6-Man Football League Predictions Update Week 8
We are 7 weeks thru the regular season and league play is well underway. Genoa-Hugo, Cheyenne Wells, Stratton, Branson/Kim and Sierra Grande have locked up league titles and automatic berths into the playoffs. I focusing more on teams’ chances at league titles and their playoff lives. My playoff predictions and projections will be posted in a separate article.
Central League
Genoa-Hugo
Genoa-Hugo is your Central League Champion as they will not face Deer Trail this season, I will have to check into this. Genoa-Hugo had a bye last week (I believe they were supposed to face Deer Trail last week) and their RPI did not move as they sit at #9 in the RPI. Genoa-Hugo will have a chance to really help their playoff seeding when they travel to face Cheyenne Wells on Saturday. This should be a solid test between two undefeated teams.
Hanover
Hanover really helped their playoff chances this past weekend with a huge 92-60 win over Eads. This win pushed them up to #13 in the RPI and gives them a bit of room in terms of the bubble. Hanover has 3 games remaining and probably need to win 2 of their final 3 games to get into the playoffs. Hanover this week will face Walsh. This is a must win for both teams as Walsh is sitting just outside the top 16.
Deer Trail
Deer Trail sits at 3-2 currently and #21 in the RPI. Deer Trail desperately needs a quality win. Deer Trail has a bye this week and probably need an upset of Hanover on 10/23 and a win over Pawnee on 10/30 plus some help to get into the playoffs.
Lock for the Playoffs
Genoa-Hugo (League Title, I believe)
Playoff Hunt
Hanover, Deer Trail
Eliminated from Playoff Hunt
Kiowa
RPI Standings (As of 10/13)
#9 Genoa-Hugo, #13 Hanover, #21 Deer Trail, #28 Kiowa
East Central League
Stratton
Stratton is your league champion and receive the automatic berth into the playoffs. Stratton last week defeated Flagler 65-0 to improve to 5-1 on the season. Stratton will be in the hunt for a top 3 seed in the playoffs. Stratton has a bye this week/is looking for a game. Stratton is scheduled to face Briggsdale next week for a chance to keep improving their playoff seed.
Idalia
Idalia is also a lock for the playoffs with a top 8 RPI currently barring something crazy happening. Idalia really helped their playoff seed picking up a crucial 47-42 win over Prairie. That win should get Idalia a top 8 seed in the playoffs and hosting a first-round game. Idalia will face Kiowa this week and should improve to 5-2. Idalia still has big games remaining against Fleming and Arickaree/Woodlin.
Arickaree/Woodlin
Arickaree/Woodlin is a near lock for the playoffs but sit at #8 in the RPI and have a few big games remaining that could affect their RPI. Arickaree/Woodlin improved to 4-2 on the season with a 62-0 win over Kiowa. Arickaree/Woodlin has a huge non-league game this week against Sierra Grande at home. This will be a big test for both teams as playoff seeding will be on the line.
Otis
Otis is a bubble team right now and sit at #16 in the RPI. Otis currently is 3-4 and are coming off an 82-38 win over Kit Carson. This week Otis will face Hi-Plains in what is an elimination game for both teams. Winner of Otis and Hi-Plains will have a very good shot at the playoffs. Loser will need some help or an upset in their final 2 games. Big game this week.
Hi-Plains
Hi-Plains had a bye last week to prepare for their huge league game against Otis. As mentioned above this is an elimination game of sorts. Loser of Otis and Hi-Plains would need some help to jump back into the top 16. This is a game to keep an eye on.
Lock for the Playoff
Stratton (League Champion), Idalia
In Playoff Hunt
Arickaree/Woodlin, Otis, Hi-Plains
Eliminated from Playoff Hunt
Flagler
RPI Standings (As of 10/13)
#1 Stratton, #4 Idalia, #7 Arickaree/Woodlin, #16 Otis, #18 Hi-Plains, #23 Flagler
North League
Fleming
Fleming is a lock for the playoffs. Fleming last week picked up the 54-21 win over Briggsdale to set up the league title match. The North League title is up for grabs this week as Fleming hosts Prairie. Both teams I believe are into the playoffs, but pride and that league title are on the line. This is a big game for Fleming as they look to snag a top 3 seed in the playoffs. Fleming closes the year out with a very tough schedule so grabbing a win over Prairie would be huge. Fleming currently has the #5 RPI.
Prairie
Prairie is also a lock for the playoffs. Prairie did drop to 5-2 on the season coming off a tough 47-42 loss to Idalia. Prairie will be looking for the league title on Friday night when they travel to Fleming. Prairie will have to bounce back after last weeks tough loss to Idalia. This will be a great game! Prairie also close the season with a difficult 3 game stretch.
Briggsdale
Briggsdale is on the bubble at #12 in the RPI. Briggsdale dropped to 5-2 on the season following the 54-21 loss to Fleming. Briggsdale will look to lock up their playoff spot when they host North Park this Saturday. This is a huge game for both teams as they look to lock up their playoff spots. Briggsdale needs this game especially with games against Stratton and Hanover remaining on their schedule.
