Two weeks left to make a final push for the playoffs!
Central League
The Central league can be decided this weekend. If Edison beat Elbert than Genoa-Hugo who has a win over Edison and Hanover will clinch the league title. If Elbert wins they play Genoa-Hugo in the final week and that will be for the league title. Genoa-Hugo hosts Colorado DB and should walk away with a win. They play Elbert in the final week of the season and are a near lock for the playoffs. Hanover travels to Primero this week and is a must win game for both teams. Primero has La Veta next week and will be very tough to win. Primero sits at #21 in the RPI and if they cannot upset Hanover they will probably miss the playoffs. Hanover sits at #14 in the RPI and also have a very tough matchup in the final week against North Park. Hanover with a win will probably be a lock for the playoffs but cannot afford to lose to Primero. Hanover should win in a close game. The last game is Elbert at Edison and Elbert is fighting for the playoffs lives as is Edison. Elbert will probably need the league title to get into the playoffs and a loss to Edison will eliminate them from the league title and the playoffs. Edison is #17 in the RPI with their final game against Cripple Creek. Edison will probably need to win both games to get into the playoffs. Central league still has four teams fighting for a playoff spot and much will decided this week.
#9 Genoa Hugo vs Colorado DB Elbert at Edison
Hanover at Primero
RPI: #10 Genoa-Hugo, #14 Hanover, #17 Edison, #25 Elbert, #28 Cripple Creek, #31 Colorado DB
East Central League
The East Central League comes down to one game for the league title #1 Stratton/Liberty travels to Otis. That game will have huge implications for both the League title and playoff seeding. Both teams are locks for the playoffs but order will be decided from this game. Stratton/Liberty picked up a monster win over Cheyenne Wells last week and asserted themselves as the top team in the state. Stratton/Liberty will look to assert that again against Otis. Stratton/Liberty finishes the season against Flagler. Otis is looking to show they are title contenders and have a good shot against Stratton/Liberty. Otis must be ready to stop the run and this should be a good game. Otis finishes the season against rival Arickaree/Woodlin. I am going with Stratton/Liberty to win 35-21. Another big game is Arickaree/Woodlin at Idalia. Idalia is #15 in the RPI and a win this week will probably get them into the playoffs. They finish the season against Deer Trail which is a very winnable game. Idalia has a slight edge on the 4 teams behind them but cannot afford to lose to Arickaree/Woodlin. Arickaree/Woodlin is #18 in the RPI with their final game against Otis this is a must win. Arickaree/Woodlin with a loss probably miss the playoffs. I am not sure if they can beat Otis in the final game so they would need this win. Arickaree/Woodlin had one injury really hurt the team and must try and get this win. I am going with Arickaree/Woodlin to get back on track and beat Idalia 42-35. The final game is Deer Trail at Flagler. Flagler grabbed a huge win last week against Arickaree/Woodlin but I am wondering if it might be too little too late. They sit at #23 in the RPI but their OWP is .600 so a win this week will move them up but they will probably need to upset Stratton/Liberty in their final game which will be a very tall task. Flagler must not lose to Deer Trail to have any chance. Deer Trail is #19 in the RPI and finish the season against Idalia. Deer Trail will also need to win out to get into the playoffs and have two games that they could possibly do that. One loss will probably eliminate them. I am going with Flagler to win 42-14.
#1 Stratton/Liberty at #3 Otis Arickaree/Woodlin at Idalia
Deer Trail at Flagler
RPI: #1 Stratton/Liberty, #4 Otis, #15 Idalia, #18 Arickaree/Woodlin, #19 Deer Trail, #23 Flagler
North League
What a race the North League has been. They have 4 of the best teams in 6-Man in their league and one surprise team has risen up. Prairie upset Peetz in a wild 44-41 win. Prairie is now atop the league standings but cannot lock up the league title till next week. Prairie first though must get by their opponent this week. Prairie travels to North Park in big top ten game. North Park is 4-1 on the year with their loss to Peetz. North Park is #5 in the RPI and a lock for the playoffs. They would love a big signature victory but won’t come easy against a red hot Prairie team. Prairie has been the biggest surprise this year. They started the year unranked but were in the Top 15. They been dominating all year but the toughest part of their schedule is upon them. They final game is against Fleming so nothing gets easy for Prairie. Prairie will be test against this week and next week and well see if they dynamic offense can keep producing. I am going with Prairie over North Park 42-28. Another big game is #5 Peetz at #10 Fleming. Fleming has played a brutal schedule with 4 games against ranked opponents and that number will rise to 6 by the time the season is over. Fleming is 2-1 in league with their loss to North Park. Fleming can still win the league title though if they upset Peetz and Prairie in the final two games. Fleming is still not a lock for the playoffs but I am guessing even if they lose their final 2 games they will get into the playoff due to their OWP being crazy high. #5 Peetz is looking to rebound from their first loss of the year. They finish the year against Weldon Valley. They are a lock for the playoffs with the #3 RPI. Peetz can still win the league title if they beat Fleming and then Fleming upset Prairie by more than 3 points. Peetz though must take care of business this week and fix some of their problems from the week before. I think Peetz jumps back into the winning side of things in another high scoring game 45-34.
