Steve and I will go head-to-head in Tribskin Pick’em throughout the season for our annual dinner bet. I lead the overall series, two years to one.
Last Week: Robledo (12-6); Ramirez (12-6).
Season: Robledo (108-38); Ramirez (103-43*).
Last week: Not sure they were all upsets, but Steve and I had our worst week of the season, both finishing12-6. That’s bad news for Steve, because he still trails by five games, that was his chance. We got burned on the 50-50 games, taking Glendora over Etiwanda, South Hills over Damien, Chino Hills over Claremont, Mountain View over El Monte, and Rowland over Diamond Ranch, which all went they other way. I took an extra loss by taking Wilson over Northview, and he took a loss taking Crespi over Bishop Amat.
This week: This is make or break for a lot of teams with playoff aspirations as title pictures become clearer as well. Starting in the VVL, Covina has a chance to prove its legitimacy at home against Baldwin Park, a win all but guaranteeing at least a tie for the league title. But you can say the same about the Braves, who already own a win over defending champ San Dimas on the road. This is a toss-up, but Covina’s win over West Covina, it’s close loss to Walnut in OT tend to lean me toward the Colts. This is their coming-out-party, they score a lot of points, so I’m sticking with them in a thrilling finish. Charter Oak proved last week they might have the best offense in the Valley, especially through the air. With their defense coming around (which happens each year, it’s called great coaching), the Chargers will score enough to outlast Claremont, who will have RB Taj Teague back. You want an upset, here it is, Loyola will edge out Bishop Amat. There is no reason on paper to believe the Cubs win, but things don’t happen on paper the way they’re supposed to in the Pac-5. I never thought the Lancers would go 4-0 in league and they haven’t been a good road team over the last three years. Coach Hagerty might be undefeated at home, but the Lancers haven’t won a Serra road game during his tenue, going 0-3 the previous two years, losing twice in 2008 and last year at Crespi. And with Loyola hungry after being upset last week by Notre Dame, and being at home, it’s an absolute must for the Cubs, who squeeze it out. What happens is Amat will win next week at home against Notre Dame, then have two weeks for the finale against Alemany for either a share or the outright title. You heard it here first. Arroyo and Rosemead are playing for the MVL title, but I’m making the Knights 17 point favorites. Damien at Chino Hills is extremely intriguing, but you have to believe the Huskies bounce back at home after last week’s disaster. Walnut and Bonita could be intriguing also, but if the Bearcats are who we think they are they win going away…
Note: Steve Ramirez will update later
Thursday’s games
Baldwin Park vs. Covina at Covina District Stadium, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Covina) — Ramirez (Baldwin Park)
Friday’s games
Glendora at Los Osos, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Los Osos); Ramirez (Los Osos)
Diamond Bar at Rowland, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Rowland); Ramirez (Rowland)
Claremont at Charter Oak — Robledo (Charter Oak); Ramirez (Charter Oak)
Damien at Chino Hills — Robledo (Chino Hills); Ramirez (Chino Hills)
Loyola vs. Bishop Amat at LA Valley College, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Loyola); Ramirez (Loyola)
Los Altos at West Covina, 7 p.m. — Robledo (WCovina); Ramirez (WCovina)
Walnut at Bonita, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Bonita); Ramirez (Bonita)
El Monte at Gabrielino, 7 p.m — Robledo (El Monte); Ramirez (El Monte)
Rosemead at Arroyo, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Arroyo); Ramirez (Arroyo)
South El Monte at Mountain View, 7 p.m. — Robledo (MView); Ramirez (MView)
Azusa at Duarte, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Azusa); Ramirez (Azusa)
Ganesha at La Puente, 7 p.m. — Robledo (La Puente); Ramirez (La Puente)
Gladstone vs. Sierra Vista at Citrus College, 7 p.m. — Robledo (SVista); Ramirez (Sierra Vista)
Workman at Bassett, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Bassett); Ramirez (Bassett)
Ayala vs. South Hills at Covina District Stadium, 7 p.m. — Robledo (SHills); Ramirez (SHills)
Nogales at Wilson, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Wilson); Ramirez (Wilson)
Northview at San Dimas, 7 p.m. — Robledo (SDimas); Ramirez (San Dimas)
