last week against Miller, giving the favored Rebels all they could handle before falling 28-21. Unfortunately for Ike, their playoff hopes might have fallen with that game. If Ike can pull an upset on a REV team due for a letdown after the big win over Redlands, then they'll be the biggest Rialto High fans ever - as the Knights have to beat Yucaipa. Unfortunately, it will be too hard to get the first phase of the job done.
Redlands East Valley 23, Eisenhower 9

Colony at Ontario
The Jaguars are a good story this year, as the heroics of quarterback/defensive back Herman Huezo have Ontario in the playoffs for the first time since 2003. Colony was in its infancy as a school back then, but has two CIF titles since the Jags last touched the postseason. The point of all this is even though Colony won't get a Mt. Baldy title, they won't lose to the spunky Jaguars either.
Colony 24, Ontario 6

Victor Valley at Ridgecrest Burroughs
It's pretty amazing that the Jackrabbits, who were winless the previous two seasons before this one, are in a win-and-in situation in this game. It's also amazing that the Burros could either win the league and get the No. 1 seed in the playoffs or miss them entirely based on this game. Such is the life in the Desert Sky League, not usually a bastion for parity. Victor Valley will give it a run, but Burroughs is too tough at home.
Ridgecrest Burroughs 30, Victor Valley 17

Apple Valley at Hesperia
We'll keep it up in the High Desert and take a journey to Hesperia, where the Scorpions can notch their first-ever Mojave River League outright title and set a school record for wins if they beat the Sun Devils. It's been a close-but-no-cigar year for Apple Valley, just to throw a cliche' out there. The Sun Devils have to still be kicking themselves about the second half against Rim of the World, which won't help them upset Hesperia.
Hesperia 35, Apple Valley 20

Arrowhead Christian at Aquinas
The Eagles have been a pleasant surprise, rolling up six wins and setting themselves up for an at-large bid in the East Valley Division playoffs should they lose this game. Unfortunately, should could be replaced by probably, which would ruin the sentence structure but bring up the main point, which is that Aquinas is scary good. QB Tyler Stirewalt put over 300 yards passing on Ontario Christian last week, something he can replicate tomorrow if he chooses.
Aquinas 42, Arrowhead Christian 14

Yucca Valley at Desert Mirage
This is historic, as this is the first time I've ever mentioned Desert Mirage in the main body of this predictions entry. So after I open up a few bottles of champagne, I'll mention how both of these teams are greatly improved and fighting for the last automatic playoff spot out of the De Anza League. Then I'll predict Yucca Valley to win a close one.
Yucca Valley 24, Desert Mirage 22

Other games of note:
Los Osos 31, Etiwanda 21
Alta Loma 21, Claremont 12
Miller 38, Fontana 7
Yucaipa 30, Rialto 14
Redlands 28, Carter 17
Ontario Christian 33, Western Christian 20
Big Bear 28, Desert Hot Springs 10
Barstow 34, Granite Hills 13
Serrano 42, Sultana 0
Rim of the World 45, Lynwood Firebaugh 6
Chaffey 35, Don Lugo 10
Cajon 51, San Bernardino 3
San Gorgonio 34, Pacific 8
Chino Hills 41, Diamond Bar 10
Damien 27, Chino 12
Summit 28, Bloomington 13

Overall record: 183-45-4

Here we go. Some new additions and a few tweaks here and there.

BOYS BASKETBALL
Perris Blackwell, Etiwanda - San Francisco
Andrew Bock, Eisenhower - Creighton
Jordan Finn, Etiwanda - Air Force
Chris Cunningham, Diamond Ranch - Santa Clara
Garrett Johnson, Diamond Ranch - Fresno State

GIRLS BASKETBALL
Darshae Burnside, Cajon - Arkansas
Lauren Bushong, Yucca Valley - Cal State Fullerton
Layshia Clarendon, Cajon - California
Cierra Warren, Los Osos - North Carolina
Meghin Williams, Summit - Nebraska
Cierra Windham, Norco - Texas A&M

BASEBALL
David Andriese, Redlands East Valley - UC Riverside
Chris Carlson, Chino Hills - UC Irvine
Matt Davidson, Yucaipa - USC
Jeff Gelalich, Bonita - UCLA
Wes Hatton, Norco - Cal State Fullerton
Matt Hobgood, Norco - Cal State Fullerton
Phillip Holinsworth, Chino Hills - UC Riverside
David Kiriakos, Pacific - Cal State Fullerton
Kyle Lengyel, Diamond Ranch - Loyola Marymount
Jordan Leyland, San Dimas - Washington State
Matt Lowenstein, Chino Hills - Loyola Marymount
Frankie Martin, Yucaipa - Cal State Fullerton
Giovanni Mier, Bonita - USC

SOFTBALL
Melise Brown, Alta Loma - Eastern Illinois
Kimberly Bruins, Redlands - Texas
Ashley Carter, Bloomington - Cal State Fullerton
Kelli Frye, Norco - Sacramento State
Teagan Gerhart, Norco - Stanford
Stevie Goldstein, Aquinas - Loyola Marymount
Katelyn Mann, Los Osos - Louisville
Brehanna Rodrigues, Cajon - Alabama State
Nani St. Germain, Ayala - Long Beach State
Elizabeth Santana, Etiwanda - UC Davis
Skyler Segura, Chino Hills - Loyola Marymount
Stephanie Thompson, Chino Hills - Brown
Breja'e Washington, Cajon - Texas

VOLLEYBALL
Tori Brummett, Redlands East Valley - Colorado State
Tara Roenicke, Los Osos - Houston

GIRLS GOLF
Megan Allen, Yucaipa - Pacific

GIRLS GYMNASTICS
Nicolette Lew, Ayala - California

I'll do the Mt. Baldy League breakdown now, since all of its games this week are being played tonight. This might be the simplest one yet, though I'm sure I'll be able to make complete nonsense of it.

1. Chaffey (7-2, 4-0): The Tigers have clinched the No. 1 seed out of the Mt. Baldy League by virtue of victories over Colony and Ontario.

2 tie. Colony (5-4, 3-1): The Titans have clinched a playoff berth and are playing Ontario for the No. 2 seed. Winner gets the No. 2 seed, loser takes the No. 3. Pretty simple.

2 tie. Ontario (5-4, 3-1): Copy and paste the Colony writeup, substituting "Jaguars" for "Titans" and "Colony" for "Ontario".

4. Don Lugo (3-6, 2-2): Eliminated from playoff consideration by virtue of head-to-head losses to Colony and Ontario.

5. Montclair (2-7, 0-4): Eliminated from playoff consideration.

6. Garey (1-8, 0-4): Eliminated from playoff consideration.

Before going into further playoff scenario entries, complete with awesome commentary, a couple of things we have to clear up from yesterday.

First of all, Redlands East Valley baseball player David Andriese is going to UC Riverside, not UC Santa Barbara as we published yesterday. I apologize for that error.

Also, due to a snafu with our phones and with communication in general, Redlands High School wasn't able to call in its water polo playoff spot yesterday. The Terriers defeated Bell Gardens 21-2 in the first round of the Division III playoffs yesterday at RHS, led by a five-goal performance from Joe Barich and three goals each from Jared Miller and Drew Chamberlain.

The Terriers travel to Laguna Beach High School at 3:15 tomorrow for a quarterfinal matchup with the No. 4 seed. Redlands dropped an earlier match to Laguna tonight, so a victory tomorrow would be huge in its quest for two straight CIF titles.

