Football: Venice about to take on Narbonne

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Venice is my favorite place to watch a high school football game.

OK, full disclosure: It’s also one of the closest places to my home. (An aside: How come L.A. University never plays in any big games?)

Anyway, the third-seeded Gondoliers are playing host to 11th-seeded Narbonne in a City Section quarterfinal playoff game about to start in a half hour. I picked the Gauchos to win based on an impressive performance last week against L.A. Jordan.

Venice hung tough with Oaks Christian earlier this season in the only game I saw the Gondoliers play, but I think Narbonne is bigger, more athletic and has more playoff experience as the defending City co-champion. The Gauchos have also played a much more demanding schedule, with games against Orange Lutheran, Carson, Long Beach Poly and Los Alamitos.

I’ve been wrong before. I mean, I picked L.A. Jordan last week and the Bulldogs lost 33-0. Ouch.

--Ben Bolch