Football: Picks for 13 big games this weekend

The playoffs officially start next weekend.

But never mind that. It all starts this weekend.

There are several games that are playoff games in everything but name and NJSIAA site managers.

The envelope, please:

FRIDAY
Willingboro (4-3) at Northern Burlington (6-1): The Greyhounds have played well all season behind senior senior RB Tosin Adeyemo as well as QB Colin Fitzpatrick. They can hold on to the No. 1 seed in CJ 3 with a win. Plus, they are home, thanks to a schedule switch because of the mold problem at Willingboro.

Willingboro likely has clinched a SJ 2 berth but the Chimeras would take a huge step up with a victory based on all those power points. Wide receiver Malcolm Culmer is Willingboro's top big-play man. I just don't think this team has been consistent enough all season, although coach Reggie Lawrence knows how to get his team ready this time of the year. The pick: NBC, 27-20.

Shawnee (5-2) at Washington Township (5-2): This is a huge game for both programs. The loser likely won't make the SJ 4 tournament. The winner likely will be in, although that's not a sure thing. Still, this is a SJ Group 4 playoff game the week before the Group 4 playoffs.

Shawnee is riding high after a victory over previously unbeaten Williamstown. LB Wes Hoffner leads a sturdy defense and QB Jamie Jackopin has developed into a dangerous play-maker, especially late in games. Washington Township needs to bounce back from a tough loss to Pennsauken. That won't be easy as the Minutemen really struggled that day. Still, they are home with a chance to qualify for the playoffs with a win in Week 8. If you presented that scenario to the Minutemen in August, they would have grabbed it. The pick: Shawnee, 21-14.

St. Joseph (7-0) at Egg Harbor Township (4-3): The No. 1 Wildcats have outscored opponents by a combined 364-16. That's borderline ridiculous. Ends Kaiwan Lewis and Max Valles lead a terrific defense and there's balance on offense led by RBs Eli Pogue and Kaheem Reynolds, plus solid play from the OL.

EHT could jump into the South 4 field with a win and a lot of help. The help part is possible. The win part seems far-fetched. This St. Joseph team seems bent on finishing 11-0 and establishing itself as one of the best in the rich program's history. If the Wildcats get past this one, the only challenge left will be Hammonton Thanksgiving weekend because nobody in N-P 1 is touching this team. The pick: St. Joseph, 27-7.

Bridgeton (4-3) at Mainland (3-4): The Bulldogs hope to jump into the South 2 field with a win. They also are trying to recover from last week's 48-0 loss to St. Joseph.

Mainland lost a 3-0 heartbreaker to Absegami last week. The Mustangs can still get in the SJ 3 field with a win if a lot of things fall the Mustangs' way. After everything this team has been through, you'd like to think they deserve a break. Coach Bob Coffey and his assistants have done a wonderful job of keeping this team playing competitive football. The pick: Mainland, 17-13.

Woodbury (4-3) at Haddonfield (7-0): This is tough duty for the Thundering Herd. The Bulldogs have been rolling over Group 1 competition.

Haddonfield is looking to seal up the No. 1 seed in SJ 2. The only question for the Bulldogs is how they play after an unwanted bye week because of the Overbrook forfeit. I'm thinking they come out of the gate with a lot of pent-up energy. They've won a lot of Colonial games in the first half this season. This could be another one, although Woodbury gave West Deptford a real battle a few weeks ago. The Thundering Herd have to hope QB Anthony Averett breaks a couple long ones. I think that might happen. In the fourth quarter. The pick: Haddonfield, 31-13.

Pennsauken (6-1) at Eastern (3-5): The Indians still have a shot at the No. 1 seed in SJ 4, if things fall right. They are coming off a 40-8 victory over Washington Township that might have been their best game in what has been a great season.

Pennsauken quarterback Manny Cortez has 25 touchdown passes. The South Jersey record is 40. Here's the thing: He has 25 TD passes in the last six games, since he had zero in the opener against Shawnee. If Cortez throws five against Eastern -- possible, since Eastern's best corner is out with an injury -- he might just make a run at the record since he could have four games remaining on the schedule.

Eastern is coming off a 30-26 win over Winslow Township. This team has talent and showed some spark in that win. But the Vikings defense could have a tough time slowing down that Indians offense over 48 minutes. The pick: Pennsauken, 37-17.

Bishop Eustace (4-3) at Camden Catholic (7-0): The Irish are riding high and should be the No. 1 seed in the N-P 2 tourney. The Crusaders likely will be the No. 5 seed in the same field.

