Which teams will win this year's slate of Super 6 state football titles?

This year’s high school football season will come to a close this week as the Alabama High School Athletic Association crowns six new state football champs during its annual Super 6 state football championship event.

All six games will be played at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, and the event will kick off today (Thursday) at 11 a.m. when Handley and Madison Academy duke it out to decide the Class 3A title.

Linden and Marion County will square off in the 1A state title game today at 3 p.m., and Vigor will take on Hartselle in the Class 5A game at 7 p.m.

Action tomorrow (Friday) will begin at 11 a.m. when Jackson faces Oneonta in the Class 4A title game. Elba will play Tanner in the Class 2A game at 3 p.m., and Prattville will play Hoover in the Class 6A game at 7 p.m.

Only five of the 12 teams in the Super 6 are undefeated – Tanner, Elba, Jackson, Handley and Hartselle.

The field also includes three teams with one loss this season – Linden, Marion County and Hoover.

Linden’s only loss this year came on the road in Week 7 against Class 5A Gulf Shores, and the Patriots only lost by six points. Marion County’s only loss came during a barnburner in Week 8 in which region opponent, Berry, beat them, 68-50, in Fayette.

Hoover’s only loss came in Week 9 against region opponent Mountain Brook on the road, an eight-point decision.

Two loss teams in the Super 6 include Vigor, Madison Academy, Oneonta and Prattville.

Vigor (12-2) lost to Class 6A Davidson by one point in the second game of the season, and suffered a two-point loss against region opponent, St. Paul’s, in the sixth week of the season. Madison Academy (12-2) opened the season with a pair of losses to Class 4A North Jackson and to region rival, Sardis, before reeling off 12 straight wins.

Oneonta dropped a pair of games this year to two region opponents, Alexandria and Anniston. Alexandria won by one point, and Anniston won by three. Prattville lost its season opener against Florida powerhouse, St. Thomas, by three points, and lost to Opelika four weeks later by two points.

Who do I think will win their respective championship games?

I look for Linden to win the 1A state title. They’re battle tested and have a dominating defense. Marion County’s got a good offense, but they give up a lot of points. I expect Tanner to win the 2A title. Elba’s scoring more than 50 points a game this season, but they’ve yet to face a defense like that of the Tanner Rattlers.

I look for Madison Academy to win the Class 3A title game because they’ve got the better overall team, despite two losses. I expect Jackson to win the Class 4A title. I look for undefeated Jackson to dominate Oneonta, which won’t be able to stop Jackson’s offense.

I look for Vigor to win the Class 5A title game, but it’s going to be a battle. Vigor and Hartselle will be evenly match, and the team that makes the most mistakes will likely get the runner-up trophy. I expect Prattville to win the Class 6A title. In my opinion, they’ve got the better overall team, and Hoover won’t be able to hang with Prattville’s offense.

If you want to watch the games live, tune in to CBS 42, which will be broadcasting them statewide today and tomorrow.