Will Nixa beat undefeated Carthage? Southwest Missouri football predictions, games to watch Oct. 22

We have arrived at the final week of the regular season and there is plenty up for grabs as we anxiously await postseason matchups.

Week 9 of the regular season will see how many ways the Central Ozark Conference will be decided along with some matchups between some of the best teams in the area. Other games will heavily impact district seedings.

Since Week 3 of the season, I'm 148-31 and was 22-9 last week.

Here's a look at the best games coming up this week and who I think is going to come out on top.

Carthage @ Nixa

The game of the week puts Carthage against Nixa with the Central Ozark Conference on the line.

Carthage (8-0) already has a share of the league title while Nixa (7-1) can force the Tigers to share it. If the Eagles win, along with Joplin (7-1), it'll be shared three ways. If the Eagles win and Joplin loses, it will be shared between Nixa and Carthage.

Both teams tout the best defenses in the Ozarks with Carthage allowing 12.3 points per game and Nixa allowing 18.4.

Plenty of star power will be on the field with Carthage's Luke Gall being the best all-around player in southwest Missouri and Nixa featuring top-tier players including receiver Kael Combs and defensive lineman John Gholson. My pick: Nixa

Branson @ Republic

Republic (4-4) set out on a mission to record its first winning season since 2015 when it entered the season. A win on Friday will put them that much closer.

The Tigers are already looking at a third-place finish in Class 5, District 6 with a matchup with Parkview (0-8) or Willard (0-8) coming next week. The Tigers already beat Willard 45-21 earlier this season and could secure a winning season with a win against either before a rematch against Webb City (5-3).

In Republic's way this week? A Branson (3-5) team that surprised many when it held Joplin to just 21 points last week and was a touchdown away from one of the season's biggest upsets. My pick: Branson

Reeds Spring @ Logan-Rogersville

It would have been easy to discount Logan-Rogersville (5-3) after its first three games of the season but the Wildcats have since won five straight and are one of the hottest teams in the Ozarks.

They can close the regular season on a six-game winning streak heading into a difficult Class 4, District 6 tournament that features West Plains (7-1) and McDonald County (7-1). Standout quarterback J.J. O'Neal has proven to be a game-changer while leading his team on this impressive streak.

Standing in its way? A Reeds Spring (3-5) team that got off to a 3-1 start but has since lost four straight and is in desperate need to change its fortunes. The Wolves have the talent to get hot and maybe pull off an upset or two in Class 3, District 4 with teams such as Aurora (7-1), Hollister (5-3) and Mountain Grove (5-2) as the top dogs. 

O'Neal and Wolves star tight end Caden Wiest are two of the best players in southwest Missouri. A win here for either team can go a long way. My pick: Logan-Rogersville

Rolla @ Camdenton

The Bulldogs pulled off one of the year's biggest upsets when they prevented Lebanon (7-1) from going undefeated, likely costing the Yellow Jackets the outright Ozark Conference title.

How did Rolla do it? Tough run defense limited the Yellow Jackets to just 152 rushing yards when they had been running through teams all season. 

Unfortunately for Rolla (5-3), it won't be going against a run-heavy team as it welcomes Camdenton (6-2) coming off a big win over Glendale (5-2) to keep itself in conference title contention. The Lakers do nothing but pass the ball. 

It seems to be a long shot for Camdenton to win a share of the OC but the Lakers have established themselves as one of the area's top offenses. My pick: Camdenton

Aurora @ Nevada

This is one of the best games on paper heading into the week, but it will be interesting to see how both teams approach it with the postseason starting next week and both teams having their district positions wrapped up.

Nevada (6-2) should have a game next week against Kansas City East (0-7) with Lincoln College Prep (8-0) taking the top spot in Class 4, District 7 and earning a bye.

Aurora (7-1) is going to have a bye next week and will await an opponent in a district it will be favored in after taking the top spot in Class 3, District 6.

If both teams treat it like a normal week, the experience of Aurora will go up against a top-level team in Nevada that has only lost to McDonald County (7-1) and Lamar (8-0). The Tigers have a big offensive line and talented running back Avious Steadman. Aurora has a plethora of ball carriers and a secondary that's been able to hang with anyone. 

Hopefully, fans in Nevada are treated to a great game between two of the area's best teams. We'll see how all-in these teams go with these two teams having their spots in the postseason known. My pick: Nevada

Thayer @ Mountain Grove

There aren't many teams hotter than Mountain Grove (5-2) right now and there haven't been many programs better than Thayer (6-2) in recent years. That should add up for a great game on Friday night.

Mountain Grove will welcome Thayer which is fresh off a 37-0 win over Willow Springs (2-6). The Wildcats' only two losses this season have been to Ava (8-0) and Hayti (7-0) which are two of the best teams in the state. The Panthers' two losses were also to undefeated programs including Ava and Fair Grove (8-0). 

As far as postseason positioning, Thayer is set as Class 1, District 3's No. 2 team behind Marionville (8-0) and will probably host Pierce City (3-5) next week. Mountain Grove is still fighting for position in the standings which are close enough to where it can lose a shot at hosting depending on how other games Friday night fall. My pick: Thayer

Other Week 9 games

Picks in bold

• Kickapoo @ Hillcrest
• Waynesville @ Glendale
• Parkview @ Lebanon
• Forsyth @ Central
• Hollister @ Catholic
• Carl Junction @ Ozark
• Webb City @ Willard
• El Dorado Springs @ Fair Grove
• Skyline @ Strafford
• West Plains @ Bolivar
• Neosho @ Joplin
• Miller @ Marionville
• Sarcoxie @ Ash Grove
• Marshfield @ Mount Vernon
• Lamar @ East Newton
• Cassville @ McDonald County
• Monett @ Seneca
• Salem @ Cabool
• Pierce City @ Stockton
• Ava @ Willow Springs
• Buffalo @ Warsaw
• Houston @ Mountain View-Liberty
• Agape @ Clever

Wyatt D. Wheeler is a reporter and columnist with the Springfield News-Leader. You can contact him at 417-371-6987, by email at wwheeler@news-leader.com or Twitter at @WyattWheeler_NL. He's also the co-host of Sports Talk on Jock Radio weekdays from 4-6 p.m.