The league races are starting to shape up and Week 4 will help establish the real contenders. There are also several quality teams with two losses, which need to avoid a third loss that will require them to run the table to rest of the way to make the playoffs. It should be an interesting week. Here are my picks for the top 12 Oakland County matchups.

Friday
Stoney Creek (2-1) at Southfield (3-0) — Both teams are eager to establish themselves in the OAA White so this should be a good one. Pick: Stoney Creek

Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (2-1) vs. Warren DeLaSalle (3-0) at Warren Fitzgerald — The Pilots haven’t faced a test like the Eaglets yet this season. St. Mary’s tough schedule might give them the advantage. Pick: St. Mary’s

Lakeland (2-1) at Walled Lake Central (1-2) — This will be an important game for the Eagles if they hope to win the KLAA North and winning at Central is no easy task. Pick: Lakeland

Livonia Stevenson (2-1) at South Lyon (1-2) — Things don’t get any easier for the Lions, who need a win to avoid a devastating third loss. Pick: Stevenson

Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest (3-0) at Livonia Clarenceville (3-0) — A huge Metro League matchup featuring the only remaining undefeated teams. Northwest has come a long way, but I think they’ll hit a bump here. Pick: Clarenceville

Troy (2-1) at Oak Park (1-2) — The Colts should rebound from last week’s loss to Clarkston. Pick: Troy

Lake Orion (2-1) at Southfield-Lathrup (2-1) — I’m not a big fan of two-quarterback systems, but it appears to be working for the Dragons and head coach Chris Bell. Pick: Lake Orion

West Bloomfield (2-1) at Clarkston (2-1) — Just 35 points last week Wolves? You can top that this week. Pick; Clarkston

Farmington Hills Harrison (2-1) at Birmingham Seaholm (0-3) — Who would have thought the Maples would be 0-3 and now possibly 0-4? Pick: Harrison

Madison Heights Bishop Foley (2-1) at Pontiac Notre Dame Prep (1-2) — The Ventures snuck past Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard last week, but will need to score more than seven points to win this week. Pick: Bishop Foley

Saturday
GAME OF THE WEEK
Novi Detroit Catholic Central at Birmingham Brother Rice at Southfield-Lathrup — Rivalries don’t get much better than this one. Too bad I have to be in the office Saturday night or I would there to enjoy it. Pick: Brother Rice

Waterford Kettering (1-2) at Waterford Mott (2-1) — It’s a bit early for a cross-town showdown, but as always it should be an entertaining game. Pick: Mott

Record: Season: 23-11; Last week: 10-2

A few league race thoughts
The OAA Red race should be interesting and Week 4 will go a long way in determining a champion. There are four teams tied for first at 2-1 and four face off this week (Lake Orion at Southfield-Lathrup and West Bloomfield at Clarkston). The fifth 2-1 team, Troy, takes on Oak Park, which is another solid team. It’s likely the OAA Red champion could have two losses this season. In the end I think Clarkston will emerge as the OAA Red champion. The Wolves’ offense has racked up 131 points and will keep them in any game.

In the OAA White, Southfield has emerged as a contender, but faces a tough test in Stoney Creek this week. If the Blue Jays can get past the Cougars and Rochester Adams defeats Birmingham Groves this week, it would set up a showdown between the two next week for the OAA White lead.