Wise Guy: Playoffs Week 2 predictions for all 6 Macomb County teams

If things were getting good last week, now it's just downright fun.

The billboard matchup between Eisenhower and Dakota speaks for itself, but throw in the battles between historic De La Salle and undefeated Grosse Pointe South, the BWAC-MAC clash of Armada-Hazel Park, Lutheran North's run-in with Cros-Lex and the MC-spree of Michigan Collegiate and Marine City?

As a wise man once said, baby, you got a stew cookin'.

It's playoffs Round 2 – district championships in Macomb County.

No more delay. Only picks.

Eisenhower Eagles (8-2) at Dakota Cougars (9-1)

"The goal will be to maybe go see these guys again," said Dakota head coach Greg Baur after his Cougars lost to Eisenhower, 21-14, on Oct. 11.

Goal complete. Now they need to cash in on it.

Dakota is 3-0 and hasn't allowed a point since they lost to the Eagles, with two of those wins coming over Utica and the other being a four-touchdown beating of Oxford, whose season is also still going after beating Davison. That type of win is not a mistake.

There's probably not a team that the Cougars wanted to see more than Ike in this spot. Not only are they still the only team to have beaten them, they're the team and knocked them off winning a unanimous MAC Red title, and they're the only team to score double figures on them since Week 2.

And it's a rivalry, after all.

It's obvious that Dakota has been the hotter team since their last meeting. But even after Eisenhower took a surprising loss to Clarkston, they bounced back and put a beating on Romeo in the first round, answering whatever questions were unanswered. And though they're without star running back Bryce Hurley for the rest of the season, Mason Korn stepped up big time in his absence.

Still – it's hard to ignore how good the Cougars have been. They feel that they played well enough to win their last meeting and that one or two bad plays really cost them. If that's true and their defense can continue the dominant play, the Cougars could be playing again next week.

Prediction: Dakota 21, Eisenhower 10

De La Salle Pilots (7-2) at Grosse Pointe South Blue Devils (10-0)

This duel almost feels like one that could be a potential state championship meeting. But here we are – in the second round – with two of the state's best teams regardless of class.

Grosse Pointe South's 10-0 record is very real – they've beaten Roseville twice, blew out Port Huron Northern (the same team DLS just beat) and took down Anchor Bay in a MAC crossover.

But are any of those teams even close to De La Salle? Outside of Roseville, no, probably not.

The Pilots have been good all season, but as a program, they come alive in the playoffs. They showed that last week, beating PH Northern by 49 in a game that was essentially over before halftime.

Between the quarterback swapping with Sante Gasperoni and Anthony Bitonti, their offensive weapons (the best of which might be Bitonti himself) and tons of experience in these situations, I'm projecting the Pilots to be too much for the Blue Devils to handle.

They should have enough talent on defense with veterans Jacob Tur and Dalton Drogosh to at least contain GPBD stud Sam Rouleau and company.

Prediction: De La Salle 31, Grosse Pointe South 25

Hazel Park Vikings (7-3) at Armada Tigers (9-1)

While Hazel Park had a great season, they're not going against the MAC Bronze (or Silver) anymore.

Before Armada, the best team the Vikings have played is Marysville on Sept. 6 – and while they kept it respectable at 31-14, even they aren't quite comparable to what the Tigers have been doing to their opponents lately.

Armada added to their four-game winning streak with a 27-point win over Richmond on Friday night, marking their second win over the Blue Devils this season. Every one of their wins since Week 1 (28-27 vs. Marine City) has been by double figures.

Expect that to keep up this week.

Prediction: Armada 38, Hazel Park 10

Croswell-Lexington Pioneers (7-3) at Lutheran North Mustangs (9-1)

Even for a team that's already in the second round of the playoffs, Croswell-Lexington feels like a team that's better than its record.

The Pioneers lost to Armada and Almont each by two scores and battled Division 5 contender Ogemaw Heights to a 10-7 thriller. Add in they just beat Marysville by 25 and fought near the top of the competitive BWAC, there's a clear reason why Cros-Lex is here and can play Lutheran North tough,

But Lutheran North looks tough to beat to the point where they not only could've been competitive with the aforementioned Cros-Lex lexicon, but they might be favorites in a hypothetical gauntlet of it. They've been that good.

Like the Mustangs' epic duel with Everest Collegiate, the Wise Guy thinks this is going to be a lower-scoring, Big Ten-type football game where running backs will have to earn every yard. And that's where Lutheran North has been really good – just ask the St. Clair Saints, who saw Vince Campisi saunted for a program-record seven touchdowns in Round 1.

Mustangs advance.

Prediction: Lutheran North 24, Croswell-Lexington 17

Marine City Mariners (8-2) at Michigan Collegiate Cougars (9-1) (Saturday)

If there's such a thing as a sleeper game of the week, this is the one.

Marine City's reputation precedes them, and this season hasn't been any different for the "football school": they've been competitive all season, including a one-point Week 1 loss to Armada (hey, those guys again!) and their Round 1 20-point win over Clintondale.

They're going to put up points, scoring at least 50 points in a game six times this season.

But are they fast enough? Royal Oak Shrine sure wasn't when Michigan Collegiate gashed them for a 52-0 win last week.

And while Marine City has its share of great players, the Cougars have an embarrassment of riches who run 4.4 40-yard dashes in the Moore brothers – wide receiver Jacob and signal-caller Caleb – and do-it-all Taye Redding, who just scored a two receiving, a rushing and defensive touchdown(s) is one game this past Saturday.

They're also getting wide receiver Damarion Johnson back this week.

The Cougars are the favorite. And while the result could still go either way, one thing is certain: this game is going to be absolute offensive fireworks.

Prediction: Michigan Collegiate 49, Marine City 33