First-round postseason prognostications

I've been bogged down with other things going on the last couple of weeks, and I haven't had time to make high school football predictions.
But I'm returning from my several-week hiatus to make my playoff predictions.

With a couple of Class 3A schools in the postseason in this area, I'll start there and make some other picks from games on this side of the state.

Class 3A

• Seminole at Keys: The winner will be whoever can succeed at their realm of expertise. Keys likes to keep the ball on the ground with Colten Douillard, and Seminole likes to toss the ball around with Garret Clark. My pick: Keys 30, Seminole 20.
• Nowata at Sequoyah: Just from having some conversations with Sequoyah coaches or personnel this week, I gather they aren't to pleased that Nowata showed up in Week 10 with their starters not dressed out. I think if Sequoyah jumps out early tonight, they could try to hang 100 on the Ironmen - just to atone for some disagreements last week. My pick: Sequoyah 47, Nowata 20.
• Berryhill at Metro Christian: MC ended up winning 3A-6, but if it played out again, I would put my money on Sequoyah or Verdigris. My pick: MC 24, Berryhill 20.
• Henryetta at Valliant: Home-field advantage could play a big factor in this game. Henryetta has to travel a long ways to open the postseason. My pick: Valliant 30, Henryetta 16.
• Stigler at Beggs: One of many solid first-round matchups in 3A. My pick: Beggs 29, Stigler 24.
• Verdigris at Sperry: If the Cardinals played in any other district, they would likely be hosting a first-round game. My pick: Verdigris 27, Sperry 23.
• Inola at Cascia Hall: Quite possibly the most lopsided matchup in the first round. My pick: Cascia Hall 48, Inola 10.
• Victory Christian at Spiro: I'm just not that sold on Victory Christian. I would easily take Checotah - who missed out on the playoffs because of Victory Christian earning the fourth spot in 3A-7 - over VC this year. My pick: Spiro 32, VC 22.

Class 6A

• Norman at Owasso: Raise your hand if you can figure out Owasso. If you can, I tip my cap to you. My pick: Norman 33, Owasso 18.
• Bixby at Jenks: Welcome to the 6A playoffs, Bixby. Loren Montomgery will be hoping for a drop down to 5A by the five-minute mark in the first quarter of this one. My pick: Jenks 54, Bixby 6.
• Bartlesville at Broken Arrow: If Broken Arrow ends up making it to the 6A title game, they will have earned it. If the Tigers keep winning, they'll be at Lawton next week, and they'll play Union in the semifinals. My pick: BA 44, Bartlesville26.
• Muskogee at Union: Muskogee's best bet if for Union to turn to sugar and melt in the rain tonight. Rougher QB Victor Williams - one of the best athletes on this side of the state - deserves better than what surrounds him right now. My pick: Union 45, Muskogee 10.

Class 5A

• Bishop Kelley at Coweta: Coweta could be a sleeper in 5A. My pick: Coweta 22, BK 13.
• Claremore at Booker T. Washington: Poor Clarmeore. In back-to-back weeks, they will have faced East Central and BTW. Brutal way to succeed in 5A football. My pick: BTW 42, Claremore 15.
• Grove at McAlester: Several good games in 5A this week, but I think this one takes the cake. My pick: McAlester 23, Grove 21.
• Skiatook at East Central: Skiatook's reward for beating Memorial for the final postseason spot in 5A-3 - a date with East Central. Yikes! My pick: EC 43, Skiatook 10.

Class 4A

• Catoosa at Sallisaw: Whoever wins this game has a long road trip ahead next week at Clinton. My pick: Sallisaw 20, Catoosa 17.
• Fort Gibson at Wagoner: When Fort Gibson players fall asleep Friday night, they'll be seeing Prince McJunkins (Wagoner QB) in their sleep. My pick: Wagoner 43, FTG 0.
• Bishop McGuinness at Glenpool: Play this game 10 times, and both teams are likely to win five times apiece. My pick: Glenpool 25, BM 24.
• Hilldale at Oologah: Oologah's defense could carry the Mustangs a long ways. My pick: Oologah 20, Hilldale 10.
• Vinita at Broken Bow: Nothing like a short bus rides for Vinita in the first round of the playoffs. Just a mire 4 1/2 hour trip to SE Oklahoma. My pick: Broken Bow 44, Vinita 12.

Class 2A

• Okemah at Talihina: Quick, name the two unbeaten teams in the 2A playoffs. Millwood was an easy one. The other, Talihina - a team that gets lost in the 2A shuffle. My pick: Talihina 33, Okemah 14.
• Pawhuska at Colcord: My pick: Colcord 22, Pawhuska 17.
• Adair at Lincoln Christian: LC is always tough this time of year. My pick: LC 37, Adair 20.
• Salina at Newkirk: Tough test for Salina. My pick: Newkirk 30, Salina 10.
• Chelsea at Commerce: My pick: Commerce 27, Chelsea 20.
• Morris at Vian: The Wolverines could be a tough out in the postseason. My pick: Vian 29, Morris 17.

Class A

• Wynnewood at Gore: I'll take Gore just because of the home-field advantage. My pick: Gore 28, Wynnewood 17.
• Hominy at Foyil: My pick: Foyil 34, Hominy 25.
• Porter at Woodland: Tough test for the Pirates. My pick: Woodland 25, Porter 10.
• Fairland at Morrison: Owls might not be able to get much going in the rain tonight. My pick: Morrison 22, Fairland 6.
• Barnsdall at Afton: Afton is my favorite to win the Class A crown. It's just a hunch. My pick: Afton 40, Barnsdall 14.

Class B

• Caddo at Depew: Once again, I'm going with the home team with the visitors making a long haul on a bus. My pick: Depew 22, Caddo 20.
• Summit Christian at Dewar: I think SC was way to over-hyped prior to the beginning of the season. My pick: Dewar 50, SC 7.
• Welch at Wetumka: My pick:Welch 23, Wetumka 21.
• Gans at Kiefer: Second year in a row these teams are meeting in the first round. I was there last year in Gans, and the Trojans controlled the contest from the outset. My pick: Kiefer 34, Gans 12.

Class C

• Timberlake at Midway: My pick: Midway 40, Timberlake 20.

Enjoy the games everybody! And take a raincoat - it could be a wet one tonight.