Friday Night Forecast: Playoff race heats up in final weeks

League championship races are heating up, and the playoff picture is tightening as the regular season enters its final weeks. This week's slate features fierce rivalries, a potential league title on the line and pivotal clashes that could determine playoff seeding, setting the stage for a massive weekend of matchups across the region. Our sports team of Jordan Georgeson, Matt Long and Bill Poindexter make their weekly picks, highlighting 10 games from across the area and giving their two cents on who has the edge. This is our Friday Night Forecast: Whitney (5-2, 1-2 SFL) at Granite Bay (3-4, 0-4 SFL) Jordan: The Wildcats have not beaten Granite Bay since 2016, which is their lone win in this SFL series. The school is too new to say these aren't your dad's Wildcats, so I'll say these aren't your older second cousin's twice removed. Whitney 35, Granite Bay 24. Matt: Things aren't going so well for the Grizzlies, while the Wildcats are having their best season in years. Got to go with Whitney in this one. Whitney 28, Granite Bay 21. Bill: And why not? Whitney 35, Granite Bay 14. Lincoln (6-1, 3-0 PVL) at Center (7-0, 3-0 PVL) Jordan: I am dubbing this one the fracas on Fiddyment. Entering the season I didn't think there was any chance to see Center at 7-0 and playing Lincoln for the PVL crown, but here we are. That being said, a great run comes to an end here and the Zebras make a statement. Lincoln 38, Center 21. Matt: This should be a good game, as both teams are having outstanding seasons. I'm going with Center. Center 28, Lincoln 26. Bill: Lincoln's lone loss was to what we now know is a good Whitney team. That and the Zebras just put up 60 on Bear River, which lost to Center by one. Lincoln 35, Center 21. Oak Ridge (4-3, 2-1 SFL) at Jesuit (5-2, 1-2 SFL) Jordan: Jesuit comes in with fresh legs after a bye week while Oak Ridge just had a 48-minute emotional and physical war with Folsom. I am officially putting the Trojans on upset alert but I say they grind it out. Oak Ridge 24, Jesuit 20. Matt: At this point, I don't see the Trojans losing any more regular season games. Oak Ridge 28, Jesuit 18. Bill: Oak Ridge isn't the type of team to lay down and give up following a tough loss. Oak Ridge 27, Jesuit 20. Bear River (3-5, 1-3 PVL) at Colfax (4-3, 1-2 PVL) Jordan: The River Bowl never disappoints and after some tough losses last week, both teams will be hungry and fighting for playoff position. The last few years have been favorable to the Falcons, and I expect that to be the case this year as well. Colfax 28, Bear River 27. Matt: Colfax has been shaky the last few weeks, while Bear River has had a rough season. I'll go with Colfax, only because they're at home. Colfax 28, Bear River 20. Bill: If Colfax's 41-21 loss to Wheatland was just a hiccup, that's one hurtful hiccup. OUCH! Colfax 35, Bear River 27. Del Oro (6-1, 2-1 SFL) at Folsom (8-0, 4-0 SFL) Jordan: I'm not picking against the Bulldogs anytime soon but if this season has taught me anything, it's that the gap between Folsom and the rest of the SFL is closer than it's been in a long time. Folsom 34, Del Oro 27. Matt: A trap game for sure for the Bulldogs coming off the emotional win over Oak Ridge. The Bulldogs have to play well, because Del Oro could beat them. Folsom 35, Del Oro 21. Bill: For the first time in a while, Folsom is having to play to the end to win games. That might actually teach this bunch more than just blowing out everyone every week every season. Folsom 38, Del Oro 28. Adventure Christian (6-1, 2-1 SMAL) at Mira Loma (7-0, 4-0 SMAL) Jordan: Thursday night 8-man football with some playoff implications. The Matadors haven't lost since switching to 8-man, and I don't think they start here. Mira Loma 35, Adventure 21. Matt: I don't see Mira Loma losing in the regular season and maybe longer. Mira Loma 44, Adventure Christian 8. Bill: The second I say Adventure is vulnerable on defense, it holds Valley Christian to 12. Mira Loma 55, Adventure Christian 31. Woodcreek (7-0, 3-0 CVC) at Vista del Lago (3-4, 2-2 CVC) Jordan: Vista impressed me by hanging with Inderkum last week. Woodcreek impressed me by beating the brakes off everyone they have played. Woodcreek 35, Vista 28. Matt: Vista has played much better over its last three games, but they need to be perfect to beat Woodcreek. Woodcreek 44, Vista 21. Bill: Woodcreek continues to roll, but Vista will be a somewhat good test as the fall temperature finally cools. Woodcreek 39, Vista del Lago 24. Antelope (4-3, 1-1 Metro) at West Park (4-3, 2-0 Metro) Jordan: I've been really impressed with Antelope so far this season. Give me the Titans in this one. Antelope 27, West Park 23. Matt: West Park is coming off a disappointing showing in a 15-13 win over McClatchy. They'll play better this week, but I don't know if they're good enough to beat Antelope. Antelope 33, West Park 21. Bill: West Park's close win over Cordova brings out the tricky part of prognosticating. West Park 28, Antelope 25. Yuba City (6-1, 2-0 FVL) at Placer (6-1, 1-1 FVL) Jordan: Just like last week, I expect a lot of points to be scored here. Last season these two combined for 101 points and I think we see a similar shootout in this one. Yuba City has looked the part so far, but it hasn't played the same number of quality opponents as the Hillmen have. I think Placer responds to their first loss with a nice bounce back. Placer 40, Yuba City 37. Matt: I expected more out of the Hillmen last week, but maybe I underestimated Twelve Bridges. I'm going with the road team in this one. Yuba City 34, Placer 25. Bill: Now we're really about to see what Yuba City is made of: Placer and 12B back to back. That defense, though. Placer 28, Yuba City 20. Twelve Bridges (5-2, 2-0 FVL) at Roseville (3-4, 1-1 FVL) Jordan: Twelve Bridges looks like the team to beat in the FVL and in D-IV once again. I say the Rhinos rage on again. Twelve Bridges 31, Roseville 21. Matt: Roseville ended a brutal four-game losing streak last week with a win over Nevada Union, but the Tigers will be hard pressed to beat the Raging Rhinos. Twelve Bridges 32, Roseville 17. Bill: Twelve Bridges' two losses are to Whitney (by one) and Elk Grove-Franklin. And now the Rhinos can't be stopped. Twelve Bridges 42, Roseville 20. Last week: Jordan and Bill (7-3), Matt (6-4) Season to date: Jordan (57-23), Matt (56-24), Bill (55-25).