FOOTBALL PICKS: Competition level rises in Week 3 for most local teams
Week 2 was much better than Week 1 when it comes to me picking games in Madison County.
After starting the season 2-4, I bounced back nicely by going 4-1 last week for a season record of 6-5. In the old days of an 11-game regular season in college football, that’s good enough to get invited to a smaller tier bowl.
So I’d be happy with a trip to Memphis for the Liberty Bowl after the start I had.
Of the four wins, three scores were pretty close to reality. The pick for JCM to win 28 to 14 was close. JCM actually won 30-14. North Side was picked to win 42-7, and they won 55-6. Jackson Christian was picked to win 42-20, and their actual score was 36-22.
Now we’re getting into Week 3. We get our first region game. We get our first rivalry game among the private schools. We get the return of one of the best coaches in Jackson football history (Tyler Turner – formerly at Liberty and now at Goodpasture) for an evening. The fourth Commissioners’ Cup game will be played also.
So picking games could get more difficult than it looks like at first glance, but good luck to all local teams for success and more importantly, safety.
Here are this week’s picks:
South Side 32, Liberty 6: South Side had its chances to win a week ago, so the Hawks are probably ready to get that taste out of their mouth. The defense has proven to be salty, which will make it tough for Liberty’s offense to move the ball more than it has at any point in the last four-plus years.
USJ 28, TCA 21: This is the first time I’ve picked USJ to win all season, but considering the Bruins won both games, that might make a few Bruin fans concerned about this game. And they should be. TCA has a defense that has held a couple of offenses to a total of 21 points. USJ’s offense is the best they’ve seen so far, so both teams will test each other. If USJ does jump out to a big lead like it’s done the first two games, TCA’s coaching staff has the experience to make the necessary adjustments to stop the bleeding and pull themselves back into it. Of course, that is based on if USJ can jump out to that big lead. Either way, I think USJ will edge the Lions for their 11th straight win in the series.
Jackson Christian 41, Goodpasture 20: The Cougars come into this one 0-2 and they’ve lost both games by nearly three full touchdowns. Jackson Christian’s players are experienced enough to deal with anything Goodpasture’s new coaching staff may throw at them on both sides of the ball. Just like last year when Goodpasture actually led for most of the game before Jackson Christian came back, I think the Cougars hang around before the Eagles pull away.
Camden 35, JCM 21: Camden is scoring a lot of points and playing defense this year. And while JCM is a better team this year that should compete better with the Lions, it will be tough for the road team to match Camden’s scoring as the competition level continues to rise for JCM.
North Side 38, Obion County 14: The Rebels have struggled so far in the first couple games of a new head coach’s tenure and scoring will be difficult again this week. The Indians’ athleticism and speed will be enough for them to run away with the game and jump out to a big lead and preserve it for their second win of the season.
Brandon Shields, brandon@jacksonpost.news
