Everyone knows that...

...former Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson* played football at Barrington, but did you know that Carol Marin, famous local television and print journalist, went to Palatine?

She didn't play football there (as far as I know), but she does have a tattoo.

Why is any of this relevant? It's not, except that the two schools will meet at Barrington on Friday night in my Game of the Week.

The home-team Broncos (7-0) are off to their best start since 2014, when they won their first seven games only to lose to -- you guessed it -- Palatine, 24-14.

This week Barrington is ranked No. 6 in the Sun-Times, No. 7 in the Tribune and No. 9 in MaxPreps.

Palatine, also undefeated at 7-0, hasn't begun a season this well since 2012 when they won ten straight after dropping their opener to Montini, 40-37. The Pirates ended up losing in the quarterfinals that year to Loyola, 19-7.

Palatine is ranked No. 5 in MaxPreps, No. 6 in the Trib and No. 7 in the Sun-Times.

How do these two squads stack up? Well, as you can see, the Broncos have beaten five winning teams -- Maine South, Evanston, Fremd, Schaumburg and Hoffman Estates -- while the Pirates have bested only four -- Stevenson, New Trier, Hoffman Estates and Fremd. Curiously, Palatine has faced three winless programs: Elk Grove Village, Glenbrook South and Conant.

Home team in CAPS:

BARRINGTON 41, Glenbrook South 15
BARRINGTON 49, Prospect 7
BARRINGTON 41, Maine South 27
Barrington 35, EVANSTON 7
Barrington 27, FREMD 12
BARRINGTON 49, Schaumburg 20
Barrington 45, HOFFMAN ESTATES 41

Palatine 28, STEVENSON 20
PALATINE 48, Elk Grove 7
PALATINE 34, Glenbrook South 13
Palatine 41, NEW TRIER 21
Palatine 49, HOFFMAN ESTATES 13
PALATINE 21, Fremd 14
Palatine 43, CONANT 7

As for the history of these two schools, Palatine has won eight of the last nine matchups. Will Friday night be any different? Based on their results against three common opponents -- Glenbrook South, Fremd and Hoffman Estates -- I'd say it's a pick 'em. But I'll give Palatine the slight edge based on history. Should be a good one!

2015: PALATINE 26, Barrington 24
2014: Palatine 24, BARRINGTON 14
2013: Barrington 27, PALATINE 0
2012: Palatine 38, BARRINGTON 6
2011: PALATINE 35, Barrington 14
2010: Palatine 21, BARRINGTON 10
2009: PALATINE 35, Barrington 0
2008: Palatine 45, BARRINGTON 31
2007: PALATINE 35, Barrington 7
2006: BARRINGTON 41, Palatine 7
2005: Barrington 20, PALATINE 0
2004: BARRINGTON 33, Palatine 0

* That's actually a picture of Paulson at Dartmouth.