The road to the playoffs begins on Friday night.

If you don’t believe me, then just check out this Week 2 schedule.

Region openers await seven of the nine teams in The Times’ coverage area — Addison and Vinemont must wait another week — and offer opportunities for those respective programs to secure wins that could pay huge dividends when the postseason picture begins to take shape later this fall.

The unmistakable smell of high school football is definitely in the air.

Before we get to the breakdowns, though, remember to cast your vote in “The People’s Pick,” a series of Twitter polls posted on my timeline (@winfreyjake) at the beginning of each week.

Let’s make some picks, shall we?

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Class 2A, Region 5

% Cold Springs (2-0) at Southeastern (2-0): These two squads are both undefeated, but there’s one 2-0 record that holds significantly more water when you dive into the numbers.

Southeastern’s triumphs over Appalachian (12-0) and Brindlee Mountain (60-0) might look solid at first glance, but those two respective programs have combined to go 13-71 since the 2014 season.

Conversely, Meek and Berry have a 50-41 record during that same stretch.

I say all that to say this: Cold Springs is the better team here.

% Jake’s Pick: Cold Springs

% The People’s Pick: Cold Springs (76 percent — 114 votes)

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Class 6A, Region 7

% Cullman (1-1) at Decatur (1-1): The Bearcats hit the road for the first time this fall on Friday night.

And they didn’t exactly draw an easy matchup.

Decatur beat Huntsville 38-21 in Week 0 before losing to Austin in a 60-45 shootout last week and will no doubt look to challenge Cullman’s defense early and often inside Ogle Stadium following two bouts against 7A opponents.

The Bearcats have played two close games so far this fall, and I expect another this time around.

There should be plenty of points in this one.

% Jake’s Pick: Decatur

% The People’s Pick: Decatur (58 percent — 125 votes)

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Class 4A, Region 7

% DAR (1-1) at Fairview (1-1): The Aggies earned their first win of the season with a terrific showing against Hanceville last week.

DAR, meanwhile, destroyed my alma mater Douglas — Class of 2007 — by a final score of 59-0.

My Eagles, however, have been a disaster since 1998, the last time they secured a postseason berth.

Fairview has never lost to DAR (4-0), so I’m going to side with history.

Give me the Aggies in a close one.

% Jake’s Pick: Fairview

% The People’s Pick: Fairview (68 percent — 117 votes)

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Class 4A, Region 5

% Cordova (0-2) at Good Hope (2-0): I’m definitely not on this fence in this game.

Cordova has yet to score or stop opponents this season in losses to Dora (31-0) and Hamilton (32-0).

The Raiders, meanwhile, are rolling and have a ton of confidence.

Barring a host of penalties and/or turnovers, I like Good Hope to start 3-0 for the first time since 2013.

% Jake’s Pick: Good Hope

% The People’s Pick: Good Hope (78 percent — 125 votes)

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Class 3A, Region 5

% J.B. Pennington (0-2) at Hanceville (1-1): The Bulldogs will need to forget last week’s loss to Fairview.

And they’ll need to do so in a hurry.

The Tigers enter this matchup having lost two close games to Jacksonville (34-21) and Susan Moore (28-21) and will be more motivated than ever to capture that elusive first victory.

Hanceville, meanwhile, has some motivation of its own. 

The Bulldogs have dropped two straight tilts to J.B. Pennington (42-0 in 2017 and 44-30 in 2016) and are trying to win their region opener for the first time since 2011.

% Jake’s Pick: J.B. Pennington

% The People’s Pick: Hanceville (64 percent — 120 votes)

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Class 3A, Region 5

% Midfield (1-0) at Holly Pond (2-0): These two squads have never met, but one is going to walk off Thomas-Michelfelder Field on Friday night with a crucial region win.

I just have no idea which team it’s going to be.

Holly Pond has easily defeated New Hope and Ider so far this season, while Midfield whipped Tarrant 22-0 in Week 1 to kick off its 2018 campaign.

While the Broncos are better at home (8-5 record since 2016), the Patriots have played a much more difficult slate during that same stretch.

It’s a toss up for me.

% Jake’s Pick: Midfield

% The People’s Pick: Holly Pond (55 percent — 121 votes)

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Class 5A, Region 7

% Hamilton (1-0) at West Point (2-0): The Warriors have seen it all in their two victories this season.

West Point blitzed Fairview in Week 0 before having to overcome a 19-point deficit in the second half of last week’s 27-26 victory versus Arab.

Which team will show up against Hamilton? I imagine coach Don Farley is hoping for the former.

These two programs have played twice before, and both were close outings.

The Warriors won 23-13 last season, while the Aggies picked up a 14-10 win in 2016.

Expect another fourth-quarter game come Friday evening.

But I like the home team.

% Jake’s Pick: West Point

% The People’s Pick: West Point (77 percent — 120 votes)

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Non-Region Games

% Class 2A Winston County (1-1) at Class 2A Addison (1-1): The Bulldogs couldn’t quite keep a 20-8 lead against 3A No. 3 Piedmont, falling 32-20 last week after failing to score in the second half.

How will Addison respond against a county rival?

My guess is without mercy.

The Bulldogs have lost just once to Winston County in six tries under coach David Smothers, and I’m quite willing to call that a trend.

I believe Addison will get its offense on track in this one just in time for region play next week.

% Jake’s Pick: Addison

% The People’s Pick: Addison (89 percent — 117 votes)

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% Class 2A Westbrook Christian (2-0) at Class 3A Vinemont (0-1): This is a hard one to analyze.

The Warriors have allowed just 12 points this season in wins over Coosa Christian (35-6) and Ragland (28-6) — both 1A squads — but the Eagles, despite a 32-28 loss to Falkville, should provide a tougher test across the board.

Is Westbrook Christian a product of its first two opponents?

That’s hard to say.

One thing I do believe, though, is that Vinemont will be one of the most improved teams in the county by the end of the season.

I’m going to play a small hunch here and take the Fighting Stephen Robinson’s at home.

% Jake’s Pick: Vinemont

% The People’s Pick: Westbrook Christian (54 percent — 115 votes)

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% Jake’s Record to Date: 14-2

% People’s Record to Date: 12-4