1 weeks left to make a final push for the playoffs! At the very end of the Article I will predict my final 16 teams to make the playoffs. I will not put seeds next to them due to the RPI changing but I will predict the final 16 teams.
Central League
The Central League title has already been decided and that goes to Genoa-Hugo. They will receive the home game but now they are hoping to improve their seed. Genoa-Hugo is #10 in the RPI and more than likely will end in the #10 spot. They travel to Elbert this week and should cruise to the victory. #12 Hanover plays out of league this week against North Park, well break that game down more in the North League section. Hanover has the #12 RPI. They are right one the bubble for making the playoffs. Their final game is a very tough one. If Hanover loses that game they will still make the playoffs because their OWP will slightly increase and even with their current numbers they would get in at #15. Edison is also still fighting to make the playoffs. They sit at #16 in the RPI and have a .010 lead over Briggsdale and a .015 lead over Flagler. Edison must win their final game to even have a shot at the #16 spot. With their current numbers a win moves them up around the .495 area and should snag a spot. Of course they cannot lose to Cripple Creek. The Central league has a really good chance at three teams getting in.
#8 Genoa Hugo at Elbert Edison at Cripple Creek
RPI: #10 Genoa-Hugo, #12 Hanover, #16 Edison, #25 Elbert, #29 Cripple Creek, #31 Colorado DB
East Central League
The East Central League has already been deciding and last week was the deciding game Stratton/Liberty beating Otis 63-6. Stratton/Liberty in back to back weeks has proven they are one of the best teams in the state with blowout wins against Cheyenne Wells and this week against Otis. Stratton/Liberty this week travels to face off against Flagler. Flagler is fighting to get back into the playoffs they currently sit at #18 in the RPI but have turned it around as of late winning back to back games. Flagler will probably need one more upset and they get their shot against Stratton/Liberty. #1 Stratton/Liberty is #1 in the RPI and with back to back monster wins over top 5 opponents they are one of the teams to beat for a state championship. Stratton/Liberty has been dominating with their defense and their rushing attack has been outstanding with 2278 yards rushing. Stratton/Liberty should snag the victory and the #1 overall seed. Another very important game is Otis at Arickaree/Woodlin. Arickaree/Woodlin grab probably their most important win of the season beat Idalia 38-30 and kept their playoff hopes alive. Arickaree/Woodlin now faces rival Otis and have some much needed momentum. #6 Otis is coming off their first loss of the season and it was not close. Otis struggled stopping the run and improving their run defense will be a key strategy for them. Otis also must figure out what mistakes were made of defense. Otis will be facing a desperate Arickaree/Woodlin team trying to make the playoffs and Otis must meet the intensity with their own. I am going with Otis to grab the win 35-21.
Playoff Discussion
#1 Stratton/Liberty and #5 Otis are locks for the playoffs. Idalia who sits at #19 in the RPI should win their final game of the season but RPI wise their WP is just too low. Their RPI with a win will probably increase but not enough to grab the #16 spot. Flagler sits and #18 and play the #1 team in the state. If Flagler loses this game they like Idalia will be in the .450 to .460 range and may just be out of range. Flagler would need to upset #1 Stratton/Liberty to make the playoffs. Arickaree/Woodlin is #15 in the RPI and has a .021 lead over #17 Briggsdale. Arickaree/Woodlin faces a tall task against Otis. If Arickaree/Woodlin loses the game and with their current numbers their RPI could drop to .468 to .478 and give Briggsdale a shot at the #16 spot. Arickaree/Woodlin OWP will increase due to playing Otis but not sure the extent.
#1 Stratton/Liberty at Flagler #6 Otis at Arickaree/Woodlin
Deer Trail at Idalia
RPI: #1 Stratton/Liberty, #5 Otis, #15 Arickaree/Woodlin, #18 Flagler, #19 Idalia, #24 Deer Trail
North League
What a fun race the North League has been and Prairie is your league champion. Even if they lose to Fleming this week they have the head to head on Peetz. Prairie though faces one more big challenge by Fleming this week. Fleming lost a close one to Peetz 39-26 and now Fleming faces another very tough team. Fleming was eliminated for the league title race with the loss last week but have a chance to get a huge signature victory. Fleming has played a brutal schedule but will be well prepared for the playoffs and this game. Prairie is looking for the #2 overall seed and a win over Fleming will give them it. Their upset win over Peetz early on in the season gave them the league title and a guaranteed home game. Prairie was very impressive last week blasting North 52-12 and like Stratton/Liberty really showing why they are one of the top teams in the state. I have Prairie over Fleming 35-20. #9 North Park has a very important non-league game against Hanover. North Park is looking to get some momentum heading into the state playoffs. They were blasted by Prairie last week. North Park does have a very good signature victory over Fleming & La Veta. North Park would love to get some momentum and will be the favorite against Hanover. Hanover has really improved from last year and are looking to show they are a much better team against North Park. They struggled this year against Cotopaxi and Genoa-Hugo but are looking to show they have improved since then. Hanover must play better defense and take care of the ball. Like I said they will be the underdog but tons of upsets have happened. I am going with North Park to win 42-21.
