Notable games:
R1
Royse City vs Lovejoy- I'd say LJ is the favorite and the better team but I'm picking RC in the upset. They are the home team and their defense isnt bad. They need to spy the lefty QB for LJ and I feel they will be fine. I'd think its low scoring but I'm terrible at picking scores.
Marshall vs Huntsville- I know Marshall is at home and they have recovered from an 0-3 start but I'm taking 4 seed Huntsville. This would be my game of the week in D2. Both these teams could make a decent run.
Crosby vs FB Willowridge- Crosby will host but hear me now and believe me later, Willowridge will win this game. Some Crosby fans dont have faith in their coaches and that isnt good. Willowridge is a good 3 seed.
R2
Red Oak vs Denton Braswell- Very good game between very good teams. I gave the edge to Denton Braswell because of the tough district they came from and the fact Braswell already beat Red Oak week 1 this season. Also, Braswell looks better overall in the videos I saw of both teams
A&M Consolidated vs Fort Bend Marshall- I've gone back and forth all season on this game since I realized it could happen. At the end of the day I will go with FBM and the best player in 5A. I think this will be a close game but I trust the FBM offense more than I do A&M.
Tivy vs Calallen- The slow starts from Calallen are troubling. Early in the season it is understandable but now it is what it is. Tivy is a good team that has taken care of business all season and I think these guys are going to go on a great run. Great fan bases btw.
Pioneer vs Weiss- This game is more exciting than people will give it credit for. Weiss looks the part but I think Pioneer will use #12 early and often. Could be a very fun game to attend. The close game Weiss had with Cedar Creek also helped my decision to go Pioneer.
R3
Parkland vs Rider- Really would be nice to see undefeated Parkland make it to the region finals but WF Rider is going to be a tough game for them. Earlier in the season I would have picked Parkland but I think Rider uses the experience they gained last year and pulls off the win. Rider is cool and we have a history with them but I'd like to see El Paso have a team in 4th round
Midlothian vs Burleson Centennial- Maybe my bias let these two teams advance but I really believe the style of these teams will get them past district winners. Health will play a big factor in how these teams do but I would be nervous to play these teams. District 5 should hold their own in the coming weeks.
Manvel vs Barbers Hill- After the FBM win I was ready to crown Manvel the R3 winner. Then I saw some interesting scores, Sterling and Willowridge gave Manvel much more of a game than I would have thought. Barbers Hill is just a really solid and tough team. They dont necessarily jump off the page but somehow I think this team gets the job done.
R4
WF Rider vs Lubbock Cooper- Going to be a district rematch from last season. Cooper dominated the game and unlike last year I think they finish the job this time. Cooper makes the final 4.
Fort Bend Marshall vs Barbers Hill- I am going with the massive upset. Fort Bend Marshall is explosive, they have experience in big games, they have the best player in 5A, but I think Barbers Hill is the solid scrappy team that gets it done. This is almost like last season when Huntsville was so close to beating FBM. I know I'm in the minority but thats cool.
Tivy vs Port Lavaca Calhoun- Going with another upset here. After the Calallen win in week 11 PLC should be the region favorite but I think Tivy can give PLC fits. I'm not sure how the pass defense is for PLC. The Tivy offense will need to be extremely efficient and the defense assignment sound. Having played Calallen in round 2 will help and it will give Tivy an idea what they need to improve on to beat PLC.
R5
Aledo vs Lubbock Cooper- Still not sure anyone will be able to slow down the Aledo offense. Cooper has a nice running game but they fall in the Aledo trap and dont have the experience to pull off the upset.
Tivy vs Barbers Hill- Who would have thought we would end up here? Not me. Before I started this exercise I would have guessed A&M Consolidated vs Port Lavaca Calhoun. Crazy turn of events though. By this point Barbers Hill has had the more difficult playoff path but Tivy is beat up by the ground and pound by PLC. Taking Barbers Hill to make the finals.