One week of high school football playoffs down, four more to go.
As always, the Bay Area News Group’s crew is back for another round of picks — all in fun, of course,
Christian Babcock, Nathan Canilao, Mike Lefkow and Darren Sabedra predict the winners of all 22 playoff games this week that include at least one team from this news organization’s coverage area.
Who’s going to win the Central Coast Section Open Division championship game between Archbishop Riordan and Serra?
Split decision among our prognosticators.
What about the North Coast Section Open Division final between De La Salle and Pittsburg?
De La Salle, unanimously.
Excluding DLS, a majority of the games this week are anyone’s guess.
By the end of the weekend, Babcock’s two-game lead in the season standings could be doubled, if not stretched even more, or gone.
Yes, the margins are that tight.
In the video podcast, the guys discuss Serra’s rematch with Riordan, Pittsburg’s chances against De La Salle and the competitive-equity formats that have provided many more unpredictable outcomes.
Be sure to check out the video below.
On to the picks …
CCS playoffs
Open/Division I
Open final
No. 2 Serra (7-4) vs. No. 1 Archbishop Riordan (11-0) at San Jose City College, Friday, 7 p.m.
Babcock: Riordan
Canilao: Serra
Lefkow: Riordan
Sabedra: Serra
Division I semifinal
No. 4 Palma (11-0) at No. 3 Los Gatos (8-3), Friday, 7 p.m.
Babcock: Los Gatos
Canilao: Palma
Lefkow: Los Gatos
Sabedra: Los Gatos
Division II semifinals
No. 3 Santa Teresa (11-0) vs. No. 2 Sacred Heart Cathedral (5-6) at Kezar Stadium, Saturday, 1 p.m.
Babcock: Sacred Heart Cathedral
Canilao: Sacred Heart Cathedral
Lefkow: Sacred Heart Cathedral
Sabedra: Sacred Heart Cathedral
No. 4 Menlo School (9-2) at No. 1 St. Ignatius (5-6), Friday, 6 p.m.
Babcock: St. Ignatius
Canilao: St. Ignatius
Lefkow: St. Ignatius
Sabedra: St. Ignatius
Division III semifinals
No. 7 Sacred Heart Prep (6-5) at No. 3 Menlo-Atherton (5-6), Friday, 7 p.m.
Babcock: Menlo-Atherton
Canilao: Sacred Heart Prep
Lefkow: Menlo-Atherton
Sabedra: Menlo-Atherton
No. 8 San Mateo (8-3) at No. 4 Live Oak (9-2), Friday, 7 p.m.
Babcock: Live Oak
Canilao: San Mateo
Lefkow: Live Oak
Sabedra: San Mateo
Division IV semifinals
No. 3 Lincoln-San Jose (8-3) at No. 2 Willow Glen (9-2), Friday, 7 p.m.
Babcock: Lincoln-San Jose
Canilao: Lincoln-San Jose
Lefkow: Willow Glen
Sabedra: Lincoln-San Jose
No. 5 Half Moon Bay (8-3) at No. 1 Branham (6-5), Friday, 7 p.m.
Babcock: Branham
Canilao: Half Moon Bay
Lefkow: Half Moon Bay
Sabedra: Half Moon Bay
Division V
No. 3 Terra Nova (8-3) at No. 2 Sobrato (7-4), Saturday, 1 p.m.
Babcock: Sobrato
Canilao: Sobrato
Lefkow: Sobrato
Sabedra: Terra Nova
No. 4 Jefferson (9-2) at No. 1 Piedmont Hills (8-3), Saturday, 7 p.m.
Babcock: Jefferson
Canilao: Jefferson
Lefkow: Piedmont Hills
Sabedra: Jefferson
NCS playoffs
Open/Division I
Open final
No. 2 Pittsburg (10-1) vs. No. 1 De La Salle (11-0) at Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, Friday, 7 p.m.
Babcock: De La Salle
Canilao: De La Salle
Lefkow: De La Salle
Sabedra: De La Salle
Division I
No. 4 Acalanes (11-0) at No. 3 Cardinal Newman (10-1), Friday, 7 p.m.
Babcock: Acalanes
Canilao: Acalanes
Lefkow: Cardinal Newman
Sabedra: Acalanes
Division II
No. 3 California (8-3) at No. 2 Monte Vista (6-5), Friday, 7 p.m.
Babcock: California
Canilao: California
Lefkow: Monte Vista
Sabedra: Monte Vista
No. 4 Clayton Valley Charter (6-5) at No. 1 Campolindo (9-2), Friday, 7 p.m.
Babcock: Clayton Valley
Canilao: Campolindo
Lefkow: Clayton Valley
Sabedra: Campolindo
Division III
No. 3 El Cerrito (9-2) at No. 2 Rancho Cotate (6-5), Friday, 7 p.m.
Babcock: El Cerrito
Canilao: Rancho Cotate
Lefkow: Rancho Cotate
Sabedra: El Cerrito
Division IV
No. 7 Redwood (6-5) at No. 3 Miramonte (6-5), Friday, 7 p.m.
