Predicting every regional round playoff game & ranking top Thanksgiving halftime shows

Thanksgiving.

Easily my favorite holiday. And you can probably tell that just by looking at me.

Yes, that’s a fat joke.

But football, particularly the Dallas Cowboys, is a big part of it, too.

For as long as I can remember, my family has eaten a big meal then gathered around the TV to watch the Cowboys. That’s just what I remember.

Before I can remember, my grandad would take the family to Texas Stadium for the Cowboys’ Thanksgiving Day games. The price gap was a bit different in the early 1980s compared to today’s ticket prices.

More: 23 high school football playoff tidbits for the regional semifinal round | Duncan

As an adult, my Thanksgiving weekend has also revolved around football. There’s food and the NFL on Thursday. Then I’ve typically got high school football playoff games Friday, and sometimes Saturday.

I’ve done Thanksgiving related rankings the past two years leading into my picks for this round of the playoffs. Two years ago, it was the best side dishes. Last year, it was my favorite pies.

But let’s focus on two other things I’m grateful for almost everyday:

The Dallas Cowboys. And live music performances.

What? You thought I was going to say my wife and kids?

They’re great, too. But I mean, the Cowboys have been there with me for my entire life. I’ve stuck by their side through thick and thin.

Priorities!

Let me state that the three above lines were written with extreme sarcasm. My wife has trouble picking up on my sarcasm when I’m speaking, let alone with my written word.

More: HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Holliday, Jacksboro showdown highlights local playoff action

But my topic for this week’s Fave Five list is going to be Cowboys’ Thanksgiving halftime performances.

I find the topic trendy because Dolly Parton is performing at this year’s game. And if you have not heard her new album, it’s a must listen.

I’m not really a Dolly fan. I’ve always respected her talent and unique voice, but I didn’t have more than two or three of her songs liked on Spotify.

That changed with her new album “Rockstar.” It’s phenomenal. She has a few originals, but the standouts from the album are the covers of several soft and classic rock numbers with some of the original artists.

So in the spirit of Dolly providing us with Thursday’s halftime entertainment — a much better choice than Detroit bringing in Jack Harlow — here are my five favorite Cowboys’ halftime shows.

Although, I could more easily do a list of the halftime shows I didn’t enjoy, starting with Pitbull…

5. Carrie Underwood (2006)

I’m very critical of Nashville artists, and there is certainly a long list of Music Row performers among the 25 who have done a Thanksgiving halftime show. And I have no choice but to put three on this list, but they are three musicians I respect.

Underwood is one of those. Her music has stayed truer to actual country music than most who struck it big around the same time. Her loyalty to the Grand Ol’ Opry has always stood out to me.

But perhaps no one enjoyed Underwood’s performance more than Tony Romo. The former Dallas QB started dating her shortly after her halftime show.

4. Toby Keith (2003)

There was a time I couldn’t stand to hear anything by the “Big Dog Daddy.” But he’s got a great voice, and his remake of his own hit “Should’ve been a Cowboy” to pay honor to the Dallas Cowboys should be timeless for fans of the team.

3. Eric Church (2016)

This is the only entry on the list I got to witness in person. While many critics in the press box hammered Church for his performance, I went on record as enjoying it. He brought great energy and performed a good variety of his hits.

Church is a Nashville artist I’ve always enjoyed. Great voice, and he never got sucked into the “Bro Country” subgenre like Luke Bryan or Kenny Chesney.

I do wish the Cowboys would try to grab country artists with more Texas roots, though. I know Texas country artists don’t move the radar enough to land this type of gig, and while I don’t enjoy Aaron Watson or Cody Johnson as much since they went to Nashville, I’d welcome their presence for a Thanksgiving halftime show.

At least I wouldn’t turn the channel instead of listening to someone like Kane Brown or Thomas Rhett who don’t perform anything close to actual country music.

Of course, George Strait would be the biggest home run for this spot.

2. Daughtry (2009)

There have not been enough rock artists for the Dallas halftime show, but when there have been, they have delivered the most memorable performances.

Daughtry is one of the greatest rock vocalists of his generation, and he’s actually embraced the genre more in recent years, playing music that isn’t as pop radio friendly.

He’s going on tour with the top band on this list, and I’d love to get to one of their shows.

1. Creed (2001)

Was there any doubt who would top this list?

I’ve already done a Fave Five listing my favorite Creed songs this season. And this remains the standard for Thanksgiving halftime shows.

I wish the Cowboys would have brought Creed back this year after its resurgence in Arlington due to the Texas Rangers’ run to the World Series.

But I am honestly excited to see Dolly Parton perform. And I’m curious if she’ll have any special guests with her, considering how many duets and collaborations are on her new album.

Is it too much to ask for Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr to join her for “Let It Be?”

On to the picks…

Back to within three games of Cory Hogue on the high school picks.

Of course, it’s Zach Duncan’s fault I’m even this far behind. I’m still not sure why, but it's the hand he's been dealt.

By the way, KFDX’s Tobin McDuff has quietly been creeping up on Cory and I in the standings. He’s a mere six games back, which can be made up during the playoffs.

You can find picks from the entire “expert panel” below along with our college and NFL picks for this great football weekend at the bottom.

AREA TEAMS

Rider 32, Frisco Emerson 25 – Rider hasn’t been in a game that was close but once this season, and it lost to Stephenville, 21-20. But this is a team built to win close games. The Raiders can grind it out with their ground game, and if Emerson is needing to pass to get down the field late, I’ll take Rider’s pass rush against anyone.

