8-Man Football Playoff Team Predictions & Projections Week 9
This year to reach the playoffs is simple either win your league title or be inside the top 16 of the RPI. After they select the 16 teams that make the playoffs, they use the CHSAA Seeding Index to seed the playoffs. This week I will be giving my predictions on who makes the playoffs, but I will also look at if the season ended today who would make the playoffs at the end. I am also giving a bubble/RPI breakdown in the Playoff Prediction Part.
https://chsaanow.com/sports/2021/7/15/rpi-standings.aspx Official CHSAA Webpage for RPI
8-Man Playoff Predictions (Who I think will make the playoffs)
This is who I think make the playoffs and who win their leagues. In the 8-Man ranks all league champions are guaranteed a berth. The rest will be selected by RPI. 10 At-Large berths will be given out and are selected via RPI. Seeding is determined by CHSAA Seeding Index. League Champions are posted first then the At-Large Teams.
(NOT IN ORDER!) (League Champions in Bold have won their Leagues.)
#1 Holly (Ark Valley)
#2 Byers (Central)
#3 Mancos (Mountain)
#4 Vail Christian (Northwest)
#5 Haxtun (Plains)
#6 Calhan (Southern)
At Large Teams (Italicized means a lock or near lock for playoffs)
#7 Sanford (Mountain #2)
#8 Dove Creek (Mountain #3)
#9 Dayspring Christian (Plains #2)
#10 Sedgwick County (Plains #3)
#11 Akron (Plains #4)
#12 Merino (Plains #5)
#13 Pikes Peak Christian (Southern #2)
#14 Swink (Southern #3)
#15 Simla (Southern #4)
#16 Crowley County (Ark Valley #2)
Playoff Hunt/RPI Breakdown/Bubble Breakdown
Fowler, Hayden, Rangely, McClave, Wiley
8-Man is much more complicated in terms of teams fighting for a final spot in the playoffs. You must finish inside the top 15 of the RPI due to Rangely kicking the #16 team out. Swink, Simla, Merino, and Pikes Peak Christian are all in pretty good shape in terms of getting in. The loser of Pikes Peak Christian and Swink I will revisit next week but the winner will be a lock. So, with that said it means 6 teams are fighting for just 1 spot. I put Crowley County in the #16 spot this week. Crowley County going 1-1 in their final 2 games should see them jump Fowler who will also probably go 1-1 in their final 2 games. The team to really watch is Hayden. Hayden will face Rangely in their final game next week and a win for Hayden over Rangely probably sees them jump both Crowley and Fowler unless one of those two wins both games. Rangely stays in the conversation due to their game with Vail Christian. If their OWP makes a huge increase, then an upset of Hayden could be enough to get Rangely in. McClave and Wiley are also listed but only 1 will have a shot as they play each other. Whoever wins out will be in the mix for the final spot and will all come down to OWP and OOWP. The race for the final spot should be great!
8-Man Playoff Projections (If the Season Ended Today)
This is if the season ended today 10/21/2021. Using the RPI I will come up with the Playoff field. League Champions are still selected with my League Prediction Article. In the 8-Man ranks all league champions are guaranteed a berth. The rest will be selected by RPI. I will seed the bracket with my take at the CHSAA Seeding Index. This is nothing official and just my take at the index.
League Champions I selected are: ()=RPI
Ark Valley: Holly (8)
Central League: Byers (18)
Mountain League: Mancos (1)
Northwest League: Vail Christian (5)
Plains League: Haxtun (2)
Southern League: Calhan (4)
10 At-Large berths will be given out and are selected via RPI. Seeding is determined by CHSAA Seeding Index. The Current RPI is what I used to select the 10 at-large berths.
(NOT IN ORDER!) ()=RPI
#1 Mancos (1)
#2 Haxtun (2)
#3 Calhan (4)
#4 Vail Christian (5)
#5 Holly (8)
#6 Byers (18)
At Large Teams (Selected using 10/21 RPI) ()=RPI
#7 Sanford (3), #8 Akron (6), #9 Dayspring Christian (7), #10 Sedgwick County (9), #11 Dove Creek (10), #12 Pikes Peak Christian (11), #13 Merino (12), #14 Swink, (13), #15 Simla (14), #16 Fowler (15)
First Four Out ()=RPI
Crowley County (16), Hayden (17), Byers (18), McClave (19)
Seeded Playoff Bracket using my take on the CHSAA Seeding Index
#1 Mancos vs #16 Byers
#8 Holly vs #9 Sedgwick County
#4 Dayspring Christian vs #13 Simla
#5 Sanford vs #12 Swink
#2 Haxtun vs #15 Fowler
#7 Akron vs #10 Calhan
#3 Vail Christian vs #14 Pikes Peak Christian
#6 Dove Creek vs #11 Merino
MileHigh Prep Report 