The playoffs start with tonight’s region quarterfinal matchups. To get ready, here are the predictions of every area game — from fans and myself.
Class 8A
Osceola (8-2) at Newsome (8-2), 7:30
Fans pick: Newsome (54 percent/90 votes)
Putnam’s prediction: Newsome 17-14
Durant (8-2) at West Orange (9-1), 7:30
Fans pick: West Orange (51 percent/ 86 votes)
Putnam’s prediction: West Orange 24-17
Plant City (6-4) at Venice (9-1), 7:30
Fans pick: Venice (51 percent, 86 votes)
Putnam’s prediction: Venice 31-14
Sarasota Riverview (8-2) at Steinbrenner (7-3), 7:30
Fans pick: Sarasota Riverview (60 percent/100 votes)
Putnam’s prediction: Steinbrenner 21-19
Class 7A
Wiregrass Ranch (5-4) at Palmetto (4-5), 7:30
Fans pick: Palmetto (58 percent/97 votes)
Putnam’s prediction: Palmetto 27-21
Largo (5-5) at Tampa Bay Tech (10-0), 7:30
Fans pick: Tampa Bay Tech (76 percent/127 votes)
Putnam’s prediction: Tampa Bay Tech 28-14
Gaither (6-4) at Lehigh (6-2), 7:30
Fans pick: Gaither (73 percent/122 votes)
Putnam’s prediction: Lehigh 14-13
Wharton (7-2) at Mitchell (8-2), 7:30
Fans pick: Wharton (55 percent/93 votes)
Putnam’s prediction: Wharton 20-16
Class 6A
Northeast (9-1) at Sumner (8-2), 7:30
Fans pick: Northeast (57 percent/95 votes)
Putnam’s prediction: Northeast 26-24
Hillsborough (8-2) at Pinellas Park (9-1), 7:30
Fans pick: Hillsborough (60 percent/101 votes)
Putnam’s prediction: Hillsborough 34-21
Boca Ciega (6-4) at Jesuit (10-0), 7:30
Fans pick: Jesuit (77 percent/130 votes)
Putnam’s prediction: Jesuit 35-14
Braden River (8-1) at Countryside (5-5), 7:30
Fans pick: Braden River (51 percent/85 votes)
Putnam’s prediction: Braden River 40-21
Class 5A
Hudson (6-4) at Clearwater (9-1), 7:30
Fans pick: Clearwater (71 percent/120 votes)
Putnam’s prediction: Clearwater 49-14
Gibbs (7-3) at Zephyrhills (9-1), 7:30
Fans pick: Zephyrhills (58 percent/98 votes)
Putnam’s prediction: Zephyrhills 22-20
Wesley Chapel (6-3) at Sebring (6-3), 7:30
Fans pick: Wesley Chapel (67 percent/112 votes)
Putnam’s prediction: Sebring 24-20
Nature Coast (7-3) at Chamberlain (3-7), 7:30
Fans pick: Chamberlain (57 percent/96 votes)
Putnam’s prediction: Nature Coast 34-28
Class 4A
Hernando (6-4) at South Sumter (6-4), 7:30
Fans pick: Hernando (58 percent/97 votes)
Putnam’s prediction: South Sumter 20-14
Class 3A
Tampa Catholic (6-3) at Carrollwood Day (7-2), 7:30
Fans pick: Tampa Catholic (64 percent/108 votes)
Putnam’s prediction: Carrollwood Day 28-20
Class 2A
Naples St. John Neumann (6-4) at Seffner Christian (5-4), 7:30
Fans pick: Seffner Christian (68 percent/114 votes)
Putnam’s prediction: Seffner Christian 30-28