The AL.com “expert” high school picks panel returns this year with one new addition.

John Vella, who has been covering high school football on the Gulf Coast for more than two decades, has joined the esteemed panel of pickers for the 2023 season.

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A year ago, WKRG sports anchor Simone Eli shockingly went from last to first to earn the season’s top record. She finished 234-84 overall.

Eli was followed by AL.com reporters Dennis Victory (231-87) and Ben Thomas (229-89) and Mobile radio talk show host and AL.com high school correspondent Randy Kennedy (225-93).

The panel picks 20 statewide games during each week of the regular season. That number may increase in the playoffs.

Here are this week’s picks. All games scheduled for Friday unless otherwise noted.

Andalusia at Opp (Thursday)

Simone Eli: Andalusia 21-7

Randy Kennedy: Andalusia 33-20

Ben Thomas: Andalusia 31-14

John Vella: Andalusia 28-9

Dennis Victory: Andalusia 35-21

Auburn at Hoover

Simone Eli: Hoover 21-20

Randy Kennedy: Hoover 21-20

Ben Thomas: Hoover 17-14

John Vella: Hoover 38-35

Dennis Victory: Hoover 28-27

Beauregard vs. Selma (Thursday)

Simone Eli: Beauregard 14-10

Randy Kennedy: Beauregard 21-20

Ben Thomas: Beauregard 28-20

John Vella: Beauregard 28-13

Dennis Victory: Beauregard 33-20

Blount at Vigor (Saturday)

Simone Eli: Blount 21-20

Randy Kennedy: Vigor 21-13

Ben Thomas: Vigor 17-9

John Vella: Vigor 17-10

Dennis Victory: Blount 17-16

Central-Phenix City at Hewitt-Trussville

Simone Eli: Central-Phenix City 24-21

Randy Kennedy: Central-Phenix City 34-20

Ben Thomas: Central-Phenix City 33-24

John Vella: Central-Phenix City 24-20

Dennis Victory: Central-Phenix City 32-30

Clay-Chalkville at Briarwood

Simone Eli: Clay-Chalkville 24-20

Randy Kennedy: Clay-Chalkville 41-17

Ben Thomas: Clay-Chalkville 35-20

John Vella: Clay-Chalkville 28-8

Dennis Victory: Clay-Chalkville 36-17

Fairhope at Spanish Fort (Thursday)

Simone Eli: Spanish Fort 21-20

Randy Kennedy: Spanish Fort 20-17

Ben Thomas: Spanish Fort 17-14

John Vella: Spanish Fort 28-13

Dennis Victory: Spanish Fort 21-20

Hartselle at Austin

Simone Eli: Hartselle 27-14

Randy Kennedy: Hartselle 30-20

Ben Thomas: Hartselle 35-17

John Vella: Hartselle 21-16

Dennis Victory: Austin 22-21

Lipscomb (Tenn.) Academy at Saraland

Simone Eli: Saraland 24-21

Randy Kennedy: Saraland 38-33

Ben Thomas: Saraland 35-30

John Vella: Lipscomb Academy 34-26

Dennis Victory: Saraland 35-28

Madison Academy at Deshler

Simone Eli: Deshler 31-27

Randy Kennedy: Deshler 40-38

Ben Thomas: Deshler 30-24

John Vella: Deshler 35-28

Dennis Victory: Deshler 17-14

Mary G. Montgomery at Williamson

Simone Eli: MGM 28-21

Randy Kennedy: MGM 16-13

Ben Thomas: MGM 20-10

John Vella: MGM 31-12

Dennis Victory: MGM 28-18

Montgomery Catholic at McGill-Toolen

Simone Eli: Montgomery Catholic 21-20

Randy Kennedy: Montgomery Catholic 21-7

Ben Thomas: Montgomery Catholic 35-14

John Vella: Montgomery Catholic 30-10

Dennis Victory: McGill-Toolen 24-23

Pell City at Moody

Simone Eli: Moody 24-14

Randy Kennedy: Moody 20-14

Ben Thomas: Moody 28-14

John Vella: Moody 24-6

Dennis Victory: Moody 31-21

Prattville at Foley

Simone Eli: Foley 28-21

Randy Kennedy: Foley 22-10

Ben Thomas: Foley 24-17

John Vella: Prattville 31-23

Dennis Victory: Prattville 33-25

Scottsboro at Fort Payne

Simone Eli: Fort Payne 21-14

Randy Kennedy: Fort Payne 27-18

Ben Thomas: Fort Payne 21-20

John Vella: Fort Payne 30-20

Dennis Victory: Fort Payne 28-21

St. Paul’s at UMS-Wright

Simone Eli: UMS-Wright 21-20

Randy Kennedy: UMS-Wright 21-14

Ben Thomas: UMS-Wright 17-14

John Vella: St. Paul’s 19-10

Dennis Victory: UMS-Wright 18-17

Theodore at Baker

Simone Eli: Theodore 24-21

Randy Kennedy: Theodore 23-16

Ben Thomas: Theodore 27-17

John Vella: Baker 21-20

Dennis Victory: Baker 22-21

Thompson vs. Opelika

Simone Eli: Thompson 28-17

Randy Kennedy: Thompson 37-31

Ben Thomas: Thompson 31-14

John Vella: Thompson 35-14

Dennis Victory: Thompson 30-21

Vestavia Hills at Mountain Brook (Thursday)

Simone Eli: Mountain Brook 24-20

Randy Kennedy: Mountain Brook 20-18

Ben Thomas: Mountain Brook 28-18

John Vella: Mountain Brook 23-21

Dennis Victory: Vestavia Hills 20-19

West Morgan at Randolph

Simone Eli: West Morgan 21-20

Randy Kennedy: West Morgan 30-28

Ben Thomas: West Morgan 30-20

John Vella: West Morgan 31-27

Dennis Victory: Randolph 28-20