Well, this one is pretty simplistic, as the three teams have already been decided. It's that pesky business of seeding that is at play here.

1. Ayala (8-1, 4-0): By virtue of their victory over Chino Hills last week, the Bulldogs will be the fifth different Sierra champion in three years with a victory over Glendora tomorrow. A loss though would either give Ayala the No. 2 seed if Chino Hills loses or subject it to a three-way coin flip for seeding if Chino Hills wins.

2. Chino Hills (8-1, 3-1): Chino Hills' only shot at getting the No. 1 seed involves a win over Diamond Bar and a Glendora win over Ayala. In that case, a three-way flip would take place between the Huskies, Ayala and Glendora. A Glendora loss would give Chino Hills the No. 2 slot no matter what, while a loss and a Glendora win would drop the Huskies to the No. 3 seed.

3. Glendora (6-3, 3-1): The Tartans can win the No. 1 if they beat Ayala and Chino Hills loses to Diamond Bar by virtue of a head-to-head win over Ayala. They'd be in a three-way flip with a win and a Chino Hills win. A loss and a Chino Hills loss would knock Glendora to the No. 3 seed by virtue of Chino Hills' victory over Glendora.

4. Damien (2-7, 1-3): Eliminated from playoff contention.

5. Diamond Bar (4-5, 1-3): Eliminated from playoff contention.

6. Chino (2-7, 0-4): Eliminated from playoff contention.

Yeah, I didn't forget about the top league in the area, at least by my estimation. This is a league that should be very happy come Sunday, though there are a lot of possibilites as far as seeding is concerned. What I do know is that whoever has to play the No. 3 seeded team in the Central Division playoffs is going to be extremely annoyed.

1. Rancho Cucamonga (8-0-1, 4-0): The Cougars have clinched a playoff berth and could clinch the No. 1 seed - in both the league and in the entire Central Division - with a win over Upland Friday. However, a loss to the Scots and a Los Osos win would cause a three-way flip for seeding between Rancho, Upland and Los Osos. A loss and a Los Osos loss would give Rancho the No. 2 seed.

2. Upland (8-1, 3-1): Upland hasn't officially clinched a playoff berth, but it can notch the No. 1 seed with a win over Rancho and a Los Osos loss to Etiwanda. A win and a Los Osos win would cause a three-way flip for seeding for the three spots. A loss and a Los Osos win would drop Upland to the No. 3 seed. A loss and an Etiwanda win over Los Osos would cause a three-way flip for two spots between Upland, Los Osos and Etiwanda. However, if Upland lost that flip, they are a shoo-in for the at-large. In fact, I'm more likely to get Jessica Biel to decommit from Justin Timberlake and go on a date with me than Upland is of being excluded from the playoffs.

3. Los Osos (7-2, 3-1): A win and the Grizzlies are in. If they should win and Upland should win, there will be a three-way flip for the three spots. If they should win and Rancho wins, Los Osos would get the No. 2 seed. If they should lose and Rancho wins, there would be a three-way flip for two spots, with Los Osos almost assuredly getting the at-large playoff berth. A loss and an Upland win would relegate the Grizzlies to at-large status, though I'd have a better shot of dating Stacy Keibler than Los Osos does of missing the playoffs.

4. Etiwanda (5-4, 2-2): A win and an Upland win clinches a playoff berth for Etiwanda. A win and a Rancho win causes a three-way flip between Upland, Los Osos and the Eagles for two spots. A loss puts Etiwanda in a somewhat precarious position, as their 5-5 record wouldn't be nearly as much of an at-large no-brainer than an 8-2 Upland or a 7-3 Los Osos. However, the tea leaves seem to be saying Etiwanda would get the at-large, even over a 5-4-1 Colton team should circumstances dictate.

5. Alta Loma (3-6, 0-4): Eliminated from playoff consideration.

6. Claremont (2-7, 0-4): Eliminated from playoff consideration.

Do you like complications? Well, if you do, the DSL is the place for you. Just playoff possibilites abound on the way to Vegas.

1. Silverado (3-7, 3-1): The Hawks have already clinched a playoff spot and now are sitting back with their bye to see what seed they'll get. If Barstow wins and Ridgecrest Burroughs loses to Victor Valley, then Silverado will get the No. 1 seed by virtue of a victory over Barstow. If Barstow and Burroughs both lose, Silverado gets the No. 1 seed. If Barstow loses and Burroughs wins, then Silverado is the No. 2 seed by virtue of losing to Burroughs head-to-head. If Barstow and Burroughs both win, then all three teams will be in a dead heat for first and the head-to-head tiebreakers will cancel out, necessitating a three-way flip for seedind.

2. Barstow (6-3, 2-1): The Aztecs have clinched a playoff berth by virtue of tiebreaker advantages over Burroughs and Victor Valley. The only way they get a No. 1 seed is if they win and Burroughs wins, causing a three-way tie and flip for seeding. Barstow gets the No. 2 seed with a Burroughs loss and gets the No. 3 seed if it loses to Granite Hills and Burroughs wins.

3. Ridgecrest Burroughs (5-4, 2-1): The Burros have the most amount of play, as they could get the No. 1 seed or be shut out of the playoffs entirely. They'll get the No. 1 seed with a win and a Barstow loss by virtue of their head-to-head victory over Silverado. They'll also get the No. 1 seed if they win a three-way coin flip that would be caused by a win and a Barstow win. However, a loss to Victor Valley knocks Burroughs out of the playoffs in every scenario.

4. Victor Valley (3-5-1, 1-2): It's pretty simple for the Jackrabbits - win and they are in, lose and they are out. They'd qualify over Burroughs by virtue of winning the head-to-head tiebreaker but could not get anything higher than a No. 3 seed.

5. Granite Hills (2-7, 0-3): Eliminated from playoff consideration.

It doesn't get the hype of the February one, but several local athletes are signing Division I letters of intent starting today. This is who we have so far. If you know of an athlete that we've missed, send an e-mail to tj.berka@inlandnewspapers.com or comment on this blog.

BOYS BASKETBALL
Perris Blackwell, Etiwanda - San Francisco
Andrew Bock, Eisenhower - Creighton
Jordan Finn, Etiwanda - Air Force
Chris Cunningham, Diamond Ranch - Santa Clara
Garrett Johnson, Diamond Ranch - Fresno State

GIRLS BASKETBALL
Darshae Burnside, Cajon - Arkansas
Layshia Clarendon, Cajon - California
Cierra Warren, Los Osos - North Carolina
Meghin Williams, Summit - Nebraska
Cierra Windham, Norco - Texas A&M

BASEBALL
David Andriese, Redlands East Valley - UC Santa Barbara
Chris Carlson, Chino Hills - UC Irvine
Matt Davidson, Yucaipa - USC
Jeff Gelalich, Bonita - UCLA
Wes Hatton, Norco - Cal State Fullerton
Matt Hobgood, Norco - Cal State Fullerton
Phillip Holinsworth, Chino Hills - UC Riverside
David Kiriakos, Pacific - Cal State Fullerton
Kyle Lengyel, Diamond Ranch - Loyola Marymount
Jordan Leyland, San Dimas - Washington State
Matt Lowenstein, Chino Hills - Loyola Marymount
Frankie Martin, Yucaipa - Cal State Fullerton
Giovanni Mier, Bonita - USC

SOFTBALL
Megan Allen, Yucaipa - Pacific
Kimberly Bruins, Redlands - Texas
Ashley Carter, Bloomington - Cal State Fullerton
Kelli Frye, Norco - Sacramento State
Teagan Gerhart, Norco - Stanford
Stevie Goldstein, Aquinas - Loyola Marymount
Katelyn Mann, Los Osos - Louisville
Nani St. Germain, Ayala - Long Beach State
Elizabeth Santana, Etiwanda - UC Davis
Skyler Segura, Chino Hills - Loyola Marymount
Stephanie Thompson, Chino Hills - Brown

VOLLEYBALL
Tara Brummett, Redlands East Valley - Colorado State
Tara Roenicke, Los Osos - Houston

GIRLS WATER POLO
Alex Ford, Ayala - San Diego State

This is another one of those complicated ones, though luckily, a four-way tie is not involved in any way, shape or form.

