Conference picks, week 9; last week 2-1, season 21-8
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Hayesville at Cherokee
The Braves boat-raced Andrews last week, beating the Wildcats 27-0 after Andrews beat Hayesville in a non-conference game. To make matters worse for Hayesville, this one is being played on the Qualla Boundary. I’ll take the Braves. Cherokee by 12.
Robbinsville at Andrews
The Wildcats took a beatdown at Cherokee last week, losing 27-0, while Robbinsville lost 14-7 to Murphy. Robbinsville has already beat the Braves 46-14.
Making matters worse for Andrews is they are catching Robbinsville after a loss, and there is sure to be a bunch of ticked-off Black Knights on that bus when it arrives in Andrews on Friday night. Robbinsville by 14.
Swain at Murphy
In a time long ago, this game usually decided the Smoky Mountain Conference, but times have changed. Swain comes into this game 0-6 and lost to Hayesville at home last week, but let us not forget this is still a rivalry game, so most of the time you can throw the records out the window.
Swain is not going to come to Murphy and lay down, but I still think the Bulldogs have too many horses for the Maroon Devils this year. Murphy by 12.
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.