Class 2A Football Week 5 Playoff Predictions/Projections

Photo by Paul Dineen & OTSportsChek (Eaton vs Brush)

Class 2A Football Week 5 Playoff Predictions/Projections

This week we move into mainly Playoff Predictions/Projections. I will look at all the leagues and go thru their team involved in the playoff hunt. I am referring to last weeks Packard Poll due to this week not being released.

Patriot East

3 teams remain in the Playoff Hunt in the Patriot East. Sterling, Platte Valley, and Eaton all have a shot still to make the playoffs. We will go over each team and look how they could possibly get into the playoffs.

Sterling

Sterling has locked up the Patriot East and barring any upsets in the final 2 weeks is a lock for the playoffs. Sterling will face Weld Central and Alameda in the final two weeks. Sterling has the #1 RPI and it will drop but should keep a top 5 RPI. Sterling also is performing well in the Coaches Poll, Packard Poll, and Maxpreps poll. Sterling in my eyes is a lock for the playoffs.

Platte Valley

Platte Valley has two tough games to end the season and with just 8 teams getting probably need to win both. Platte Valley plays Brush and Eaton in the last 2 weeks. Platte Valley sits #6 in the RPI, Coaches Poll, Packard and Maxpreps Poll. I am not sure if losing 1 of the final two games gets them into the playoffs and it will be the same for Eaton. Watching the numbers will be very important for both Eaton and Platte Valley because one of them will fall in the final week of the season. I do think if Platte Valley wins out, they will be a lock for the playoffs.

Eaton

Eaton has a huge non-league game against Severance this week and then ends the year against Platte Valley. Eaton is in a better position to lost 1 of the two final games and still get into the playoffs. Eaton sits at #3 in the Packard Poll, #7 in the Maxpreps Poll, #5 in the Coaches, and #10 in the RPI. Expect Eaton RPI to go up after both games. Eaton can only lose one of the final two and get into the playoffs. I really think if Eaton is upset by Severance, they may see their playoffs chances go away.

Valley

Valley is sitting at 2-2. Valley should finish the regular season at 4-2 if they beat both Fort Lupton and Brush. Valley sits at #9 in RPI, #15 in the Coaches Poll, #14 in the Maxpreps Poll, and #13 in the Packard Poll. Valley RPI could go down with their final two games. Valley has a small shot at getting into the playoffs. A lot would need to go their way but I felt like they should be included.

Patriot West

The Patriot West is a bit more interesting in terms of teams still in the playoff hunt. Resurrection Christian, Severance, D’Evelyn, Berthoud, and University all still have hopes of a making a run for the playoffs and I will look into all of them this week.

Resurrection Christian

Resurrection Christian is a near lock for the playoffs but still have two tough games remaining. Resurrection Christian plays Berthoud and Severance in the final two weeks. If Rez Christian wins both games, they are easily a lock for the playoffs. A loss will change things. I do think Resurrection Christian will beat Berthoud and looking at other results I think Resurrection Christian will beat Severance. I am going to put Resurrection Christian as a lock for the playoffs even with two tough games coming up.

University

University I think has the second-best shot at making the playoffs in the Patriot West. University has a huge game against D’Evelyn this week and it is a Elimination game for either team. University with a win keeps their hopes alive. University sits at #8 in the RPI, #9 in the Coaches Poll, #15 in the Maxpreps Poll, and #8 in the Packard Poll. University cannot get in without beating D’Evelyn and Arvada and it’s make for break for University.

Severance

Severance is 3-1 on the season but play a brutal schedule to end the season. Severance plays Eaton and Resurrection Christian to end the season and will probably need to upset 1 to have a shot at the playoffs. Severance sits at #11 in the RPI, #8 in the Coaches Poll, #16 in the Maxpreps, and #12 in the Packard Poll. Severance holds their own fate in their hands but need an upset to have any shot.

D’Evelyn

D’Evelyn is barely holding onto to their playoffs hopes. The good thing is D’Evelyn plays two games that could make or break their playoff chances. D’Evelyn plays University and Berthoud to end the season and must win both. D’Evelyn with wins in both games keeps their playoffs hopes alive and we will know how much if they can upset University, we will see how their numbers are affected. Currently D’Evelyn sits at #16 in the RPI and if they beat University, we will need to see how far their numbers go up.