1 tie) Riverside Patriot (7-2, 4-0): The Warriors will face off with Kaiser for the league title. If it wins, Patriot is the No. 1 seed out of the Sunkist in the Eastern Division playoffs. If it loses, its the No. 2.

1 tie) Kaiser (5-3-1, 4-0): Copy and paste what I said for Patriot, except substitute "Cats" for "Warriors", "Kaiser" for "Patriot" and "Patriot" for "Kaiser".

3) Summit (7-2, 2-2): If the SkyHawks beat Bloomington Thursday, they will clinch the No. 3 spot out of the Sunkist. If they lose, they'll need Riverside Norte Vista to beat Jurupa Valley. That would cause a three-way coin flip for the last spot between Summit, Norte Vista and Bloomington.

4) Bloomington (2-7, 1-3): I'm putting Bloomington ahead of Norte Vista because the Bruins have a more direct possibility at the playoffs. If they win and Norte Vista loses, Bloomington gets the No. 3 seed. If both the Bruins and Norte Vista win, then it goes to a three-way coin flip with Summit.

5) Norte Vista (4-5, 1-3): The Indians need a win and a Bloomington win. In that situation, they'll be part of three-way coin flip with the Bruins and SkyHawks.

6) Jurupa Valley (2-7, 0-4): Eliminated from playoff consideration.

Los Osos RB Arby Fields, a three-star recruit according to Rivals.com, committed to Northwestern over the weekend, becoming the second Baseline League player to verbally commit to the Big 10 school during the past month, as Upland RB Davion Fleming pledged with the Wildcats last week.

Fields' commitment came after officially visiting the Northwestern campus this week for the Wildcats' 45-10 loss to Ohio State. While the Wildcats got drubbed, Fields liked what he saw according to the Rivals.com article about his commitment.

"They run the same offense as my high school - I mean exactly the same," explained Fields. "They do a lot of the same stuff we do, so I'm going into an offense I'm very familiar with."

Fields has rushed for 614 yards and 14 touchdowns on 123 carries while catching 31 passes for 508 yards and another three touchdowns for the 7-2 Grizzlies.

No real drama here, as everything is basically decided, especially since there are no at-large berths in the Eastern Division. But whatever, I'll give equal time.

1. Hesperia (9-0, 3-0): The Scorpions have clinched the No. 1 seed out of the league for the MRL playoffs by virtue of their victory over Serrano a couple weeks ago. Hesperia will likely be the No. 2 seed in the bracket behind Perris Citrus Hill if it defeats Apple Valley Friday.

2. Serrano (6-3, 2-1): The Diamondbacks have clinched the No. 2 seed by virtue of their victory over Rim of the World in the league opener. Serrano will likely clinch a first-round home game with a victory over Sultana Friday.

3. Rim of the World (5-4, 2-2): The Fighting Scots have clinched the No. 3 seed by virtue of their win over Apple Valley two weeks ago. They'll be starting the playoffs on the road no matter what.

4. Apple Valley (4-5, 1-2): Eliminated from playoff contention.

5. Sultana (0-9. 0-3): Eliminated from playoff contention.

The second in my series is the San Andreas League, which is simple up top but has the potential to be a complete mess on the bottom if some upsets happen.

1. Cajon (8-1, 4-0): Clinched the No. 1 seed out of the San Andreas League in the Central Division playoffs by virtue of its league-opening win over San Gorgonio. Looking to move up in seeding.

2. San Gorgonio (5-4, 3-1): Clinched the No. 2 seed out of the San Andreas League by virtue of holding the head-to-head tiebreakers over Colton, Arroyo Valley and San Bernardino.

3. Colton (5-3-1, 2-2): Can clinch the No. 3 seed with a victory Friday at Arroyo Valley. If the Yellowjackets lose, they can still qualify if San Bernardino upsets Cajon. In that case, there'd be a three-way tie for third where head-to-head cancels out, leaving a three-way coin flip for one spot. The Yellowjackets could conceiveably grab an at-large bid, but that is more likely to go to the Baseline League, namely the Los Osos-Etiwanda loser.

4. Arroyo Valley (4-5, 1-3): Would clinch the No. 3 seed with a victory over Colton Friday and a San Bernardino loss. If it wins and San Bernardino wins, the Hawks would be in a three-way flip with Colton and San Bernardino for the last spot. If Arroyo Valley, San Bernardino and Pacific win, the Hawks would get the playoff berth, as it would win a four-way tiebreaker with Colton, San Berdoo and Pacific. In that situation, Colton and Arroyo Valley would be 2-1 in head-to-head while the Cardinals and Pirates would be 1-2, with Arroyo advancing by virtue of beating Colton. I think I've just gone crosseyed writing that.

5. San Bernardino (2-7, 1-3): The Cardinals need a win over Cajon Friday and an Arroyo Valley win over Colton. In that case, the Cardinals, Yellowjackets and Hawks would have a three-way flip for the final playoff spot.

6. Pacific (1-8, 1-3): The Pirates have been eliminated from playoff contention, as there isn't a tiebreaker that favors them.

I've decided to expound on Monday's article about playoff scenarios this week, going league by league in the Sun coverage area with team-by-team scenarios. I'll start with one of the simpler ones, delving into the Citrus Belt.

1. Miller (9-0, 6-0): Has already wrapped up the No. 1 seed out of the CBL by virtue of its 18-15 win over REV on Halloween. Purely playing for overall seeding in the Inland Division bracket at this point.

2. Redlands East Valley (8-1, 5-1): Has already wrapped up the No. 2 seed by virtue of its 14-12 victory over Redlands last weekend. A win this weekend could give REV a first-round home game in the Inland Division playoffs.

3. Redlands (4-5, 4-2): Has already wrapped up the No. 3 seed, winning all possible head-to-head tiebreakers with Yucaipa and Eisenhower. A win this weekend would help the Terriers avoid a first-round matchup with a team like Rancho Verde or Temecula Chaparral.

4. Yucaipa (4-5, 3-3): The Thunderbirds are in as the No. 4 seed with a victory Friday against Rialto, as it owns the head-to-head tiebreaker with Eisenhower. Yucaipa would still get in with a loss if Ike loses as well.

5. Eisenhower (5-4, 3-3): Having lost the head-to-head tiebreaker with Yucaipa, the Eagles have to defeat REV this weekend and have Yucaipa lose to Rialto to get the No. 4 seed. Even at 6-4, Ike would have very little chance at the one at-large bid in the Inland Division, as either Corona Santiago or Riverside North from the Big VIII or Riverside La Sierra from the Inland Valley League would be chosen before the Eagles.

