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By Sonny Jones

Already Week 8 for the football predictions. Teams are settling in, for better or worse, as to how their seasons will turn out.

As for the picks, the season goal remains for 80%, but it seems to be settling around the mid-70 percentile. As former NFL coach Bill Parcells said, “You are what your record says you are.”

Last week’s record: 16-5 (76%)
Season record: 86-34 (72%)
Prep record: 4-2 last week (Season: 36-17, 68%)
College record: 10-2 last week (Season: 46-13, 78%)
Pro record: 2-1 last week (Season: 4-4, 50%)

WEST BLADEN at FAIRMONT: Can the Knights bounce back from Monday’s 42-0 loss to rival East Bladen? There’s a chance against a Fairmont team that also has only one win. The Golden Tornadoes have been competitive at times and their league losses have come against the top three times. West Bladen has been shut out in four straight games. Fairmont 24, West Bladen 7.

NORTH CAROLINA at MIAMI: This could be a shootout at Hard Rock Stadium. The Hurricanes are rested after a bye week and determined after being upset two weeks ago by Middle Tennessee State. Drake Maye and the Heels should put points on the board. Can the defense respond against Miami’s Tyler Van Dyke, who was benched in the last game. Miami 44, North Carolina 38.

FLORIDA STATE at N.C. STATE: The Wolfpack offense haven’t gotten into high gear this season, but quarterback Devin Leary should have a chance to get the offense humming against the Florida State secondary. The N.C. State defense has done its part this season. N.C. State 31, Florida State 24.

HIGH SCHOOL
Clinton 48, Red Springs 6
St. Pauls 42, Midway 14
West Columbus 22, South Columbus 14
Whiteville 41, Pender 13
Heide Trask 45, East Columbus 8

COLLEGE
Duke 34, Georgia Tech 24
Wake Forest 42, Army 20
Tulane 27, East Carolina 21
Appalachian State 40, Texas State 17
Campbell 30, Charleston Southern 24
Elon 28, Towson 19
Mercer 36, Western Carolina 17
Brevard 17, Methodist 14
Fayetteville State 27, St. Augustine’s 10
Wheeling 35, UNC Pembroke 13

PRO
San Francisco 21, Carolina 13
Baltimore 23, Cincinnati 20
Kansas City 35, Las Vegas 26

FRIDAY’S PICK TO CLICK

Yu Darvish was 5-1 with a 1.85 ERA in September pitching for San Diego. He’ll give the Padres a chance to beat the New York Mets in Game 1 with a 6-inning, 6-strikeout, 2-run effort. Can the San Diego offense and bullpen do enough for the victory?

THURSDAY’S PICK: Denver’s Russell Wilson will pass for 250 yards and 2 touchdowns against Indianapolis. RESULTS: In what may have been the worst game in NFL history, Wilson was 21 of 39 for 274 yards passing, no touchdowns and two interceptions as Denver lost 12-9 in overtime. The teams combined for more sacks and punts (22) than points (21).

TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY

• 1995 — Coach Eddie Robinson gets his 400th victory as Grambling beats Mississippi Valley State 42-6.

WHAT TO WATCH TODAY

• DP WORLD TOUR: Spanish Open, 8 a.m., GOLF

• MLB PLAYOFFS: Tampa Bay at Cleveland, noon, ESPN

• MLB PLAYOFFS: Philadelphia at St. Louis, 2 p.m., ABC

• PGA CHAMPIONS: Constellation Furyk & Friends, 2 p.m., GOLF

• NHL: San Jose vs. Nashville, 2 p.m., NHLN

• WOMEN’S SOCCER: United States vs. England, 3 p.m., FOX

• MLB PLAYOFFS: Seattle at Toronto, 4 p.m., ESPN

• PGA: Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, 5 p.m., GOLF

• FOOTBALL: Harvard at Cornell, 7 p.m., ESPNU