Our staff picks for Week 6.
Patriots at Browns
John: The Patriots have an old school formula that is working right now. They’re running the ball and playing great D. Give me the Pats in a close one.
Kevin: I’m in on Zappe. Pats by 10, 24-14.
Adam: Pats keep building momentum.
College
Brown at Princeton
John: Bears are much improved but still no match for the Tigers. Princeton wins at home.
Kevin: Princeton can’t afford to lose this game if they’re going to keep up with Yale and Harvard, Tigers win going away.
Adam: Brown wins a shootout.
Buffalo at UMass
John: The Minutemen are playing better, there is no doubt about that but they are still struggling to put a complete game together. Give me Buffalo in a close one.
Kevin: UMass keeps it close early, but still can’t do enough on offense to outscore the Bulls. Buffalo by 13.
Adam: UMass finds its running game and comes out on top.
UConn at Ball State
John: The Huskies are winning the same way as the Patriots. By running the ball and playing good D. Despite the injury to Devontae Houston, this team finds a way to get it done and makes it three in a row.
Kevin: Love everything about the Huskies right now, hard to go against them. This one almost guarantees a bowl berth if they can get it, give me UConn.
Adam: Here come the Huskies!
Harvard at Howard
John: Crimson have been in tight games all season but that ends this weekend when they beat Howard handily.
Kevin: I will not pick against a Tim Murphy-led team in a trap game situation. Give me Harvard by 17 or 20.
Adam: Harvard gets it going offensively.
Elon at URI
John: The Rams need this one in the worst way. I’m still on the wagon but this Elon team is pretty good. Give me the Phoenix in this one.
Kevin: Rams’ have their FCS playoff hopes and CAA title hopes on the line in this one. It’ll be tough but I’m taking URI.
Adam: URI wins a big one.
UNH at Dartmouth
John: The Big Green are off to a tough start but a win over in-state rival UNH would turn their season around. I don’t see it happening. Ricky Santos team is good. I see them winning a close one.
Kevin: Wildcats are rolling and Dartmouth is down, UNH in a blowout.
Adam: UNH playing better right now.
Stonehill at Sacred Heart
John: I think this will be a great game but ultimately the Pios make it 13 in a row at home with a close win.
Kevin: Magical start to the year for Stonehill and they keep it rolling, staying unbeaten with a win over the Pioneers.
Adam: Stonehill has that good mojo right now.
High School
St. John’s Prep at Catholic Memorial
John: The Prep has the talent to hang but CM is the deeper and more explosive team. Give me the Knights in this one.
Kevin: Love what SJP is as a program and what St. Pierre is as a coach, but CM is just on another level right now. Knights in a close one.
Adam: Prep makes a push, but CM is too explosive.
King Philip at Milford
John: Hard to pick against my Warriors but Milford is good and the healthier team right now.
Kevin: Milford is hell bent on getting to Gillette and they’ve got to go through KP to do it. Give me the Scarlet Hawks.
Adam: Milford, a little healthier, gets the win here.
Methuen at Central Catholic
John: Methuen is good but it’s hard to pick against the Fighting Adamopoulos! Give me Central Catholic at home.
Kevin: CC has recovered nicely since the Springfield Central blowout, CC wins this one too.
Adam: Central rights the ship.
Pinkerton Academy (NH) at Brockton
John: Pinkerton is a good program in New Hampshire but they don’t have the athletes to match up against Brockton.
Kevin: Brockton runs away with this one, too many athletes and they’ve seemingly turned the page nicely from the Franklin game a few weeks ago.
Adam: Brockton wins as this rivalry is renewed.
Amesbury at North Reading
John: The Hornets are once again among the best teams in D5 and a favorite to win it all. I think they outlast an Amesbury team that beat them last year.
Kevin: North Reading in a close one.
Adam: North Reading avenges last year’s loss.
Stoneham at Watertown – Gold Athletics Game of the Week
John: Should be a war between two well coached teams. I’m going with Stoneham in a close. The Spartans have won a lot of big games in recent years.
Kevin: Two very underrated teams here. Should be a great game, there’s a reason it’s our GOTW. Watertown wins on a late TD.
Adam: Long live the double wing, Stoneham wins.
Middleboro at Rockland
John: Middleboro won this match up last season. I see the Bulldogs getting revenge at home this season in what should be a great game.
Kevin: Bulldogs take this one in what could be one of those regular season all-time classics.
Adam: Middleboro wins a close one.
West Boylston at Oxford: West Boylston is rolling along right now. They’ll be challenged by Oxford but I don’t see them losing. Lions roll to 6-0.
Kevin: Hard to pick against WB right now so I won’t, they win going away.
Adam: Tough to pick against West Boylston here.
Milton Academy at Governor’s Academy
John: I doubted Govs last week and I could get burned again. I’m risking it though. Give me the Mustangs.
Kevin: Govs in a close one, should be a great atmosphere in Byfield on Saturday afternoon.
Adam: Milton sneaks by a good Govs squad.
LaSalle at Bishop Hendricken
John: Game of the year in Rhody. I picked LaSalle to win it all at the beginning of the year and I’m sticking with the Rams. They win round one.
Kevin: Picked against LaSalle last week because of my loyalty to public schools. Don’t have that problem this week, give me LaSalle.
Adam: Big Hendricken line takes over here.