Not sure about this game. I have a feeling Folsom runs away with it in the second half. They have one common opponent (Turlock) and Rocklin battled for a W while Folsom destroyed them. It was the first game of year for Turlock and things change so take it with a grain of salt.
Your grain of salt comment is the right way to look at it IMO.
The common opponent method of predicting games is counterfeited just as often as it appears to be correct. Not only can the performances of teams vary from week-to-week, they can often be drastically different over the course of several weeks or at the end of the season.
Furthermore, in the case of Rocklin and Folsom versus Turlock, the Thunder had to travel 2 hours+ by bus to play a team with a month or more to prep for the game (as is the case for all week 0 games) whereas Turlock had to make the 2 hour+ trek to face a Bulldogs team that had 14 days to prepare for them (Turlock played the previous week).
Point is, the circumstances leading up to both games were drastically different.
Moving on from that important distinction, here's a relevant and current example demonstrating why common opponents are often deceiving:
Bishop Manogue-Reno beat St. Mary's-Stockton 21-14 on 08/24 then 3 weeks later traveled to Modesto and lost to Central Catholic 41-28.
So what would the common opponent method have you believing the outcome of a Central Catholic-Modesto versus St. Mary's-Stockton match up to be?
Well, the Rams beat the Raiders, on the road, by 2-scores, 27-14. Common opponent method counterfeited yet again.
Looking at De La Salle's schedule, they beat Grant Union by 28 then beat Serra-San Mateo by 29 the very next week.
Would the majority here expect the Pacers to play an even game against Serra-SM right now, let alone have a realistic of beating the Padres? The common opponent method says 'YES'. But I believe the majority here would expect Serra to beat GHS by a few scores.
Circling back to tomorrow's Rocklin at Folsom game, the Bulldogs seem to possess more talent and depth thus are easily the favorite. But match ups differ from opponent-to-opponent and more importantly these are league opponents that play every year and scout each other much more intensely and in-depth. Rocklin had an extra week to focus solely on the Bulldogs, and due to their scehdule, might also have had the luxury of holding some things back in anticipation of this game.
I'm not saying that's what Coach Adams and his staff have done, just that it's not unprecedented.
All the above could mean nothing or it could mean everything. Who knows.
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