6. Carter (2-7, 2-4): Eliminated from playoff contention.

7. Fontana (2-7, 1-5): Eliminated from playoff contention

8. Rialto (1-8, 0-6): Eliminated from playoff contention.

Cajon coach Mark Lehman just confirmed to me that senior guard Layshia Clarendon and senior post Darshae Burnside were signing national letters of intent with California and Arkansas, respectively.

"I think we pretty much knew this day was coming," Lehman said. "They came in their freshman year and started right away. With their talent, you knew that they had a shot to have this happen for them."

Cajon is trying to set up an assembly in front of the student body for the formal signing sometime in the next week, as the Fall Signing Period starts Wednesday and runs through Nov. 19. Lehman indicated that a date hasn't been picked as of yet, but a few were under consideration.

The 5-foot-9 Clarendon, the CIF-SS Division II-A player of the year, was a first-team all-state selection by calhisports.com and was the Sun's All-County Most Valuable Player this past season. Clarendon averaged 20.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, 6.7 assists and four steals per game for the Cowgirls, who won their first-ever CIF title last March with a 51-47 victory over Ayala.

"It feels pretty great right now," said Clarendon, who chose from a final three of Cal, UCLA and Arizona State. "It's one of those things that I always hoped would happen, but I wasn't sure if it would come together like this. Cal was a perfect place for me and I feel as if everything is falling into place."

Burnside, a first-team all-state, all-CIF and all-County selection a year ago, averaged 15.5 points, 16.1 rebounds and 4.0 blocked shots per game. She has quickly climbed up the all-time state rebounding leaders, with Lehman saying that she is roughly 160 rebounds away from being the leading rebounder in state history.

I only got a brief word in with Burnside before her cell phone cut out, basically me congratulating her and her saying "Thanks." I guess that's as good of confirmation as any until I can speak with her more.

Well, there goes Penn State. Still, the run to the BCS promises to be complicated. Here we go.

1. Texas Tech (1) - No letdown for the Red Raiders, who just smoked Okie. State. However, a bye week before Oklahoma is pretty ideal, as it lets them decompress a bit.

2. Alabama (2) - Whew. That's what Alabama has to say about surviving LSU. Road looks clear from now until the SEC title game with Florida.

3. Florida (4) - Gators continue to roll, adding Vanderbilt to its list of blowout victims. South Carolina could be tricky this week though.

4. Texas (5) - The Longhorns did what they needed to do in beating Baylor. Now, they have to root for (gasp!) Oklahoma in two weeks.

5. Oklahoma (6) - The Sooners' football team is averaging more points per game than its men's basketball team did last year. At least it seems that way. Tech looms in 13 days.

6. USC (7) - Penn State's loss allows USC to jump a little bit. But barring some extreme weirdness, the Trojans' chance at getting into the national title game seems remote.

7. Utah (8) - The Utes vaulted one huge hurdle with a comeback win over TCU. If they beat BYU in two weeks, Utah is BCS bound.

8. Penn State (3) - The Nittany Lions took a shot square in the gut from Iowa. Now we'll see if PSU can pick up the pieces enough to go to the Rose Bowl.

9. Boise State (10) - The Broncos continue to do their thing, but the weakness of the WAC is going to make it harder for them to climb much higher.

10. Ohio State (13) - Buckeyes whip a pretty decent Northwestern team to get back in the top 10. Also, Penn State's loss gives their Rose Bowl hopes some life.

11. BYU (12) - A win over San Diego State doesn't do much for me. However, wins over Air Force and Utah over the next two weeks certainly would.

12. Georgia (14) - The Bulldogs barely avoid the letdown, escaping Kentucky. The defense is a concern though, as Georgia has given up 118 points the last three games.

13. Ball State (15) - The Cards stay undefeated and stay on an upward track in the standings. Last two games against Central Michigan and Western Michigan will tell a lot.

14. Oklahoma State (9) - The Cowboys got stomped down pretty good, but there's no chance I can put them lower than a Missouri team they beat on the road.

15. Missouri (16) - Tigers get a little more cushion in their victory this week, but still don't seem to be completely back on track.

16. North Carolina (21) - Whupping Georgia Tech, and establishing themselves as the class of the ACC, has the Tar Heels making a sizable leap up this week.

17. TCU (11) - Not going to punish TCU too much for losing at tough game at Utah. Besides, the Horned Frogs' kicker is probably doing it for me after missing those fourth-quarter field goals.

18. Michigan State (20) - Good week for the Spartans. Not only did they get their ninth win, but Penn State's loss gives their hopes of a Rose Bowl bid a bump up. After a week off, they'll head to Happy Valley.

19. Florida State (24) - Makes big leap just because everyone else around them stubbed their toe. However, Seminoles in good position going down the stretch.

20. Pittsburgh (NR) - The Panthers are back in the rankings after backhanding Louisville. Have a week off before a brutal Cincinnati-West Virginia back-to-back.

21. Oregon State (NR) - The Beavers finally jump into the poll after playing exemplary football over the past six weeks. Amazingly enough, they control their Rose Bowl destiny.

22. LSU (17) - The Tigers don't fall too much after taking Alabama to overtime. However, LSU has to wonder where it'd be if it didn't have turnover machine Jarrett Lee at QB.

23. South Carolina (NR) - Gamecocks have won 6 of 7 and finally move into the rankings as a result. However, a game at Florida almost assures that their stay will be short-lived.

24. Cincinnati (NR) - Bearcats pull off a tough win at West Virginia in overtime, therefore they enter the rankings. Not really much more to say.

25. Tulsa (NR) - Tulsa didn't play, but at 8-1, should be ranked - even if Conference USA is truly horrible this year, as it seems to be.

Under consideration: California, Georgia Tech, Arizona

Dropped out: No. 18 California (lost to USC), No. 19 Georgia Tech (lost to North Carolina), No. 22 Maryland (lost to Virginia Tech), No. 23 West Virginia (lost to Cincinnati), No. 25 Northwestern (lost to Ohio State).

A little late on all my blogging, so I'll try to catch up a bit. Only real movement this week involved the Sierra League.

1. Miller (9-0)
The Rebels had a letdown against a spirited Eisenhower team and didn't exactly win many style points in their 28-21 triumph. However, I'm not going to down a team for being a little flat after two emotional wins. Plus, the Rebels seem to realize what being No. 1 means - the best effort from every opponent.

2. Rancho Cucamonga (8-0-1)
I kept the Cougars here at two despite another impressive win. However, they have a huge showdown this week with Upland. Get a win there and Rancho might have a good case to jump Miller.

3. Hesperia (9-0)
Winning up on the mountain 41-12, which Hesperia did against Rim of the World, is pretty impressive, especially coming off the emotional win over Serrano. Only Apple Valley stands in the way of an undefeated regular season and plush playoff seed.

4. Upland (8-1)
The Highlanders had to scratch and claw to get away from a game Etiwanda team, but that doesn't deserve any grief. However, a similar performance against Rancho Cucamonga would not be advised.

5. Redlands East Valley (8-1)
The Wildcats aren't flashy and quite frankly, could have very easily gone down to Redlands this weekend. But REV seems to have a "refuse-to-lose" moxie to them, something that will help them immensely in the postseason.

6. Los Osos (7-2)
The Grizzlies took care of Claremont to the surprise of absolutely nobody. But their finale will be a dogfight, as they'll be facing an Etiwanda team that could be playing for its playoff life.

7. Cajon (8-1)
The Cowboys destroyed Arroyo Valley this week, so they earn the right not to get jumped. I was tempted to put Ayala here, but I gave Cajon the benefit of the doubt, if just for this week.

