Central Texas - Week 3 Predictions

We enter Week 3 action with several teams taking their bye week before the start of district play. But there isn't a lack of drama as several big-time programs will be going for more than just tune-up victories. Here's our picks for the region's games to watch this week.

Waco La Vega vs. Abilene Wylie

Few teams in the state can claim the type of murderous schedule Wylie has endured to start the season. The Bulldogs came close to nipping both Frenship and Liberty Hill th past two weeks, but lost both games by a combined eight points.

La Vega is among the most explosive teams in the region and have proved it early, blasting their three opponents by a combined score of 111-26 to start the season unbeaten. Running back Chad Ward has been one of the biggest reason why, rushing for over 300 yards and scoring six touchdowns.
Wylie should be commended for their non-district schedule, and it should pay off come playoff time, but we think the Pirates have too much firepower.

Our pick:
Waco La Vega 35   Abilene Wylie 21 

Round Rock vs. Pflugerville

Round Rock bounced back from a whipping at the hands of Austin Bowie to crush Killeen Ellison 51-14 last week. Quarterback Alex Silva already has five touchdown passes, but which defense shows up will ultimately decide if the Dragons can win. Bowie controlled the line of scrimmage in its win, while Ellison struggled to get much going.

Pflugerville's big question mark comes on offense. Thanks to Valentino Bishop's 175 receiving yards, the Panthers came up with a couple of big plays to drop Converse Judson last week. But that same offense managed just 86 yards passing and eight first downs in a season-opening loss to Leander. The Panthers look like they found their offensive groove last week, and we like their D better than Round Rock's offense. Check back this weekend for highlights of this game.

Our pick: 
Pflugerville 24   Round Rock 14

Warren vs. Marshall

Picked by many to be the class of the San Antonio area, Warren stumbled out of the gate before getting its first win of the season last week. Led by Division I prospects Calvin Howell and Joseph Bonugli, the Warriors D has yet to live up to lofty expectations giving up 23 points per game.

Marshall's problem has been an inconsistent offense that has scored just 27 points all season and was embarressed by MacArthur and O'Connor, losing both games by a combined score of 84-17. The defense has shown flashes of dominance, but can't seem to overcome the offense's ineffectiveness.
Look for Warren's defense to get aggressive and control the game.  

Our pick:
Warren 38   Marshall 10

New Braunfels vs. Smithson Valley

Smithson Valley looked dominating in its season-opening win over Judson, but its offense struggled last week aginst Reagan. New Braunfels had the same story in reverse fashion as its dominating defense couldn't shut down Madison when it needed to after looking unstoppable the first two weeks.

Moving the football hasn't been a problem for the Rangers, as they averaged close to 300 yards of offense the first two games, but getting into the end zone has. The Unicorns made a statement by coming close to a 3-0 start, but will need a dominating defense to shut down Smithson Valley. The Rangers rarely lose consecutive games, so we're not going to bet against them now. 

Our pick:
Smithson Valley 17   New Braunfels 14   

Schertz Clemens vs. Beeville Jones

Clemens has been one of the most impressive teams in the state not ranked in our top 10 poll. The Buffaloes have outscored their opponents 53-12 and are averaging close to 350 yards per game thanks to running back Charles Ross' over 100-yard-per-game average.

Jones, however, is no offensive slouch, scoring 91 points in its last two games to bounce back from a sloppy loss to Cuero in its season opener. The Trojans showed their worth in a playoff loss to eventual state champion Lake Travis last season and could emerge as a sleeper with a big win here. We just don't see an upset coming in Beeville because Clemens is too talented and too balanced.

Our pick:
Clemens 27   Beeville Jones 20

Brownwood vs. Liberty Hill

Liberty Hill's powerful ground attack has yet to be stopped, averaging 404 yards per game in the season's first three weeks. The defending state champs also proving they know how to win, pulling out two- and three-point wins over Giddings and Abilene Wylie before running over Class 4A Manor 49-7.
Brownwood let a 21-0 lead slip away against Stephenville last week and lost its second straight game 31-28. Quarterback Casey Pachall, a TCU commit, already has nine touchdown passes, but the Lions defense has been gashed repeatedly and is giving up 22 points per game.

Pachall has the ability to keep this game close early, but we see Liberty Hill eventually wearing Brownwood down.

Our pick:
Liberty Hill 35   Brownwood 24

Shreveport (La.) Evangel Christian vs. Lake Travis

With 11 Louisiana state titles, Evangel may be one of the nation's marquee football programs. But the Eagles don't look like their usual selves this season and showed they couldn't handle a state-ranked team in last week's 52-22 rout by No. 7 Longview.

Lake Travis has looked  impressive in tough victories over Cedar Park and Round Rock Westwood and a convincing rout of Austin Westlake.

Longview ran all over Evangel last week and we think Lake Travis will control the game through the air this time around.

Our pick:
Lake Travis 45   Evangel Christian 27

Plano vs. Temple

Arguably the biggest game in the entire North and Central Texas region, because it features two of the state's winningest programs and top offensive recruits. Plano will be looking to join Amarillo as just the second Class 5A school with 700 wins, while Temple will be looking for win No. 677 - and its first of the season.

Star running backs Rex Burkhead of Plano and Lache Seastrunk of Temple will surely share center stage. Burkhead has rushed for 369 yards and five touchdowns in three Plao wins, while Seastrunk has tallied up close to 300 yards and three touchdows in two Temple losses.

This will mark the fifth time the two teams have played and first since a regional semifinal in 1983, but we like Plano's offensive balance and see the Wildcats getting No. 700 by winning their fourth in the series.

Our pick: 
Plano 38   Temple 28

Last week: 5-3     Season: 12-4     Winning percentage: .750

Date of Article: Thu Sep 18, 2008 12:30 pm

Related Content:
- Abilene Wylie  - Lake Travis  - Beeville Jones  - Brownwood  - Liberty Hill  - New Braunfels  - Pflugerville  - Plano  - Round Rock  - San Antonio Marshall  - San Antonio Smithson Valley  - Schertz Clemens  - Waco Le Vega