Aram and I will go head-to-head in Tribskin Pick’em throughout the season with the loser buying lunch in December.
Last week: Robledo (21-4); Tolegian (17-8)
Season standings: Robledo (51-22); Tolegian (50-23)

Last week: Trailing Aram by three entering the week, I surged to the lead with the “swing” picks, taking La Serna over Bonita, South El Monte over Workman, Mountain View over Sierra Vista and Elsinore over Diamond Ranch, all games that Aram missed. We both lost with West Covina over South Hills, Glendora over Colony, Bloomington over Pomona and Baldwin Park over Cantwell, but that was it. Looks like we will be neck and neck throughout the season.

This week’s games: Amat-Damien is the game of the week, and what I found interesting after Damien’s blowout over Chaffey was Spartans RB Jalen Castille saying they’re tired of talking about beating Bishop Amat, they need to prove they can do it. Great for him, they need to feel confident. The Spartans should make it a more spirited game than last year, and winning would shut up a lot of Damien and Gano doubters (they’re 2-0), but it’s not going to happen, not after the way Amat bounced back last week against La Mirada. For the Spartans, this is their Servite. What they can’t do is get blown out at home, they have to make it a game, and will. They just aren’t ready to win this yet. The other big game is obviously Rancho Cucamonga at No. 1 Charter Oak. I can’t believe Rancho is a 17-point favorite on Calpreps. That’s disrespectful, but who who are your going to shout at, a computer? I don’t know why, I just believe this is the year the Chargers get it done and win their biggest step-up game in years. It’s time. I’ve been waiting for this. I’m glad Rancho routed Muir because it will make a Chargers win that much sweeter. The Chargers already have three quality wins over Glendora, Eisenhower and Esperanza, but on Friday they prove they can beat one of the best the Inland has to offer, and if they win, in my eyes, would be completely worthy of the number one spot in our poll, regardless of what Amat does to Damien. Why? Because when you look at quality wins, if Charter Oak beats Rancho Cucamonga, it would be the Valley’s biggest quality win to date. Although Glendora looked good in a win over Colony, I still like West Covina because the Bulldogs looked great against South Hills’ run game, and the Tartans won’t pass it around the park like South Hills did on West Covina. How about Monrovia at San Dimas? They’re 2-2 against each other and each with a title the last two years. Here we go again, except this time, I have to go with Monrovia. If the ‘Cats lose again after their humbling loss to Arcadia, they couldn’t stomach in Mtown, especially with South Hills visiting next week.

Note: Aram will update his picks later
This week’s games and predictions
Thursday’s games
Diamond Ranch vs. Chaffey at Ganesha, 7 p.m. — Robledo (DRanch); Tolegian (DRanch)
Mountain View vs. Hoover at Glendale, 7 p.m. — Robledo (MView); Tolegian (Hoover)
Montclair vs. Workman at La Puente, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Montclair); Tolegian (Montclair)
Friday’s games
Bishop Amat at Damien, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Amat); Tolegian (Amat)
Rancho Cucamonga at Charter Oak, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Charter Oak); Tolegian (Rancho)
Covina vs. Walnut at CDF, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Covina); Tolegian (Covina)
L.A. Marshall at Bonita, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Bonita); Tolegian (Bonita)
Glendora at West Covina, 7 p.m. — Robledo (WCovina); Tolegian (West Covina)
San Dimas at Monrovia, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Monrovia); Tolegian (M-Town)
Claremont at Rowland, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Claremont); Tolegian (Claremont)
Diamond Bar at Brea Olinda, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Brea); Tolegian (D-Bar)
Gladstone at El Monte, 7 p.m. — Robledo (El Monte); Tolegian (El Monte)
San Marino at Rosemead, 7 p.m. — Robledo (San Marino); Tolegian (Rosemead)
Keppel at Sierra Vista, 7 p.m. — Robledo (SVista); Tolegian (Sierra Vista)
Nogales at South El Monte, 7 p.m. — Robledo (SEM); Tolegian (Nogales)
San Gabriel at Baldwin Park, 7 p.m. — Robledo (BPark); Tolegian (SG)
Wilson at La Puente, 7 p.m. — Robledo (La Puente); Tolegian (Wilson)
Arroyo vs. Hart at College of Canyons, 7:30 p.m. Robledo (Hart); Tolegian (Hart)
Los Altos at Ayala, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Ayala); Tolegian (Los Altos)
Azusa at Don Lugo, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Don Lugo); Tolegian (Azusa)
Northview at Chino, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Chino); Tolegian (Chino)
Pomona at Chino Hills, 7 p.m. — Robledo (CHills); Tolegian (Chino Hills)
Rancho Alamitos at Ganesha, 7 p.m. – Robledo (RAlamitos); Tolegian (RAlamitos)