MaxPreps Top 10 Games of the Week

The first showdown of the season between Top-10 MaxPreps Xcellent 25 teams pits eighth-ranked John Curtis (River Ridge, La.) against No. 10 Plant (Tampa, Fla.) at the Superdome in New Orleans. It is one of seven out-of-state matchups in the MaxPreps Top 10 Games of the Week.

The only other battle of Xcellent 25 teams could be an offensive spectacular when No. 6 Byrnes (Duncan, S.C.) hosts No. 25 Northwestern (Rock Hill, S.C.). Both squads have high-powered passing attacks and average more than 40 points per game.

The rivalry game of the week takes place in Cincinnati where perennial Ohio state-title contenders Colerain and St. Xavier do battle. Colerain is hoping to break a three-game losing streak to the Bombers.

There is a three-way tie for first place in our season-long prediction contest between Kevin Askeland, Stephen Spiewak and Leland Gordon. All members of the trio have selected the correct winner in 17 of the 20 games we have featured.

Here's a look at this week's top 10 games of the week along with predictions by MaxPreps staff writers and contributors Mitch Stephens, Steve Montoya, Stephen Spiewak, Kevin Askeland, Leland Gordon and Jamie DeMoney.

MaxPreps Top 10 Football Games of the Week

Plant (Tampa, Fla.) vs. Curtis (River Ridge, La.)

The Superdome is like a second home for John Curtis. Of the Patriots' 24 state titles, 20 were won in that building. Curtis returned 13 starters and an amazing 65 lettermen from last year's 2A championship team. Thirteen different players had rushing attempts in the Patriots' 26-7 season-opening win over state-ranked St. Pauls (Covington).

It's the third straight year Plant will play an out-of-state opponent in the early going. (It lost to Abilene, Texas, in 2010 and beat Bergen Catholic of New Jersey last year.) The Panthers defense looked further along than their offense in an 18-0 season-opening shutout of Jesuit (Tampa) last week. They surrendered only 100 yards of offense but managed less than 200 of their own.

Mitch Stephens: Curtis 28, Plant 21
Steve Montoya: Curtis 17, Plant 14
Stephen Spiewak: Plant 21, Curtis 20
Kevin Askeland: Plant 28, Curtis 21
Leland Gordon: Curtis 24, Plant 21
Jamie DeMoney: Curtis 27, Plant 10