“Trick or treat?”

“Michael, Halloween is over, and you look to have eaten too much cady this weekend,” Victor Parkins said as I was walking in the office.

“I might have stolen a piece of candy or two from my daughters’ treats,” I laughed. “But my picks last week seemed to have tricked you, as I gained another game to my lead in the pick’em contest.”

“So does that mean we start over at zero with the playoffs starting?” Parkins joked.

“Not a chance, but these games this week are tough,” I scoffed.

I went 12-3 with my picks last week, beating Parkins’ 11-4 record.

We picked four of the five Gibson County area games correctly, but we both missed Humboldt’s win over Lakeland Prep.

I am now 42-9 (.824 winning percentage) with county picks, while Parkins is 41-10 (.803).

Outside of the county, we both missed Dyer County’s win over Lexington and First Assembly Christian School’s win over Fayette Academy. Parkins also missed Westview’s win over Covington.

For the regular season, I finished with a 124-38 (.765) record, while Parkins is three games back at 121-41 (.747).

Can I add another one-game lead in the first round of the playoffs?

MASE (5-5) at Milan (9-0)

The Bulldogs have shutout their last two opponents, and MASE has been shut out the past two weeks. Milan will want that trend to continue, but the Phoenix can’t be overlooked as they won the Class 1A state title last season.

Odom’s Pick: Milan 28, MASE 12

Vic’s Pick: Milan 24, MASE 14

Millington (4-6) at South Gibson (7-3)

The Hornets have averaged 45 points per game the past two weeks in wins over North Side and Hardin County. Millington has given up 41 or more points four times this season, and the Trojans gave up 36 points in another loss.

Odom’s Pick: South Gibson 38, Millington 8

Vic’s Pick: South Gibson 42, Millington 7

Peabody (8-2) at Mitchell (6-4)

After winning the first eight games of the season, the Golden Tide suffered back-to-back road losses to end the season. But Peabody has the personnel to go on the road and win here. Mitchell got the No. 2 seed despite losing to MASE 30-6 and Fairley 44-6.

Odom’s Pick: Peabody 22, Mitchell 12

Vic’s Pick: Mitchell 16, Peabody 14

Humboldt (5-5) at Middle College (8-1)

The Vikings seemed to have figured things out over the last three weeks, picking up three wins by a combined 13 points. It is hard to figure out how good Middle College is as the team lost to Crockett County 56-0 to open the season but has shutout four straight opponents with a total of six shutouts this season.

Odom’s Pick: Humboldt 34, Middle College 32

Vic’s Pick: Humboldt 40, Middle College 20

Best of the West

Class 1A

Greenfield (6-4) at Oakhaven (7-3)

Odom’s Pick: Greenfield

Vic’s Pick: Oakhaven

Middleton (4-6) at Dresden (8-2)

Odom’s Pick: Dresden

Vic’s Pick: Dresden

Huntland (6-4) at McKenzie (9-1)

Odom’s Pick: McKenzie

Vic’s Pick: McKenzie

Class 2A

Memphis Business (6-4) at Huntingdon (9-1)

Odom’s Pick: Huntingdon

Vic’s Pick: Huntingdon

JCM (5-5) at Fairley (8-2)

Odom’s Pick: Fairley

Vic’s Pick: Fairley

Class 3A

Hamilton (3-7) at Westview (9-0)

Odom’s Pick: Westview

Vic’s Pick: Westview

Class 4A

Lexington (7-3) at Haywood (8-2)

Odom’s Pick: Haywood

Vic’s Pick: Haywood

Crockett County (8-2) at Kirby (6-4)

Odom’s Pick: Crockett County

Vic’s Pick: Crockett County

Lakeland Prep (4-6) at Dyer County (8-2)

Odom’s Pick: Dyer County

Vic’s Pick: Dyer County

Division II-A

Concord Christian (5-3) at Jackson Christian (8-2)

Odom’s Pick: Jackson Christian

Vic’s Pick: Jackson Christian

Franklin Christian (6-4) at TCA (8-2)

Odom’s Pick: TCA

Vic’s Pick: TCA

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.