The football state playoffs are here so I had to step my game up and do some research on the non-Oakland County teams. I see Kosmo put four other Web sites’ picks in his column this week, but didn’t invite me. That’s because he wants no part of my picks. I’ll send him scrambling back to his cave with some Windex for his crystal ball. But enough with the smack talk, it’s time for some picks.
Records: Last week 12-4; Regular season 80-36, .714 winning percentage

DIVISION 1

REGION 1

DISTRICT 2
Milford (5-4) at Howell (8-1), 7 p.m. Friday — The Mavericks collapsed in the final three games of the season, maybe they will wake up this week. Howell won a close one, 13-10 in Week 3 and has won five straight. Pick: Howell
Grand Blanc (6-3) at Hartland (7-2), 7:30 p.m. Friday — Pick: Hartland

REGION 2
DISTRICT 2
West Bloomfield (6-3) at Livonia Stevenson (7-2), 7 p.m. Friday
 — The Lakers are an underrated team. After losing two overtime games in a row to Clarkston and Troy, West Bloomfield won its final four games by a combined scored of 103-2. Stevenson will be a tougher test though. Pick: Stevenson
Novi Detroit Catholic Central (5-3) at Novi (7-2), 7 p.m. Friday — An interesting KLAA vs. CHSL matchup and two schools from the same city. Novi has won some close games this year, but both of its losses are at home. Catholic Central has talent but its biggest win this year was over Detroit Southeastern so this is a tough one to call. Pick: Catholic Central

REGION 3
DISTRICT 1
Utica Eisenhower (5-4) at Lake Orion (8-1), 7 p.m. Friday — The Dragons have won eight straight and seem to be getting strong as the season goes on. Eisenhower has won five of its last six after starting the season 0-3 so this is two teams likely playing their best football. Pick: Lake Orion
Clarkston (6-3) at Romeo (7-2). 1 p.m. Saturday — Clarkston’s defense will need to step up for the Wolves to have a chance. Romeo has scored at least 35 points in eight of its nine games this season. Clarkston’s strength is its offense so this could be shootout. Pick: Romeo
DISTRICT 2

Troy (6-3) at Macomb Dakota (8-1), 1 p.m. Saturday — A rematch of last year’s semifinals. The Cougars have won six straight and won their last five games by a combined score of 125-7. The only playoff teams Troy has beat all season is West Bloomfield and that was in overtime. Pick: Dakota
Clinton Township Chippewa Valley (6-3) at Sterling Heights Stevenson (8-1), Saturday 1 p.m. — Pick: Stevenson

DIVISION 2

REGION 1
DISTRICT 2

Davison (6-3) at Fenton (8-1), Friday 7:30 p.m. — Pick: Fenton
Flushing (7-2) at Oxford (8-1), Friday 7:30 p.m. — A tough first-round matchup for Oxford. Flushing went 4-2 against playoff teams, while the Wildcats were 2-1. Homefield advantage could be the difference. Pick: Oxford

REGION 3

DISTRICT 1
Birmingham Brother Rice (6-3) at Rochester Adams (8-1), Friday 7 p.m. — The Highlanders big question mark is their defense. Adams gave up an average of 25 points in its four games against playoff teams, which would be higher without the shutout of Farmington. If the Warriors can limit Adams’ offense to 14 points they will walk away with the W. Pick: Brother Rice
Auburn Hills Avondale (7-2) at Lakeland (7-2), Friday 7:30 p.m. — The Yellowjackets should be applauded for such a big turnaround, but Lakeland has played tougher competition all season and will be amped for its fist-ever home playoff game. Pick: Lakeland

REGION 4

DISTRICT 1
Farmington (6-3) at Southfield (8-1), Saturday 1 p.m.
 — The Falcons rallied off six straight victories to make the playoffs, but did it against some weak competition (none of the six made the playoffs). Southfield could make a long playoff run and beat the Falcons 35-17 in Week 1. Pick: Southfield
Dearborn (6-3) at Walled Lake Western (6-3), Saturday 7 p.m. — The Warriors were 1-2 this season against playoff teams, with their lone win being over 5-4 Milford. While Dearborn has lost two of its last three. Most of Western’s games this season have been high-scoring so this game will come down to how successful the Warriors offense is. Pick: Western

