Joboo's Week 4 Picks

One of the great things about football is dealing with the elements.  What would football history be without the Ice Bowl, the Snow Bowl, the Snowplow Game, the Fog Bowl, and everyone of us can probably remember a game or 2 where we really should have been inside by a fire instead of outside in freezing temperatures watching a game.  But we love it.  And the memories are priceless.

Tonight could have some more of those memories as rain is in the forecast.  And with what's already fallen, there are sure to be some wet fields, slippery tracks, and treacherous footing.  Hopefully everyone will be safe but one thing that isn't safe are my picks.  Crazy weather makes for crazy results.  Speed and cuts get nullified.  Dominating lines can be manhandled in a chewed up field.  Wind & rain can bring some pain. 

We definitely have some clashes of style in tonight's games that the weather could have a lot to say about.  Including our game of the week.  But as they say, both teams have to play in the weather.  So be safe, go catch a game, and make some more great memories.

Game of the Week

• Glendale (3-0) at Lebanon (3-0)
• Will Christian is one of the best coaches in the Ozarks at adjusting his game plan.  But against the Falcons, what Lebanon has been doing offensively will do just fine.  Run the ball, control the clock, get ahead early & make their opponent play from behind.  It worked last year against Glendale as they held them to their 2nd lowest point total of the year in a 39-30 Jacket win.  But, coach Mauk and the Falcons saw the exact same game plan last week from West Plains and were able to overcome it.  Lebanon is going to be better at killing time with John Berry and the Jacket offensive line clearing the way.  They showed last week they can stay after it the entire game.  But the Jacket defense has no room for error with Alex Huston and the Falcons operating about as efficiently on offense as they can.  And the Glendale defense is the best of the Mauk era so far.  They outlast opponents, force turnovers, and are not just hoping to stop teams any more.  Even if the game is played at Lebanon's pace, the Falcon offense is mature enough to not panic and still win a relatively low scoring game.
• Prediction: Lebanon will be ready and will be the toughest test Glendale has seen.  But I think the Falcons get a couple of breaks that make the difference and win.

 Big Games 

• Lamar (3-0) at Monett (3-0)
• A quick recent history lesson.  Until last year, Lamar had dropped a Big 8 game every year of their run.  And while Monett has yet to be the team to achieve the feat, in fact the last two years the wins over Monett have been the smallest margin of victory in the Tigers Big 8 wins.
• Prediction: I think it's another tough game that stays close before Lamar opens a little bit of breathing room in the second half.
• Willow Springs (3-0) at Mountain Grove (3-0)
• No surprise that the Panthers are off to a 3-0 start, but the Bears needed some late magic to stay unbeaten. Can they find some of that magic to stay on top of the SCA?
• Prediction: I don't think they will. Panthers win.
• Neosho (3-0) at Carl Junction (2-1)
• So what did last weeks loss to Ozark tell us about CJ?  Did they indeed take Ozark lightly?  Or did the Tiger defense find some way to shut down the CJ offense that Neosho can take advantage of?  
• Prediction: CJ was off last week, and they will be fired up to show it.  Should be a good game, but I'm going with the Bulldogs.
• Fair Grove (3-0) at Springfield Catholic (2-1)
• The biggest challenge for both teams so far this year.  The Irish will have to try to contain the Eagles offense which is averaging 58 points per game.  So far, Catholic is giving up 26.7 ppg.
• Prediction: Too much firepower for Catholic to contain.  Fair Grove.
• Cass-Midway (3-0) at Appleton City (2-1)
• Appleton City finds itself in the middle of a WEMO title race after knocking off Osceola and Rich Hill.  But they'll have to beat the Vikings to stay in it.
• Prediction: Midway is giving up 10 points per game and that will probably be enough.  Vikings win.

Other Games to Watch

• Ava (2-1) at Mt. View-Liberty (3-0)
• Ava foundered against Mountain Grove, but have had much more success against Liberty in recent years beating them in '11, '12, & '14.
• Prediction: Eagles get past the Bears at home.
• Camdenton (2-1) at Kickapoo (3-0)
• Camdenton looks to bounce back & stay in the OC championship picture, but Kickapoo has been pummeling opponents with offense.
• Prediction: Lakers can't keep pace with Chiefs.
• Reeds Spring (2-1) at Rogersville (2-1)
• Each team has a loss to a Big 8 team from Barry County.  Rogersville could catch the Wolves on a down week after an emotional win over Bolivar.
• Prediction: Wolves have enough to get the win.
• Willard (1-2) at Webb City (1-2)
• May be the best matchup of 1-2 teams in the state.  Are the Cardinals back on track?  Can Willard shake off last weeks loss to Neosho?
• Prediction: The Cardinals have righted the ship and win.
• Buffalo (2-1) at Marshfield (1-2)
• Buffalo looks to be on the rise, but are they ready to take the next step?  Marshfield usually beats the teams they are supposed to, but are they supposed to beat Buffalo now?
• Prediction: I think Marshfield is still the better team, but it's getting closer.

