Odom vs. Vic: HIgh School Football Pick’em Week 1
Milan’s Jay Donaldson (1) runs after catching a pass against Henry County during the Henry County Jamboree at Henry County on Aug. 14, 2026. Photo by Carrie Hurt
Back in June, I was sitting nicely in Estes Park, Colorado with cool temperatures, a beautiful view of the mountains and elk scurrying around the roads.
But the 2026 high school football season brought me back to reality in July, and now we get to deal with a heat dome that I am ready to poke a hole in and throw away from the amount of sweat that has come each of the past two Fridays at scrimmages as the season inches nearer by the day.
So since we are here and dealing with the heat, why not start working on trying to beat my boss Victor Parkins for the second straight season in our high school football pick’em contest.
Last year, I won by five games as I went 159-46 (.77 winning percentage), while Parkins came in at 154-51 (.748).
Here is hoping for some cooler temperatures are around the corner with Week 1 starting on Thursday:
Milan at South Side
The Hawks had a big exodus of players at the start of the summer, so they are in a rebuilding mode. Milan is young with only five seniors, so this will be a chance for the Bulldogs’ young players to get their feet wet.
Odom’s Pick: Milan 38, South Side 12
Vic’s Pick: Milan 35, South Side 13
Halls at Humboldt
There seems to be lots of preseason hype around the Vikings and their potential going into the season. Halls was a region opponent two years ago and could be back next year.
Odom’s Pick: Humboldt 36, Halls 28
Vic’s Pick: Humboldt 27, Halls 20
Ripley at Peabody
With a young team, the Golden Tide are looking for early positives to build off of to be ready for region play. Ripley could be a good starting point as numbers after down for the Tigers.
Odom’s Pick: Peabody 32, Ripley 18
Vic’s Pick: Peabody 40, Ripley 13
Gibson County at West Carroll
The Pioneers are hungry to start this season off with a win after not winning a game last year. This was the lone game last year that the War Eagles won.
Odom’s Pick: Gibson County 20, West Carroll 12
Vic’s Pick: Gibson County 14, West Carroll 7
South Gibson at Franklin Road Academy
The Panthers reached the Division II-AA state championship game last year, and they have an athlete in Omarii Sanders that is committed to Vanderbilt.
Odom’s Pick: FRA 35, South Gibson 14
Vic’s Pick: FRA 28, South Gibson 17
Read the other region breakdowns
Region 6-1A Football: Can McKenzie make another run at the Class 1A state championship game?
Region 7-2A Football: Will Huntingdon make a run at a second straight state championship?
Region 7-3A Football: Can Westview repeat as region champion, state champion?
Region 8-4A Football: Will Haywood win the region championship again?
Best of the West
Henry County at Haywood (Thurs.)
Odom’s Pick: Henry County
Vic’s Pick: Henry County
Dresden at TCA
Odom’s Pick: TCA
Vic’s Pick: TCA
Westview vs. MASE at St. Benedict
Odom’s Pick: Westview
Vic’s Pick: Westview
Greenfield at Perry County
Odom’s Pick: Greenfield
Vic’s Pick: Greenfield
Fulton County (Ky.) at Gleason
Odom’s Pick: Fulton County (Ky.)
Vic’s Pick: Gleason
McNairy Central at Fayette Academy
Odom’s Pick: Fayette Academy
Vic’s Pick: Fayette Academy
Union City at Jackson Christian
Odom’s Pick: Jackson Christian
Vic’s Pick: Union City
Lake County at Obion County
Odom’s Pick: Obion County
Vic’s Pick: Obion County
McKenzie at Huntingdon
Odom’s Pick: Huntingdon
Vic’s Pick: Huntingdon
JCM at North Side
Odom’s Pick: North Side
Vic’s Pick: North Side
Dyersburg at Dyer County
Odom’s Pick: Dyersburg
Vic’s Pick: Dyersburg
Michael Odom is the sports editor for the Mirror-Exchange, Weakley County Press, Brownsville States-Graphic and Fayette Falcon. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @GCSportsWriter. Reach him by email at michaelodom@milanmirrorexchange.com.
