PIGSKIN PROPHECIES

For the past 10 weeks, The Prophet has been facing a string of Times’ high school football “experts,” and if you’ve been following at all you have proof positive that 1 on 10 can still be a mismatch. During the regular season, The Prophet accumulated a 10-game, 34-point edge over his opponents. Now come the rematches. In the next four weeks, The Prophet will be facing the Times reporters who had the most success against him in earlier matchups. In Week 1, the opportunistic Ben Bolch beat The Prophet by one game and three points. Bolch caught a big break because The Prophet was forced to make his picks early, and was somewhere on a tropical beach sipping a fruit drink with a little umbrella floating in it when his first-week picks went to press. No such luck this time, Ben.

Season totals for:

The Prophet: 100-40 (71%), 180 points. Last week: 10-4, 18 points

Season totals for:

Guest: 90-50 (64%), 156 points. Last week: Van Nightingale, 9-5, 15 points

GAME OF THE WEEK (5 points)

Servite vs. Edison at Huntington Beach High, Friday

THE PROPHET SAYS: In the county poll, Edison is ranked No. 3 and Servite is not ranked. Neither team should believe that’s accurate. The last time these teams met, Edison pulled out a 35-33 victory not because it was the better team, but because Servite--with turnovers and poor execution on key plays--was its own worst enemy. Edison’s Darryl Poston rushed for 251 yards and three touchdowns in the first game, a performance he probably can’t repeat. Indeed, most signals point to going with Servite in the rematch. I’m a nonconformist. Edison 31, Servite 26

BOLCH SAYS: Servite has a nasty habit of losing close games against Orange County teams; the Friars lost nail-biters to Mater Dei, Santa Margarita and Edison. But it’s hard to keep a good team down. Servite is ready to roll in the playoffs after a silly little Southern Section rule kept it home last season. The Friars’ first order of business is to exact a little revenge against Edison, and they will get it . . . barely. Servite 32, Edison 29

OTHER TOP GAMES (each 3 points)

Los Alamitos vs. Rialto Eisenhower at Eisenhower High, Friday

THE PROPHET SAYS: Pairings announcement day brought good news and bad for Eisenhower. The good: The Eagles were seeded No. 4. The bad: They drew Los Alamitos, an 8-2 team, in the first round. A typical Citrus Belt League team, these Eagles don’t fly. They run. And they haven’t been beaten since their season opener. Playing at home, you gotta like Ike. Eisenhower 28, Los Alamitos 24

BOLCH SAYS: Los Alamitos Coach John Barnes is the youngest-looking 52-year-old I’ve ever seen. There’s a reason for this: His Griffins rarely lose in the early rounds of the playoffs. While Los Alamitos has had its shaky moments this season, the Griffins have enough talent to win at least their playoff opener, even against heavily favored Eisenhower. Barnes may get a few gray hairs before this one’s over, but at least his team will be the one left standing. Los Alamitos 34, Eisenhower 28

Tustin vs. Foothill at Tustin High, Friday

THE PROPHET SAYS: First off, let me say that I’m as much a fan of gutsy, unheralded, much-improved Foothill as anyone. And I’m sure the Knights are much better than they were when they lost to Tustin, 6-0, in their season opener. But--Hel-lo! Has anyone been paying attention?--it doesn’t matter. I have no idea whether Tustin is gutsy. I do know the Tillers, who were without their starting quarterback the last time these teams met, are good. Very good. Tustin 28, Foothill 8

BOLCH SAYS: Foothill Coach Doug Case sent me a not-so-subtly-worded e-mail after I picked his Knights to get whacked by Tustin in their opener, essentially telling me to wake up and realize his program was for real or get lost. Consider me wide-eyed and attentive, coach. Foothill has been one of the pleasant surprises of the season, and though logic tells me to go with the Tillers in this rematch, I’m backing Case’s case for an upset. Foothill 19, Tustin 18

Kennedy vs. Villa Park at El Modena High, Friday

THE PROPHET SAYS: Villa Park’s hopes for a unbeaten season were derailed by Foothill. Kennedy is coming off its second loss in a row, getting manhandled by Loara. These teams have three common opponents. Both shut out Katella. Kennedy downed Valencia convincingly while Villa Park squeaked by. The only difference--and it’s a big one--is that Villa Park beat Loara in Week 4. But that was before the Saxons got good. Upset special. Kennedy 15, Villa Park 14

BOLCH SAYS: While the Prophet doesn’t realize transitive reasoning is weak because it can be used to argue for almost anything, I provide the hard cold facts: Villa Park is the better team. The Spartans may have hit a little speed bump last week in Foothill, but their alignment is intact. Kennedy, while explosive, needs some work under the hood. Villa Park 21, Kennedy 17

THE REST (1 point each)

* Los Amigos vs. University at Irvine High, tonight: The Prophet: University got a better draw by not being seeded. University, 22-8. Bolch: University, 31-12.

* Garden Grove vs. Covina at Covina District Stadium, tonight: The Prophet: Garden Grove got matched against the Valle Vista League team in the first round last year. And lost. Covina, 24-13. Bolch: Covina, 21-12.

* Fountain Valley vs. Long Beach Poly at Veterans Stadium, Friday: The Prophet: An emotional Fountain Valley team played a heavily favored Long Beach Poly team close in the first round last year. Long Beach Poly, 34-14. Bolch: Long Beach Poly, 42-7.

* Fontana A.B. Miller vs. Santa Margarita at Saddleback College, Friday: The Prophet: Most Citrus Belt teams are grind-it-out runners, so Santa Margarita should be ready to play smash mouth. Santa Margarita, 24-14. Bolch: Santa Margarita, 28-13.

* Compton Dominguez at San Clemente, Friday: The Prophet: San Clemente is an extra tough playoff draw because of the wrinkles of the fly offense, but the Tritons need Beau Budde at quarterback to click on all cylinders. San Clemente, 22-14. Bolch: San Clemente, 28-21.

* Cerritos vs. Loara at Glover Stadium, Friday: The Prophet: Loara has won five in a row since a 1-4 start. Cerritos couldn’t stay with Brea Olinda in a nonleague game. Loara-Tustin will make for a great quarterfinal. Loara, 35-14. Bolch: Loara, 24-14.

* Buena Park at Western, Friday: The Prophet: Western was pretty fired up over some tongue-in-cheek comments--and predictions--made here earlier this year. So I’ll take some credit for that soon-to-be 10-1 record. Western, 47-14. Bolch: Western, 38-17.

* Estancia at Fullerton, Friday: The Prophet: Pacific Coast League teams were 0 for the playoffs last season. Fullerton’s defense is the difference in this one. Fullerton, 28-13. Bolch: Fullerton, 9-0.

* Valencia vs. Pacifica at Bolsa Grande High, Friday: The Prophet: Valencia has won every time it has allowed fewer than 21 points. Valencia, 28-20. Bolch: Pacifica, 14-13.

* Saddleback vs. Cypress at Western High, Saturday: The Prophet: Cypress has allowed more than 13 points only once this year. Are the Centurions that good, or was their schedule that poor? Cypress, 28-13. Bolch: Saddleback, 15-10.

* Lakewood Mayfair at El Modena, Saturday: The Prophet: The Suburban League didn’t fair well in the playoffs last season and El Modena is better than most mortals think. Another upset special. El Modena, 21-20. Bolch: Lakewood Mayfair, 28-14.