8. Ayala (8-1)
The Bulldogs won "The Bone" again by beating Chino Hills. I'm not sure they recognize the trophy, but Ayala definitely recognizes a chance to be the fifth different Sierra League champion in five years.

9. Chino Hills (8-1)
Tough, tough loss for the Huskies. It will be interesting to see how Chino Hills responds and how much mental toughness they have in comparison to some CHHS teams of the recent past.

10. Kaiser (5-3-1)
Kaiser destroyed Jurupa Valley, which doesn't really surprise anyone. You know that the Cats, who saw Jurupa kill their 31-game Sunkist win streak a year ago, had to feel good about getting revenge. A showdown with Riverside Patriot for the Sunkist League title awaits.

Just missed the cut: Chaffey (7-2), Serrano (6-3), Aquinas (8-1)

Internet in the Berka household is flighty tonight. So here are quickie picks.

Jacksonville (-6.5) at Detroit: Detroit 23, Jacksonville 20
Baltimore (-1) at Houston: Houston 21, Baltimore 17
Tennessee (-3) at Chicago: Tennessee 24, Chicago 14
Buffalo (+4) at New England: New England 21, Buffalo 13
New Orleans (+1.5) at Atlanta: New Orleans 24, Atlanta 21
St. Louis (+9) at N.Y. Jets: N.Y. Jets 28, St. Louis 20
Seattle (+7.5) at Miami: Miami 24, Seattle 17
Green Bay (+2.5) at Minnesota: Green Bay 23, Minnesota 21
Carolina (-9.5) at Oakland: Carolina 30, Oakland 10
Kansas City (+15) at San Diego: San Diego 38, Kansas City 20
Indianapolis (+4.5) at Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh 26, Indianapolis 20
N.Y. Giants (+3) at Philadelphia: Philadelphia 24, N.Y. Giants 20
San Francisco (+9.5) at Arizona: Arizona 31, San Francisco 14

Overall: 70-60. Record against spread: 57-71-2.

Sorry about the lateness, my computer was being a jerk.

Apple Valley 37, Sultana 20
Aquinas 35, Ontario Christian 20
Ayala 18, Chino Hills 17
Barstow 28, Victor Valley 14
Big Bear 21, Twentynine Palms 12
Bonita 31, Walnut 7
Cajon 43, Arroyo Valley 7
Chaffey 29, Ontario 8
Colony 34, Montclair 6
Colton 51, Pacific 7
Damien 31, Diamond Bar 6
Diamond Ranch 48, H.H. Wilson 0
Don Lugo 28, Garey 8
Fontana 21, Rialto 14
Glendora 49, Chino 14
Hesperia 41, Rim of the World 12
Kaiser 49, Jurupa Valley 0
Los Osos 41, Claremont 14
Pomona 24, Baldwin Park 21
Rancho Cucamonga 41, Alta Loma 14
Redlands East Valley 14, Redlands 12
Riverside Norte Vista 14, Bloomington 13
Riverside Patriot 16, Summit 14
Roosevelt 40, Corona 30
San Gorgonio 56, San Bernardino 0
Serrano 34, Ridgecrest Burroughs 20
Silverado 20, Granite Hills 7
Upland 27, Etiwanda 26 (OT)
Yucaipa 29, Carter 12
Yucca Valley 41, Acton Vasquez 14

I rocked it out last week, as my 7-3 record against the spread put me above. 500. Time to party, but after I make these picks of course.

California (+22) at USC
I've been pretty high on Cal this year, ranking them higher in my poll than the regular polls do. But this game sets up to be a butt-kicking. USC is angry about a perceived BCS slight and will be looking to do whatever they can to turn heads. Since Cal is the only ranked team left on the Trojans' schedule, they'll suffer for that.
USC 38, California 10

Oregon State (-7.5) at UCLA
This game may be dependent on who gets most of the time at QB for the Beavers. If its Lyle Moevao, Oregon State wins and likely covers. If its Sean Canfield, UCLA probably wins. So I will compromise a bit on this. I'll predict Oregon State to win, but I'll predict the Bruins to give them a battle.
Oregon State 23, UCLA 20

Stanford (+14) at Oregon
The Oregon passing game has pretty much gone to hell over the past few weeks. They can run the ball well, probably better than any team in the Pac-10, but without that passing threat and without a lockdown defense, I don't see them blowing out Stanford. Oregon wins, Cardinal cover.
Oregon 34, Stanford 23

Arizona (-41) at Washington State
Seriously, I really don't know what to say about Washington State anymore. They are so unbelievably bad that I can't even raise an eyebrow at this point spread. They should just forfeit the rest of this season.
Arizona 59, Washington State 3

Arizona State (-14.5) at Washington
It's very rare that a team can be on a six-game losing streak and still be favored on the road by over two touchdowns. If that statement alone doesn't tell you how bad Washington football is, then I really don't know what to say. Still, this game is goofy. I shouldn't take points with the Huskies, but I'm going to. Ugh.
Arizona State 20, Washington 7

Oklahoma State (+3) at Texas Tech
A couple weeks back, Texas had a big win against Oklahoma and had Missouri at home the week after. I predicted the Longhorns to be flat and lose. I was way wrong, as UT murdered Mizzou. Well, Texas Tech is coming off a huge win against Texas and has Oklahoma State, who is also a top 10 team, coming in. Not making the mistake with Tech that I did with Texas.
Texas Tech 42, Oklahoma State 30

Alabama (-3.5) at LSU
Apparently the LSU people are upset with Nick Saban for coaching Alabama. They should be more upset with a defense that has given up over 50 points in a game twice this year, including two weeks ago at home against Georgia. Alabama is better than Georgia. Emotion will lift LSU early, but Alabama just has too many horses.
Alabama 35, LSU 20

Penn State (-7.5) at Iowa
With Ohio State vanquished a couple of weeks ago, it seems like Penn State has a free ride to a possible national championship game. However, this game could be a tricky one. Iowa plays good defense, runs the ball well, is tough to beat at home and traditionally gives Penn State fits. The Nittany Lions will have to sweat this one out, but will prevail.
Penn State 21, Iowa 16

Georgia Tech (+4) at North Carolina
The ACC has been one big massive jumble of whatever, with 6 or 7 teams having two losses in the conference. A couple of those will take the field in this game. It's weird seeing these two schools play in a big game on the gridiron instead of the hardwood, but it should be a good one. I'll take the Heels hitting free throws down the stretch.
North Carolina 24, Georgia Tech 17

Georgia (+12) at Kentucky
Kind of a random last game but hey, I needed to pick 10. The Bulldogs will do one of two things after getting destroyed by Florida last week - just kick the living daylights out of Kentucky or tank it and maybe lose. I'm picking the latter to happen, even going out on a limb and taking the Wildcats.
Kentucky 20, Georgia 17

Overall record: 71-29. Against the spread: 50-49-1

Missed the Broncos-Browns game and the college games tonight. Oh well. Maybe I should concentrate more on high schools anyway, as the upsets last week left me an unsatisfactory 16-8 last week. Gotta do better than that.

