Kosmo has been known to throw out challenges in years past, whether it be to players to score a certain amount of points in order to earn a T-shirt, fans to give their teams support or to teams in the playoffs in hopes they don’t fall prey to the Oakland Press playoff slogan of “Someone’s going down!”

Well, in honor of Halloween and the first night of the high school football playoffs, Kosmo decided to really get ambitious and lay down the mother of all challenges.

The K-Man has invited four — that’s right, not one, two or three— other prognosticators of high school games around the state to weigh on this week’s action in an ultimate prognosticator pick-off.

Searn of michiganhsfootball.com, Willy Mena of michiganhelmetproject.org, Prepseer at prepseer.com and Kosmo’s good buddy Nostramarcus will take on the K-Man to see who can predict the 20 first round games involving an Oakland County team most accurately.

Not only are the picks available in this column and on the Oakland Press’ high school website, www.miprepzone.com, but they’ll be available on all the websites mentioned above.

So let’s get it on!

One final reminder though to Oakland Press readers and those viewing all of the above websites. Tonight’s titanic first round game between Birmingham Brother Rice and Rochester Adams will be streamed live on www.miprepzone.com. Ross Maghielse and Oakland Press preps coordinator Keith Dunlap will call the action LIVE from Adams. So if you can’t make the game or will be too busy trick or treating, no problem. The game will be broadcast on www.miprepzone.com.

Now it’s on to Kosmo picks with the other prognosticators picks listed below.



Southfield Christian (7-1) at Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest (9-0) — As far as Kosmo is concerned, there isn’t a better game in the area tonight this one, where Southfield Christian will play its first ever playoff game and Lutheran Northwest will host its first ever playoff game. Pick: Lutheran Northwest by 11.

Novi Detroit Catholic Central (5-3) at Novi (7-2) — Yes, the Wildcats are a good team and are playing at home. But if there’s one lesson Kosmo has learned, it’s never doubt the Shamrocks in the playoffs. Pick: CC by 4.

Birmingham Brother Rice (6-3) at Rochester Adams (8-1) — As he wrote on his blog earlier in the week, Koz feels it’s ridiculous that these teams are playing in the first round and not a later round of the playoffs. As it is, this should be the best matchup of the weekend in the state, one that will end with some payback by the Warriors. Pick: Brother Rice by 3.

Auburn Hills Avondale (7-2) at Lakeland (7-2) — The first home playoff game in school history will be a winning one for the Eagles. If Brother Rice beats Adams, they’ll have another next week. Pick: Lakeland by 14.

Milford (5-4) at Howell (8-1) — Glad to see the Mavericks got in at 5-4. It will be even better when they exact revenge for an OT loss in Week 3. Pick: Milford by 1.

West Bloomfield (6-3) at Livonia Stevenson (7-2) — There’s a reason why the Lakers are among the most dangerous 6-3 teams in the playoffs, and they’ll show why tonight. Pick: W. Bloomfield by 7.

Utica Eisenhower (5-4) at Lake Orion (8-1) — A dangerous opponent to be sure, but Kosmo has faith the Dragons will respond accordingly. Pick: Lake Orion by 10.

Flushing (7-2) at Oxford (8-1) — Flushing will be flushed thanks to Nick Tombrella & Co. Pick: Oxford by 7.

St. Clair Shores Lake Shore (6-3) at Ferndale (8-1) — Kosmo couldn’t happier to see Joe Mahan’s legendary voice will once again blare over the loudspeakers at a home playoff game at Ferndale. Pick: Ferndale by 6.

Madison Heights Lamphere (7-2) at Clinton Township Clintondale (8-1) — This would be a Ram-tough road win if the Rams can pull it off. Pick: Clintondale by 10.

Madison Heights Bishop Foley (5-4) at Whitmore Lake (8-1) — This will be quite a venture for the Ventures. Pick: Whitmore Lake by 12.



Saturday

Clarkston (6-3) at Romeo (7-2), 1 p.m. — Maybe it’s just Kosmo’s rabid desire to see a Clarkston-Lake Orion regional, but he just has a feeling the Wolves will get it done. Pick: Clarkston by 3.

Troy (6-3) at Macomb Dakota (8-1), 1 p.m. — This was almost the Division 1 state final last year. Too bad it will be the first and last game of the playoffs for Troy this year. Pick: Dakota by 12.

Farmington (6-3) at Southfield (8-1), 1 p.m. — What a great story to see Farmington go from 0-3 to the state playoffs, but the Bluejays will show why a deep run in the playoffs is forthcoming. Pick: Southfield by 10.

Peck (6-3) at Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes (5-4), 1 p.m. — Kosmo isn’t sure if he’s ever seen a 5-4 team host a playoff game, but the Lakers get to do so. Pick: WOLL by 9.

Madison Heights Madison (5-4) at Almont (7-2), 2 p.m. — Eagles still made the playoffs despite surprise loss to Clawson last week. Pick: Almont by 7.

Detroit Loyola (7-2) at Royal Oak Shrine (9-0), 2 p.m. — A tougher-than-expected first round game for Shrine, but the Knights will keep their dream season alive. Pick: Shrine by 13.

Detroit Crockett (6-3) at Birmingham Detroit Country Day (7-2), 3 p.m. — Crockett probably hasn’t seen the likes of O’Neil Swanson this year. Pick: Country Day by 6.

Dearborn (6-3) at Walled Lake Western (6-3), 7 p.m. — When in doubt, take the home team. Pick: Western by 3.

