Bay Area News Group high school football predictions: Week 1, 2023

We’re back with our weekly high school football picks.

Yes, it’s that of the year again.

Mike Lefkow and Joseph Dycus will spend the next four months trying to dethrone yours truly as I aim for a third consecutive championship in this friendly competition.

As always, the picks are all in good fun. We have no intent to motivate one team over another, though we’ve certainly been told through the years that we do.

This week, we predict 16 games across the Bay Area News Group’s coverage area, including Orange Lutheran at De La Salle, San Ramon Valley at St. Ignatius and Folsom at Serra.

Check out our video for more details about the picks and the week’s top storylines, including Serra’s grip on the No. 1 spot in Northern California, De La Salle’s continued dominance of the North Coast Section and one of the stories of the off-season, Riordan’s upgraded roster.

Plus, Lefkow chimes in about Concord changing its mascot name to Bears.

If you want just the predictions, keep scrolling.

And if you haven’t already, please sign up for a digital subscription. Your contributions keep us going.

WEEK 1 PICKS (16 games)

Friday

Acalanes at San Marin, 7 p.m.  

Sabedra: Acalanes

Dycus: Acalanes

Lefkow: San Marin

Berkeley at Miramonte, 7 p.m. 

Sabedra: Berkeley

Dycus: Berkeley

Lefkow: Berkeley

El Cerrito at Amador Valley, 7 p.m. 

Sabedra: El Cerrito

Dycus: El Cerrito

Lefkow: El Cerrito

Bellarmine vs. Menlo-Atherton at San Jose City College, 7 p.m. 

Sabedra: Bellarmine

Dycus: Bellarmine

Lefkow: M-A

Leland at Half Moon Bay, 7 p.m.

Sabedra: HMB

Dycus: HMB

Lefkow: HMB

Sacred Heart Prep at Riordan, 3:30 p.m.

Sabedra: Riordan

Dycus: Riordan

Lefkow: Riordan

Santa Teresa at Pioneer, 7:15 p.m.

Sabedra: Santa Teresa

Dycus: Santa Teresa

Lefkow: Santa Teresa

Wilcox at Valley Christian, 7 p.m. 

Sabedra: Valley Christian

Dycus: Wilcox

Lefkow: Valley Christian

Campolindo at Vanden-Fairfield, 7 p.m. 

Sabedra: Vanden

Dycus: Campolindo

Lefkow: Vanden

Clayton Valley at Salinas, 7 p.m. 

Sabedra: Salinas 

Dycus: Clayton Valley

Lefkow: Salinas

Helix-La Mesa at St. Francis, 7 p.m. 

Sabedra: St. Francis

Dycus: St. Francis

Lefkow: St. Francis

Orange Lutheran at De La Salle, 7:30 p.m.

Sabedra: DLS

Dycus: DLS

Lefkow: Orange Lutheran