Predictions for Week 3: You have to head past Orlando to watch 2 of the best 3 games

If you want to see non-Polk County teams, this is a week to do so. Of the 18 games involving Polk County teams, only two game are an all-Polk match-up. Two games involving Polk teams are against out-of-state teams as Winter Haven is traveling to Tennessee and Kathleen is headed to Georgia.

Perhaps the best game of the night involves Lakeland, but the Dreadnaughts are playing at Lake Mary, home of the Little League World Series Champion. But that's just about a 90-minute to two-hour drive to Seminole County. There was a time when you could make that drive from Winter Haven in about an hour and 10 minutes, but that was before I-4 became a parking lot East bound from around the Lake Alfred exit past Champions Gate to the 417 exit. And of course, there's the rush hour Orlando traffic.

If you're headed up that way and get bogged down in Orlando, get off at Par Ave. (or Fairbanks Ave. if you overshot the exit) as you're coming out of Orlando and shoot on over to Bishop Moore High School where Bartow will be playing. That's one of the top three games this week.

Or just stay in Polk County where the best in-county game is Fort Meade at Lakeland Christian in a showdown between two small school powerhouses.

Unlike some teams, I'm off to a strong start this season as I went 9-3 with my Week 2 picks to improve to 20-8 on the season.

This week's picks:

Lakeland (1-0) at Lake Mary (2-0)

This is one of the premier games of the week as Lakeland is No. 1 in the USA Today Florida Network Super 25 and Class 5A rankings, and Lake Mary is No. 15 in the Super 25 and No. 2 in 7A. Lake Mary averages 179.5 yards passing and 161.0 yards rushing, so it could be a good test for the Dreadnaughts' overall defense. Lakeland 31-14.

Auburndale (1-0) at Lake Wales (2-0)

Auburndale is coming off a bye after blowing out Ambassadors Christian in the first week but will all it can handle against Lake Wales. Highanders quarterback Brycen Levidiotis is off to a strong start as he has passed for 402 yards on 18-of-30 passing with five touchdowns and one interception. Kaneilius Purdy has three touchdowns on his seven catches and averages 24.0 yards per reception. Lake Wales 42-7.

Bartow (1-1) at Orlando Bishop Moore (2-0)

Bartow finally got its offense going with 36 points last week but will face good test against Bishop Moore, which is NO. 4 in 3A. Bishop Moore quarterback Bjorn Jorgensen will test Bartow's secondary as he's thrown for 651 yards in two games. Bartow, 27-24.

Fort Meade (1-1) at Lakeland Christian (1-0)

Fort Meade is averaging 345.5 yards passing but just 50.0 yards rushing and will try to get its ground game going with Jeran Jones. LCS went into the season with the goal of wanting to be more productive in the passing game but with 201 yards rushing in the opener, the Vikings still possess a potent ground game. Fort Meade, 28-21.

Winter Haven (1-1) at Knoxville Catholic (2-0)

Winter Haven is traveling to Tennessee but the long road trip won't be easy. Knoxville Christian quarterback Mack Bartholomew has thrown for 506 yards, and the Fighting Irish is averaging 288.5 yards. Threw the air. Knoxville Christian 21-7.

Lake Minneola at Haines City (1-1)

Haines City played the first half shorthanded against Lake Gibson and never got rolling. The Hornets should be able to get back on track against rebuilding Lake Minneola. The Hawks have allowed 93 points in two games and were shutout last week. Haines City 26-10.

Kathleen (0-2) at Cairo, Ga. (0-2)

Kathleen scored 13 points in the third quarter to make it a game against Mulberry last week, trailing by just seven but allowed 14 points in the final quarter. Cairo went 8-3 last season. Cairo 28-27.

Ridge Community (1-1) at Ponte Vedra Nease

Ridge's offense is improved but managed just eight points against Lake Wales last week. Despite allowing 27 points, it was 3-0 at halftime. For the second week in a row, the Bolts will have to slow down a strong passing attack as Nease is averaging more than 200 yards passing per game. Ridge, 21-17.

Victory Christian (1-0) at West Oaks (1-1)

West Oaks lost to Victory Christian's district rival Lakeland Christian by 57 points last week, so if Victory and LCS are contenders for the district title, Victory should run away with this game. Victory, 42-0.

Elsewhere

George Jenkins (1-1) over Jefferson (2-0), 34-28; Celebration (0-2) over Lake Region (0-2), 28-14; Davenport (1-1) over East Ridge (1-1), 34-21; Frostproof (2-1) over Port St. Lucie, 35-7; Lake Placid over Discovery, 14-7; Week Wachee (1-1) over Tenoroc (0-1), 21-6; First Academy (1-1) over Santa Fe Catholic, 26-10; Keswick Christian (1-1) over Ambassadors Christian, 28-0; Jordan Christian (1-1) over Saint Francis Catholic, 19-7.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Predictions for Week 3: You have to head past Orlando to watch 2 of the best 3 games