WAKE UP! WEDNESDAY | Can the DCTF computer model accurately predict high school football outcomes? It’s a busy day on ETBlitz.com

EDITOR’S NOTE: WAKE UP! is brought to you each day, in some way or another, at some time or another, by Cozy Coffee Station, and they’ve got locations in Kilgore (at 110 Midtown Plaza) and in Gilmer (at 755 Highway 271 North). In fact, because of the shift in times, and because people drink coffee and tea and give CCS business at all hours of the day, we’re thinking about a different name for “Wake Up” than “Wake Up.” But Cozy Coffee Station’s products are good all day, every day, and if you want to go by there on Sunday, don’t — that’s the one day of the week they’re closed! See their menu online at cozycoffeestation.com, and they’re all over social media. On Facebook, it’s Cozy Coffee Station-Kilgore and Cozy Coffee Station-Gilmer, and on Instagram, @cozycoffeestation_kilgore and @cozycoffeestation_gilmer. NOTE: Wake Up! today was originally published at 5:50 a.m, but due to the subject, we’re moving it up a little bit so it’s still on the home page.

Computer? HELLO, computer?
Have you seen what the folks at Dave Campbell’s Texas Football are doing now?

DCTF, whose online home is simply texasfootball.com, are making projections, predictions, for various high school football games across the state, and using a computer model to do it.

Now, to read texasfootball.com throughout, you’ll need a subscription, and I’ve included that link below, because it’s worth it; they do a great job and have creative features.

But I thought it’d be fun to give you a taste of what the computer model said for our ETBlitz.com programs this weekend.

The computer model says that Overton, at home against Simms Bowie on Thursday night, will beat Bowie by 35 points.

Also in 2A, the computer figures Beckville will get its first win of the season at home against Harmony Friday night, by a six-point margin. Wait, there’s more.

In 3A, Troup will go to Harleton and Harleton folks won’t be happy about it. Troup will beat Harleton by FORTY-EIGHT POINTS, the computer model says.

I like Troup, but… that’s a lot.

The computer likes Gladewater over West Rusk on Thursday by 13, and Newton over Tatum by 19. Not sure about that one at all; I’m picking Tatum outright.

Also in 3A, Arp is going to Mineola and the computer says Arp by 27. Sabine will host New Diana, and the Eagles will leave with a 15-point win, according to the DCTF computer model.

This verdict on the White Oak at Quitman game: too close to call. Literally, it actually says “too close to call” on the grid.

Jacksonville will leave Henderson, after the Lions have their first game of the year Friday night (that’s also homecoming). And the Indians are going home with a loss by 39, the computer model says.

Pine Tree will get its first win of the year and beat Dallas Carter for the second straight season, but only by six, the computer says.

And Kilgore will make things even more miserable for Gilmer, according to the computer, as two of our 4A powers meet Friday at R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium. The computer likes Kilgore by exactly two touchdowns, 14 points.

The biggest point margin involving ETBlitz-area schools: Carthage, who the computer likes by FIFTY-EIGHT at home over Liberty-Eylau!

In fact, that’s the third-largest margin in the state the whole weekend, including Oglesby at Gholson, and that’s actually a six-man game. Oglesby is a favorite, the computer model says, by 62.

Who’s favored by the most, in what game?

That’d be West Mesquite, hosting 0-2 Dallas Molina in a Class 5A game. West Mesquite should win by SIXTY-FIVE POINTS, the computer says. 😊😊😊

Tell you what: let’s re-visit this in Wake Up! on Sunday morning, and see how the computer did.

Shameless self plug: check out our picks in the ETBlitz Power Picks every Thursday. With no malicious intent, we just try to pick winners in high school, college and NFL games. And we’re eehhhhhh at it. In other words, don’t go betting any farms, dogs, cars or houses on anything we tell you.

A certain famous coach around here whose name might or might not rhyme with RIKE RALLERY once told me, in his office, looking over his bifocals, that “any grown man who bases how he makes a living on what 16, 17 and 18-year-old boys do, is completely, totally out of his mind.”

Of course, he was kidding.

I think. 😊

In case you missed it

Because of my ridiculously-busy week, here are a few things you might want to go back and read.

Here are the latest state high school football polls from DCTF: high school football state polls.

And standings done by our own Joe Hale: MARK IT! | Standings for high school football after the first two weeks of play (with scores, upcoming games).

Here’s the most recent state high school volleyball polls from the Texas Girls Coaches Association: VOLLEYBALL STATE RANKINGS | Beckville down just a bit to 7 in 2A; Tatum up two spots to 7 in 3A.

And we have an ultra-busy day today.

• The Kilgore Mercantile High Note of the Week, which is the most notable local sports moment of this past week.
• The Whataburger / ETBlitz.com Players of the Week, a boy and a girl athlete honored for their performance(s) last week.
• Previewing West Rusk at Gladewater, Thursday’s game at Jack V. Murphy Stadium.

Y’all be good. See you at the games.