That said, we here at Prognostication Central are almost ready to throw in the towel and pick the underdog in each contest. If we did that last week, at least we would have been on the winning side (barely). Instead, we posted a dismal 6-7 record.

Week 7 features a number of pivotal league showdowns, including Episcopal Academy vs. Malvern Prep (Inter-Ac), Ridley vs. Penncrest (Central), and Upper Merion vs. Norristown (Suburban One League American Conference).

Last week: 6-7 (.462).

Overall: 48-25 (.658).

Haverford School (4-1, 0-0 Inter-Ac) at Penn Charter (2-3, 0-0), today at 3:45. For the Fords, who are riding a three-game winning streak, Terance FitzSimmons is averaging nearly 9 yards per carry. The Quakers are spearheaded on offense by running back Michael Brown and quarterback John Loughery.

Pick: Haverford School, 20-7.

No. 4 Ridley (6-0, 6-0) at Penncrest (5-1, 5-1), tonight, 7. The Green Raiders, winners of 26 consecutive Central League games, have yielded only 3.8 points per contest. The Lions are led by red-hot quarterback Matt Atkinson, who threw for 212 yards and three touchdowns in last week's 38-12 romp over Lower Merion.

Pick: Ridley, 26-14.

Upper Merion (4-2, 2-1) at Norristown (4-2, 2-1), tonight, 7. The Vikings need to get back on track after an embarrassing, 35-14 loss to Upper Moreland last week. The Eagles, newcomers to the Suburban One American Conference, are sparked by running back Sheldon Mayer and quarterback James Ramsey.

Pick: Norristown, 27-21.

Episcopal Academy (5-0, 0-0) at No. 2 Malvern Prep (4-0, 0-0), tomorrow, 2. The high-flying Churchmen have a chance to make a big statement against The Inquirer's No. 2 team in Southeastern Pennsylvania. It won't be easy. The run-savvy and experienced Friars have outscored foes by 165-36.

Pick: Malvern, 35-13.

Other games to watch

Quakertown (5-1, 1-1) at No. 1 North Penn (6-0, 3-0), tonight, 7. Pick: North Penn, 35-7.

Bensalem (3-3, 2-1) at Pennsbury (5-1, 3-0), tonight, 7. Pick: Pennsbury, 20-12.

Wissahickon (3-3, 0-2) at Upper Moreland (5-1, 2-1), tonight, 7. Pick: Upper Moreland, 29-13.

Council Rock South (4-2, 1-2) at No. 10 Neshaminy (5-1, 3-0), tomorrow, 2. Pick: Neshaminy, 34-14.

No. 9 W.C. Henderson (5-1, 3-0) at Bayard Rustin (5-1, 2-0), tomorrow, 7. Pick: Henderson, 26-7.

Conwell-Egan (4-2, 2-0) vs. Archbishop Wood (3-2, 1-0), at Wissahickon, tomorrow, 7. Pick: Wood, 24-19.

or robrien@phillynews.com.