Fall in line as The Birdie makes his Week 8 picks in the A-K Valley

By: The Birdie
Wednesday, October 16, 2024 | 7:48 PM

Last week: 10-1

Season: 61-20 (75.3%)

The Birdie works nights. One day last week, he cranked up the AC on the lowest possible setting on his way to work then cranked up the heat on the highest possible setting on the way home.

That can mean only one thing: It’s fall in Western Pennsylvania.

“I’m known for making brilliant football picks — like when I went 10-1 last week, for example — but that’s not the only thing I’m good for,” the always humble Birdie said. “I can also offer some news you can use, tips for living your best life during the fall season.”

• Don’t you dare touch that thermostat until Thanksgiving at the earliest.

“What am I? Made of money?” Birdie barked. “Grab an extra blanket. Put on an extra pair of socks. Until you see your breath in the living room, the furnace stays off.”

• Celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving as well as traditional American Thanksgiving.

“Double the stuffing. Double the deliciousness,” Birdie said, blissfully unaware of what the stuffing was stuffing just a few minutes before he ate it.

• Don’t be so quick to start wearing jeans and sweaters.

“Stick with the shorts as long as you can,” he said, twirling to show off his Riddell maroon polyester coaches shorts from 1986. “Don’t worry if people look at you funny. Once the shorts go into the back of the closet, they’re not coming out until April.”

• If you can afford it, buy full-sized candy bars to hand out to trick-or-treaters.

“Ever since I started giving the little goofballs full-sized Milky Way bars, my house has been egged 10% less,” Birdie bragged.

Fall is also the time of year for high school football teams to make their playoff push. Here’s a look at The Birdie’s picks for Week 8.

Knoch at West Mifflin: Who stopped The Birdie from going a perfect 11-0 last week? The Knoch Knights, who look to be hitting their stride at the right time of year with Codi Mullen making plays all over the field. Knoch, 21-14

Fox Chapel at Shaler: The worst of a brutal Class 5A schedule is over for the Foxes. They’ve got a shot at this one. Shaler, 21-20

Freeport at East Allegheny: The Yellowjackets are right in the thick of the playoff hunt. Can’t afford a slip-up this week. Freeport, 34-21

Imani Christian at Burrell: Bad news for the Bucs. The Saints look to be finding their postseason form. Imani Christian, 40-20

Valley at Deer Lakes: The Lancers need to shake off consecutive losses to Class 3A powers Beaver and Imani Christian and focus on winning out to make the playoffs. Deer Lakes, 35-14

South Park at Apollo-Ridge: The Birdie’s a broken record at this point, but the Vikings are way too good a team to be winless. They just need a break. Unfortunately, the schedule doesn’t offer one this week. The Eagles are WPIAL title contenders. South Park, 28-13

Leechburg at Brentwood: The Blue Devils need to move past their first loss to Clairton in a hurry because the Spartans aren’t a bad ballclub. Leechburg, 27-21

Springdale at Jeannette: The Dynamos have to deal with Jayhawks QB Kymon’e Brown, who accounted for nearly 500 yards of offense last week. Jeannette, 21-6

Highlands at McGuffey: Hard times have befallen the perennially powerful Highlanders. If the Golden Rams stay focused, they’ll get the W. Highlands, 35-13

Plum at Kiski Area: Winners of two straight, the Cavaliers have some momentum going. It’ll be up to the Mustangs, who are coming off a decisive win of their own, to stop it. Kiski Area, 21-14

Riverview at Clairton: As Leechburg could attest, the Bears are, indeed, back. Clairton, 33-6

Tags: Apollo-Ridge, Brentwood, Burrell, Clairton, Deer Lakes, East Allegheny, Fox Chapel, Freeport, Highlands, Imani Christian, Jeannette, Kiski Area, Knoch, Leechburg, McGuffey, Plum, Riverview, Shaler, South Park, Springdale, Valley, West Mifflin