A happy Thanksgiving Eve to everyone. I'll be heading up to Kingsburg in a couple of hours for the Vikings' Division IV game with Taft, which the teams mutually agreed to move up to save holiday plans.

I love the idea, not only because it gives the players, their parents and coaches some time off for the holiday, but because it puts a couple of schools in the spotlight that wouldn't normally be there. I don't know that The Californian would send a writer to this game if it were Friday night with everything else, nor The Fresno Bee, nor TV stations nor radio. All of those things will probably be there tonight. So spend your Wednesday with the Wildcats and Vikings. I'll be doing a live blog from Kingsburg tonight during the game.

So who's going to win? I'd better get these predictions in pretty quick or I'll miss my chance.

Tomorrow, slip in a Thanksgiving podcast between turkey and football, and then we'll gear back up Friday. For now, a look back at last week's predictions:

The Good: Calling for Liberty to lose a tough one, for West to handle Garces again and for Tehachapi and Arvin to get by first round games.

The Bad: Expecting Stockdale to keep it close and for Bakersfield High to find itself for the playoffs.

The Ugly: Well, then. Turns out Delano was pretty insulted by that No. 8 seed, as it rolled past South 42-0 in Division III. That's a bit different than the close Rebels win I predicted.

Wednesday, Nov. 26
DIVISION IV
NO. 5 TAFT (7-3) AT NO. 4 KINGSBURG (9-1) — Somehow, the Vikings were seeded No. 4 when they beat No. 1 seed Visalia-Central Valley Christian by 10 points a few weeks back. Now they get a tough Taft team in the first round. Of course, the Wildcats can't be too happy, either. They've lost three games to three very good teams and will absolutely have their hands full tonight. I think they'll play better than they have in a couple of their losses, but the Division IV title defense comes to an end tonight.
Prediction: Kingsburg 28, Taft 16

Friday, Nov. 28
DIVISION II
NO. 7 WEST (6-5) AT NO. 2 VISALIA-EL DIAMANTE (9-1) — West was able to throw a few haymakers against El D in the teams' Week 1 meeting before ultimately falling 34-14. The temptation is to say that because West found its groove and started playing much better late in the season, this rematch will be closer and might even go the Vikings' way. Not so fast. Remember, too, that El Diamante was a young team early and had lost many starters from last year's D-II championship team. The younguns are grown up now, which means the Miners have improved maybe even more than West has.
Prediciton: El Diamante 49, West 14

NO. 5 SANGER (6-5) AT NO. 4 NORTH (8-2) — One of the more interesting matchups in any playoff bracket takes place in Oildale on Friday night, with a team that's lost five times against a hellacious schedule facing a team that's run more or less easily over a much weaker slate. It's been a while since the Stars have won a playoff game, and I don't think this is the night, unless (1) North doesn't turn the ball over a single time and (2) Seth Vlach and company grind out yards and time off the clock while Julian Dean-Johnson busts a couple of his trademark long runs. It could happen, but I think it's too much to ask.
Prediction: Sanger 34, North 28

DIVISION III
NO. 8 DELANO (8-3) AT NO. 1 HANFORD (9-1) — I fear picking the Delano games, because, much like Bakersfield High was, the Tigers are capable of getting hot and beating about anybody in this bracket. That would include the top-seeded Bullpups. But Delano also has laid a couple of eggs this year, and I won't trust them against a dangerous Hanford team that very well could roll to a section title.
Prediction: Hanford 31, Delano 18

NO. 6 TEHACHAPI (7-4) AT NO. 3 GOLDEN VALLEY (6-4) — It's almost too bad these teams are meeting up in the quarterfinals, because I think they're both great sleepers in the bracket. Both were hot at the end of the year and both are built like playoff teams. I can guarantee Oakhurst-Yosemite, who'll likely end up facing the winner in the semis, isn't looking forward to either matchup. I think the Warriors have enough playoff acumen, plus defense at the line of scrimmage, to keep Byron Newman and the Bulldogs from running completely wild. If Tehachapi can get the ground game going, it'll have the upset.
Prediction: Tehachapi 30, Golden Valley 26

NO. 5 HIGHLAND (6-4) AT NO. 4 FOOTHILL (5-5) — Any respect Highland gained in its 6-1 start has probably been lost with three meager efforts to close the season — three weeks with two points, both of which came in a 24-2 loss to Foothill in Week 8. Can the Scots get some offense going? If they can, they can win this game behind a still-strong defense. It'll be closer than the last meeting with the Trojans. But I don't think the Scots can make up 22 points in four weeks.
Prediction: Foothill 21, Highland 13

DIVISION IV
NO. 8 ARVIN (5-6) AT NO. 1 VISALIA-CENTRAL VALLEY CHRISTIAN (8-2) — By one very important measure, the Division IV bracket is the most wide-open of all. The No. 1 seed does not appear invincible like many of the others do. But CVC is on a roll, no doubt there, and Arvin will need the game of the year to crack a Cavaliers defense that allowed Bakersfield Christian just 27 points (trust me, that's pretty good) and gave up 16 points in its final three regular-season games combined. A Bear-sized upset wouldn't surprise me, but I'm not that confident.
Prediction: Central Valley Christian 23, Arvin 14

DIVISION V
NO. 7 PARLIER (8-3) AT NO. 2 BAKERSFIELD CHRISTIAN (9-1) — The Panthers do bring some punch, but they simply haven't played a team like this yet. That's going to be the case for just about every team in Division V. BCHS will be able to name its score this week and then gear up for (most likely) Fowler and Corcoran.
Prediction: Bakersfield Christian 52, Parlier 14

SOUTHERN SECTION
NORTHEAST DIVISION
NO. 7 ARACADIA-RIO HONDO PREP (7-3) AT NO. 2 BORON (10-1) — This is a major trap for the Bobcats and potentially their biggest test on the way to a possible section championship. Both teams can score; Rio Hondo Prep seems to have a bit better defense. Does that mean it's the end of the line for Boron? I'm going to go with my gut on this one and say the Bobcats, at home, pull another close one out and make it to the semifinals.
Prediction: Boron 37, Rio Hondo Prep 33

NO. 16 MOJAVE (6-5) AT NO. 8 YERMO-SILVER VALLEY (7-4) — Fresh off a massive upset of San Juan Capistrano-Saddleback Valley Christian, the Mustangs tackle what will become a league foe next year. These teams could become pretty big rivals, battling for the right to be a league challenger to Boron. But this year, I'm going with Silver Valley. This year as a freelance team was kind of a lost one for Mojave as it transitions into being a much smaller school, and it's already been a success. But the buck stops here.
Prediction: Silver Valley 31, Mojave 16

Last week: 8-4 (.667)   Season: 169-65 (.722)