Redlands at Redlands East Valley
This should be one of the more animated games of the season, with vitrol coming from both sides. Can REV recover from its loss to Miller? Will Redlands hype itself way too much and hit a fatal lull? A couple of interesting things. This game has gone Red-REV-Red-REV-Red-REV the last six years and every year REV has won, its won a league title. It's Redlands' turn in the cycle and REV won't likely win a title, so I'm going with the Terriers.
Redlands 21, Redlands East Valley 17

Ayala at Chino Hills
I pick against Chino Hills quite a bit. They end up making me look dumber than I already am. I'm sick of looking dumb, at least when it comes to Chino Hills. So yeah, I'm picking the Huskies this week. Are you happy? Are you not entertained? Wait, don't answer the last one.
Chino Hills 27, Ayala 22

Arroyo Valley at Cajon
Michael Philipp was honored this week with a berth in the U.S. Army All-American game, a great achievement for the Arroyo Valley offensive lineman. Now if Philipp could carry the ball, the Hawks would be in business. Losing to San Berdoo was definitely a slap in the face, and Cajon is straight ballin' right now. Probably too hard for Arroyo to turn it around this week.
Cajon 31, Arroyo Valley 10

Etiwanda at Upland
Upland should be all hyped-up for a showdown with Rancho Cucamonga next week but can hardly afford to overlook the Eagles in this game. Both of these teams can pass (seriously, who in the Baseline can't?) but I think the Highlanders have a little more talent across the board.
Upland 38, Etiwanda 24

Patriot at Summit
Summit used a lifeline last week against Norte Vista, phoning a friend and getting a 26-point second half to eke out a 32-28 victory after being down 28-6. That isn't going to work against a solid Patriot team that will almost assuredly be the first Patriot/Rubidoux/whatever team to get a playoff berth since 2001. Summit will disrupt a potential Sunkist showdown between Patriot and Kaiser next week with a win.
Summit 27, Patriot 20

Ontario at Chaffey
After the huge overtime win over Colony, it would be easy for the Tigers to strut down Euclid Avenue and feel high and mighty. But this Ontario team, also undefeated in the Mt. Baldy League, can bite them if Chaffey isn't careful. QB Herman Huezo has been a dual-threat force for the Jaguars, but he won't be enough.
Chaffey 34, Ontario 19

Hesperia at Rim of the World
A tricky game for the Scorpions after the big win over Serrano last week, as they have to face a physical Rim team up the mountain, where they are privvy to dealing with fog, snow, smoke and whatever other meterological annoyance is liable to crop up. I think Hesperia has too much depth and too many playmakers though.
Hesperia 35, Rim of the World 16

Aquinas at Ontario Christian
The Ontario Christian spread offense erupted against ACA this past week and just in time, as the Knights were on a four-game win streak. While the Knights have struggled with the new schemes, Aquinas is tossing the ball around effortlessly with QB Tyler Stirewalt and WR Jim Jones. Just way too much firepower on the Falcons' side.
Aquinas 38, Ontario Christian 20

Big Bear at Twentynine Palms
While 29 is looking for its second straight championship, it still has a mountain to climb - figuratively, not literally - against Big Bear. The two teams didn't play last year due to the wildfires in the San Bernardino Mountains and corresponding smoke, so Big Bear gets to defend its honor a bit. I say 29 completes this title though.
Twentynine Palms 28, Big Bear 23

Victor Valley at Barstow
Yes, the Desert Sky League needs love too, especially since Burroughs' win over Silverado made it a four-team clusterbomb for three playoff berths. The Jackrabbits and Aztecs are essentially playing an elimination game in this one, especially Victor Valley, which has Ridgecrest Burroughs on the docket next week. Barstow takes this.
Barstow 32, Victor Valley 21

Other games of note, led by the one I have to leave for in a few minutes:
Miller 28, Eisenhower 6
Carter 24, Yucaipa 20
Fontana 20, Rialto 17
Western Christian 30, Arrowhead Christian 17
Rancho Cucamonga 35, Alta Loma 10
Los Osos 45, Claremont 7
San Gorgonio 31, San Bernardino 13
Colton 48, Pacific 6
Kaiser 45, Jurupa Valley 0
Bloomington 23, Norte Vista 21
Apple Valley 38, Sultana 12
Serrano 31, Ridgecrest Burroughs 23
Silverado 33, Granite Hills 14
Colony 41, Montclair 15
Yucca Valley 30, Acton Vasquez 10
Glendora 24, Chino 10

Overall record: 164-38-4

Michael Philipp, a standout 6-foot-3, 320-pound offensive lineman at Arroyo Valley High School, was selected to take part in the U.S. Army All-American game Jan. 3 in San Antonio, Texas and will receive his jersey in a special ceremony at AVHS today at 3 p.m.

Philipp, a four-star recruit and the top guard in the country according to Rivals.com, was selected for his loyalty, duty and respect, along with his considerable skill. The U.S. Army All-American game has starred players such as Reggie Bush, Vince Young and Adrian Peterson in recent years. He's being recruited by almost the entire Pac-10 and Colorado at this time.

The Miller-Eisenhower football game, originally scheduled for Friday at Eisenhower High School, has been moved to Thursday at 7 p.m.

If you know of any other games that have been moved, hook me up with a comment.

Four County players, Colony cornerback Jered Bell, Colony wide receiver Kenneth Scott, Redlands East Valley quarterback Tyler Shreve and Rancho Cucamonga wide receiver Randal Telfer, have been selected to Rivals250 to Watch in 2010 list.

The Colony duo of Scott and Bell have helped the Titans recover from an 0-3 start, a start where the 6-foot-3, 180-pound Scott, who has 422 yards on 19 catches with four touchdowns in only four games, as he missed the first four due to injury. The 6-0, 160-pound Bell is one of the Titans' leading rushers along with notching a couple interceptions on the defensive end.

Shreve, in his second year at starting QB for the Wildcats, leads REV in both passing and rushing, completing 80 of 139 passes for 1,163 yards and eight touchdowns while rushing for 463 yards and another 10 scores. The 6-4, 200-pound Shreve, who has battled injuries all year, was also a ballboy at the renowned Elite 11 camp this past summer.

Telfer, at 6-4, 215 pounds, has been one of the main targets for Rancho Cucamonga QB Greg Watson, another local junior who will be heavily recruited in the class of 2010, helping the Cougars to a 7-0-1 start. Telfer leads Rancho with 30 catches for 524 yards and four touchdowns.

The new basketball playoff divisions were released today. Gone are the league-based divisions - where every team in a league is assigned to the same division. Instead, it looks to be a mostly individual, enrollment-based dividing process.

Performance isn't as much of a factor, but was factored in, which explains some differences between the boys and girls divisions. So if this looks funky, that's why. For the constraints of space, I'll just list the teams in the Sun and Bulletin areas.

BOYS
Division I-AA - Arroyo Valley, Chaffey, Colony, Diamond Bar, Etiwanda, Fontana, Hesperia, Miller, Redlands, Redlands East Valley, Silverado, Upland.

Division I-A - Bloomington, Cajon, Chino Hills, Kaiser, Los Osos, Montclair, Rancho Cucamonga, Rialto, Roosevelt, San Gorgonio.

Division II-AA - Alta Loma, Chino, Colton, Ontario, San Bernardino, Serrano, Sultana, Victor Valley

Division II-A - Ayala, Carter, Claremont, Damien, Don Lugo, Eisenhower, Jurupa Valley, Summit, Yucaipa

Division III-AA - Garey, Granite Hills, Norco

Division III-A - Apple Valley, Barstow, Bonita, Diamond Ranch, Pacific, Twentynine Palms

Division IV-AA - Ganesha, Ontario Christian, Pomona, San Dimas, Yucca Valley

Division IV-A - Big Bear, Rim of the World

Division V-AA - Loma Linda Academy, Silver Valley

Division V-A - Aquinas, Arrowhead Christian, Bloomington Christian, Boys Republic, La Verne Lutheran, Upland Christian, Webb

Division VI-AA - Apple Valley Christian, Hesperia Christian, Lucerne Valley, Mesa Grande Academy, Redlands Adventist Academy, Victor Valley Christian

Division VI-A - Grove, Lake Arrowhead Christian, Packinghouse Christian.

