Week 10: Tri-Nine Friday Football Predictions

Can you believe there's only three weeks left in the year? Three weeks and that includes this Friday? Although my weekly predictions have been a lot of fun, and I've been extremely accurate (78%), I'm not Nostradamus by any means. As Athens proved last week, even if you're predicted to lose by 6, you can still win by 40.

Game of the week 

Athens Drive (6-2, 4-1) at Fuquay-Varina (7-1, 4-1) 

Can either team stop the other one? I'd never thought I'd say this, but Athens' defense has looked better than Fuquay's in recent weeks -- wait, did I just say that? The Jaguars have changed up how they do things since the beginning of the year. Some players thought to only play defense have been in on offense and vice versa. A roster that had six transfers at the beginning of the year has gelled, and the talent is showing. This will be Fuquay's first home game since the heartbreaker to Holly Springs. The Bengals' pass defense had better come ready to play. Even if the Jags don't return 6-foot-3 wideout Louis Wilder, they'll have some success throwing the ball. This is a hard prediction to make, but based on what I've seen, Athens is more than capable of winning this. I'm going with the upset.

Final verdict: Athens Drive by 7

Middle Creek (7-1, 5-0) at Panther Creek (4-4, 2-3)

Until Athens' 46-6 shredding of Panther Creek last week, this game had a big red circle around it for conference supremacy. Now the Catamounts, at 2-3 in the Tri-Nine, are out of the championship race. Doesn't mean they can't play the role of spoiler. The best "Battle of the Creeks" (football) contest to date will feature lots and lots of passing. Garrett Letham (MC) and Kameron Bryant (PC) are two junior quarterbacks who know how to sling it. n to the wire (again). I know PC suffered through some team-wide flu last week, but if Athens can hold them to six points, force five turnovers and notch seven sacks -- Middle Creek can certainly do enough to win. Panther Creek's defense has given up team-high totals in points in three of their last five games (Fuquay with 52, Apex with 22, Athens with 46). It's for that reason I think MC wins and wins big.

Final verdict: Middle Creek by 27

Lee County (2-6, 1-4) at Cary (4-5, 2-4)

Consider this one my next upset pick. Both teams are about dead-even, despite the difference in record. Lee County has lost their four conference games by no more than four points. Those losses include a last-second field goal miss, a last-minute touchdown pass and a last-second field goal make by the other team. That misery ends this week in another tight one. The Imps are a good team, but Lee County is due. 

Final verdict: Lee County by 9

Green Hope (0-9, 0-5) at Apex (1-7, 1-4)

If I told you teams with a combined 1-16 record were meeting, you'd probably think it's going to be a close game. Apex has had its share of rough times, but ultimately I think they're a better team than Green Hope right now. The Cougars have actually been more competitive as the year goes along, as noted by eight-point losses to Holly Springs and Fuquay-Varina. Green Hope may have regressed as games earlier in the year were far closer than now. This is the Falcons' only real chance to snap a 25-game losing streak this year. They close out the year next week against Holly Springs at home.