Playoff Discussion
Prairie, Peetz, and North Park are all lock for the playoffs and Weldon Valley is eliminated from the playoffs. That leaves two teams Fleming and Briggsdale squarely on the bubble. Fleming is #13 in the RPI and have just played a brutal schedule. If Fleming loses to Prairie with their current RPI numbers they would drop around the .500 to .510 range but still would make the playoffs. Of course due to them playing Prairie their OWP will increase again and Fleming should make the playoffs. Briggsdale faces off against Mountain Valley this is a must win Briggsdale. Briggsdale is #17 in the RPI. Their final game will not help their OWP but with a win might give them the WP they need to snag the #16 spot. Briggsdale with a win could have their RPI move into the .495 to .505 range and would be enough to grab a playoff spot.
#2 Prairie at #10 Fleming #3 Peetz vs Weldon Valley
#9 North Park vs Hanover Briggsdale vs Mountain Valley
RPI: #2 Prairie, #3 Peetz, #8 North Park, #13 Fleming, #17 Briggsdale, #26 Weldon Valley
Southeast League
The Southeast League cannot be decided till this week and that game is #4 Cheyenne Wells at Eads. Eads lost a big game last week to Kit Carson 53-7 and with the results in that game Eads must play better this week to pull the upset. Eads struggled on defense stopping Kit Carson. We will have to see how much Eads improved following last week’s game. #4 Cheyenne Wells bounced back from their loss to Stratton/Liberty and blasted Cheraw 54-6. Cheyenne Wells can lock up the league title and the guaranteed home game with the win. Cheyenne Wells will be the heavy favorite and I have them winning 48-17. Kit Carson this week hosts Walsh and they are hoping Eads can upset Cheyenne Wells. If not Kit Carson is #7 in the RPI and are hoping to snag 1 of the 3 potential home games that are available. Walsh on the other hand is #21 in the RPI and would need to upset Kit Carson to help their playoff hopes. Walsh would need to play their best game of the season to pull the upset. I have Kit Carson winning big though 42-7.
Playoff Discussion
Cheyenne Wells and Kit Carson are locks for the playoffs. Eads is #14 in the RPI. If they lose to Cheyenne Wells their OWP will increase but I am not sure how much. With their current numbers if Eads lost to Cheyenne Wells their RPI would also drop into the .490 to .505 range and the battle for the #16 spot will be very interesting. Walsh is eliminated from the playoffs.
#4 Cheyenne Wells at Eads #5 Kit Carson vs Walsh
Cheraw at Kim/Branson
RPI: #6 Cheyenne Wells, #7 Kit Carson, #14 Eads, #21 Walsh, #27 Kim/Branson, #28 Cheraw
Southwest League
The Southwest League title is all sown up. La Veta is your league champion and a guaranteed home game in the first round. La Veta is also looking at a #4 or #5 seed as well. They travel to Primero but should cruise to a win. The big game this week is Sierra Grande traveling to Cotopaxi. Sierra Grande is #11 in the RPI. They are 6-1 on the season and looking to make the playoffs after barely missing them last year. Sierra Grande can do that by upsetting Cotopaxi. Sierra Grande must be ready for a very good offense and their defense must make plays for them to upset Cotopaxi. Cotopaxi is also 6-1. They played a slightly tougher schedule than Sierra Grande. They made the playoffs last year but lost in the opening round. Cotopaxi must look the experience they gained to beat Sierra Grande. Cotopaxi must get their offense going again and play solid defense. Cotopaxi is the favorite like I said and I believe will snag the win. I have Cotopaxi winning 45-28.
Playoff Discussion
Antonito, Mountain Valley, Primero, and Aguilar are all eliminated from making the playoffs. La Veta is a lock for the playoffs and so is Cotopaxi. Sierra Grande on the other hand is a little closer to the bubble but I can nearly lock them in. A loss to Cotopaxi will make things interesting because of their #’s. Sierra Grande has a very low OWP of .281 and it is the lowest in all of 6-Man. It will increase slightly from their game against Cotopaxi but I don’t think more than .1. If Sierra Grande loses to Cotopaxi, I still feel pretty confident they will get into the playoffs. Their RPI with current numbers would drop to .525 to .535 range and easily make the playoffs.
#7 La Veta at Primero Sierra Grande at Cotopaxi
Antonito vs Colorado DB
RPI: #4 La Veta, #9 Cotopaxi, #11 Sierra Grande, #20 Antonito, #22 Mountain Valley #23 Primero, #30 Aguilar
MileHigh Prep Report Playoff Team Predictions
These are the 16 teams I think will make the playoffs. They are in order by league and not by seed.
Central League
Genoa-Hugo, Hanover, & Edison
East Central League
Stratton/Liberty and Otis
North League
Prairie, Peetz, North Park, Fleming, & Briggsdale
Southeast League
Cheyenne Wells, Kit Carson, Eads
Southwest League
La Veta, Cotopaxi, Sierra Grande
MileHigh Prep Report 