8-Man Football Playoff Hunt Breakdown Week 10
Final week of the regular season and most of the league title have been given out in the 8-Man ranks. This week I am changing to many focusing on the playoff hunt for teams. I will pick the 16 teams I think make the playoffs. In my playoff predictions and projections article I will seed my predicted teams plus look at if the season ended before this week’s games are played.
Arkansas Valley League
Holly
Holly stays as my pick to win the Ark Valley League. Holly will play for the league title on Friday Night against Crowley County. Holly is a lock for the playoffs regardless of the league title or not. Holly with a win over Crowley County should lock up a top 8 seed in the playoffs and a first-round home game. A loss for Holly and they will probably drop to a #8 or #9 seed.
Crowley County
Crowley County improved to 6-2 on the season and set up the league title matchup with Holly on Friday. Crowley County sits at #14 in the RPI and still on the bubble. If Crowley County wins, they win the league title and should jump up a few spots for seeding. Crowley County with a loss should still make the playoffs. Crowley County with a loss could slip to the #15 spot in the RPI and be the last team in. (Only the top 15 will make the playoff because of Byers) Crowley County will be one of the many teams holding their breath on Sunday if they lose to Holly.
Fowler
Fowler is currently on the outside looking in sitting at #17 in the RPI. Fowler must move up to spots to get into the playoffs. The priority for Fowler will be to defeat Hoehne on Friday Night. A Fowler loss to Hoehne and Fowler is eliminated. If Fowler wins, they must also get some help. Fowler would need Hayden or Dove Creek to lose to get a shot. Fowler would then be very close to Simla in terms of RPI. I have them within .0005 of each other and the updated OOWP will probably be the difference come Sunday. Fowler and Simla are both in need of either a Dove Creek loss or a Hayden loss.
McClave
McClave is another team on the outside looking in. McClave sits at #19 in the RPI. McClave must beat Wiley to even have a shot at the playoffs. McClave then needs a lot to go their way to get into the playoffs. McClave would need Dove Creek, Hayden, and Fowler to all lose to have a shot at the playoffs.
Wiley
Wiley is in the same boat as McClave. Wiley must beat McClave and have Dove Creek, Hayden, and Fowler all lose to have a shot at the playoffs. Wiley does have a slightly better shot at the playoffs then McClave but still need a ton to go their way.
Lock for the Playoffs
Holly
In the Playoff Hunt
Fowler, Wiley, Crowley County, McClave
Eliminated from the Playoff Hunt
Hoehne, Las Animas, Springfield
RPI Standings (As of 10/28)
#4 Holly, #14 Crowley County, #17 Fowler, #19 McClave, #20 Wiley, #24 Hoehne, #30 Las Animas, #36 Springfield
Central League
Byers
Byers is your Central League Champion and get the automatic berth into the playoffs. Byers will face Justice in the final game of the season. Byers with a win could move up to the #15 seed. Byers still had a amazing run to end the season.
League Champion
Byers
Eliminated from the Playoff Hunt
Front Range Christian, Lyons, Elbert, Justice, South Park
RPI Standings (As of 10/28)
#18 Byers, #22 Front Range Christian, ##26 Lyons, #29 Elbert, #38 Justice, #40 South Park
Mountain League
Mancos
Mancos is your Mountain League Champion. Mancos will close out their regular season with a game against Sargent. Mancos with a win should be your #1 or #2 seed. Currently Mancos is the #1 overall seed and with a win should be in good shape to keep that spot.
Sanford
Sanford dropped to 5-3 on the season falling to Sedgwick County last week. Sanford appears to be getting healthy but returning to early season form must be the priority for Sanford. Sanford is a lock for the playoffs with the #5 RPI. Sanford this week will face Dove Creek. Sanford can still get a first-round home game, but they must beat Dove Creek. Sanford with a loss to Dove Creek will be around a #11 or #12 seed.
Dove Creek
Dove Creek is a very interesting case. Dove Creek does not have the Melrose game as a forfeit anymore and their RPI dropped to #13 and also moved them into a must win scenario this week against Sanford. Dove Creek is no longer a lock for the playoffs. Dove Creek with a win gets into the playoffs plain and simple. Dove Creek probably moves up to the #10 spot maybe higher but I am not sure. If Dove Creek loses things get much more interesting. Dove Creek could miss the playoffs with a loss to Sanford. Dove Creek not having that forfeit win over Melrose really hurt their RPI and a loss to Sanford has them missing the playoffs. Dove Creek will be the slight favorite as they played very tough against Mancos a few weeks ago.
Lock for the Playoffs
Mancos (League Champion), Sanford
In the Playoff Hunt
Dove Creek
Eliminated from the Playoff Hunt
Sargent, Norwood
RPI Standings (As of 10/28)
#1 Mancos, #5 Sanford, #13 Dove Creek, #31 Sargent, #39 Norwood
Northwest League
Vail Christian
Vail Christian is your Northwest League Champions. Vail Christian locked up the league title with a 34-12 win over Rangely. Vail Christian will face West Grand in the final game of the season. Vail Christian with a win over West Grand should be a #3 or #4 seed for the playoffs.
