This season, a group of experts will predict the outcomes of the high school football games for Cookeville, Livingston Academy, Monterey, Upperman and White County.
The experts have decades of combined experience covering high school sports in the Upper Cumberland with a variety of outlets.
Note: These predictions are purely opinions. The Upper Cumberland Reporter wishes each of the teams in the Upper Cumberland good luck in their contests.
Our experts:
*Prediction record noted by ()
Noah McKay: COO and play-by-play announcer at the Upper Cumberland Reporter (12-1)
Buddy Pearson: News and Communications Director at Tennessee Tech University and longtime high school sports commentator (9-4)
Chase Hoke: Color commentator at the Upper Cumberland Reporter (11-2)
Scott Wilson: Longtime sports journalist and editor in the Upper Cumberland (9-4)
Adam Parks: Sports editor at Mitchell Media in Livingston (11-2)
Game 1:
Pickett County (1-3) vs #10 Monterey (2-0)
Last week:
Pickett County: 51-0 loss at Eagleville
Monterey: 50-18 win at Harriman
Pearson:
Pick: Monterey
Comments: The Wildcats roll to 3-0 with little trouble at all.
Hoke:
Pick: Monterey
Wilson:
Pick: Monterey
Comments: Monterey is on fire this year, averaging almost 50 points per game. The points should continue to pile up Friday.
Parks:
Pick: Monterey
McKay:
Pick: Monterey
Comments: This Monterey team is rolling right now, and that won’t stop this year. I think they move to 3-0 with a big win.
Game 2:
Cannon County (0-4) vs Upperman (2-2)
Last week:
Cannon County: 20-28 loss against Community
Upperman: 14-21 loss at Livingston
Pearson:
Pick: Upperman
Comments: The Bees get back on track with a big Homecoming win!
Hoke:
Pick: Upperman
Comments: The Bees took the loss in a close one last week. I expect them to bounce back this week.
Wilson:
Pick: Upperman
Comments: The Bees are probably still reeling after the loss to Livingston. Cannon County doesn’t seem to be firing on all cylinders.
Parks:
Pick: Upperman
McKay:
Pick: Upperman
Comments: Upperman has some things to figure out, and this game is a great opportunity to do that. I think they get back into the win column with a big win over the Lions.
Game 3:
Cookeville (3-1) vs #1 Oakland (4-0)
Last week:
Cookeville: 56-33 win over White County
Oakland: 48-24 win over Stewarts Creek
Pearson:
Pick: Oakland
Comments: If Cookeville can give up 33 points to White County, how many will Oakland score on the Cavs? Yikes!
Hoke:
Pick: Oakland
Comments: Stockton Owen and co. played well last week against Sparta, but Oakland is a completely different beast. Oakland looks poised to win a state championship this season, so I have to roll with the favorites here.
Wilson:
Pick: Oakland
Comments: Cookeville, I believe, is on the brink of a big upset. The Cavs are very good. I just don’t know if this is the game.
Parks:
Pick: Oakland
McKay:
Pick: Oakland
Comments: This Patriots team is ridiculously good. The Cavs are good enough to make it interesting, but I think Oakland is your eventaul 6A state champions this year, and they stay undefeated.
Game 4:
White County (1-2) vs Walker Valley (1-2)
Last week:
White County: 33-56 loss at Cookeville
Walker Valley: 31-28 loss at Rhea County
Pearson:
Pick: White County
Comments: Warriors roll over Walker Valley!
Hoke:
Pick: White County
Comments: Malaki Dowell is electric! He will continue his strong play this week and the Warriors will get back to .500 on the season.
Wilson:
Pick: White County
Comments: The Warriors will have a tough battle because the Mustangs are pretty good. However, I look for White County signal caller Malaki Dowell to have a big game.
Parks:
Pick: White County
McKay:
Pick: White County
Comments: Don’t let the 1-2 records for you, these are two good football teams. This is a real test for the Warriors, but Malaki Dowell is the best football player on every field he steps on, and that’s why I think the Warriors will get it done.
Game 5:
Stone Memorial (1-3) vs Livingston Academy (3-1)
Last week:
Stone Memorial: 45-0 loss against CAK
Livingston Academy: 21-14 win over Upperman
Pearson:
Pick: Livingston Academy
Comments: The Wildcats are for real!
Hoke:
Pick: Livingston Academy
Comments: The Wildcats picked up a big time win last week, and I expect that success to continue this week.
Wilson:
Pick: Livingston Academy
Comments: Livingston Academy is a big question mark after barely slipping by Cumberland County and Upperman. Are they really that good?
Because the game is at Livingston, I give the nod to the Wildcats.
Parks:
Pick: Livingston Academy
McKay:
Pick: Livingston Academy
Comments: Stone Memorial gets their starting quarterback back, which is important, but this LA team is playing great football. Give me the Wildcats in the High School Football Game of the Week.