Redford Thurston (6-3) at Bloomfield Hills Lahser (8-1), 7 p.m. — Lahser may have gone a few years without having a playoff home game, but its tradition of hosting on Saturday night hasn’t changed. Pick: Lahser by 8.



Prepseer (prepseer.com)

Milford at Howell — Howell by 8.

West Bloomfield at Livonia Stevenson — Stevenson by 13.

Novi Detroit Catholic Central at Novi — Catholic Central by 10.

Utica Eisenhower at Lake Orion — Eisenhower by 7 (upset pick)

Flushing at Oxford — Flushing by 9.

Birmingham Brother Rice at Rochester Adams — Brother Rice by 10.

Auburn Hills Avondale at Lakeland — Lakeland by 14.

St. Clair Shores Lake Shore at Ferndale — Ferndale by 5.

Madison Heights Lamphere at Clinton Township Clintondale — Clintondale by 13.

Madison Heights Bishop Foley at Whitmore Lake — Bishop Foley by 7.

Southfield Christian at Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest — Lutheran Northwest by 20.

Clarkston at Romeo — Romeo by 7.

Troy at Macomb Dakota — Dakota by 20.

Dearborn at Walled Lake Western — Dearborn by 7.

Redford Thurston at Bloomfield Hills Lahser — Lahser by 17.

Detroit Crockett at Birmingham Detroit Country Day — Country Day by 10.

Madison Heights Madison at Almont — Madison by 11.

Farmington at Southfield — Southfield by 14.

Detroit Loyola at Royal Oak Shrine — Shrine by 21 (best bet)

Peck at Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes — WOLL by 15.



Nostramarcus

Milford at Howell — Howell by 13.

West Bloomfield at Livonia Stevenson — Stevenson by 19.

Novi Detroit Catholic Central at Novi — Catholic Central by 10.

Utica Eisenhower at Lake Orion — Lake Orion by 10.

Flushing at Oxford — Oxford by 4.

Birmingham Brother Rice at Rochester Adams — Adams by 4.

Auburn Hills Avondale at Lakeland — Lakeland by 24. (best bet)

St. Clair Shores Lake Shore at Ferndale — Ferndale by 20.

Madison Heights Lamphere at Clinton Township Clintondale — Clintondale by 21.

Madison Heights Bishop Foley at Whitmore Lake — Whitmore Lake by 14.

Southfield Christian at Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest — Lutheran Northwest by 7.

Clarkston at Romeo — Romeo by 7.

Troy at Macomb Dakota — Dakota by 18.

Dearborn at Walled Lake Western — Dearborn by 7.

Redford Thurston at Bloomfield Hills Lahser — Lahser by 5.

Detroit Crockett at Birmingham Detroit Country Day — Country Day by 11.

Madison Heights Madison at Almont — Almont by 17.

Farmington at Southfield — Southfield by 15.

Detroit Loyola at Royal Oak Shrine — Shrine by 14

Peck at Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes — WOLL by 7.



Willy Mena (michiganhelmetproject.org)

Milford at Howell — Howell by 10

West Bloomfield at Livonia Stevenson — Stevenson by 14

Novi Detroit Catholic Central at Novi — Novi by 2.

Utica Eisenhower at Lake Orion — Lake Orion by 7

Flushing at Oxford — Flushing by 3

Birmingham Brother Rice at Rochester Adams — Adams by 5.

Auburn Hills Avondale at Lakeland — Lakeland by 10

St. Clair Shores Lake Shore at Ferndale — Ferndale by 10

Madison Heights Lamphere at Clinton Township Clintondale — Clintondale by 7

Madison Heights Bishop Foley at Whitmore Lake — Whitmore Lake by 2

Southfield Christian at Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest — Northwest by 10.

Clarkston at Romeo — Romeo by 5

Troy at Macomb Dakota — Dakota by 13

Dearborn at Walled Lake Western — Dearborn by 2.

Redford Thurston at Bloomfield Hills Lahser — Lahser by 21

Detroit Crockett at Birmingham Detroit Country Day — Country Day by 3

Madison Heights Madison at Almont — Almont by 3

Farmington at Southfield — Southfield by 10

Detroit Loyola at Royal Oak Shrine — Shrine by 7

Peck at Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes — WOLL by 5



Searn (michiganhsfootball.com)

Milford at Howell — Howell by 3

West Bloomfield at Livonia Stevenson — Stevenson by 8

Novi Detroit Catholic Central at Novi — Catholic Central by 7

Utica Eisenhower at Lake Orion — Lake Orion by 9

Flushing at Oxford — Flushing by 7

Birmingham Brother Rice at Rochester Adams — Adams by 7

Auburn Hills Avondale at Lakeland — Lakeland by 12

St. Clair Shores Lake Shore at Ferndale — Lake Shore by 2

Madison Heights Lamphere at Clinton Township Clintondale — Clintondale by 8

Madison Heights Bishop Foley at Whitmore Lake — Whitmore Lake by 5

Southfield Christian at Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest — Northwest by 7

Clarkston at Romeo — Romeo by 1

Troy at Macomb Dakota — Dakota by 14

Dearborn at Walled Lake Western — Dearborn by 1

Redford Thurston at Bloomfield Hills Lahser — Lahser by 3

Detroit Crockett at Birmingham Detroit Country Day — Country Day by 6

Madison Heights Madison at Almont — Almont by 6

Farmington at Southfield — Southfield by 15

Detroit Loyola at Royal Oak Shrine — Shrine by 10

Peck at Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes — WOLL by 7