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 (36-6)
Buddy Pearson: News and Communications Director at Tennessee Tech University and longtime high school sports commentator (31-11)
Chase Hoke: Color commentator at the Upper Cumberland Reporter (36-6)
Scott Wilson: Longtime sports journalist and editor in the Upper Cumberland (31-11)
Adam Parks: Sports editor at Mitchell Media in Livingston (30-12)
Game 1:
Monterey vs #1 South Pittsburgh
Last week:
Monterey: 61-22 win over Sale Creek
South Pittsburg: 52-0 win over Jo Byrns
Pearson
Pick: South Pittsburg
Hoke
Pick: South Pittsburg
Comments: I would love nothing more than to see Monterey pull off the upset, but I believe South Pittsburgh will be too much for the Wildcats. In the games the Pirates have played (not counting COVID wins) they are scoring 54.88 points per game while only allowing 6.13 points per game.
Wilson
Pick: South Pittsburg
Parks
Pick: South Pittsburg
McKay
Pick: South Pittsburg
Comments: South Pittsburg is the best 1A team in the state, in my opinion. This Wildcats team is very good, but winning on the road seems like a tall task. I’ll take the Pirates in this one.
Game 2:
Loudon vs Upperman
Last week:
Loudon: 42-7 win over York
Upperman: 43-41 overtime win over Signal Mountain
Pearson
Pick: Loudon
Hoke
Pick: Loudon
Comments: Upperman won an absolute thriller last week, but they have a much tougher task this week. The Redskins are filled with playmakers and their defense has not allowed a team to score more than 21 points all season. I believe this is where the Bees season will end unfortunately.
Wilson
Pick: Loudon
Parks
Pick: Loudon
McKay
Pick: Loudon
Comments: This Upperman team is absolutely good enough to win this game, but this Loudon team is legit. It is one of the top teams in the state, with good reason. This will be a good game, but I think Loudon has more ways to beat a team, so I’ll take them.