Smoky Mountain Conference picks, week 10; last week 3-0, season 24-8
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Robbinsville at Hayesville
Hayesville’s trip down the Smoky Mountain Conference road does not get any easier this week, as the Black Knights invade Hayesville. Hayesville gave up 22 points to Cherokee on the road last week, which got boat-raced by Robbinsville 46-16 three weeks earlier. Based on that, I have to go with the Knights, but I have also seen both of these teams play. It’s not going to be a good fall night to be a Yellow Jacket. Robbinsville by 21.
Swain at Cherokee
This one will be a barn-burner, a rivalry game in the largest sense. In fact, the only other team Swain would rather beat than Murphy is Cherokee, and in most years they beat Cherokee. This is not one of those years. Cherokee by 7.
Andrews at Murphy
The annual Cherokee County championship on the line in this one. When these two teams met last year, Murphy was coming off back-to-back losses to Robbinsville and Swain. This year, the Dogs are coming off back-to-back wins.
Last year, it came down to a one-score win for the Dogs, and that was at Andrews. This one is at Murphy, which should be at least worth one more score. Bulldogs by 14.
J.R. Carroll is a staff correspondent for the Cherokee Scout and a longtime follower of Smoky Mountain Conference football. His picks column will run weekly during the football season. Email him at jcarroll8760@gmail.com.