GIRLS
Division I-AA - Bloomington, Cajon, Chaffey, Diamond Bar, Etiwanda, Hesperia, Los Osos, Miller, Redlands, Redlands East Valley, Rialto, Silverado, Upland

Division I-A - Arroyo Valley, Ayala, Chino, Chino Hills, Colony, Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga, San Gorgonio, Yucaipa

Division II-AA - Carter, Colton, Kaiser, Montclair, Ontario, Roosevelt, Serrano, Sultana, Victor Valley

Division II-A - Alta Loma, Claremont, Don Lugo, Eisenhower, Jurupa Valley, Norco, Summit

Division III-AA - Diamond Ranch, Granite Hills, Pacific, San Bernardino

Division III-A - Apple Valley, Barstow, Bonita, Ganesha, Garey

Division IV-AA - San Dimas, St. Lucy's, Yucca Valley

Division IV-A - Big Bear, Pomona, Rim of the World, Twentynine Palms

Division V-AA - Arrowhead Christian, Loma Linda Academy, Ontario Christian, Silver Valley

Division V-A - Aquinas, Pomona Catholic, Webb

Division VI-AA - Apple Valley Christian, Grove, Hesperia Christian, La Verne Lutheran, Lucerne Valley, Redlands Adventist Academy, Upland Christian

Division VI-A - Bloomington Christian, Lake Arrowhead Christian, Packinghouse Christian

Another week, another No. 1. Guns up!

1. Texas Tech (4) - I know the Red Raiders won't be No. 1 in the polls this week, but they beat the No. 1 team in a classic game. That's good enough to get my vote, especially since Alabama played Arkansas State.

2. Alabama (2) - Well, I guess beating Arkansas State is better than losing to Louisiana-Monroe, as the Tide did last year. However, Alabama is right where it needs to be.

3. Penn State (3) - Penn State stays where its at. That may seem to be a bad thing, but with the way the Big 12 is cannibalizing itself, winning out in the mediocre Big Ten will get the Nittany Lions to the title game.

4. Florida (7) - The Gators make a big jump after absolutely pounding Georgia. I'm baffled as how this team ever lost to Ole Miss.

5. Texas (1) - Disappointing loss for sure, but the Longhorns proved their mettle even in defeat. Feel bad for Blake Gideon - the guy who dropped a sure interception on the play before Tech's winning TD - though.

6. Oklahoma (5) - Score 62 points against Nebraska and move down. It's a tough pill to swallow. However, I couldn't rank the Sooners ahead of the Longhorns.

7. USC (6) - Win 56-0 and move down. To be honest, the events of the last couple of weeks have been extremely detrimental to the Trojans, who will have a hard time getting a BCS bump with a Pac-10 schedule.

8. Utah (9) - An ugly win over New Mexico, but a win nonetheless. Thursday's game with TCU will be a battle.

9. Oklahoma State (10) - The Cowboys get a chance to be the guy behind the guy, as they get Texas Tech a week after Texas did. Don't be surprised if the Cowboys pull the upset.

10. Boise State (11) - I'm ready to put these guys in the top 10. Perhaps its because they beat New Mexico State 49-0. And before you ask, a 49-0 victory at NMSU is more impressive than a 56-0 one over Washington.

11. TCU (12) - The Horned Frogs are playing top 5 football right now. If they can win at Utah, the possibility of them crashing the BCS becomes very real.

12. BYU (13) - The Cougars' defense has kind of abandoned it lately, as BYU has had to win shootouts against UNLV and Colorado State. That's going to end up killing the Cougars before long.

13. Ohio State (14) - The Buckeyes had a bye and come back to a tricky road game against Northwestern. Kind of disappointing how their season has gone, but at least they aren't Michigan at this point.

14. Georgia (8) - I was tempted to dump the Bulldogs further after being piledriven by Florida, but a) Florida is very good and b) Georgia still has a pretty good recent victory over LSU on its resume.

15. Ball State (15) - The Cardinals didn't play, so they stay put. I doubt you'll hear a Ball State fan - if they exist and read this blog - complaining though.

16. Missouri (17) - The Tigers received an uber-scare from Baylor, which almost pulled the shocker. It's become apparent that Mizzou's defense will not allow it to become elite.

17. LSU (19) - This is more a bump up because of losses by other teams. Beating Tulane doesn't exactly get the juices flowing, so to speak.

18. California (22) - Nice win in the rain against Oregon for Cal. However, the Bears have to play at USC this upcoming week.

19. Georgia Tech (NR) - The Yellow Jackets hung on to beat a surging Florida State team at home, besting the Seminoles for the first time since FSU joined the ACC. That works for me.

20. Michigan State (25) - Must be nice to move up five spots just by edging a mediocre Wisconsin team that had multiple fourth-quarter brain farts. That being said, 8-2 is the best Sparty has done through 10 games since 1999.

21. North Carolina (24) - Yes, the Tar Heels got jumped by Michigan State, but they'll have a chance to jump back when they host Georgia Tech this week.

22. Maryland (NR) - After putting around the periphery of the Top 25, the Terrapins finally burst into it. Just imagine where they'd be ranked if they hadn't lost to Middle Tennessee State.

23. West Virginia (NR) - It took six weeks, but the Mountaineers are back. WVU has overcome its 1-2 start with five straight wins and are looking like the class of the Big East again.

24. Florida State (18) - I kept FSU around because not only is Georgia Tech good, but the Seminoles were a pretty ridiculous fumble inside the Ga Tech 5 away from winning. Definitely the second-worst stomach-punch loss of the week, behind Texas.

25. Northwestern (NR) - Actually, Northwestern's interception return with 12 seconds left to unbreak a tie against Minnesota might be a worse stomach punch than what FSU went through. We'll see if NW can spend any real tiime in this poll.

Under consideration: Tulsa, Pittsburgh, Oregon State

Dropped out: No. 16 Tulsa (lost to Arkansas), No. 20 Oregon (lost to California), No. 21 Minnesota (lost to Northwestern), No. 23 South Florida (lost to Cincinnati)

Lots of topsy-turviness this week, as last week's poll was turned upside down.

1. Miller (8-0)
Congratulations to the Rebels, who shut down previous No. 1 Redlands East Valley, giving the Wildcats their first regular-season loss since September 2006. Miller now can see a Citrus Belt League title staring it in its face.

2. Rancho Cucamonga (7-0-1)
I'm a man of my word if nothing else. I said should Rancho defeat Los Osos, it would make a huge jump. The Cougars did that and now have the pole position in the chase for a Baseline League title. Just a great story, especially given the star power of Osos and Upland.

3. Hesperia (8-0)
The Scorpions took a huge step toward that elusive Mojave River League title, beating a Serrano team that has traditionally been a thorn in its side. A tricky road game at Rim of the World is next, but Hesperia is looking pretty darn good right now.

4. Upland (7-1)
The Highlanders were impressive, showing no hangover from the loss to Los Osos. I felt kind of funny putting Upland past the Grizzlies, but I feel that Los Osos' two losses give me justification for such a move.

