DANNY'S FOOTBALL PICKORAMA

Nightmare at Pickorama Place.

We’ve had some rough weeks this year, but nothing matched our gory performance in Week 8. We struggled mightily to go 5-5 and there were some touch-andgo moments to keep us from sinking below .500.

It would have been wise to steer clear of the Merrimack Valley Conference. We were expecting Billerica was going to win and enter the postseason with an undefeated record, but Andover clearly had other ideas and disposed of the Indians. Similar for Tewksbury, which never got going in losing to North Andover.

Ditto for the Independent School League.

One lesson learned (OK, a second lesson after Tabor) is that Belmont Hill is for real. They certainly opened up even more eyes this past weekend with an impressive road win at BB&N. The road warriors prevailed in the ISL as St. Sebastian’s trotted into Milton and held off Milton Academy to provide us with a fourth loss of the week.

Time to stay away from Abington. I pick against them and they win, I pick them and they lose. Guess what happened when we picked Abington against Middleboro? Yup, a fifth loss.

On to the ninth week:

BELMONT HILL over Milton Academy – Not surprised Anthony Fucillo would make an immediate impact, but this turnaround is extremely impressive to say the least.

St. Sebastian’s over BB&N – This might very well be a NEPSAC Bowl elimination game.

COHASSET over Manchester-Essex – Skippers have been good in the postseason under Peter Afanasiw.

NORTH ANDOVER over Winchester – Scarlet Knights playing well at the right time of the season.

Winthrop over FAIRHAVEN – I think Vikings can be a legitimate sleeper.

Dennis-Yarmouth over SALEM –

First team to 40 might prevail in this one.

Plymouth South over BILLERICA

– Upset special. Just don’t tell Sigs I did this.

SCITUATE over Wayland – Sailors can hurt you in a variety of ways on offense.

WELLESLEY over Belmont – Get

the feeling the Raiders’ tougher schedule might pay dividends in this matchup.

SPRINGFIELD CENTRAL over

Central Catholic – Not easy to beat the Golden Eagles in Springfield, that’s for sure.

HOME TEAM IN CAPS

LAST WEEK: 5-5 (.500)

SEASON TO DATE: 53-27 (.662)