Jacksboro 28, Holliday 20 – Really tough to pick a winner in this one. It came down to Jacksboro’s weapons and ability to move the ball through the air or on the ground. Even if Holliday limits the big play, Jacksboro can put together longer drives, too.

Benjamin 84, Jayton 80 – Bet against Grayson Rigdon at your own peril. The Mustangs may have to win another shootout, but they have the most dynamic six-man weapon in the state. I’m not picking against him, and the emergence of freshman Keegan Hayes gives Rigdon a talented complement.

CLASS 6A D-II

Coppell 32, Byron Nelson 27 – This matchup pits former Hirschi coach Antonio Wiley (Coppell) against former Old High coach Travis Pride (Byron Nelson). How quickly Wiley has turned Coppell into a regional threat is impressive. He keeps the Cowboys rolling.

CLASS 5A D-I

Abilene High 35, Justin Northwest 17 – This game is at 7 p.m. Friday at Memorial Stadium. I love seeing West Texas programs succeed at the Class 5A and Class 6A level. I have a legit bias for those schools, and Abilene High and Midland Legacy are the last two standing in the larger classifications. But I’m picking Abilene High because I believe the Eagles are the better team, too. Last week’s win against Denton Ryan speaks volumes.

College Station 29, Smithson Valley 22 – I like adding these larger classification games that are outside our region to test my own knowledge of the sport statewide. It doesn’t always prove to be an advantage, though.

Expert analysis: Now that Jimbo Fisher has left College Station, the Cougars should roll. It’s like a weight has been lifted off that community.

CLASS 5A D-II

Argyle 38, Colleyville Heritage 20 – The winner here gets either Rider or Emerson next week. Heritage’s resumé isn’t impressive despite the 11-1 record. Argyle is the best team the Panthers have faced. That’s not a bad thing to say in the third round of the playoffs, but the same isn’t true for Argyle in relation to Heritage.

Montgomery Lake Creek 38, Port Neches-Groves 28 – I’m really reaching across the state for games now. I was big on Lake Creek last season, and even picked the Lions to win the Class 5A Division II state title. I think they’re still a contender to do so this season.

CLASS 4A D-I

Brownwood 30, Springtown 16 – This became a tall order for Springtown after four-year starting quarterback and battering ram in the Porcupines’ power-run scheme Hudson Hulett left last week’s game in an air cast. It was going to be tough to beat Brownwood with him. There’s a big load coming for senior Drake Doggett, who is the team’s best athlete, but Brownwood is suddenly a strong favorite.

Decatur 41, Lubbock Estacado 21 – The switch clicked on for Decatur against Hirschi two months ago, and the Eagles started a seven-game win streak that increases to eight here.

Celina 30, Stephenville 27 – I don’t think anyone in Class 4A has played a tougher schedule than Stephenville, but Celina has passed some serious tests as well.

Anna 35, Frisco Panther Creek 28 – Panther Creek closes the gap from last year’s 62-24 loss to Anna in bi-district last season, but the second-year program will have to wait another year to get vengeance against the Coyotes.

CLASS 4A D-II

Canyon West Plains 34, Monahans 17 – Monahans is undefeated, but the Loboes have played a collection of bad West Texas Class 4A programs. They don’t have a signature win and haven’t been challenged at all. West Plains has played a decisively tougher schedule and what the Wolves did to Graham last week was enough to convince me.

Glen Rose 37, Seminole 20 – I’ll give credit where it’s due. Seminole’s comeback win against Hirschi was phenomenal, and the coaching staff did a great job adjusting and stealing the momentum in the second half. But the Indians can’t keep advancing like that. And Glen Rose is playing at a high level after a slow start to the season.

Carthage 27, Texarkana Pleasant Grove 21 – Biggest game in the state this weekend? Yes. And it’s tempting to take Pleasant Grove. But someone will have to take it from Carthage. Picking against the Bulldogs is never wise.

CLASS 3A D-I

Bushland 20, Paradise 15 – Great matchup set for 6 p.m. Friday in Vernon. Both teams won playoff games in Vernon last week. I like Bushland’s resumé more overall, but I expect a fairly low scoring affair.

Brock 50, Clyde 13 – With all due respect to Clyde, this is one of the easier games to predict. It’s on the list because it’s being played at 2 p.m. Friday in Graham before Jacksboro and Holliday.

CLASS 3A D-II

Gunter 59, Comanche 8 – The winner gets either Holliday or Jacksboro next week. And there’s little doubt about who that winner will be. This Gunter team is nasty.

CLASS 2A DI

Cooper 34, Garrison 26 – Let’s go out to East Texas for a pick. This matchup is between two top five teams in the state, according to PigskinPrep.com. I like Cooper’s overall strength of schedule quite a bit more.

CLASS 2A D-II

Albany 38, Muenster 14 – Both teams have played very difficult schedules. But Albany has dominated while Muenster took four early losses.

SIX-MAN DII

Lamesa Klondike 64, Balmorhea 54 – I feel qualified to pick this game because I have been to both towns/communities. I had more fun in Balmorhea — a hidden gem in West Texas. But Klondike gets the nod. The winner gets either Benjamin or Jayton next week.

Cherokee 42, Richland Springs 40 – I like Cherokee’s recent results more. This isn’t your father’s Richland Springs team. The Coyotes don’t dominate six-man anymore.

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Wichita Falls area high school football regional playoff predictions