5. Redlands East Valley (7-1)
The Wildcats tumble to here, as their inconsistent offensive play finally caught up with them against Miller. It doesn't get much easier for REV, as a tricky crosstown showdown with Redlands next on the docket.

6. Chino Hills (8-0)
Big win for the Huskies at Glendora, as Chino Hills continues to march on. I contemplated moving the Huskies even higher than this, but like with Rancho, they'll eventually get there if they take care of business.

7. Los Osos (6-2)
This was the toughest team to rank, as I almost dropped the Grizzlies to 8th after their loss to Rancho. However, their quality wins are quality, and I couldn't possibly justify putting Los Osos behind a Cajon team that it beat on the road.

8. Cajon (7-1)
The Cowboys actually moved down despite rolling Pacific, but that was more due to big wins by Rancho and Chino Hills than anything the Cowboys did or didn't do. Either way, Cajon stayed on track for a San Andreas League title.

9. Ayala (7-1)
The Bulldogs took care of business against Damien, setting up a huge crosstown showdown with Chino Hills as the Sierra League title hangs in the balance. Should be a great one at Chino Hills High on Friday.

10. Kaiser (4-3-1)
This last spot was tough, as there were 4 or 5 other teams that could have conceivably been in this spot. However, I like the way Kaiser has played of late and would put their three losses (Riverside North, Cajon and Los Osos) against anyone else's. So the Cats get the nod for now.

Just missed the cut: Chaffey (6-2), Etiwanda (5-3), Serrano (5-3).
Dropped out: No. 9 Serrano (5-3).

Terrible week against the spread, but better overall. I don't know, I still stink at this. We'll try harder this week.

Houston (+4.5) at Minnesota
If you are a Texans fan, you have to be just sick about the loss to the Colts where Sage Rosenfels turned into Santa Claus. Without that, you'd have a Houston team with a four-game win streak. Now they have three, but I don't see them getting a fourth in the dome.
Minnesota 24, Houston 17

Jacksonville (-7.5) at Cincinnati
The Jags have been one of the most maddeningly inconsistent teams in the NFL. Winless Cincinnati, not so much. With Ryan Fitzpatrick still captaining the Bengals and Jacksonville desperate, you know how I'm calling this.
Jacksonville 26, Cincinnati 10

Tampa Bay (-9) at Kansas City
The Chiefs showed some spunk last week. Of course, it helped to have Brett Favre gift-wrap a pick six. I don't see the Buccaneers gunslinging that much in this game, therefore, I don't see KC managing much of anything.
Tampa Bay 24, Kansas City 13

Baltimore (+1.5) at Cleveland
I must admit, Joe Flacco's diving catch against the Raiders last week was pretty sweet. Cleveland has quietly played much better lately and could be in line to get back in the wild-card hunt. The Browns will have to beat the Ravens to do that, something I think they can handle.
Cleveland 17, Baltimore 14

N.Y, Jets (+5) at Buffalo
This is a huge game for the Jets, who have struggled since coming back from their bye week. Buffalo dropped a division game to Miami as well and might be reeling a little bit. I'll go with the home team here in a close, but no cover, situation.
Buffalo 21, N.Y. Jets 19

Arizona (-3) at St. Louis
This was a no-brainer Cardinals pick a couple weeks ago, but the resurgent Rams are 2-1 since Jim Haslett took over despite playing three quality teams in the Redskins, Cowboys and Patriots. However, I like Kurt Warner to have a big game against his old team.
Arizona 28, St. Louis 21

Detroit (+12.5) at Chicago
Yes, the Lions are winless and most likely hopeless. But Detroit has been more competitive of late, almost beating Minnesota and Houston on the road and giving Washington a decent game at home. I'm not picking a Lions win, but they'll cover.
Chicago 23, Detroit 14

Green Bay (+4) at Tennessee
Is it me, or are the Titans the most anonymous 7-0 team in recent memory? Tennessee isn't flashy at all - it just wins by running the ball and playing outstanding defense. The Packers have been good under Aaron Rodgers, but its hard to pick against the Titans here. I'm learning my lesson from last week.
Tennessee 24, Green Bay 14

Miami (+3.5) at Denver
I've had a hard time getting a handle on the Dolphins. They have some great wins against AFC contenders, but they are just as likely to stink up the joint. The bloom is off the Denver rose a bit and the Broncos' defense is a walking disaster area. I think the Wildcat offense leads the Dolphins to the road upset.
Miami 28, Denver 20

Atlanta (-3) at Oakland
The Falcons are the type of team that should annoy a Raiders fan. They looked hopeless coming in, but thanks to a few good draft picks and a solid coaching hire in Mike Smith, look like players in the NFC. The Raiders aren't players, haven't been players for a while and probably won't be until Al Davis ceases to have his hands on the franchise.
Atlanta 21, Oakland 10

Dallas (+8.5) at N.Y. Giants
You got to hand it to the Cowboys defense, which gutted out a victory over Tampa Bay despite getting no help from the offense. With Brooks Bollinger possibly starting and injured TE Jason Witten possibly sitting, it'll be more of the same. I think the Cowboys keep it close but fall.
N.Y. Giants 23, Dallas 16

Philadelphia (-7) at Seattle
I just hope Andy Reid doesn't feel the need to drop his pants at any time during this game, like Mike Singletary did last week. Would be bad times for everyone. Even with a win last week, this season has been bad times for the Seahawks and Philly won't help it get any better.
Philadelphia 31, Seattle 19

New England (+6) at Indianapolis
What was thought to be a battle of elite Super Bowl contenders has Matt Cassel playing against a Colts team that can't stop the run and can't quite get untracked. Joseph Addai comes back for Indy though, giving them a much-needed win over their archrivals.
Indianapolis 27, New England 17

Pittsburgh (+2) at Washington
Apparently Chris Berman is going to interview Barack Obama and John McCain at halftime of this game. The only thing I can think of that would be worse than that is Stuart Scott interviewing Sarah Palin. I get the shakes just thinking about it. Oh yeah, the game. I like the home team in what should be an entertaining one.
Washington 24, Pittsburgh 21

Overall record: 60-56. Against the spread: 50-64-2

This is my wake-up final list. Hope everyone had a Happy Halloween.

Ayala 35, Damien 6
Barstow 16, Sultana 14
Bonita 54, Hacienda Heights Wilson 14
Cajon 48, Pacific 14
Carter 45, Fontana 29
Chino Hills 30, Glendora 28
Covina 41, Pomona 34
Diamond Bar 35, Chino 14
Diamond Ranch 35, Los Altos 13
Etiwanda 52, Claremont 6
Hesperia 24, Serrano 17
Kaiser 14, Bloomington 0
Miller 18, Redlands East Valley 15
Ontario 36, Garey 20
Ontario Christian 37, Arrowhead Christian 8
Rancho Cucamonga 27, Los Osos 21 (OT)
Redlands 35, Rialto 6
Ridgecrest Burroughs 35, Silverado 33
Rim of the World 32, Apple Valley 28
Riverside Patriot 48, Jurupa Valley 12
Roosevelt 35, Riverside Poly 21
San Bernardino 24, Arroyo Valley 15
San Dimas 35, Baldwin Park 25
San Gorgonio 24, Colton 14
Twentynine Palms 29, Yucca Valley 13
Upland 37, Alta Loma 0
Victor Valley 20, Granite Hills 0
Yucaipa 41, Eisenhower 26