Quick Picks: CIF State Football Finals

Feel free to leave your own predicted scores of each CIF state football championship being played this weekend in our comments section. With respect to every team that is still playing and with congratulations to all, here would be our annual picks for each game in our annual battle to beat the computer. We did two years ago and had a tie last season.

To see videos and more explanation for each of these games, go to our Facebook page. For the direct link to that page, CLICK HERE.

(All win-loss records are official from CIF and include forfeits)

OPEN DIVISION
De La Salle of Concord (North Coast Sec D1) 12-1 vs. St. John Bosco of Bellflower (CIFSS D1) 12-1 on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 8:00 p.m. at Cerritos College
Pick: St. John Bosco 42, De La Salle 28. DLS defense may have tough time stopping the Braves and all their weapons.

Oakdale’s CIF state title trophy from 2016 was taken to the beach the next morning. Photo: James Burns/The Modesto Bee.


DIVISION 1–AA
Central of Fresno (Central Sec D1) 14-0 vs. Sierra Canyon of Chatsworth (CIFSS D2) 14-1 on Friday, Dec. 13 at 8:00 p.m. at Cerritos College.
Pick: Sierra Canyon 35, Central 28. A little too much depth, knowing what to expect in a state final and desire for erasing last year’s fourth quarter vs. Liberty (Brentwood) is the difference for the Trailblazers.

DIVISION 1–A
Serra of San Mateo (CCS D1) 13-1 vs. Corona del Mar of Newport Beach (CIFSS D3) 15-0 on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 4:00 p.m. at Cerritos College.
Pick: Serra 21, Corona del Mar 20. Just like the way Serra’s defense has been going and not knowing whether WR John Humphreys can play for CdM.

DIVISION 2–AA
Clayton Valley of Concord (NCS D2) 9-5 vs. Aquinas of San Bernardino (CIFSS D5) 13-2 on Friday, Dec. 13 at 4:00 p.m. at Cerritos College.
Pick: Aquinas 21, Clayton Valley 14. Falcons beating Oxnard, Glendora, St. Paul and San Juan Hills the last four weeks is just a touch more impressive than the road that the Ugly Eagles have taken to get this far.

DIVISION 2–A
McClymonds of Oakland (Oak Sec) 11-0 vs. Pacifica of Oxnard (CIFSS D6) 14-1 on Sat., Dec. 14 at 12:00 p.m. at Cerritos College.
Pick: McClymonds 27, Pacifica 24. Both teams have some prime-time talent. Warriors were ready to step up last week and expect them to be even better this week.

DIVISION 3–AA
El Camino of Oceanside (SD Sec D2) 9-6 at Cardinal Newman of Santa Rosa (NCS D4) 13-1 on Sat., Dec. 14 at 6:00 p.m.
Pick: El Camino 28, Cardinal Newman 21. Since the Wildcats got that win over Oceanside (D1A South finalist), it’s been something else for five straight weeks.

DIVISION 3–A
Bakersfield Christian (NCS D3) 11-3 at Rancho Cotate of Rohnert Park (NCS D3) 11-1 on Sat., Dec. 14 at 6:00 p.m.
Pick: Bakersfield Christian 28, Rancho Cotate 21. Can’t get past Rancho’s 20-point loss to Campolindo and like that BC comes from the same Central Sec playoff division as Kingsburg (which was 10-0 in regular season and had that win over San Joaquin Memorial).

DIVISION 4–AA
Highland of Palmdale (CIFSS D9) 12-3 at Ripon (SJS D5) 13-1 on Sat., Dec. 14 at 6:00 p.m.
Pick: Ripon 24, Highland 21. As mentioned on the sidelines at Ripon’s game, if the Indians can beat Center of Antelope they can beat any of the teams that were chosen D4-AA in the south.

DIVISION 4–A
La Jolla (SD Sec D3) 10-4 at Escalon (SJS D6) 13-1 on Sat., Dec. 14 at 6:00 p.m.
Pick: Escalon 17, La Jolla 10. Love the way the visiting Vikings knocked off Scripps Ranch in section final, but like Escalon’s running game (pick-your-poison style with multiple backs who can all run inside or outside) just a bit more.

DIVISION 5–AA
El Monte (CIFSS D12) 15-0 at Del Norte of Crescent City (CIFSS D5) 13-2 on Sat., Dec. 14 at 6:00 p.m. SITE TBD.
Pick: El Monte 26, Del Norte 15. The mud and slop may slow down the Lions’ running game, but they’ll still be too much for the Warriors.

DIVISION 5–A
Reseda (LA City D1) 11-3 at Milpitas (CCS D4) 8-6 on Sat., Dec. 14 at 6:00 p.m.
Pick: Milpitas 21, Reseda 20. If Reseda can shut down Esperanza’s rushing attack, then it can surely do the same to Josue Torres and the Trojans. Since Milpitas got league win, though, over Palo Alto its season turned around. Momentum and playing at home just might be enough.

DIVISION 6–AA
South of Torrance (CIFSS D14) 11-4 vs. St. Bernard’s of Eureka (NCS D6) 11-3 at Humboldt State Univ. on Sat., Dec. 14 at 6:00 p.m.
Pick: St. Bernard’s 35, South (Torrance) 28. Having faced Inglewood and its passing game should help South against the type of things that St. Bernard’s likes to do. But also don’t want to pick both Humboldt-Del Norte area squads to lose.

DIVISION 6–A
Bishop Union (Central Sec D6) 12-2 at Salesian of Richmond (NCS D7) 11-3 on Sat., Dec. 14 at 12:00 p.m.
Pick: Salesian 28, Bishop 13. This is the biggest gap by far in the computer rankings of any two teams playing this weekend.

DIVISION 7–AA
Gardena (LA City D3) 11-4 vs. Lincoln of San Francisco (SF AAA) 11-1 at City College of San Francisco on Sat., Dec. 14 at 12:00 p.m.
Pick: Lincoln 17, Gardena 14. Experience of being in this game last year and being at home could be a difference for the Mustangs (who won in D6-A last season).

*Times and location subject to change

BROADCAST INFORMATION
Television Spectrum will broadcast all five contests at Cerritos College LIVE. All games will air on Spectrum News1 (Open Division game will also air on Spectrum SportsNet).
In Northern California, NBC Sports will also carry all five games at Cerritos College, please check your local listings.
All nine remaining CIF State Championship Bowl Games will be streamed live online via the NFHS Network.


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4 Comments

  1. Steve
    Posted December 12, 2019 at 8:22 pm | Permalink

    Salesian is 12-2, not 11-3

  2. Cal 14
    Posted December 13, 2019 at 3:57 pm | Permalink

    For the games at Cerritos, I have:

    Clayton Valley 24, Aquinas 20

    Sierra Canyon 51, Central 38

    McClymonds 41, Pacifica 24

    Corona Del Mar 31, Serra 21*

    St. John Bosco 38, De La Salle 21

    * If Humphries plays. If he does not play:
    Serra 20, CdM 14

    • Cal 14
      Posted December 13, 2019 at 3:58 pm | Permalink

      * Humphreys

  3. phil60
    Posted December 13, 2019 at 9:35 pm | Permalink

    De La Salle looks stronger this year. Bosco needs to clean up those penalties.

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