Bishop Eustace coach Rob Cormier was Camden Catholic coach Gil Brooks' defensive coordinator at St. Joseph's Prep in Philadelphia in the mid-2000s. That's just another layer to a great rivalry. Another factor in this game: These are two great defenses. But CC seems to have a much more balanced and explosive offense, especially with the way QB Pete Galiano is playing. I think BE's defense will hang in there and play tough for 48 minutes. But field position could be a real issue for the Crusaders. The pick: Camden Catholic, 17-7.

St. Augustine Prep (2-5) at Holy Spirit (4-3): This is another great rivalry game.

The Hermits have a new coach in AD Tony Iaconelli, who is guiding the program on an interim basis. They go back to square one after this year. But they sure could make their season by upsetting Holy Spirit.

Holy Spirit has only lost twice on the field but both were lopsided against teams from Hammonton. The Spartans need to regain some confidence and momentum heading into the playoffs, because they still are a serious threat in NP-2. If they get the chance, I think the Spartans keep the pedal to the metal in this game. The pick: Holy Spirit, 30-10.

Absegami (4-3) at Hammonton (6-1): This is a tough spot for the Braves. They are still alive in SJ 4 but barely -- they need a win and a ton of help.

I wouldn't count on the help, or the win, although Absegami is a tough Group 4 team with pride. They'll play hard and they have a top QB in Rashad Kinlaw. But Hammonton is going to be fired up after that late loss to AC last weekend on a kickoff return for TD. The Blue Devils want that No. 2 seed in SJ 3, and they want to have momentum entering a tournament they believe they can win. The pick: Hammonton, 24-13.

SATURDAY

Schalick (4-3) at Salem (5-2): This game has huge SJ 1 implications. Salem is coming off one of the program's biggest wins in recent seasons, an 8-6 upset of Penns Grove. Schalick has a chance to assure itself of a berth in the South 1 field with a win. Salem still has a chance to jump up and get a first-round home game. The Rams have a lot of guys who took their lumps last season. This is a dangerous team in the wide-open SJ 1 race. The pick: Salem, 22-20.

Triton (6-1) at Woodrow Wilson (5-2): The Mustangs need to win to earn a SJ 4 playoff berth. They will be without RB Josh Woods, who is out for two weeks, minimum, with a knee injury.

Triton will rely more heavily on QB Brian Keller and RB James Burns as well as its defense. The Mustangs better bring their A game to Federal Street because the Tigers should sense an opportunity here.

Woodrow Wilson can rise all the way to the No. 3 seed in SJ 3 with a win. That would be big -- a home game against a No. 6 seed. QB Aaron Spencer and WR TJ Chambliss combined for three touchdown passes last week against Cumberland. This could be a shootout, especially in good weather. The pick: Triton, 26-24.

Cherokee (5-2) at Cherry Hill East (4-3): Cherokee is the two-time defending SJ 4 champ. But the Chiefs won't get in unless they win. And they still might need help, just not that much.

Cherokee's young players are starting to emerge and the Chiefs are getting great work from junior RB Zaire Williams, who spent his freshman year at Cherry Hill East. The Cougars are coming off a big victory over Lenape which kept their playoff hopes alive. That was a confidence boost for the program. Beating Cherokee would be huge, even if the Cougars miss out on the tournament.

CH East needs to win and get a ton of help. Like a lunar eclipse and  stuff like that. But hey, it happens. QB Jesse Gold has been a play-maker all season. So has his favortie target, WR Taj Frazier. And the Cougars have a top RB in Brian Regan. The pick: Cherokee, 20-17.

Game of the week: Atlantic City (6-1) at Millville (7-0), Friday at 7: This game will decide the Cape American title. But it has huge SJ 4 playoff implications.

AC could get in with a loss. But the Vikings also could be eliminated at 6-2. That would be tough. This team is coming off a great win over Hammonton. Radi Tolbert and Ismael Naji are big-time playmakers.

Millville could secure the No. 1 seed with a win, if things break the Bolts' way. They likely are in, even with a loss, but no team wants to enter the tournament that way. This team has been quiet and business-like all season, a tribute to coach Jason Durham and his staff. The OL is tough, led by Nick Tyndal, Jimmy Cessna and Chris Whitelam. I think they can control the ball and gain the edge in field position. The pick: Millville, 24-20.

-- Phil Anastasia