Predictions for state football championship final matchups, winners

There are a host of teams that have a real shot at winning state titles.

I will never discount a Steve Robicheaux-coached team and Destrehan is a definite threat in Class 5A. Craig Jones has done a marvelous job with Lakeshore in Class 4A. Kaplan has been there, done that and could win Class 3A. St. Helena got to the title game a year ago in Class 2A. Oak Grove is unbeaten and very tough in Class 1A.

Evangel Christian is better than its record and is motivated in its final year in Division I. St. Charles Catholic plays as good of defense as anyone in Division II. Country Day is an unbeaten team with big wins and very well coached in Division III. Lafayette Christian is a defending state champion and unbeaten in Division IV.

There are others that merit strong consideration as well, including Acadiana, St. Martinville, St. James, Rosepine, Kentwood, Archbishop Rummel, De La Salle, Newman and St. Frederick.

Keep an eye on all of those contenders.

Here are my picks for teams reaching the Mercedes-Benz Superdome Dec. 6-8:

Class 5A
No. 1 West Monroe vs. #6 Zachary—West Monroe winning

Class 4A
No. 1 Karr vs. #2 Warren Easton—Karr winning

Class 3A
No. 1 Iota vs. #6 Lake Charles College Prep—Lake Charles College Prep winning

Class 2A
No. 1 Many vs. #2 Amite—Amite winning

Class 1A
No. 2 Haynesville vs. No. 5 West St. John—West St. John winning

Division I
No. 1 John Curtis Christian vs. #2 Catholic (BR)—John Curtis Christian winning

Division II
No. 1 University High vs. No. 3 St. Thomas More—University High winning

Division III
No. 1 Notre Dame vs. No. 6 Catholic (NI)—Notre Dame winning

Division IV
No. 1 Southern Lab vs. No. 2 Ascension Catholic—Southern Lab winning