Rangely
Rangely lost last week to Vail Christian and now are fighting for any shot at the playoffs. Rangely will host Hayden this week and is a must win game for Rangely. Rangely must beat Hayden first then hope things go their way. Rangely would need Dove Creek and Fowler to lose and McClave to win and they could sneak into the playoffs with the #15 RPI.
Hayden
Hayden had a bye last week and now sit at #15 in the RPI and would be the final team in the playoffs if the season ended today. Hayden won’t have it that easy as they must defeat Rangely this Friday on the road to get into the playoffs. If Hayden wins, they should hold onto the #15 spot, but things could get interesting in the #14 and #15 spots. Hayden, Crowley County, Simla, and Fowler will all be in the mix if Hayden wins. If Hayden loses, they are eliminated from the playoff hunt.
Lock for the Playoffs
Vail Christian
In the Playoff Hunt
Rangely, Hayden
Eliminated from the Playoff Hunt
West Grand, Plateau Valley, Soroco, Gilpin County
RPI Standings (As of 10/20)
#3 Vail Christian, #15 Hayden, #21 Rangely, #25 West Grand, #28 Platea Valley, #33 Soroco, #37 Gilpin County
Plains League
Haxtun
Haxtun is your Plains League Champions. Haxtun locked up the league title defeating Denver Christian and getting a lose from Dayspring Christian to Merino. Haxtun is in the hunt for the #1 or #2 seed and must face Akron on Friday night. Haxtun with a win over Akron will be a top 2 seed and will come down to numbers to see who gets the top seed in the 8-Man bracket.
Akron
Akron is a lock for the playoffs and in the hunt for a top 8 seed. Akron will host Haxtun on Friday night and hope to pull an upset. Akron currently would be the #5 seed if the playoffs started today. I think Akron stays inside the top 8 for seeding if they lose to Haxtun. Akron should host a first round game.
Sedgwick County
Sedgwick County improved to 5-3 on the season defeating Sanford last week. Sedgwick County will close out the season against Caliche. Sedgwick County is also in the running for a top 8 seed in the playoffs. Right now they sit as the #4 seed and a win over Caliche should lock them up at a top 5 seed.
Dayspring Christian
Dayspring Christian was upset last week by Merino 30-22. Dayspring Christian is still in the running for a top 8 seed though, thanks in part to their win over Sedgwick County and Akron earlier in the year. Dayspring Christian currently is the #7 seed. Dayspring Christian does not have another game so they wait and see if they hold onto a top 8 seed.
Merino
Merino had a huge upset last week of Dayspring Christian and locked up a spot in the playoffs. Merino is now in the hunt for a top 8 seed. Merino would be the #9 seed right now, but they face Denver Christian in their final game and hope for some help to move up for seeding.
Lock for the Playoffs
Haxtun, Dayspring Christian, Akron, Sedgwick County, Merino
Eliminated from the Playoff Hunt
Caliche, Denver Christian
RPI Standings (As of 10/28)
#2 Haxtun, #6 Akron, #7 Sedgwick County, #9 Merino, #11 Dayspring Christian, #23 Caliche, #32 Denver Christian
Southern League
Calhan
Calhan sits in the driver’s seat to win the league title. Calhan will look to win the league title when they face Dolores Huerta on Saturday at 7pm. Calhan currently would be the #11 seed but could push for a top 10 seed after the Dove Creek/Sanford Game. Calhan, I don’t think has a shot at hosting in the first round.
Swink
Swink is a lock for the playoffs as long as they beat John Mall this week. Swink picked up the huge 8-6 win over Pikes Peak Christian last week. Swink with a win over John Mall should finish around the #12 or #13 seed.
Pikes Peak Christian
Pikes Peak Christian dropped to 3-3 on the season falling to Swink last week. Pikes Peak Christian is a lock for the playoffs as long as they beat Custer County tonight. Pikes Peak Christian may be the #14 seed, but they should be in the playoffs.
Simla
Simla finished their regular season with a record of 6-3 and now must sit, wait, and hope. Simla does not have another game and will probably finish with an RPI around .5485 to .5494. Simla needs some help to get into the playoffs. Simla gets in by Hayden losing or Dove Creek losing or both. If one of the two lose then Simla will hope their RPI stays higher than Fowler. Simla and Fowler will be very close in their final RPI and will come down to .0002 difference.
Locked into the Playoffs
Calhan, Swink, Pikes Peak Christian
In the Playoff Hunt
Simla
Eliminated from the Playoff Hunt
Dolores Huerta, John Mall, Custer County
RPI Standings (As of 10/28)
#8 Calhan, #10 Swink, #12 Pikes Peak Christian, #16 Simla, #27 Dolores Huerta, #35 John Mall, #34 Custer County
Playoff Team Predictions
This is who I think get into the playoffs. Based off this list I will give my predicted playoff bracket in my next article.
(Not in order)
#1 Holly
#2 Crowley County
#3 Fowler
#4 Byers
#5 Mancos
#6 Dove Creek
#7 Sanford
#8 Vail Christian
#9 Haxtun
#10 Sedgwick County
#11 Akron
#12 Dayspring Christian
#13 Merino
#14 Calhan
#15 Swink
#16 Pikes Peak Christian
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