Chicks Picks for Week One 2013

By: Bruce Markey
Thursday, August 29, 2013 | 10:41 PM

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Welcome to Week 1. Chick’s Picks has been counting down all summer (or lack thereof) to the start of football season.  In an attempt to stay connected with her favorite time of year, she decided to host a summer camp for her prognosticating pals.  A generous soul, Chick’s Picks thought it would be a good opportunity to share her prophetic wisdom with her counterparts.

The Boss was kind enough to offer the use of MSA Sports World Headquarters for the camp.  Chick’s Picks suspected that this could be The Boss’s way of living his childhood dream of pigskin prognosticating vicariously through the professionals.  Regardless, the turnout was impressive, and included the likes of The Birdie, The Fumbler, HS Picks and some amateurs as well.

The visionaries spent the week sharing trade secrets and polishing their crystal balls.  Chick’s Picks wrapped up the week’s festivities with a pep rally as a final bit of inspiration to head into the season.

Last season was one of the best for Chick’s Picks, as she went a perfect (4-0) in the WPIAL Championships, to end the year with a 532-127 (81%) record.  Looking to pick up where she left off, here are this week’s big games.

Agree with her picks?  Disagree?  Chick’s Picks wants to hear from you!  Be sure to follow her on Twitter @ChicksPicksMSA.  Don’t forget to tweet your scores to us @MSASports!

CLASS AAAA
#5 Upper St. Clair at #1 Woodland Hills
Southeastern Conference play opens with a bang when these two favorites meet Friday night.  Woodland Hills is coming off a (10-3) season that led them to the WPIAL title game.  Upper St. Clair’s (10-2) season came to an end at the hands of the Wolverines, 42-20, in the semifinals.  The Panthers will have a big hole to fill with the loss of QB Pete Coughlin to graduation.  Back for USC, however, is Pitt commit Rori Blair, who missed last season after suffering a stroke.  The Woodland Hills backfield will be loaded once again with sophomore Miles Sanders, who rushed for 700 yards last season.  Chick’s Picks knows this will be a playoff-like atmosphere, but likes the Wolverines on their home turf.
Woodland Hills over Upper St. Clair

CLASS AAA
#10 Franklin Regional at #5 Mars
The Planets host the Panthers in this early season Greater Allegheny Conference showdown.  Mars returns plenty of experience at skill positions, including RB Josh Schultheis and QB Owen Nearhoof, who combined for over 2,500 yards of offense last season.  Franklin Regional lost several starters from last year’s top-ranked defense.  In addition, top receiver Charan Singh has moved to quarterback.  When these two met last season, Mars came away with a 21-17 victory.  Chick’s Picks likes the Planets again this time around.
Mars over Franklin Regional

CLASS AA
Greensburg Central Catholic at #2 Washington
The Centurions and the Little Prexies clash in an Interstate Conference battle Friday night.  Greensburg Central Catholic is looking to avenge last year’s season-opening thrashing by Washington, 28-7.  Things only got worse from there for the Centurions, who finished (6-4) and fell short of the playoffs.  The Little Prexies rallied behind RB Shai McKenzie – one of the top in the WPIAL last season with 2,700 yards and 42 touchdowns.  McKenzie returns for his senior season with several Division I offers in hand.  GCC is fully loaded with QB Chase Keller, along with the powerful LB duo of Nate Stone and Seth Warburton.  Chick’s Picks is predicting an early upset in this one.
Greensburg Central Catholic over Washington

CLASS A
Chartiers-Houston at Clairton
All eyes continue to be on Clairton as they begin a new era.  The Bears bring the country’s longest winning streak (63 games) into this season, as they host Chartiers-Houston Friday night.  The Bucs return 1,000-yard passer Kaleb Susko.  Clairton remains solid on the line, but must find a way to replace the likes of Tyler Boyd, Terrish Webb, and Titus Howard.  Chartiers-Houston nearly pulled off a miracle last season, but allowed Clairton to narrowly escape with a 22-20 win.  Chick’s Picks doesn’t think this one will be quite as close.
Clairton over Chartiers-Houston

CLASS AAAA

Foothills Conference:

Norwin over Altoona

Gateway over Latrobe

Kiski Area over Connellsville

McKeesport over Hempfield

Northern Eight Conference:

Central Catholic over Shaler

Pine-Richland over Fox Chapel

Seneca Valley over Butler

Southeastern Conference:

Penn Hills over Canon-McMillan

Baldwin over Peters Township

Bethel Park over Plum

Non-Conference:

North Allegheny over Mount Lebanon

North Hills over Penn-Trafford

CLASS AAA

Big Nine Conference:

Thomas Jefferson over Ringgold

Elizabeth Forward over Trinity

Belle Vernon over Uniontown

West Mifflin over Laurel Highlands

Greater Allegheny Conference:

Highlands at Hollidaysburg

Hampton at Indiana

Knoch over Greensburg Salem

Parkway Conference:

Montour over Hopewell

Chartiers Valley over moon

Central Valley over New Castle

West Allegheny over Blackhawk

Class AAA Non-Conference:

Derry over Albert Gallatin

CLASS AA

Allegheny Conference:

Freeport over Kittanning

Shady Side Academy over Ford City

East Allegheny over Summit Academy

Deer Lakes over Valley

Century Conference:

Seton-LaSalle over South Allegheny

South Fayette over McGuffey

South Park over Quaker Valley

Steel Valley over Keystone Oaks

Interstate Conference:

Yough over Charleroi

Jeannette over Southmoreland

Mount Pleasant over Waynesburg

Midwestern Conference:

Beaver Falls over Riverside

Freedom over Mohawk

New Brighton over Ellwood City

Class AA Non-Conference:

Aliquippa over Ambridge

Burrell over Brownsville

Beaver over Burgettstown

CLASS A

Big Seven Conference:

Neshannock over Western Beaver

Sto-Rox over Shenango

Laurel over South Side

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart over Union

Black Hills Conference:

Fort Cherry over Carlynton

Monessen over California

Brentwood over Serra Catholic

Eastern Conference:

North Catholic over Apollo-Ridge

Springdale over West Shamokin

Wilkinsburg over Leechburg

Riverview over Northgate

Class A Non-Conference:

Rochester over Avonworth

Vincentian Academy over Avella

Bishop Canevin over United

PITTSBURGH CITY LEAGUE Non-Conference:

Martins Ferry (OH) over Allderdice

Slippery Rock over Brashear

Grove City over Carrick

Erie Cathedral Prep over Perry

University Prep over Erie Central

Buckeye Local (OH) over Westinghouse