Week 5: Thursday Preview, Predictions & Picks
Grine NMPreps
THURSDAY PREVIEW
Del Norte (1-3) at Highland (3-1): The story of the season has been the Highland High School Hornets, now ranked in the 8th in 5A football. The Hornets look again to Noah Lopez (RB/2019) and Nathan Lopez (RB/2021) this week as they look to continue their winning ways. Isaiah Ortiz (RB/2019) has been the main go-to player for Del Norte this season and will again have to carry the Knights to a possible upset. A win here could get the Knights back into the playoff conversation. Highland 26, Del Norte 12
West Mesa (1-3) at Manzano (1-3): The West Mesa Mustangs are coming off a win last week to fellow Albuquerque southwest member Rio Grande. The Manzano Monarchs have been on a consistent skid as they have dropped the last two by a combined 93-13 score, granted they've played the number one ranked team and fourth ranked team. Prediction: Manzano 38, West Mesa 7
Other games: Magdalena (2-2) at Ramah (2-1), JV Opponent at Crownpoint (1-3)
GRINE'S WEEK FIVE PICKS
Melrose @ Mountainair 250 pts either way: MELROSE
Roberts vs Socorro 250 points (Socorro is the upset 325 pts): SOCORRO
Eunice @ Dexter 250 pts either way: EUNICE
Hope Christian @ Bloomfield 250 pts (HC is the upset 300 pts): BLOOMFIELD
Cibola @ Los Lunas 275 pts either way (Cibola is the upset 325 pts): LOS LUNAS
Cleveland @ Artesia 275 pts (Artesia is the upset 325 pts): CLEVELAND
Rio Rancho @ La Cueva 250 pts (RR is the upset 300 pts): LA CUEVA
St Pius X @ Portales 300 pts either way: PORTALES
Jal vs Estancia 250 pts (Jal is the upset 300 pts): ESTANCIA
Saturday
Carlsbad @ Mayfield 250 pts (CBad is the upset 300 pts): CARLSBAD
Upset picks: Socorro and Carlsbad. I nearly went the trifecta on taking Rio Rancho, however, that never seems to pay off when I bet for and against either team.
Locks: Portales, Los Lunas, and Bloomfield are my clear locks for the week. I don't see any of the three losing and likely winning by a touchdown or two.
Best Game: Eunice and Dexter seems more intriguing now that Eunice has ended their winning streak. Dexter, a defending champ themselves, could be the best-least talked about squad. We learn more this week.
Grine NMPreps
THURSDAY PREVIEW
Del Norte (1-3) at Highland (3-1): The story of the season has been the Highland High School Hornets, now ranked in the 8th in 5A football. The Hornets look again to Noah Lopez (RB/2019) and Nathan Lopez (RB/2021) this week as they look to continue their winning ways. Isaiah Ortiz (RB/2019) has been the main go-to player for Del Norte this season and will again have to carry the Knights to a possible upset. A win here could get the Knights back into the playoff conversation. Highland 26, Del Norte 12
West Mesa (1-3) at Manzano (1-3): The West Mesa Mustangs are coming off a win last week to fellow Albuquerque southwest member Rio Grande. The Manzano Monarchs have been on a consistent skid as they have dropped the last two by a combined 93-13 score, granted they've played the number one ranked team and fourth ranked team. Prediction: Manzano 38, West Mesa 7
Other games: Magdalena (2-2) at Ramah (2-1), JV Opponent at Crownpoint (1-3)
GRINE'S WEEK FIVE PICKS
Melrose @ Mountainair 250 pts either way: MELROSE
Roberts vs Socorro 250 points (Socorro is the upset 325 pts): SOCORRO
Eunice @ Dexter 250 pts either way: EUNICE
Hope Christian @ Bloomfield 250 pts (HC is the upset 300 pts): BLOOMFIELD
Cibola @ Los Lunas 275 pts either way (Cibola is the upset 325 pts): LOS LUNAS
Cleveland @ Artesia 275 pts (Artesia is the upset 325 pts): CLEVELAND
Rio Rancho @ La Cueva 250 pts (RR is the upset 300 pts): LA CUEVA
St Pius X @ Portales 300 pts either way: PORTALES
Jal vs Estancia 250 pts (Jal is the upset 300 pts): ESTANCIA
Saturday
Carlsbad @ Mayfield 250 pts (CBad is the upset 300 pts): CARLSBAD
Upset picks: Socorro and Carlsbad. I nearly went the trifecta on taking Rio Rancho, however, that never seems to pay off when I bet for and against either team.
Locks: Portales, Los Lunas, and Bloomfield are my clear locks for the week. I don't see any of the three losing and likely winning by a touchdown or two.
Best Game: Eunice and Dexter seems more intriguing now that Eunice has ended their winning streak. Dexter, a defending champ themselves, could be the best-least talked about squad. We learn more this week.
