Take on Toby contest: Final preps before postseason

I hit all 11 this past week and just when I thought perhaps I could be unmatched, "semohoops" also was perfect, picking up 1.33 points for topping the field and tying me. That puts "semohoops" in striking distance of "Hello" for the top spot in the football picks pool.

One week of the regular season left. We'll honor the winners through the regular season and also continue with picks through the playoffs. I will have to dig a little deeper in the prize closet.

A quick review of last week: I was fooled by nothing.

Actually, the Charleston-Malden game was the tossup match, with five of 10 prognosticators incorrectly picking Malden. In the deciding game for Class 2 District 1, both teams made a few turnovers and Malden couldn't get much offense going. You can check out some video clips on Semoball.com. My favorite is this one of Jerquawn Sherrell running down the sidelines for a touchdown.

Three also picked Kennett to beat Dexter (not including Mike Buhler), but the Bearcats held on to keep their date this week with New Madrid County Central in the Class 3 District 1 finale.

Two also picked Chaffee to upset state-ranked Hayti, and the Red Devils gave the Indians all they could handle before finally bowing 42-13. The Indians scored 34 unanswered points in the second half.

Speaking of state rankings, they are out from The Associated Press. Click here.

Back to the picks: No one tabbed Southeast Missouri State to win at Tennessee-Martin, which is not a good show of faith since Martin had just one win before the game. But the Skyhawks had made a better showing in their OVC losses than Southeast had.

Without further delay, the fresh standings. Wins and points are the categories to be rewarded.

And on to this week's picks.

Many, many Thursday games in Week 10, giving teams that extra day of rest for the playoffs.

Here they are:

Thursday

Chaffee over Portageville. The visiting Red Devils can finish the season with 6 wins, something they haven't done since 1989.

Malden over East Prairie. This one scares me, as Malden coach Gary Blaylock told the Daily American Republic: "It's going to be tough to keep the kids motivated now because all we have left to play for is pride." Meanwhile, East Prairie's M.C. Williams has 847 yards in the last three weeks. Malden's strength is its defense, so we will see if the Green Wave is up to the challenge on the road.

Hayti over St. Vincent. St. Vincent has a knack for finding a way to beat Hayti when it's not expected. The 4-5 Indians will have to pull the upset on unbeaten No. 2 in the state Hayti, and win by 9 if they want the Class 1 District 2 title.

Scott City over Festus St. Pius. Another good contest of two teams that won't be in the playoffs. Scott City is 5-4 to St. Pius' 1-8, but the Lancers have played some close games against Crystal City, New Madrid and have a win against St. Vincent. With so many seniors, I'll tab Scott City to finish off with a close win.

Charleston over Caruthersville. The Bluejays have the district won, so they may not play their key players the entire night.

New Madrid County Central over Dexter. The game of the night, to decide the Class 3 District 1 title. New Madrid seems to have been a little more impressive in racking up points, especially in district play. The Semoball cameras will be rolling.

Cape Central over Sikeston. Wow. Tough one to pick, and Sikeston had Cape Central's number last year even when the Tigers won the district. This year, 2-7 Sikeston carries in a seven-game losing streak, and the Tigers are 1-8. Both teams have gotten banged up physically in tough seasons. A few weeks ago, I would have taken Sikeston, but Cantrell Andrews has come on for the Tigers, and Sikeston has not played as well as it did in the Oct. 5 loss to New Madrid County Central.

West Plains over Poplar Bluff. I like the Mules' chances, and I like their running game. But one of the teams they struggled against this season was a team that uses the spread offense, which West Plains runs with a solid running back.

Friday

Kennett over Perryville. The Indians have a little more to play for in trying to reach 7-3, as Perryville tries to snap its six-game winning streak that followed the 3-0 start.

Jackson over Seckman. The Indians have their district wrapped up, and coach Carl Gross said his team will play to win (although that probably won't include using 12 men on extra points). That may mean putting up some quick TDs in the first half, and then getting some rest for next week's home Class 5 quarterfinal contest.

Saturday

Austin Peay over Southeast Missouri State. Some commiseration in Cape Girardeau this week about the state of the Southeast program in Tony Samuel's second year. While I don't believe the Southeast cupboard was bare when he arrived, I do believe it was full of players who don't fit it into his system. I say cut the guy some slack and give him some time to turn it around. Unfortunately, after losing to Murray State on homecoming and yielding 55 points to Tennessee-Martin last week, the picture could get worse considering Austin Peay is a new scholarship program that Southeast thumped 38-10 last year. While Southeast is winless in the OVC in 2007, the Govs are 3-2. Ouch. How many of you are willing to go with the Redhawks in this one?

Make your picks in the reply to this Weblog entry. Good luck.