The Register Preseason Top 10 Poll has been announced.The big debate from last winter about whether Xavier or Masuk deserved to be No. 1 has carried over to this fall. Of the 25 voters, 13 put reigning Class LL champ Xavier first, the other 12 put the Class L defending champion Masuk in the top spot.

In my first year voting in the poll, here are my picks:

1. Masuk
2. Xavier
3. Hillhouse
4. New Canaan
5. Ansonia
6. West Haven
7. Staples
8. Bunnell
9. Trumbull
10. Hand
11. Brookfield
12. Montville
13. Cheshire
14. North Haven
15. Torrington

Some voters, including Register high school football beat writer Mike Pucci, subscribe to the theory that the defending No. 1 is No. 1 until they lose. But it was so close at the end of last year. Both teams went undefeated and won state titles. My reasoning is Masuk won handily in the title game and returns the Gatorade state player of the year, quarterback Casey Cochran, and dynamic running back Colin Markus. My gut feeling is Masuk would win if the two teams played. Just a feeling.

Now it's time for the season to start. The appetizer is Wednesday night with a winless team from 2010 (Seymour) facing a team in its first varsity season after four years in a co-op (O'Brien Tech). That first win will be extra sweet for whichever team gets it.

Check out Pucci's Predictions for Week 1.