- All
Top 10 Football Games for 2017: Rockford-Saline and Oak Park-Eisenhower top the first weekend of games
Here are the top 10 games for the 2017 season as selected by State Champs
Rockford vs. Saline at U-M Stadium, Aug. 24, 4 p.m.: Two of the state’s top 10 teams open at the Big House. Last season Rockford forfeited its game with Saline because an illness that sidelined approximately half of the team. On Aug. 12 of this year a Rockford varsity player was hospitalized after a serious automobile accident. Pick: Saline by 6.
Walled Lake Western vs. West Bloomfield at Wayne State, Aug. 24, 4 p.m.: This should be West Bloomfield’s best team. Western went to the Division 2 final last season and this will be the Warriors’ biggest challenge during the regular season. Pick: W. Bloomfield by 3.
Oak Park vs. Utica Eisenhower at Wayne State, Aug. 26, 3 p.m.: Eisenhower has quarterback Max Wittwer, a Mr. Football candidate. Oak Park has what looks to be the best team coach Greg Carter has fielded. Pick: Oak Park by 4.
Lowell at Rockford, Sept. 1, 7 p.m.: These West Michigan powers have played 27 times. Each team has won 13 and there’s been one tie. Pick: Rockford by 4.
Traverse City Central at Traverse City West, Sept. 8, 7 p.m.: There’s really no home field advantage as both teams share the same field. Last season Central defeated West twice, including in the first round of the state playoffs. Pick: West by 5.
Clinton Township Chippewa Valley at Macomb Dakota, Oct. 6, 7 p.m.: Dakota has owned this series (19-8) over the years. Dakota has won 18 of the last 21. Chippewa Valley has an experienced team this season. Pick: Chippewa Valley by 1.
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s at Detroit Catholic Central, Oct. 6, 7 p.m.: St. Mary’s won the Division 3 title after losing to C.C. twice last season, the second in the Catholic League final. Those two victories propelled C.C. to a 13-0 record before the Shamrocks lost in the Division 1 final. Pick: C.C. by 2.
Brighton at Canton, Oct., 13, 7 p.m.: This could be the game that decides the newly-formed Kensington Lakes Activities Association Black Division. Brighton is an upcoming program. Canton has been in this position before. Pick: Canton by 4.
Muskegon at Muskegon Mona Shores, Oct. 13, 7 p.m.: We’ll find out just how much Mona Shores has improved over the last 12 months. Those at Muskegon High have never considered this a rivalry game. These teams have split the last four games between them. Muskegon leads the series 29-7. Pick: Muskegon by 7.
Grand Rapids Catholic Central at Grand Rapids West Catholic, Oct. 13, 7 p.m.: C.C. is the defending Division 4 champions and W. Catholic has won the last four Division 5 titles. Add to this the fact that these programs have often had an adversarial relationship. Pick: C.C. by 3.
