With this week, we'll already be halfway (halfway?!) through the regular season. We continue to move into the heart of divisional play with a few more crucial matchups that will help determine which teams remain contenders or fall away as pretenders.
But first, as we know you all enjoy, it's time for Kyle and Remmy to take one last look at Week 4. Click here to watch that video.
In Week 5, the three remaining teams with undefeated divisional records in the Brass are all in divisional play while the second major game between major Copper contenders--Torrington at Naugatuck--will be showcased as our Game of the Week. That game was also the My9 Game of the Week.
Click here to watch Kyle's and Remmy's Week 5 picks video.
Ansonia (4-0, 1-0) at Seymour (3-1, 0-1): Remember a similar showdown between these teams a few years back at DeBarber Field? Unfortunately, we're probably not going to get a repeat of that classic. Seymour was beaten pretty easily in its first game against a quality opponent in Wolcott last week while Ansonia continued to roll with a blowout of Holy Cross. There probably isn't much that Seymour can do to keep this game close if the three Copper contenders couldn't. The Chargers should continue their tear through the Brass Division and the NVL.
Picks: Remmy- Ansonia, 48-13. Kyle- Ansonia, 41-6.
Holy Cross (3-1, 1-0) at Kennedy (0-4, 0-1): This game is either the best or worst thing possible for the Crusaders. Holy Cross needs an opportunity to rebound from a tough loss at Ansonia, and this game provides that opportunity against a winless divisional opponent. But it always seems like this sort of game is the one in which Kennedy springs up and pulls an upset every year (see Sacred Heart, circa 2010). The Eagles are physical, like always, up front and it wouldn't be a huge surprise if they hang around into the second half. Cross has to make sure it doesn't look ahead to its huge game against Naugatuck next week.
Picks: Remmy- Holy Cross, 35-12. Kyle- Holy Cross, 21-6.
Wolcott (3-1, 2-0) at Wilby (2-2, 1-1): Certainly the most exciting Brass Division game of the week, this game has so many intriguing facets. First, we have a matchup between perhaps the two most athletic quarterbacks in the league with Wolcott's Mike Nicol and Wilby's JayLen Mahan. Toss in two of the better running backs in Wolcott's DeVante Bonvillian and Wilby's Jacob Thomas. Mix in the divisional and playoff implications--particularly for the Eagles--and finish it off with Wilby coach Patrick Russo facing his former team, and we've got all the makings for an outstanding game. Wolcott may have the edge with its slightly stronger defense and better passing attack, but the intensity with which Wilby played last week was highly impressive.
Picks: Remmy- Wolcott, 28-24. Kyle- Wilby, 30-24.
Derby (1-3, 0-2) at Watertown (2-2, 2-0): The Red Raiders are perhaps one of the best 1-3 teams in the state but have lost two fourth-quarter leads on a couple of incredible late-game plays. If Derby still wants to make the Class S playoff field, the Raiders will most likely have to win their last six games. That starts this week against a steadily improving Watertown squad which has played very well in the fourth quarters of its last two victories. The Indians' strong running game and ability to mix it up with the pass could be problematic for a Derby defense which hasn't been great. Ray Kreiger wasn't as accurate as usual, especially on the deep ball, against Wilby, which didn't help the Raiders. This game very well may have the hopes for the season on the line for both teams.
Picks: Remmy- Watertown, 34-26. Kyle- Derby, 35-28.
Sacred Heart (0-3, 0-2) at Crosby (1-3, 0-2): Our ugly game of the week nominee goes to this one between city teams at a combined 1-6 through four weeks. Sacred Heart has been awful in the first half of all three of its games this year before rallying in the second half of games at Woodland and Naugatuck. If the Hearts can put together a little something in the first half, they should be OK. Crosby's been impossible to figure out so far. The Bulldogs looked fairly good in a loss to Holy Cross before smoking St. Paul. But they've been horrible over the last two weeks with nearly no offense. These teams should match up in athleticism, but who knows what will be the result.
Picks: Remmy- Crosby, 29-20. Kyle- Sacred Heart, 29-21.
Woodland (3-1, 2-0) at St. Paul (0-4, 0-2): Woodland has only really faced one quality opponent through its first four games, and we all know how that turned out. This is the Hawks' final chance to coast through a game before the three most important games of their season all come in a row with Torrington, Naugatuck, and Holy Cross. Matt Zaccagnini had to leave last week's game against Kennedy with a minor ankle injury, but he should be good to go for this one. The one thing that could make this game sticky for the Hawks is that their young secondary didn't look good in the second half of their game against Sacred Heart, which was the only game in which they faced a passing team. If it comes to it, we'll see how St. Paul handles a JV quarter this time around.
Picks: Remmy- Woodland, 47-26. Kyle- Woodland, 41-14.
We have several matchups that are very capable of being one-score games either way, so this week's picks and contests should be very interesting. It's been tough to get a read on some of these teams so far, but this week should help quite a bit in that regard. Kyle and Remmy differ on three picks this week, so we're sure we'll have plenty of variety from you guys.
As always, we invite you to make your picks along with us (by the way, the Predictions Tracker is updated) and share your thoughts one the very intriguing games we have this week. What's going to happen in the Wilby-Wolcott game? Can Watertown stay hot in the Brass? How badly is Ansonia going to beat Seymour? There's plenty to chew on.
Stay tuned for our Game of the Week thread coming early on Wednesday!
