6-Man Football League Predictions Update Week 5
We are 4 weeks thru the regular season and league play has started for most league. This week I eliminate a few teams from the playoff hunt and put a few teams in must win territory. This is a big week for a few teams hoping to make the playoffs. My playoff predictions and projections will be posted in a separate article.
North League
1. Fleming
2. Prairie
3. Briggsdale
4. North Park
5. Peetz
6. Weldon Valley
7. Pawnee
Fleming stays as my pick to win the North League. Fleming beat Pawnee 70 to 0 last week to move to 3-1 on the season and 2-0 in league. Fleming hits the road this week for a league matchup against North Park. North Park is in the hunt for a playoff spot. North Park picked up the 64-7 win over Weldon Valley last week. North Park could use a big boost and an upset against Fleming would do that. Both Fleming and North Park are in the playoff hunt. Prairie moved to 3-0 in league and 3-1 overall. Prairie beat Peetz 54-18 and Prairie is still my pick to finish second in the North League. Prairie this week travels to Pawnee. Pawnee in my opinion has been eliminated from the playoff hunt. Pawnee could move back into the hunt if they could upset Prairie. Briggsdale picked up the non-league win over Otis last week 30-28. This was much closer than expected but Briggsdale was able to escape with the win. Briggsdale this week hosts Peetz in a big non-league game. Peetz lost to Prairie last week and are looking for a key win on the season. Briggsdale will look to avoid the upset and stay as a top 3 team in the North League.
In the Playoff Hunt
Fleming, Prairie, Briggsdale, North Park, Peetz
Eliminated from the Playoff Hunt
Pawnee, Weldon Valley
RPI Standings (As of 9/23)
#5 Fleming, #11 Prairie, #15 Briggsdale, #17 Peetz, #19 North Park, #24 Pawnee, #28 Weldon Valley
East-Central League
1. Stratton
2. Idalia
3. Arickaree/Woodlin
4. Hi-Plains
5. Otis
6. Flagler
Stratton is my pick to win the East Central League. Stratton is currently 2-1 overall and 1-0 in league. Stratton had a bye last week. Stratton hits the road this week to face Arickaree/Woodlin. This is a big game to help determine the top 3 in league. Arickaree/Woodlin is currently 2-1 and had a bye last week. Arickaree/Woodlin is looking for that signature win and an upset of Stratton would do just that. Both Stratton and Arickaree/Woodlin are in the hunt for a playoff spot. Idalia is currently 2-1 overall and 1-0 in league. Idalia had a bye last week. Idalia will be looking for their second league win when they host Hi-Plains. Idalia will also be looking to rebound from their 62-14 loss to Granada. Hi-Plains is still in the hunt for a playoff spot. Hi-Plains does not need to win this game to stay in the playoff hunt but the next few weeks after will determine a ton if they stay in the hunt. Otis is on the fringe of the playoff hunt. Otis currently 21 in the RPI and have a must win non-league game against Deer Trail this Friday. If Otis can win the game against Deer Trail it could be the win to keep them in the hunt. A loss and they will probably need an upset of either Prairie or Arickaree/Woodlin.
In Playoff Hunt
Stratton, Idalia, Arickaree/Woodlin, Hi-Plains, Otis
Eliminated from Playoff Hunt
Flagler
RPI Standings (As of 9/23)
#3 Stratton, #6 Idalia, #7 Arickaree/Woodlin, #19 Hi-Plains, #21 Otis, #29 Flagler
Central League
1. Genoa-Hugo
2. Hanover
3. Deer Trail
4. Kiowa
Genoa-Hugo is my pick to win the Central League. Genoa-Hugo is currently 3-0 and 1-0 in league. Genoa-Hugo best win this season is over Eads. Genoa-Hugo has a big league test this week against Hanover. Genoa-Hugo can take one step closer to winning the league title with a win over Hanover. Hanover enters the contest at 2-2 and is coming off a 56-6 victory over Flagler. Hanover is still searching for that signature win and have a shot against Genoa-Hugo. Both teams are still in the playoff hunt. Deer Trail is 2-1 currently and coming off a 60-6 win over Miami-Yoder. Deer Trail has a must win game against Otis this week. Deer Trail cannot afford to drop a game to Otis and stay in the playoff hunt. If Deer Trail loses to Otis then an upset against Genoa-Hugo or Stratton may be needed to get into the playoffs.
