If Bakersfield teams are going to win either the Division I or II Central Section football titles this year, it's going to be an upset. The Fresno area, while perhaps not as deep as Kern County, has a monopoly on the top teams in the section thus far.

That could change, of course, and it will, beginning with this week. No. 1 Fresno-Edison plays No. 2 Clovis-Buchanan this week in the first of what could be several top-10 showdowns up north: Remember, Buchanan, Clovis West and Clovis East are all in the same league, as are Edison and Fresno-Bullard.

On to the rankings:

1. Fresno-Edison (4-0, Div. II, last week: 1) — Domination of another state power proves Tigers might have eyes on more than the section title. Meanwhile, another test awaits.
LAST WEEK: won vs. Merced, 43-14. THIS WEEK: at No. 2 Clovis-Buchanan.

2. Clovis-Buchanan (3-0, Div. I, last week: 4) — I just can't imagine a high school defense shutting down quarterback Lance Orender, WR Corvaughn Archie and the Bear offense when it's clicking. Guess we'll find out if I'm right.
LAST WEEK: won at No. 6 Bakersfield, 41-34. THIS WEEK: vs. No. 1 Fresno-Edison.

3. Visalia-El Diamante (4-0, Div. II, last week: 3) — Miners certainly have been impressive, but they won't get a real chance to prove exactly how good they are till playoff time.
LAST WEEK: won at Fresno-Central, 48-13. THIS WEEK: at Visalia-Mt. Whitney.

4. Fresno-Bullard (3-1, Div. I, last week: 10) — Knights go from 2-8 two years ago to back in the section's top five. Wins at Clovis East will help moves like that.
LAST WEEK: won at No. 2 Clovis East, 24-14. THIS WEEK: vs. No. 8 Clovis West.

5. Stockdale (3-0, Div. I, last week: 5) — I'll give the Mustangs the benefit of the doubt for close call against Clovis. But the effort needs to be better this week, or Stockdale will miss its chance to be Division I's only unbeaten.
LAST WEEK: won vs. Clovis, 29-26. THIS WEEK: at Centennial

6. Clovis East (2-2, Div. I, last week: 2) — Timberwolves couldn't slow Bullard early, falling behind 21-0. Schedule lightens up, though: next four opponents are 2-11.
LAST WEEK: lost vs. No. 10 Fresno-Bullard, 24-14. THIS WEEK: at Modesto-Davis.

7. Bakersfield (1-2, Div. I, last week: 6) — Drillers will likely still have a say in this before the end, but a win this week is a must.
LAST WEEK: lost vs. No. 4 Clovis-Buchanan, 41-34. THIS WEEK: vs. No. 13 Liberty.

8. Clovis West (1-2, Div. I, last week: 7) — It's hard to punish the Golden Eagles for losing to Corona-Centennial, ranked No. 13 in the nation by USA Today. It's a little easier when you realize Clovis West had no shot from the moment it stepped on the field.
LAST WEEK: lost vs. Corona-Centennial, 42-7. THIS WEEK: at No. 4 Fresno-Bullard.

9. Tulare Union (3-0, Div. II, last week: 9) — Blowout after blowout continues to be impressive, but there's probably a ceiling on the Redskins' ranking until playoff time.
LAST WEEK: won vs. Visalia-Mt. Whitney, 60-30. THIS WEEK: at Chavez.

10. Exeter (3-0, Div. IV, last week: 11) — Monarchs step up and control Division II Frontier with mighty-mite running game. Another test waits against 3-0 Dinuba.
LAST WEEK: won at Frontier, 28-14. THIS WEEK: at Dinuba.

11. Bakersfield Christian (2-1, Div. V, last week: 12) — I was tempted to move the Eagles up further after Derek Carr's 360 yards and 4 TDs at Madera Ranchos-Liberty. This is obviously the class of Division V.
LAST WEEK: won at Madera-Ranchos-Liberty, 41-3. THIS WEEK: vs. Cambria-Coast.

12. Sanger (2-2, Div. II, last week: 13) — Is it possible that Division II is actually better than D-I this year? Or maybe it's not even a question.
LAST WEEK: won vs. Lemoore, 41-7. THIS WEEK: at Clovis.

13. Liberty (1-2, Div. I, last week: 8) — Snake-bitten Patriots have a chance to feel better about themselves with a win this week.
LAST WEEK: lost at West, 23-21. THIS WEEK: at No. 7 Bakersfield.

14. Hanford (3-0, Div. III, last week: NR) — I made a mistake last week: Hanford beat Oakhurst-Yosemite in a D-III showdown, not the other way around. Bullpups get their due this time around.
LAST WEEK: won vs. Madera, 30-12. THIS WEEK: vs. Visalia-Redwood.

15. Highland (3-0, Div. III, last week: NR) — Tim Hartnett has the Scots rolling, out of their bye week and into SEYL play. The big showdowns against BHS and Liberty come late, so Highland could make considerable noise in the meantime.
LAST WEEK: BYE. THIS WEEK: at East.

Dropped out: No. 13 Garces, No. 15 Oakhurst-Yosemite
Waiting: Corcoran, Chowchilla, Oakhurst-Yosemite, West, Dinuba, Foothill, Visalia-Redwood, Garces, Fowler, Frontier, Taft

Week 4 predictions and podcast are on the way in the next two days.