“Turn up the heat!” I said walking in the office Monday morning.

“Are you really still that cold after Friday’s lower temperatures?” Victor Parkins said. “I thought it felt more like football weather.”

“No, I am talking about my picks last week,” I laughed. “I only missed one game.”

“Oh brother…” Parkins said with an eye roll.

“The weather was great on Friday, and so was the football around the area,” I said. “South Fulton’s last-second win over Obion County, Dyersburg held on to beat Covington…”

“Yea, and Milan put the beat down on Halls, and I was home by 9:30 p.m.,” Parkins laughed.

But as for our picks, I went 11-1 last week and only beat Parkins by one pick as he went 10-2.

Parkins and myself were 4-0 in the Gibson County games, and we are both 40-2 (.952 winning percentage) in picking county games this season.

We both missed Dyersburg’s win over Covington, and Parkins also missed Millington’s win over Fayette-Ware.

Through nine weeks of the season, I am 114-14 (.891), while Parkins is 105-23 (.820) as I hold a nine-game lead.

A full slate of games this week in Week 9, so can Parkins make his move?

Nashville Prep (1-7) at Milan (6-2)

The Bulldogs have pitched two shutouts over the last two games, and they are playing a first-year program this week, who lost to Crockett County 68-0 in Week 1

Odom’s Pick: Milan 42, Nashville Prep 0

Vic’s Pick: Milan 56, Nashville Prep 7

North Side (5-3, 3-2 7-4A) at South Gibson (3-5, 2-3)

The Hornets are trying to get in the playoffs, and a win here would be a huge step toward making that happen. North Side gave up 41 points last week, and South Gibson will have to have the offense producing to have a chance in this one.

Odom’s Pick: South Gibson 21, North Side 20

Vic’s Pick: North Side 28, South Gibson 24

Huntingdon (8-0, 4-0 7-2A) at Peabody (5-3, 2-2)

The Mustangs are trying to clinch a region championship, while Peabody is playing for their playoff lives. The Golden Tide need to pull an upset in the final two weeks of the season to have any shot.

Odom’s Pick: Huntingdon 38, Peabody 21

Vic’s Pick: Huntingdon 49, Peabody 14

Gibson County (1-7, 0-5 7-2A) at Halls (2-6, 0-4)

Both of these teams are out of the Class 2A playoffs. So they are both trying to gain some momentum going into the offseason. Gibson County has played well at times, but they would have to put four quarters together to win this one.

Odom’s Pick: Halls 18, Gibson County 12

Vic’s Pick: Halls 28, Gibson County 14

Humboldt (8-0, 5-0 7-1A) at Gleason (0-8, 0-4)

The Region 7-1A champion travels to the worst team in the region. This one could get ugly early. The Vikings will want to stay healthy with the playoffs looming in two weeks.

Odom’s Pick: Humboldt 45, Gleason 0

Vic’s Pick: Humboldt 50, Gleason 6

West Carroll (1-7) at Liberty (6-2)

The War Eagles have to face an athletic team that has taken back-to-back losses on the season to Jackson teams.

Odom’s Pick: Liberty 28, West Carroll 12

Vic’s Pick: Liberty 28, West Carroll 14

Best of the West

Hardin County (4-4, 3-2 7-4A) at Lexington (8-0, 5-0)

Odom’s Pick: Lexington

Vic’s Pick: Lexington

Dyersburg (5-3, 4-0 7-3A) at Westview (8-0, 4-0)

Odom’s Pick: Westview

Vic’s Pick: Westview

Dresden (4-4, 3-1 7-1A) at South Fulton (7-1, 3-1)

Odom’s Pick: Dresden

Vic’s Pick: South Fulton

Greenfield (4-4, 1-3 7-1A) at Lake County (4-4, 2-2)

Odom’s Pick: Greenfield

Vic’s Pick: Lake County

JCM (5-3, 2-2 7-2A) at Union City (4-4, 3-1)

Odom’s Pick: JCM

Vic’s Pick: JCM

Ripley (1-7, 0-4 7-3A) at Obion County (3-5, 0-4)

Odom’s Pick: Obion County

Vic’s Pick: Obion County

Haywood (6-2, 4-0 8-4A) at Ridgeway (1-7, 1-3)

Odom’s Pick: Haywood

Vic’s Pick: Haywood

Harding Academy (3-5, 2-3 D2-A) at Fayette Academy (4-4, 1-3)

Odom’s Pick: Fayette Academy

Vic’s Pick: Fayette Academy

Fayette-Ware (3-5, 1-3 8-4A) at Kirby (4-4, 3-1)

Odom’s Pick: Kirby

Vic’s Pick: Kirby

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.