Berthoud

Berthoud like D’Evelyn is sitting just on the edge of the playoff hunt. Berthoud though only has one path and would need a ton of help to get into the playoffs. Berthoud would need to upset Resurrection Christian this week and then beat D’Evelyn in the final week. If Berthoud cannot upset Resurrection Christian, I think their playoff hopes are done.

Southwest League

Just 3 teams are in the hunt for the playoffs in the Southwest league. Pagosa Springs, Lamar, and La Junta keep their playoffs hopes alive. We take a look at the 3 teams in the playoff hunt this week.

Pagosa Springs

Pagosa Springs picked up the huge 22-8 win over Lamar last week and nearly locked up a playoff spot. Pagosa Springs does not have a game listed for next week so we will see if that changes. Pagosa Springs plays La Junta this week and a win over La Junta should lock up a top 4 seed and host a first-round game. All eyes will be on this La Junta vs Pagosa Springs game.

Lamar

Lamar picked up the tough loss last week to Pagosa Springs, but their playoff hopes are still alive. Lamar plays Trinidad this week and Alamosa in the final week of the season neither will help their RPI but are must win games. Lamar currently sits at #7 in the RPI, #7 in the Coaches Poll, #8 in the Maxpreps Poll, and #7 in the Packard Poll. Lamar must win out and get some help to stay in the top 8 in the RPI and also hope they don’t slide to much in the Packard and Maxpreps Poll.

La Junta

La Junta is on the edge of being eliminated from the playoff hunt. The one saving grace for La Junta is they play Pagosa Springs this week and an upset could be enough to keep their playoff hopes alive.

West League

The West League has 3 teams in the hunt for the playoffs. Delta, Moffat County, and Woodland Park. We will take a look at all 3 and see how things look going forward.

Delta

Delta is a near lock for the playoffs, but they still have two tough games against Moffat County and Elizabeth. Delta does have a big injury concern at QB which is why I don’t have them as a lock. We will have to see how the back up QB does and can the defense for Delta really step up and carry an inexperienced QB. All big questions this week against a playoff contender in Moffat County. I do think if Delta beats Moffat County, I will move them into the lock category.

Moffat County

Moffat County picked up the big win over Woodland Park last week and could help propel them into the playoff hunt. Moffat County will be upset minded against Delta this week and must win out against Middle Park in the final week. Moffat County is ranked #4 in the RPI, #10 in the Coaches Poll, #13 in the Maxpreps Poll, and #15 in the Packard Poll. Moffat County with a loss to Delta would not be eliminated from the playoff hunt but things will be interesting to see what their numbers look like after this week. A win over Delta could move Moffat County into the lock category.

Woodland Park

Woodland Park is on the edge of being eliminated from the playoffs, but two big games remain. Woodland Park plays Centauri this week and Englewood in the final week. Woodland Park cannot lose either of the final two games to have any shot at the playoffs. Woodland Park would have to upset Centauri and if that happens they are right back into the middle of the playoff discussion.

Playoff Predictions/Projections

After going league by league, we look at the playoff projections/predictions.

Locks

Sterling, Pagosa Springs, and Resurrection Christian

Near Locks can lock up with a win this week

Delta

Near Locks but big games still loom

Lamar, Platte Valley, Eaton,

Bubble Teams

Moffat County, University, D’Evelyn, Severance, Woodland Park, La Junta, Berthoud

So, I have separated teams into 4 categories. I think Sterling, Pagosa Springs, and Resurrection Christina are locks to get into the playoffs. I cannot lock up Delta just yet due to their game with Moffat County this week. I really think we are down to just 14 teams in the playoff hunt which is still high and after this week could be down to 10. Severance, Berthoud, Woodland Park, and La Junta are looking for upsets this week to keep their playoff hopes alive. University and D’Evelyn play each other this week and the loser is eliminated from the playoff hunt. Big week of games in Class 2A this week.

Potential Seeding

#1 Resurrection Christian

#2 Sterling

#3 Delta

#4 Pagosa Springs

#5 Platte Valley

#6 Eaton

#7 Lamar

#8 Moffat County

Note: Moffat County and University are very close in the combined rankings and will be interesting to see how things go forward.

Quarterfinal Matchups:

#1 Resurrection Christian vs #8 Moffat County