Aram and I will go head-to-head in Tribskin Pick’em throughout the season for our annual dinner bet.

Last Week: Robledo (17-8); Tolegian (50-21).
Season: Tolegian (12-13); Tolegian (42-29).

Last Week: For the first time in the history of Tribskin Pick’em, one of us had a sub .500 week and it wasn’t me. After going 0-for-3 on Thursday night, Aram didn’t fare much better on Friday, losing 10 more games and too many to mention. I fared better, but still lost eight games to take an unprecedented eight-game lead just three weeks into the football season. It can’t be that easy, can it?

This week:: The best non-league football week of the high school season with lots of tough games to choose from. Bishop Amat or Charter Oak? We’ve wondered that for years and I’ve argued in most years I’m taking Amat and this is one of them. Both teams are playing great and deserve the 1 and 2 rankings when the Trib poll comes out tomorrow. But it comes down to this: Charter Oak is arguably a tad better on defense, but Amat’s offense has proved to be better against a tougher schedule so far. I don’t think Amat will score more than 30, but I also don’t think Charter Oak will score more than 17. If I were setting a betting line, I would make Amat a 4-point favorite, something like a 21-17 point victory is what I’m predicting. Sure, I like Amat to win, but won’t be surprised at all if Charter Oak gets them. After all, you never know what role emotion plays in these games, and this will be one of the most emotionally-charged of the season. West Covina-Chino Hills? No way I’m taking the Bulldogs. I just don’t see how they stack up after how Chino Hills has fared the past two weeks against the Pac-5, and especially with Justin Hornsby out for the Bulldogs to go with QB Najera. Let’s hope the Bulldogs are ready for the Hacienda. Monrovia-San Dimas? Nobody in the Mid-Valley has played Monrovia better in the last three years than the Saints. For whatever reason, Monrovia has more athletes, but the Saints have an offense they have a hard time dealing with. I like the Saints and I like them by more than a touchdown. Gladstone-El Monte? One of those I-wish-I-could-be-there games. Two of the best quarterbacks in the Division going head to head. Gladstone’s defense is the key, but I will like El Monte’s offense to win out. Glendora-Ayala? A huge battle of the unbeatens. Nobody has stopped Glendora’s ground game, averaging somewhere near 250 yards in two games. As great as Ayala has been, Glendora’s a big-boy program and I’m feeling them. Ayala is definitely the favorite, but I’m calling the upset, take Glendora.

This weeks games and predictions
Thursday’s games
Azusa vs. Don Lugo at Citrus College, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Azusa); Tolegian (Lugo)
Friday’s games
Bishop Amat at Charter Oak, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Amat); Tolegian (CO)
Monrovia at San Dimas, 7 p.m. — Robledo (San Dimas); Tolegian (M-Town)
Chino Hills at West Covina, 7 p.m. — Robledo (CHills); Tolegian (CH)
Gladstone vs. El Monte at Citrus, 7 p.m. — Robledo (El Monte); Tolegian (G-Stone)
La Puente at Wilson, 7 p.m. — Robledo (La Puente); Tolegian (LP)
Covina at Walnut, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Walnut); Tolegian (Walnut)
Bonita at Claremont, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Bonita); Tolegian (Bonita)
Glendora at Ayala, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Glendora); Tolegian (Ayala)
Northview vs. South El Monte at CDF, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Northview); Tolegian (SEM)
Rowland at Arroyo, 7:00pm — 7 p.m. – Robledo (Rowland); Tolegian (Rowland)
Baldwin Park at San Gabriel, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Baldwin Park); Tolegian (SG)
Los Altos at Chino, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Los Altos); Tolegian (LA)
Brea Olinda at Diamond Bar, 7 p.m. — Robledo (DBar); Tolegian (Brea)
Warren at Rosemead, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Rosemead); Tolegian (Warren)
Pioneer at Mountain View, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Pioneer); Tolegian (M-View)
Diamond Ranch at Schurr, 7 p.m. — Robledo (DRanch); Tolegian (Roddy)
Nogales at San Marino, 7 p.m. — Robledo (San Marino); Tolegian (SM)
Rancho Alamitos vs. Ganesha, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Alamitos), Tolegian (RA)
Sierra Vista at Keppel, 7 p.m. — Robledo (SVista); Tolegian (SV)
Sultana at Pomona, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Sultana); Tolegian (Sultana)