In Playoff Hunt
Genoa-Hugo, Hanover, Deer Trail
Eliminated from Playoff Hunt
Kiowa
RPI Standings (As of 9/23)
#9 Genoa-Hugo, #12 Deer Trail, #14 Hanover, #26 Kiowa
South East League
1. Cheyenne Wells
2. Granada
3. Cheraw
4. Eads
5. Walsh
6. Kit Carson
The first of many major games took place inside the South East League. Cheyenne Wells played a very physical defense to stop Granada offense. Cheyenne Wells moves into my pick to win the South East League. Cheyenne Wells now hosts Eads this Friday. Cheyenne Wells will look to continue their dominate run to start the season. Eads moved to 2-2 on the season and 1-1 in league play. Eads defeated Walsh 45-21. Eads will now look for their signature win against Cheyenne Wells. Eads and Cheyenne Wells are both in the playoff hunt. Granada dropped to 2-1 overall and 1-1 in league play. Granada had no answer defensively for the rushing attack of Cheyenne Wells and struggled to get going offensively. Granada will look to bounce back in another big-league clash with Cheraw. Granada I am sure got back to work in practice and fixed the mistakes they had. Cheraw moved to 3-1 on the season and 2-0 in league play. Cheraw will look for the upset win over Granada. Cheraw will have to find the answer defensively or be able to score a ton of points. This will be a great game between to playoff worthy teams. Walsh is on the fringe of the playoff hunt sitting at #23 in the RPI. Walsh face Kit Carson this week and is a must win for both Walsh and Kit Carson. Loser of this game will be eliminated from the playoff hunt. Kit Carson sits at #19 in the RPI.
In Playoff Hunt
Cheyenne Wells, Granada, Cheraw, Eads, Walsh, Kit Carson
Eliminated from Playoff Hunt
None
RPI Standings (As of 9/23)
#1 Cheyenne Wells, #2 Granada, #10 Cheraw, #13 Eads, #19 Kit Carson, #23 Walsh
South Central League
1. Branson/Kim
2. Primero
With just two teams in the South Central League the league title will be decided this Saturday when Branson/Kim and Primero meet up. Branson/Kim will be the heavy favorites in this game. Branson/Kim is coming off a 72-20 victory over Cotopaxi. Branson/Kim will get their first big test of the season when they travel to Granada on 10/15 and then host Sierra Grande on 10/30. Primero has played two games this season and is currently 1-1. Primero I do not think can make the playoffs, but an upset of Branson/Kim can change that. Primero will be the underdog in this game.
In Playoff Hunt
Branson/Kim
Eliminated from Playoff Hunt
Primero
RPI Standings (As of 9/23)
#8 Branson/Kim, #30 Primero
Southwest League
1. Sierra Grande
2. Mountain Valley
3. Cotopaxi
4. La Veta
5. Cripple Creek
Sierra Grande has just about locked up the league title. Sierra Grande defeated Mountain Valley 33-0 and a win over Cotopaxi this Saturday will lock the league title up. Sierra Grande at worst finishes in a 3-way tie for the league title. Sierra Grande will look to continue to improve their RPI and have a tough schedule to end the year. Cotopaxi is on the verge of being eliminated from the playoffs, but they have played a tough schedule. We will have to see what their RPI does after this week’s game and if Cotopaxi can defeat both Cripple Creek and La Veta in the following weeks. Mountain Valley is currently 2-2 on the season and 1-1 in league play. As long as Mountain Valley wins out in league play and wins 3 of their final 4 games, they will stay in the playoff hunt. Mountain Valley currently sits at #16 in the RPI and winning is what they must do from here on out. The contest to watch will be when Mountain Valley hosts Eads on 10/22. La Veta is also on the edge of the playoff hunt but still in it. La Veta has a must win game against Weldon Valley this weekend. A loss for La Veta ends their playoff hopes. La Veta will probably need a win over Cotopaxi to push for a playoff spot.
In Playoff Hunt
Sierra Grande, Mountain Valley, Cotopaxi, La Veta
Eliminated from Playoff Hunt
Cripple Creek
RPI Standings (As of 9/23)
#4 Sierra Grande, #16 Mountain Valley, #22 La Veta, #27 Cotopaxi, #31 Cripple Creek
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