DIVISION 3
REGION 4

DISTRICT 1
Redford Thurston (6-3) at Bloomfield Hills Lahser (8-1), Saturday 7 p.m. — The OAA Blue champion Knights have won eight in a row and are always tough at home in their traditional Saturday night games. Pick: Lahser
Lapeer West (6-3) 69.000 at Linden (8-1), Friday 7:30 p.m. — Pick: Linden
DISTRICT 2
St. Clair Shores Lake Shore (6-3) at Ferndale (8-1), Friday 7 p.m. — Ferndale was a close loss to Lahser away from an OAA Blue title and an undefeated season, but Lake Shore is a dangerous first round opponent. Lake Shore handed Warren Fitzgerald its only loss of the season in Week 8 and lost a heartbreaker at home to Lamphere, 29-28 in Week 9. Pick: Ferndale
Warren Lincoln (8-1) at Warren Fitzgerald (8-1), Saturday 7 p.m. — Pick: Fitzgerald

DIVISION 4
REGION 3
DISTRICT 2
Dearborn Heights Annapolis (6-3) at Detroit Southwestern (8-1) — Pick: Southwestern
Detroit Crockett (6-3) at Birmingham Detroit Country Day (7-2) — The Yellowjackets have really turned things on during their five-game winning streak. Last week’s win over Dearborn was impressive. Pick: Country Day
REGION 4
DISTRICT 2
Richmond (6-3) at Marine City (9-0), Friday 7 p.m. — Pick Marine City
Madison Heights Lamphere (7-2) at Clinton Township Clintondale (8-1), Friday 7 p.m. — This game has shootout written all over it. The Rams have scored 20 or more points in eight of their nine games and 28 or more in four. Clintondale averaged over 43 points a game and its lowest scoring output all season was 21 points. Pick: Clintondale

DIVISION 5
REGION 4

DISTRICT 1

Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard (6-3) at Livonia Clarenceville (8-1), Friday 7:30 p.m. — Pick: Clarenceville
Madison Heights Madison (5-4) at Almont (7-2), 2 p.m. — Madison is lucky to get in the playoffs. The Eagles have lost three of four and lost to Clawson at home in Week 9 with a chance to clinch a playoff spot. Almont went 2-1 against playoff teams and finished 5-2 in an very competitive Blue Water Area Conference this season. Pick: Madison

DIVISION 6
REGION 4
DISTRICT 2
Allen Park Cabrini (5-4) at Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central (7-2), Friday 7 p.m. —Pick: Catholic Central
Madison Heights Bishop Foley (5-4) at Whitmore Lake (8-1), Friday 7:30 p.m. — The Ventures snuck into the playoffs and could pull off the upset here. Bishop Foley has played a tough schedule and went 2-3 against playoff teams. Whitmore Lake faced some weak teams and has just two wins over teams with a winning record. Pick: Bishop Foley

DIVISION 7
REGION 4
DISTRICT 2
Southfield Christian (7-1) at Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest (9-0), Friday 7 p.m. — Congratulations are due for both teams. Southfield Christian for making the playoffs in just its third year as a program and Northwest for its first undefeated season. But this isn’t the time for congratulations. It’s playoff time. Pick: Northwest
Detroit Loyola (7-2) at Royal Oak Shrine (9-0), Saturday 2 p.m. — Shrine and Loyola have two common opponents in Bishop Foley and Cabrini. Loyola beat Foley 32-7 and lost to Cabrini 22-12, while Shrine beat Bishop Foley 35-7 and Cabrini twice (48-0 and 37-0). The Knights are tough defensively with four shutouts and have allowed more than seven points just twice. Pick: Shrine

DIVISION 8
REGION 4
DISTRICT 2
Marine City Cardinal Mooney (5-3) at Deckerville (8-1), Friday 7 p.m. — Pick: Deckerville
Peck (6-3) at Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes (5-4), Saturday 1 p.m. — The 5-4 Lakers getting a home playoff game is interesting, but if anybody has earned that much respect in Division 8 it’s WOLL. Pick: WOLL