Rest of the Schedule

• Salem (3-0) at Thayer (1-2)
• Salem has not had much luck at Thayer although they did win there in 2012.  Salem's opponents have won a total of 0 games.  While both of Thayer's losses came to teams that are undefeated and smokin' teams.
• Prediction: I think the Bobcats pull this one off.
• Lighthouse Christian (2-1) at Holden (2-1)
• This is a tough one.  Holden's only loss is to a good Odessa team, but their wins are against offensively challenged teams.  The Chargers have the offensive firepower to win, but are going to be overmatched depth and size wise.
• Prediction: I'm banking on Holden being too much for LCA.
• Bolivar (0-3) at Hollister (2-1)
• At this point Bolivar is what they are.  A good team who can make plays but who also can be beaten on the line.  I think we also have a pretty good idea what Hollister is which means...
• Prediction: Bolivar gets win #1.
• Marionville (1-2) at Ash Grove (3-0)
• The Pirates are still looking for offense, but their D could carry them a ways still.  Marionville is trying to find the offense they had in week 1.
• Prediction: Ash Grove in another close one.
• Nixa (3-0) at Republic (1-2)
• After 2 rough weeks on the road, Republic is happy to return home.  But Nixa awaits and they seem to be getting better each week.
• Prediction: Going with Nixa in a hard fought game.
• Cedar Ridge, AR (0-1) at Diamond (2-1) – Sat.
• Unlike last week, the Wildcats are about to see a team that hardly passes at all.  But they run really well.  2 of their backs went for over 150 yards last week as they rushed for just over 400 yards total, which is just over their average from last year's 7-4 team.
• Prediction: Diamond falls to the Timberwolves.
• East Newton (0-3) at Aurora (0-3)
• The Houn Dawgs are glad to be done with the class 2 part of their schedule.  They're looking for win #1 as are the scrappy Patriots.
• Prediction: Dawgs win at home.
• Miller (1-2) at Jasper (0-3)            
• While Jasper is struggling to find offense, Miller is struggling to get stops.  Make this your coin flip of the week.
• Prediction: Miller does enough to win.
• Windsor (1-2) at Lincoln (3-0)      
• After the above coin flip of the week, here's the sure thing of the week.  
• Prediction: No problems and a turboclock second half for Lincoln.
• Greenfield (3-0) at Pleasanton, KS (0-1)
• The Wildcats are flying high and look to continue their hot start against a Pleasanton team that was shout out last week, and went 1-8 last year.
• Prediction: Make it 4-0 for Greenfield.
• Mt. Vernon (1-2) at Seneca (2-1)   
• You can't fault the Mountaineers for either of their losses.  They're to quality teams.  Seneca had to work hard to get by McDonald County last week.
• Prediction: I'm buying Mt. Vernon.       
• Ozark (2-1) at Branson (0-3)
• The Tigers have already doubled their win total from last year and if not for a late score at Neosho, could be the COC Large leaders.
• Prediction: The Tiger turnaround continues.
• Stockton (1-2) at Strafford (1-2)                
• Stockton got bushwacked by Shawn Bryan and Skyline, while Strafford got win #1 with a good defensive effort.
• Prediction: This one will be close, but give me the Indians.
• Waynesville (0-3) at Parkview (1-2)
• It took a while, but the Vikings finally got going and hope to keep turning things around.  Waynesville was competitive, but has a ways to go.
• Prediction: Parkview gets to .500.
• Cabool (0-3) at Houston (0-3)
• Both teams had gallant efforts last week and Cabool came so close to getting a win.  
• Prediction: After 2 close misses, I think Cabool gets their first win.
• Liberal (1-2) at Sarcoxie (2-1) 
• Coming off their first win, Liberal is looking to get a SRVC win.  Sarcoxie is hoping to stay in the championship race.
• Predicton: The Bears have just a little more.     
• Carthage (2-1) at Springfield Central (0-3) 
• The brutal schedule continues for Central against a Carthage team who solidly avoided a post Webb City letdown.
• Prediction: Carthage.
• O’Hara (1-2) at Nevada (0-3)
• Both teams are struggling.  But Nevada is scoring less than 5 ppg and giving up over 30.
• Prediction: O'Hara with the win.      
• Lafayette County (1-2) at El Dorado Springs (0-3)    
• The Huskers are a traditionally tough team, and their only 2 losses this season are to a pair of pretty good teams in Holden and Summit Christian.
• Prediction: Bulldogs fall to 0-4.          
• Joplin (1-2) at Rolla (0-3) 
• The Bulldogs have to be smarting after losing the lead late last week to Parkview.  But Joplin is not the team to heal their wounds.
• Prediction: Joplin evens their record.         
• Archie (0-3) at Lockwood (3-0) 
• The Whirlwinds are better than 0-3 and just missed out on their first win last week.  Lockwood has the other 3 contenders in the SRVC after this week.
• Prediction: The Tigers enter their crucial run 4-0.  
• Cassville (2-1) at McDonald County (0-3)  
• Since week 1, the Widcats have looked stellar at home.  They go on the road to face the Mustangs who almost came up with a good win last week.
• Prediction: Wildcats keep rollin'.            
• Warsaw (0-3) at Osage (3-0)
• Lack of offense for Warsaw + plenty of offense for Osage =
• Prediction: No problem for the Indians.
• Hillcrest (1-2) at West Plains (1-2)    
• These two have played the same three teams and had the exact same results.  Win over Waynesville, losses to Camdenton and Glendale.
• Prediction: Zizzers and Keegan Hoopes get back on the winning track.        
• Drexel (2-1) at Osceola (0-3) 
• Drexel did not play their best last week and still snuck away with a victory.  A must win for Drexel to stay in the WEMO race.
• Prediction: Drexel gets their must win.
• Pleasant Hope (0-3) at Skyline (1-2)
• Did coach Shelby make some changes last week?  I don't think so.  The Tigers have lost to a pair of really good teams.  Last week was just the new group coming together.
• Prediction: 2 wins in a row for Skyline.