Week 5 Picks

Week 5 and three of the Suburban Trends area teams are still undefeated. I wish I could say the same for my record in making picks, but the key to being successful is to keep trying so I will. Year to date record is 16-5 and 4-0 on best bets compared to the stock market, 76% isn’t that bad.

Kinnelon plays Whippany Park and they should come out with their 4th straight win. Right now, the Colts are playing very well and they have beaten the Wildcats the past four seasons. It’s a big game for them in the sense that last year, they opened 3-0 then went on to lose four of their last seven. Opening with four wins would be a great psychological boost for the team, the program, and the school. Plus with the way Brian DeVeau is playing, very few defenses will be able to control him. I can see this game being wide open, but playing at home should be more than enough for Kinnelon to take it.

West Milford plays Passaic County Tech. Both teams are 3-1 and split the last four games with the Highlanders winning in the even numbered years and PCT in the odd numbered years. Perhaps that has more to do with home field so since the game is being played at West Milford, they are the pick. That along with the fact that the defense has been playing better and the offense exploded last week. This is a big game for the Highlanders to take. PCT is a g Group 4 school with a winning record, which means a possible bushel basket of power points would be added to their total.

Butler goes to play New Providence, a Group 1 powerhouse winning 42 of their last 58 games and have been in the playoffs in six of the last seven seasons. Butler had a tough loss last week to Orange following their give-it-their-all effort in the Lakeland game on Monday. Te Bulldogs are tough and can move the ball, but asking them to go on the road to play a team that they really don’t know is too much to ask. They’ll play hard but New Providence should win this one.

Pompton Lakes gets to show what they have when Paterson Catholic comes to call. Last year the blew the Cardinals out and there is some bad blood between the two teams which stems from the Cougars running trick plays late in the 41-0 contest. After talking to players and Head Coach Scott Mahoney following last week’s win over Saddle Brook, they seem to be pointing towards this game as a means to show how good they truly are. The last time this team was overlooked was 2005 and we all know how that season ended. I also learned never to underestimate what they can do. If the defense can slow down their running game, and the offense avoids mistakes, I think they can pull this one out.

Lakeland, fresh off their first ever win over Delbarton takes on Pequannock. There may be a let down for the Lancers but they should be able to handle the Panthers who have been improving each week. With Madison, Orange, and Butler slated for the following three weeks, they will have a better chance to getting their first win. Lakeland is just too tough and playing at a very high level on both sides. This one, sad to say, is the best bet of the week.