Aram Tolegian and I will go head-to-head picking football games throughout the season. He edged me out the past two seasons, but it’s not happening this year, not when we’re playing for a Slater’s 50-50 burger.
Aram Tolegian (16-3, last week); (84-40, season total)
Fred Robledo (17-2, last week); (88-36, season total)
Last week: Aram I virtually had the same selections last week with the exception of one game, I took St. Francis while he took Monrovia. We all know how that turned out. The two others we lost were taking Ayala over Kaiser and Damien over Los Alamitos.
This week: The Serra, Sierra and Mission Valle League’s get rolling and none bigger that Bishop Amat’s opener at Notre Dame, where Amat is listed as a 12-point underdogs on Calpreps. 12 points! That may come as a surprise, but the Lancers are giving up a lot of points while Notre Dame’s scoring a lot of points. But this is one of those where I have that sneaky feeling Amat’s defense will rise to the challenge and Koa Haynes, Tyler Vaughns, Trevon Sidney and Co., will do enough on offense to pull it out. In the Sierra League, Damien visits Charter Oak in a match-up that can go either way. But after last week’s Chargers win, I’m sticking with the boys in blue to make it two straight. South Hills opens on Saturday against Chino Hills at the District, a game everyone can watch, but it will probably be a blowout. Chino Hills is too good. In the Mission Valley League Mountain View at Rosemead is intriguing, but I like the Panthers to squeeze it out.
This week’s games and predictions
Thursday’s game
Azusa vs. Workman at Citrus, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Azusa); Aram (Azusa)
Gladstone at Duarte, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Duarte); Aram (Duarte)
Friday’s games
Baseline League
Glendora vs. Upland at Citrus College, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Upland); Aram (Upland)
Hacienda League
Bonita at Walnut, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Bonita); Aram (Bo-Hi)
Diamond Bar at Los Altos, 7 p.m. — Robledo (DBar); Aram (LA)
Rowland at West Covina, 7 p.m. — Robledo (WCovina); Aram (The WC)
Mission Valley League
El Monte at South El Monte, 7 p.m. — Robledo (South); Aram (EM)
Gabrielino at Arroyo, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Arroyo); Aram (Arroyo)
Mountain View at Rosemead, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Rsmd); Aram (Panthers)
Montview League
Bassett at La Puente, 7 p.m. — Robledo (La Puente); Aram (LP)
Sierra Vista at Ganesha, 7 p.m. — Robledo (SVista); Aram (Ganesha)
Serra League
Bishop Amat at Notre Dame, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Amat); Aram (BA)
Sierra League
Claremont at Ayala, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Ayala); Aram (Ayala)
Damien at Charter Oak, 7 p.m. — Robledo (COak); Aram (CO)
Valle Vista League
Covina at Wilson, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Covina); Aram (C-Town)
Northview vs. Pomona at CDF, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Northview); Aram (P-Town)
San Dimas at Baldwin Park, 7 p.m. — Robledo (SDimas); Aram (SD)
Saturday’s game
Sierra League
South Hills vs. Chino Hills at CDF, 7 p.m. — Robledo (CHills); Aram (CH)
