PIGSKIN PROPHECIES

I’m not sure who let the dogs out, but Steve Henson was yelping like a wounded pup after Muir upset Crescenta Valley last week, giving your Soothsaying Swami yet another victory over an ink-stained minion. Steve was so stunned by the score that, to console himself, he immediately drove to a Chinese restaurant and ordered his favorite dish, barbecued pork with milk bone. They served it to him in a doggy dish. Speaking of canines, this week’s challenger is Dave “Desert Dog” Desmond, the unofficial commissioner of the Golden League. Dave has nauseated his colleagues this season with his nonstop harangues on the virtues of Golden football. If that doesn’t make you queasy, his football picks will.

The Prophet

Season totals for the Prophet: 85 of 120 (71%), 129 points

Dave Desmond

Season totals for the guests: 78 of 120 (65%), 114 points

GAME OF THE WEEK (5 points)

Notre Dame at St. Francis, 7:30 p.m.

THE PROPHET SAYS: I’ve got $5 riding on St. Francis. But the newspaper nimrods like my picks to be different from the challenger’s, so I grudgingly took Notre Dame. Eric Sondheimer is so excited he’s trying to find us matching leprechaun outfits. Notre Dame, 28-21.

DESMOND SAYS: No prisoners taken here. The turban meets the turbine this week. The Prophet and his cohort, our columnist-Notre Dame media machine, like Notre Dame. But each so-called Division III kingpin has taken its turn proving mortal and, this week, it’s Notre Dame’s turn. St. Francis, 17-14.

OTHER TOP GAMES (each 3 points)

Birmingham at Granada Hills, 7 p.m.

THE PROPHET SAYS: Birmingham routed Cleveland last week despite playing on a soggy field caused by Henson drooling over the Patriots’ high-powered offense. He’s covering this game, too, provided the line at In-N-Out doesn’t make him late for kickoff. Birmingham, 34-24.

DESMOND SAYS: What, I’m gonna pick against the Patriots the week before the national election? That would be un-American. Birmingham, 40-17.

*

Antelope Valley at Palmdale, 7 p.m.

THE PROPHET SAYS: Desmond has been tossing and turning all week. I assumed he was agonizing over picking a winner in this game, but the truth is he’s upset because he’ll have one less Golden League team to push for the region top 10. Palmdale, 24-21.

DESMOND SAYS: Palmdale was 4-1-1 against league champions but showed a suspect defense against quality teams. Both sides of the ball considered, the Antelopes might have an edge. Antelope Valley, 20-17.

*

Sylmar at San Fernando, 7 p.m.

THE PROPHET SAYS: This one should have it all: emotion, intensity, excitement, thrills, heartbreak. And that’s just Sylmar Coach Jeff Engilman during warm-ups. Sylmar, 32-20.

DESMOND SAYS: There’s a special place in my heart for San Fernando, but Sylmar is rolling and gets all my votes. Sylmar, 28-10.

THE REST (1 point each)

* Cleveland at Taft: The Prophet: A week after announcing his resignation, Taft Coach Troy Starr plans to fire up his players by telling them he was only kidding. Taft, 38-17. Desmond: Taft, 35-14.

* Alemany at St. Paul: The Prophet: After being knocked woozy on a hard tackle, St. Paul RB De’Andre Scott wanders into the Alemany huddle and yells, “Just give me the damn ball!” St. Paul, 45-13. Desmond: St. Paul, 38-10.

* Buena vs. Dos Pueblos at San Marcos High: The Prophet: Santa Barbara schools, fearful of being pummeled by visiting Ventura schools, put up a roadblock on Pacific Coast Highway. Buena, 40-14. Desmond: Buena, 33-6.

* Valencia at Burroughs: The Prophet: Always a bridesmaid, never a bride. Valencia draws closer to another runner-up finish in the Foothill League. Valencia, 28-14. Desmond: Valencia, 48-8.

* Crespi at Chaminade: The Prophet: Crespi’s Ron Gueringer is the only coach in the Southland who has infuriated his school’s alumni more than Paul Hackett. Chaminade, 35-10. Desmond: Chaminade, 28-6.

* Hueneme at Channel Islands: The Prophet: The view from here says the Vikings stay in the hunt for the Pacific View League title. Hueneme, 32-16. Desmond: Hueneme, 35-28.

* Glendale at Pasadena: The Prophet: Nothing like playing a team from Glendale to end your woes. Pasadena, which beat Hoover last week, improves to 2-7. Pasadena, 20-13. Desmond: Pasadena, 42-24.

* L.A. Baptist vs. Paraclete at Antelope Valley College: The Prophet: L.A. Baptist is the Alpha League’s version of the St. Louis Rams: plenty of offense but no D. Paraclete, 49-25. Desmond: Paraclete, 45-12.

* Royal at Moorpark: The Prophet: Royal laid an egg last week against Westlake, but who hasn’t? The Marmonte League should be renamed Westlake and the Six Dwarfs. Royal, 24-14. Desmond: Royal, 28-24.

* Santa Paula at Calabasas: The Prophet: Things get Coyote ugly for Santa Paula, which drops second game in a row after starting 6-0-1. Calabasas, 27-21. Desmond: Santa Paula, 27-13.

* Nordhoff at Carpinteria: The Prophet: The run-oriented Rangers were on a Nick Kaiser roll last week in trampling Santa Paula. Nordhoff, 30-14. Desmond: Nordhoff, 42-9.