I used to do picks all the time on different versions of the FCIAC Football Blog. But it stopped because people were mean-spirited. Ninety-nine percent of people I run into are good natured, but the other 1%? Obama would call them jackasses.

Case in point: I picked Warde to defeat Ludlowe on Thanksgiving 2007, and I got a death threat from a Ludlowe player. Same player also used a bunch of homophobic slurs. Another player wrote my sponsors and told them I allow horrific language to be used on this site, and that they should pull their advertising.

I’m not here to promote nastiness or bring out the worst in people. I’m here to help promote the game of high school football in Fairfield County.

And with that in mind, I’ll go ahead and try to pick the winners of FCIAC games for Week 1:

Wednesday
Norwalk at Greenwich: Greenwich, in a one-score game.
Westhill at Harding: Westhill should go home with the win.

Thursday
Bassick at New Canaan: I can see Bassick making it interesting, but New Canaan pulling it out.
Darien at Fairfield Warde: Ditto. Darien should pull this one out.
Fairfield Ludlowe at Bridgeport Central: Ludlowe has improved, but a loaded Central should win.
Ridgefield at Stamford: Toss-up. I’ll give it to Stamford, they have Khairi Fortt and they don’t have to get on a bus.
Trumbull at Wilton: Trumbull wins this one.
Danbury at Brien McMahon: Both teams are rebuilding, I’ll go with McMahon.

Friday
Staples at Trinity Catholic: Staples has been waiting for this game since Thanksgiving. Go with the Wreckers.
St. Joseph at Crosby: Crosby could be scary-good again, but I’ll go with St. Joseph.