PIGSKIN PROPHECIES

How do you pick against a guy whose team lived by the statement--”Just Win Baby”--you adopted as your personal motto? No wonder Greg Townsend and The Prophet have chosen similarly on the vast majority of games this week. For the Raiders, Townsend made a living pounding quarterbacks. As a pigskin prognosticator, so have I. Or have you forgotten the prediction pummelings I delivered to past guests Vince Ferragamo and Craig Fertig? As usual, The Prophet saved his best work for the playoffs. He was a season-best 13-2 last week with 23 points.

GAME OF THE WEEK (5 points)

Villa Park at Newport Harbor, Friday

THE PROPHET SAYS: Villa Park scores a lot of points, so don’t expect Newport Harbor to post its fourth shutout. But the Century League champions allow a lot of points too. So Newport Harbor might score 35 points or more for the sixth time this season. Newport Harbor, 35-21.

TOWNSEND SAYS: For the third time in four games, the Sailors didn’t give up a point last week in their first-round matchup against El Dorado. Villa Park got 265 yards and five touchdowns from running back Marquis Colvin in a 38-28 victory over Santa Ana. Newport Harbor battles rocky seas but eventually sails into the third round. Newport Harbor, 24-20.

OTHER TOP GAMES (each 3 points)

Mater Dei at Mission Hills Alemany, Friday

THE PROPHET SAYS: Alemany has tremendous speed at running back and receiver plus Tennessee-bound quarterback Casey Clausen. None of which will make a Mater Dei defense that has faced the likes of Concord De La Salle so much as blink. Mater Dei, 38-21.

TOWNSEND SAYS: The Monarchs will have their hands full with Alemany’s De’Andre Scott, who had 422 yards of offense and five touchdowns in a first-round game against Esperanza. But the steady Monarch defense will come up big again. Mater Dei, 31-24.

Loara at Tustin, Friday

THE PROPHET SAYS: Everybody likes to talk about Tustin’s running game, but what about that Tiller defense? Tustin, winner of seven in a row, has given up only 13 points in its last four games. Tustin, 24-14.

TOWNSEND SAYS: Loara puts its six-game winning streak on the line and must contain the Tillers’ Branden Malcom. The Tillers will have to watch hard-nosed Billy Chavez, who had three touchdowns and 159 yards rushing last week. Tustin, 21-19.

Pacifica at Western, Friday

THE PROPHET SAYS: The crystal ball says to go with Pacifica. The brain says to go with Pacifica. The memory says to go with any Western opponent because every time I pick Western, the Pioneers lose. Sigh! Western, 21-20.

TOWNSEND SAYS: Pacifica held C.J. Zuniga, Costa Mesa’s high-powered running back, to 78 yards on the ground. Western romped over La Habra. For the second week in a row, the Mariners move on. Pacifica, 14-10.

THE REST (1 point each)

* Los Alamitos vs. L.A. Loyola at Glendale HS, Friday: The Prophet: Los Alamitos gave up 36 points against Edison and 34 to Fountain Valley. If the Griffins give up half that against Loyola, they’re in trouble. The Cubs are tough--as always--on defense. Loyola, 17-13. Townsend: Loyola, 24-21.

* Diamond Bar at San Clemente, Friday: The Prophet: San Clemente’s offense, “The Fly,” gets whacked. Diamond Bar and Palos Verdes Peninsula, both undefeated, are headed for a Division II title-game showdown. Diamond Bar, 21-10. Townsend: Diamond Bar, 21-17.

* Irvine vs. Lakewood Mayfair at Bellflower HS, Friday: The Prophet: Irvine is capable of upsetting the top-ranked Monsoons. More likely, the Vaqueros will be the best Division VI team not to make it out of the second round. Mayfair, 24-16. Townsend: Mayfair, 30-20.

* La Mirada vs. Kennedy at Glover Stadium, Friday: The Prophet: The Suburban League is the only circuit in Division VI that isn’t from Orange County. Two of its teams will make the semifinals. La Mirada, 20-17. Townsend: Kennedy, 24-17.

* La Verne Bonita vs. Troy at Fullerton HS, Friday: The Prophet: La Habra’s first-round loss doesn’t say much for the Freeway League. Bonita is on a collision course with Brea Olinda. Bonita, 42-20. Townsend: Bonita, 35-24.

* Valencia at San Dimas, Friday: The Prophet: Valencia didn’t bounce back well after being routed by Brea Olinda. San Dimas easily handled a good Garden Grove team. San Dimas, 21-14. Townsend: San Dimas, 23-21.

* Covina South Hills at Brea Olinda, Friday: The Prophet: Brea Olinda will have a tougher time this week than it will next week against the Pacifica-Western winner. Brea Olinda, 22-16. Townsend: Brea Olinda, 38-20.

* Banning vs. Orange Lutheran at Brea Olinda HS, Saturday: The Prophet: Banning beat Orange Lutheran’s old nemesis, Carpinteria. Jason Whieldon has one more victory in him. Orange Lutheran, 22-20. Townsend: Orange Lutheran, 17-10.