Picking the first week of Midlands football games

Thursday’s game

Heathwood Hall at Oakbrook Prep: Highlanders look to improve on two-win season last year.

PICK: Heathwood Hall

Friday’s games

A.C. Flora at Woodruff: Good road test for Falcons in opener.

PICK: A.C. Flora

Aiken at White Knoll: First meeting between the teams since 2013.

PICK: White Knoll

Battery Creek at Swansea: Debut for Swansea’s Greg Wright.

PICK: Swansea

C.A. Johnson at Lee Central: Both teams coming off 1-9 seasons .

PICK: Lee Central

Camden at Lugoff-Elgin: Bulldogs have won four straight against rivals.

PICK: Camden

Chester at Westwood: Redhawks look to slow down Chester’s Malik Williams.

PICK: Chester

Crestwood at Lower Richland: LR’s Tevaughn Higgins is one of the area’s best QBs.

PICK: Lower Richland

Eau Claire at North Central: NC will look to RB Cedric Cunningham after losing starting QB.

PICK: North Central

Florence Christian at Cardinal Newman: Cardinals struggled after 2-0 start last year.

PICK: Cardinal Newman

Fort Mill at Spring Valley: Vikings hope to throw more but running game gets job done.

PICK: Spring Valley

Gray Collegiate at Gilbert: Catriez Cook, offensive line the difference for Indians.

PICK: Gilbert

Hunter-Kinard-Tyler at Fairfield Central: Veteran offense gets it done for Griffins.

PICK: Fairfield Central

Independence (NC) at Dutch Fork: Tom Knotts hopes for win against former team.

PICK: Dutch Fork

Irmo at Nation Ford: Irmo hopes to snap five-game losing streak in openers.

PICK: Nation Ford

Lake Marion at Brookland-Cayce: Bearcats get first look at Lake Marion’s hammer offense.

PICK: Brookland-Cayce

Lexington at West Florence: Wildcats didn’t lose a true road game last season.

PICK: Lexington

Newberry at Keenan: Phil Strickland gets second crack at win No. 300.

PICK: Newberry

Northwood at Ben Lippen: Ben Lippen will be one of the most improved teams in Midlands

PICK: Ben Lippen

Pelion at Calhoun County: Tough opener for Pelion in second year under Dann Holland.

PICK: Calhoun County

Ridge Spring-Monetta at Batesburg-Leesville: B-L is 18-0 all-time against RSM.

PICK: Batesburg-Leesville

Ridge View at Sumter: Lot of buzz surrounding Blazers and beating Sumter would back it up.

PICK: Ridge View

River Bluff at Chapin: It’s been an emotional week for Gators after loss of teammate.

PICK: Chapin

Rock Hill at Blythewood: Bengals have been as good as advertised in preseason.

PICK: Blythewood

Last Year: 202-64

This story was originally published August 17, 2016 at 2:39 PM.