Babcock: Miramonte
Canilao: Miramonte
Lefkow: Miramonte
Sabedra: Miramonte
No. 4 Granada (6-5) at No. 1 Hayward (8-3), Friday, 7 p.m.
Babcock: Hayward
Canilao: Granada
Lefkow: Hayward
Sabedra: Hayward
Division V
No. 3 Salesian (10-1) at No. 2 Ferndale (10-0), Saturday, 1 p.m.
Babcock: Ferndale
Canilao: Ferndale
Lefkow: Ferndale
Sabedra: Ferndale
Division VI
No. 3 Bishop O’Dowd (7-4) at No. 2 St. Helena (11-0), Friday, 7 p.m.
Babcock: Bishop O’Dowd
Canilao: Bishop O’Dowd
Lefkow: Bishop O’Dowd
Sabedra: Bishop O’Dowd
Division VII
No. 3 Willits (9-2) at No. 2 Piedmont (7-4), Friday, 7 p.m.
Babcock: Piedmont
Canilao: Willits
Lefkow: Piedmont
Sabedra: Piedmont
No. 5 Concord (7-4) at No. 1 Middletown (9-2), Friday, 7 p.m.
Babcock: Middletown
Canilao: Middletown
Lefkow: Middletown
Sabedra: Middletown
Oakland Section playoffs
Silver Bowl
No. 1 McClymonds vs. No. 3 Oakland Tech at Castlemont HS, Saturday, 1 p.m.
Babcock: McClymonds
Canilao: McClymonds
Lefkow: McClymonds
Sabedra: McClymonds
WEEK 12 RESULTS
CCS playoffs
Open/Division I
No. 2 Serra 29, No. 7 Archbishop Mitty 13
Babcock: Serra (W)
Canilao: Serra (W)
Reeves: Serra (W)
Sabedra: Serra (W)
No. 3 Los Gatos 14, No. 6 St. Francis 7
Babcock: Los Gatos (W)
Canilao: Los Gatos (W)
Reeves: Los Gatos (W)
Sabedra: Los Gatos (W)
Division II
No. 2 Sacred Heart Cathedral 34, No. 7 Wilcox 21
Babcock: Sacred Heart Cathedral (W)
Canilao: Sacred Heart Cathedral (W)
Reeves: Wilcox (L)
Sabedra: Sacred Heart Cathedral (W)
No. 4 Menlo School 17, No. 5 The King’s Academy 7
Babcock: Menlo School (W)
Canilao: Menlo School (W)
Reeves: Menlo School (W)
Sabedra: Menlo School (W)
Division III
No. 8 San Mateo 20, No. 1 Woodside 13, OT
Babcock: Woodside (L)
Canilao: Woodside (L)
Reeves: Woodside (L)
Sabedra: Woodside (L)
Division IV
No. 5 Half Moon Bay 29, No. 4 Burlingame 21
Babcock: Half Moon Bay (W)
Canilao: Half Moon Bay (W)
Reeves: Half Moon Bay (W)
Sabedra: Half Moon Bay (W)
No. 1 Branham 35, No. 8 Christopher 34
Babcock: Branham (W)
Canilao: Branham (W)
Reeves: Branham (W)
Sabedra: Branham (W)
Division V
No. 4 Jefferson 40, No. 5 Pioneer 17
Babcock: Jefferson (W)
Canilao: Jefferson (W)
Reeves: Pioneer (L)
Sabedra: Jefferson (W)
NCS playoffs
Open/Division I
No. 2 Pittsburg 42, No. 7 Liberty 18
Babcock: Pittsburg (W)
Canilao: Pittsburg (W)
Reeves: Pittsburg (W)
Sabedra: Pittsburg (W)
No. 4 Acalanes 51, No. 5 Marin Catholic 21
Babcock: Acalanes (W)
Canilao: Acalanes (W)
Reeves: Acalanes (W)
Sabedra: Acalanes (W)
Division II
No. 3 California 24, No. 6 American Canyon 23
Babcock: California (W)
Canilao: California (W)
Reeves: American Canyon (L)
Sabedra: California (W)
No. 2 Monte Vista 24, No. 7 Amador Valley 14
Babcock: Amador Valley (L)
Canilao: Monte Vista (W)
Reeves: Amador Valley (L)
Sabedra: Amador Valley (L)
No. 4 Clayton Valley Charter 20, No. 5 Windsor 19
Babcock: Clayton Valley (W)
Canilao: Windsor (L)
Reeves: Clayton Valley (W)
Sabedra: Clayton Valley (W)
No. 1 Campolindo 28, No. 8 Livermore 26
Babcock: Campolindo (W)
Canilao: Campolindo (W)
Reeves: Campolindo (W)
Sabedra: Campolindo (W)
Division V
No. 3 Salesian 38, No. 6 Northgate 33
Babcock: Northgate (L)
Canilao: Northgate (L)
Reeves: Northgate (L)
Sabedra: Northgate (L)
WEEK 11 STANDINGS
Babcock: 12-3
Canilao: 12-3
Sabedra: 12-3
Reeves: 9-6
SEASON STANDINGS
Babcock: 137-42
Sabedra: 135-44
Canilao: 129-50
Lefkow/Reeves: 128-51