It is not unusual for every member of the central Ohio high school football Predictions Panel to pick the same team in a matchup, but what about everyone picking against an undefeated team in Week 8?
No statistics are kept on such a matter. However, one of this week's unanimous picks involves unbeaten St. Charles at DeSales. The entire panel has picked the host Stallions (5-2) rather than the Cardinals (7-0).
Two possible reasons are DeSales is the home team for the CCL contest and the Stallions' losses have come against strong programs. DeSales lost 20-17 at Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph in Week 4 and dropped its CCL opener 32-0 to Watterson, which has won 36 consecutive games, in Week 6.
In Lone Wolf picks last week, the panel went 1-3 to
move to 5-23 for the season. Eric Frantz got the win when Westerville Central beat Grove City 41-35.
There are four Lone Wolf picks this week, including two by Frantz.
Watch Ohio high school football on NFHS Network
Central Ohio high school football predictions Week 8
Buckeye Valley (5-2, 2-0) at Columbus Academy (5-2, 2-0)
Buckeye Valley: Tom Wilson
Academy: Ryan Baker, Steve Blackledge, Lee Cochran, Frank DiRenna, Eric Frantz, Scott Gerfen, Dave Purpura, Kurt Snyder, Dave Weidig
Centerburg (5-2, 4-0) at Mount Gilead (4-3, 2-2)
Centerburg: Baker, Cochran, DiRenna, Frantz, Gerfen, Purpura, Snyder, Weidig, Wilson
Mount Gilead: Blackledge
Gahanna Lincoln (7-0, 2-0) at Westerville Central (4-3, 1-1)
Gahanna: Unanimous pick
Groveport (5-2, 3-1) at Pickerington Central (4-3, 4-0)
Central: Unanimous pick
Hamilton Township (5-2, 3-0) at Bloom-Carroll (4-3, 3-0)
Hamilton Township: Blackledge, Cochran, DiRenna, Gerfen, Purpura, Snyder, Weidig
Bloom-Carroll: Baker, Frantz, Wilson
Heath (5-2, 2-0) at Johnstown (5-2, 2-0)
Johnstown: Unanimous pick
Hilliard Bradley (5-2, 1-1) at Olentangy Liberty (4-3, 2-0)
Liberty: Unanimous pick
London (5-2, 2-0) at Jonathan Alder (6-1, 1-1)
London: Baker, Cochran, DiRenna, Frantz, Gerfen, Purpura, Snyder, Weidig
Jonathan Alder: Blackledge, Wilson
Olentangy (3-4, 2-0) at Hilliard Darby (4-3, 1-1)
Olentangy: Snyder, Wilson
Darby: Baker, Blackledge, Cochran, DiRenna, Frantz, Gerfen, Purpura, Weidig
Pickerington North (6-1, 2-0) at Grove City (4-3, 0-2)
North: Unanimous pick
Ready (3-4, 0-2) at Bexley (3-4, 0-2)
Ready: Cochran, DiRenna, Frantz, Gerfen, Purpura, Wilson
Bexley: Baker, Blackledge, Snyder, Weidig
St. Charles (7-0, 1-0) at DeSales (5-2, 0-1)
DeSales: Unanimous pick
Upper Arlington (5-2, 1-1) at Olentangy Orange (4-3, 2-0)
UA: Baker, Blackledge, Cochran, DiRenna, Gerfen, Purpura, Snyder, Weidig, Wilson
Orange: Frantz
Watkins Memorial (4-3, 1-1) at Granville (5-2, 2-0)
Granville: Unanimous pick
Westland (5-2, 2-1) at Westerville South (3-4, 2-2)
Westland: Baker, Blackledge, Cochran, DiRenna, Gerfen, Purpura, Snyder, Weidig, Wilson
South: Frantz
Standings through Week 7
Blackledge: 12-3 last week; 82-28 overall
Cochran: 11-4; 82-28
DiRenna: 11-4; 79-31
Snyder: 8-7; 79-31
Baker: 11-4; 78-32
Weidig: 10-5; 77-33
Gerfen: 10-5; 76-34
Wilson: 13-2; 75-35
Frantz: 9-6; 74-36
Purpura: 11-4; 72-38
High school sports editor Andy Resnik can be reached at aresnik@dispatch.com and at @DispatchPreps on X.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Top central Ohio high school football games in Week 8, and our predictions
Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.