North Park
North Park is on the bubble sitting at #15 in the RPI. North Park picked up the 63-0 win over Pawnee last week. North Park will be looking for their signature win this week if they can upset Briggsdale. North Park with a loss to Briggsdale must win their final game of the season against Cotopaxi and get some help.
Peetz
Peetz is currently a bubble team but on the outside looking in. Peetz sits at #20 currently in the RPI. Peetz picked up the 74-24 win over Weldon Valley last week but did not improve their RPI. Peetz has another must win game this week against Flagler but the game to decide their playoff fate will be on 10/22 when they travel to Arickaree/Woodlin.
Lock for the Playoffs
Fleming, Prairie
In the Playoff Hunt
Briggsdale, North Park, Peetz
Eliminated from the Playoff Hunt
Pawnee, Weldon Valley
RPI Standings (As of 10/13)
#5 Fleming, #8 Prairie, #12 Briggsdale, #15 North Park, #20 Peetz, #25 Weldon Valley, #27 Pawnee
South Central League
1. Branson/Kim
2. Primero
Branson/Kim has won the South-Central League and now have the automatic berth into the playoffs. Branson/Kim now will focus on trying to improve seed heading into the playoffs. Branson/Kim will have a huge test this week when they travel to face Granada. We will learn a lot about Branson/Kim after this game and this is a game that could really give them a huge boost in terms of playoff seeding. This is another big game in a loaded week of 6-Man games.
League Champion
Branson/Kim
Eliminated from Playoff Hunt
Primero
RPI Standings (As of 10/13)
#10 Branson/Kim, #30 Primero
South East League
Cheyenne Wells
Cheyenne Wells is your Southeast League Champion. Cheyenne Wells locked up the league title with a 45-6 win over Cheraw. Cheyenne Wells will now look to grab a top 2 seed and host thru the playoffs. Cheyenne Wells moves back into their non-league schedule when they host Genoa-Hugo this Saturday. This is a big test for both undefeated teams. Playoff seeding is on the line. Cheyenne Wells sits at #2 in the RPI.
Granada
Granada improved to 5-1 on the season receiving a forfeit win over Walsh. Granada will also look to snag a top 3 seed in the playoffs and will have a big non-league game against Branson/Kim this week. This is a huge game for Granada as it’s their last true test before the playoffs. Granada will be well rested, and this should be a physical game between two very good teams. Granada sits at #3 in the RPI.
Cheraw
Cheraw is on the bubble and sit at #11 in the RPI. Cheraw fell to 4-3 on the season following the 45-6 loss to Cheyenne Wells. Cheraw has a huge game this week against Cotopaxi and may be a must win especially with their remaining schedule against Genoa-Hugo and Fleming. Cheraw with a win over Cotopaxi should get them into the playoffs but they must take care of business this week.
Eads
Eads is currently a bubble team and sit outside the top 16 in the RPI. Eads is at #17 in the RPI and are coming off a tough 92-60 loss to Hanover. Eads now puts themselves in must win out territory. Eads this week will travel to face Kit Carson. Eads must take care of business this week before facing playoff hopefuls in Mountain Valley and Hi-Plains.
Walsh
Walsh is currently 2-5 and sit at #19 in the RPI. They are on the bubble but are outside the top 16 of the RPI. Walsh has 3 games remaining and may need to win all 3 to have any shot at the playoffs. Walsh has a huge game against Hanover this week and is probably for their playoff lives.
Lock for the Playoffs
Cheyenne Wells (League Champion), Granada
In Playoff Hunt
Cheraw, Eads, Walsh
Eliminated from Playoff Hunt
Kit Carson
RPI Standings (As of 10/13)
#2 Cheyenne Wells, #3 Granada, #11 Cheraw, #17 Eads, #19 Walsh, #26 Kit Carson
Southwest League
Sierra Grande
Sierra Grande is your Southwest league champion. Sierra Grande now looks to improve their seed for the playoffs. Sierra Grande has 3 games remaining two of which will have big implications on playoff seeding. Sierra Grande hits the road this week to face Arickaree/Woodlin in the first of 2 big games. Sierra Grande can probably lock up a top 8 seed with a win over Arickaree/Woodlin. Sierra Grande sits at #6 in the RPI.
Mountain Valley
Mountain Valley is a bubble team and sit at #14 in the RPI. Mountain Valley had a bye last week and have 2 games remaining. Mountain Valley has a must win this week against Primero. The game that will decide Mountain Valley playoff hopes will be on 10/22 when they host Eads. This game will tell if Mountain Valley gets into the playoffs or not.
Cotopaxi
I am eliminating Cotopaxi from the playoff hunt. They sit at #22 in the RPI but if they upset Cheraw I will move them back into the hunt.
League Champion/Lock for the Playoffs
Sierra Grande
In Playoff Hunt
Mountain Valley
Eliminated from Playoff Hunt
Cotopaxi, La Veta, Cripple Creek
RPI Standings (As of 10/13)
#6 Sierra Grande, #14 Mountain Valley, #22 Cotopaxi, #29 La Veta, #31 Cripple Creek