#2 Prairie at #7 North Park #5 Peetz at #10 Fleming
Longmont Christian at Briggsdale
RPI: #2 Prairie, #3 Peetz, #5 North Park, #13 Fleming, #16 Briggsdale, #26 Weldon Valley
Southeast League
The Southeast League title cannot be decided till next week when Cheyenne Wells faces off against Eads. Cheyenne Wells lost their first game of the year. They were blown off the field by Stratton/Liberty and will look to improve against Cheraw. Cheyenne Wells will rebound and set up the league title matchup. Another league game features Walsh hosting Kim/Branson. I am not sure either can make a run for a playoff spot. Both sit outside the Top 22 of the RPI and I think are just too far out. The big game in the Southeast League features #6 Kit Carson hosting Eads. Kit Carson is 2-1 in league and would need some help to win the league title. They are a lock for the playoffs at #9. The way they win the league title is they beat Eads then Eads upset Cheyenne Wells in the final game by more than 10. Kit Carson must beat Eads first and Kit Carson must continue to improve on offense. They have a new QB this year and has stepped in well. They will be tested this week by Eads. Eads is #12 in the RPI and are in the league title hunt. They can control their own destiny if they beat Kit Carson. If they lose to Kit Carson, then things will change. Eads has rebounded well since their back to back loses to really good teams. Eads has won 4 straight but will be tested by Kit Carson. Eads must play solid defense and must stop the run to win this game. I am going with Kit Carson to beat Eads 35-14.
#5 Cheyenne Wells at Cheraw #6 Kit Carson vs Eads
Kim/Branson at Walsh
RPI: #7 Cheyenne Wells, #9 Kit Carson, #12 Eads, #24 Walsh, #27 Kim/Branson, #29 Cheraw
Southwest League
The Southwest League title has been decided. La Veta is your Southwest League Champion barring any upsets. La Veta hosts Mountain Valley this week and finishes the year against Primero. Both should be wins and La Veta will look to keep improving their RPI and look for a Top 6 seed. La Veta last week blasted Sierra Grande 52-19 to clinch the league title. La Veta looks to be the real deal but will have to prove the Southwest League is legit. Mountain Valley is #22 in the RPI and this is their final game of the season. I think they would need an upset to get into the playoffs but we’ll see how the numbers look next week. Cotopaxi is also in line to make the playoffs they are #8 in the RPI and travel to face Antonito this week. They close the season against Sierra Grande and that will be for second in the Southwest League. If Cotopaxi wins out they have a shot at hosting a game still in the first round. Antonito is #20 in the RPI and finish the year against Colorado DB. I cannot make an accurate prediction for them until I see the numbers after this game against Cotopaxi. They will win their final game but their RPI #’s must increase following the game against Cotopaxi. Sierra Grande is the other team in the Southwest League with a playoff chance. Sierra Grande is #11 in the RPI and travel to Aguilar. They should walk away with a win this week and set up a big game between them Cotopaxi. Sierra Grande should get into the playoffs but what scares me about Sierra Grande is the OWP is just .367. So a loss to Cotopaxi might drop their RPI but if they keep winning it is all in their control.
#8 La Veta vs Mountain Valley Sierra Grande at Aguilar
Cotopaxi at Antonito
RPI: #6 La Veta, #8 Cotopaxi, #11 Sierra Grande, #20 Antonito, #21 Primero, #22 Mountain Valley, #30 Aguilar
MileHigh Prep Report 