TSSAA football predictions for Week 9: Picking 10 winners as playoffs get close
Here is a look at the Nashville area's top-10 games for Tennessee high school football in Week 9 of the TSSAA season, with predictions from Tennessean sports writers Tyler Palmateer and George Robinson and high school sports editor Tom Kreager.
Game of the week
Lebanon (5-2, 3-1 in 4-6A) at Mt. Juliet (7-0, 4-0)
Time: 7 p.m. When: Friday
Only Hendersonville has played Mt. Juliet more than Lebanon. This will be the 29th meeting between Golden Bears and Blue Devils and Mt. Juliet is looking to snap a two-game slide against Lebanon. Bears coach Trey Perry would like to return to a time when Mt. Juliet was dominating the series, winning 12 straight from 2009-20. Both teams are coming off an open week and have two more region games remaining. If Lebanon wins, it could create a three-way tie in the region with Green Hill, who faces La Vergne on Friday.
Kreager's predcition: Mt. Juliet 28, Lebanon 24
Palmateer's prediction: Mt. Juliet 28, Lebanon 17
Robinson's prediction: Mt. Juliet 34, Lebanon 21
Blackman (3-4, 1-1 in 3-6A) at Riverdale (5-2, 2-0)
Time: 7 p.m. When: Friday
Riverdale comes into this game as a heavy favorite after winning two of the last three against Blackman, but the Warriors have struggled against the Blaze in the past decade. Blackman has won 10 of the past 12 meetings, but Riverdale has Braden Graham this season. Graham has thrown for 1,796 yards and 24 touchdowns has put up big numbers since wide receiver Brock Montgomery has been healthy (638 yards and nine touchdowns).
Kreager's prediction: Riverdale 42, Blackman 14
Palmateer's prediction: Riverdale 31, Blackman 24
Robinson's prediction: Riverdale 35, Blackman 17
More: Watch Blackman at Riverdale live on NFHS Network (how to sign up)
York Institute (7-0) at Friendship Christian (6-1)
Time: 7 p.m. When: Friday
This could be an interesting nonregion matchup — the first between the schools — that features strength against strength. York Institute is among the better defensive teams in the Nashville area, having not allowed more than seven points in a game for over a month. But the Dragons will face Friendship running back Tyson Wolcott, who has 1,643 yards, 28 touchdowns and is averaging 234.7 yards per game.
Kreager's prediction: Friendship Christian 24, York 21
Palmateer's prediction: Friendship Christian 21, York 20
Robinson's prediction: York 28, Friendship Christian 20
More: Watch York Institute at Friendship Christian live on NFHS Network (how to sign up)
Father Ryan (3-4) at McCallie (7-0)
Time: 7 p.m. When: Friday
Father Ryan's slide continued last week in a 17-10 loss to Ensworth. It was the Irish's fourth straight loss. While quarterback JoJo Crump threw for 183 yards and ran for 73 more, it hasn't been enough to affect the scoreboard in Father Ryan's favor. Now the Irish have top-ranked McCallie, a team it has only twice since 2011.
Kreager's prediction: McCallie 42, Father Ryan 14
Palmateer's prediction: McCallie 35, Father Ryan 17
Robinson's prediction: McCallie 42, Father Ryan 20
Lipscomb Academy (2-5, 0-2 in DII-AAA East) at Knoxville Catholic (5-2, 1-1)
Time: 7 p.m. When: Friday
Not much has gone right for the Mustangs. The program's back-to-back Division II-AA state championships seem like a distant memory as MBA stunned Lipscomb Academy last Friday. While Catholic hasn't been perfect, the Irish put up points. They gave up 42 points to Brentwood Academy last Friday but scored 47. In its five wins, Knoxville Catholic is averaging 41.2 points while Lipscomb Academy has struggled to get the ball in the end zone. The Mustangs have combined for only 27 points in the past two games.
Kreager's prediction: Knoxville Catholic 21, Lipscomb Academy 20
Palmateer's prediction: Lipscomb Academy 21, Knoxville Catholic 17
Robinson's prediction: Knoxville Catholic 28, Lipscomb Academy 21
More: Watch Lipscomb Academy at Knoxville Catholic live on NFHS Network (how to sign up)
Upperman (7-0) at White House (5-2)
Time: 7 p.m. When: Friday
The Bees continue its quest for its first undefeated regular season since 1951. Upperman hasn't given up a point in the past two games is going for its fourth shutout this season. White House has been inconsistent, going 2-2 in its last four games.
Kreager's prediction: Upperman 35, White House 20
Palmateer's prediction: Upperman 28, White House 17
Robinson's prediction: Upperman 27, White House 21
Trousdale County (3-4, 1-2 in 3-2A) at Monterey (4-3, 1-1)
Time: 7 p.m. When: Friday
Trousdale County is fighting for its playoff life. It currently is in a tie for fourth place in Region 3-2A with Westmoreland. The two teams face off to end the regular season Oct. 27. If the Yellow Jackets fail to secure a playoff berth it'll be the first time that's happened since 1987 and with only two region games remaining, that playoff fate may lie in the hands of their game against Westmoreland.
Kreager's prediction: Monterey 21, Trousdale County 7
Palmateer's prediction: Monterey 28, Trousdale County 20
Robinson's prediction: Monterey 30, Trousdale County 27
Nashville Christian (3-4) at Fayetteville (2-5)
Time: 7 p.m. When: Friday
This matchup was eagerly anticipated before the season began. Nashville Christian is coming off a DII-A state championship appearance and Fayetteville was 12-1 in 2022. But both teams have struggled with only five combined wins between the two. Eagles quarterback Jared Curtis has missed some time with an illness and has thrown for 1,092 with seven touchdowns and five interceptions. Fayetteville's 6-foot-6 QB Samuel Willoughby has thrown for 1,067 with seven TDs.
Kreager's prediction: Fayetteville 21, Nashville Christian 14
Palmateer's prediction: Nashville Christian 21, Fayetteville 20
Robinson's prediction: Nashville Christian 28, Fayetteville 24
More: Watch Nashville Christian at Fayetteville on NFHS Network (how to sign up)
Eagleville (4-3) at Loretto (7-0)
Time: 7 p.m. When: Friday
Eagleville was off last Friday but managed to pick up some momentum with a 31-9 win over Tennessee Heat on Sept. 29. It was the second win in three games for Eagleville, which had lost two straight. But Loretto has been on a tear this season as the Mustangs have only two games that have been decided by a touchdown or less.
Kreager's prediction: Loretto 28, Eagleville 21
Palmateer's prediction: Loretto 31, Eagleville 10
Robinson's prediction: Loretto 38, Eagleville 17
Stewarts Creek (5-2, 1-1 in 5-6A) at Smyrna (3-4, 2-0)
Time: 7 p.m. When: Friday
Stewarts Creek has never beaten Smyrna since the programs began playing 2013. But the Red Hawks are enjoying its best season since 2019 and are poised to finally break through against the Bulldogs.
Kreager's prediction: Smyrna 21, Stewarts Creek 20
Palmateer's prediction: Stewarts Creek 28, Smyrna 27
Robinson's prediction: Stewarts Creek 35, Smyrna 14
Last week: Kreager (8-2), Palmateer (7-3), Robinson (8-2)
Season: Robinson (60-20, .750); Kreager (57-23, .712); Palmateer (43-15, .741)
Reach sports writer George Robinson at georgerobinson@theleafchronicle.com and on the X platform (formerly Twitter) @Cville_Sports.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: TSSAA football: Week 9 predictions highlighted by Mt. Juliet-Lebanon
