Predictions: The Big 5

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I hate making predictions, but something’s gotta snap me out of my funk.

Here are my picks for semifinal games involving Orange County teams:

Orange Lutheran 28, Long Beach Poly 27 (Pac-5, Friday)
Crespi 28, Servite 21 (Pac-5, Friday)
Trabuco Hills 17, Charter Oak 14 (Southwest, Friday)
El Dorado 35, South Hills 14 (Southwest, Saturday)
Schurr 17, Fullerton 14 (Southeast, Friday)
La Habra 38, California 14 (Southeast, Saturday)
Placentia Valencia 14, Cypress 13 (Southern, Friday)
Garden Grove Pacifica 22, La Palma Kennedy 21 (Southern, Saturday)

And here are my picks for everybody else around the Southland (except for, you know, eight-man games):

Birmingham 35, Crenshaw 21 (City, Friday)
Carson 21, Dorsey 14 (City, Friday)
Redlands East Valley 28, Corona Santiago 14 (Inland, Friday)
Corona Centennial 35, Chaparral 21 (Inland, Saturday)
Dominguez 28, Palmdale 21 (Western, Friday)
St. Paul 21, Gahr 14 (Western, Friday)
Hart 35, Newbury Park 17 (Northern, Friday)
Saugus 35, St. Bonaventure 34 (Northern, Saturday)
Colton 32, Canyon Springs 21 (Central, Friday)
Colony 15, Moreno Valley 14 (Central, Saturday)
Riverside North 35, King 14 (Eastern, Friday)
Palm Desert 28, Palm Springs 10 (Eastern, Saturday)
Oaks Christian 28, Oak Park 27 (Northwest, Friday)
Cerritos Valley Christian 21, Santa Clara 20 (Mid-Valley, Friday)
Paraclete 28, Bishop Diego 24 (Mid-Valley, Saturday)
Riverside Notre Dame 24, San Jacinto 21 (East Valley, Friday)
Citrus Hills 35, Bishop 7 (East Valley, Saturday)
Saddleback Valley Christian 28, Brentwood 21 (Northeast, Friday)
St. Margaret’s 28, Murrieta Valley Calvary Chapel 21 (Northeast, Saturday)

So-called expert: Last week, 9-3, season 67-35-3

-- Martin Henderson

-- Image from www.istockphoto.com