Swami predicts pigskins

FRIDAY NIGHT

Lake Zurich (7-1) at Mundelein (3-5) – Mustangs’ wins are over Round Lake (1-7), Zion-Benton (1-7) and Buffalo Grove (4-4). Unfortunately, Lake Zurich is 7-1 and just might finish the season 13-1. LZ fans know what THAT means. Duh Bears a lot, Mundelein a little.

North Chicago (3-5) at Antioch (3-5) – Coming off an 0-9 season, the three wins on the Antioch side don’t look so bad for rookie coach Brian Glashagel. Alas, the wins are over Grayslake Central (0-8), Grayslake North (1-7) and Round Lake (1-7). A win here would be a nice way to end the season and build momentum for next year. They should get it. Sequiots 20, Warhawks 19.

Round Lake (1-7) at Lakes (3-5) – Lakes coach Luke Mertens watched last week’s 38-0 slaughter at the hands of Warren from the press box rather than from the sideline. Eagles are vulnerable to the run and Panthers have area’s second-best runner in Ray Bryant and a prime-time player in receiver/return man Jerome Brown. UPSET SPECIAL: Panthers 27, Eagles 24 (word to the wise: Just remiember our record on Upset Specials)

Lake Forest (5-3) at Libertyville (4-4) – Libertyville hasn’t missed playoffs in 10 years but is in a hafta-win-tonight situation. Lake Forest started 5-0 but has nothing to show for back-to-back-to-back games against playoff-bound Warren, Stevenson & Lake Zurich. Bears coach Lovie Smith’s kid, Miles Smith, broke his leg in last week’s game and won’t play for Scouts the rest of the season. UPSET SPECIAL II: Libertyville 21 (7 field goals by Alvaro Castro), Lake Forest 14.

Deerfield (4-4) at Maine West (1-7) – Battle of teams with same nickname: Warriors. Deerfield must win to be eligible for postseason play. They will: Deerfield a real lot, Maine West a real little.

Highland Park (5-3) at Maine East (0-8) – All you need to know about Maine East is that the “1” in Round Lake’s 1-7 record and the “1” In Maine West’s 1-7 record is a win over the Demons. Giants 63 (9 TD passes by Johnny “Rocket” Lindquist), Demons 0.

Grant (8-0) at Zion-Benton (1-7) – North Suburban Conference Prairie Division teams are a combined 0-6 this fall in games against the NSC Lake Division teams. That “0” will become a “1” by 10 p.m. Friday. Grant 38, Zion-Benton 20.

Stevenson (5-3) at Warren (5-3) – Stevenson has won five in a row and Warren’s won four in a row. Both are in the playoffs. It’s not true that the combined enrollment of these two schools is greater than the population of Tokyo. It’s five people less. Warren 18 (6 field goals by Steve Fox), Stevenson 14.

Wauconda (6-2) at Vernon Hills (5-3) – Two playoff-bound teams feature a contrast in styles; Wauconda is led by buffalo-sized RB Brad “The Wiz” Wisniewski, who leads the area in rushing for the second straight year. VH is sparked by freshman DaVaris Daniels, who is No. 82 on the field and is a Devin Hester-like performer. UPSET SPECIAL III: Cougars 28, Bulldogs 27.

Carmel (7-1) at Joliet Catholic (7-1) – These two teams won’t meet in East Suburban Catholic Conference play for the next two years, so the winner here keeps bragging rights for a loooooooooooooong time. Figure on Carmel being travel weary from trying to get to Joliet. Hilltoppers 35, Corsairs 14.

Huntley (3-5) at Grayslake Central (0-8) – Here’s a statistical oddity: First-year Rams coach Nick Goshe is 0-8 this fall. The team is coached last year, St. Joseph of Westchester, is 0-8 this year without him. Make that 0-0. Raiders 35, Rams 34 (ot)

Grayslake North (1-7) at CL Central (4-4) – Crystal Lake needs to win to be eligible for the playoffs. After ruining our perfect week of picks last weekend, it is no longer Knight Time. Tigers 42, Knights 14.

SATURDAY

Waukegan (4-4) at Evanston (1-7) – With chance at first winning season since 2001, this is our stone-cold lock of the week. Bulldogs 39, Wildkits 19.

LF Academy (3-4) at Rockford Christian Life (4-4) – RCL needs a win to make playoffs. That is a lot of motivation. RCL 27, Caxys 26.

NEXT WEEK: THE PLAYOFFS!