Class 2A League Predictions Update Week 6
We are 5 weeks into the regular season. League play kicks off this week in all leagues. With that said I will be jumping much more into the CHSAA Seeding Index and possibly eliminate some teams from playoff contention. I will post separately my Playoff Projections and Predictions.
League One
1. Platte Valley
2. D’Evelyn
3. Bennett
4. Wellington
5. Valley
6. Prospect Ridge
League One will move into league play with 4 teams hopeful of playoff spots but winning inside your league will be key to who gets into the playoffs. Platte Valley remains my pick to win League One. Platte Valley Seeding Index is just #25 and they will have to probably win out to get into the playoffs. Platte Valley RPI is sitting around #30 but look for it to improve with most of the league sitting at or above.500. D’Evelyn remains my pick to finish in second place. D’Evelyn is sitting at #20 in the RPI. They could probably finish in second place with just 1 league loss and get into the playoffs. D’Evelyn and Platte Valley open up league play against each other Friday and this is a big game. Bennett remains my pick to finish in 3rd and currently they are the only team inside the top 16. Bennett opens league play against Prospect Ridge, and this is a must win game. Wellington is the final team to mention. Wellington sits at #21 in the Seeding Index, and they open league play against Valley. This is a must win game for Wellington to have any shot at the playoffs.
CHSAA Seeding Index: #12 Bennett, #20 D’Evelyn, #21 Wellington, #25 Platte Valley, #37 Valley, #39 Prospect Ridge
Playoff Contenders: Platte Valley, D’Evelyn, Bennett, Wellington
Eliminated from Playoff Contention: Valley, Prospect Ridge
League Two
1. Brush
2. University
3. Arvada
4. Sterling
5. Weld Central
6. Timnath
League Two record wise has been one of the weaker leagues with just 1 team sitting at .500 and the rest of the league is either 1-3 or 0-4. That does not mean that only one team is getting into the playoffs though. University and Brush both sit in very good position to make the playoffs as long as they finish 1st and 2nd in league. Sterling and Arvada also remain in good position if they can knock off Brush or University to make some noise for playoff contention and the league title. Brush remains my pick to win the league. Brush lost a hard-fought game to Rifle last week and now they open with a huge test from Arvada tonight. Arvada remains my pick for third place, and they sit at #30 in the seeding index. An upset of Brush would be huge going forward. This game will determine a ton going forward. University remains my pick to finish in second place and they got their first win of the season last week against Highland. University will open league play against Timnath, and this is a must win for University. Sterling is the final team to mention. Sterling sits at #27 in the Seeding Index. Sterling picked up their first win of the season and face Weld Central this week. This is also a must win for Sterling and a second win will really boost their RPI.
CHSAA Seeding Index: #16 University, #18 Brush, #27 Sterling, #30 Arvada, #40 Timnath, #41 Weld Central
Playoff Contenders: Brush, University, Arvada
Eliminated from Playoff Contention: Timnath, Weld Central
League Three
1. Eaton
2. The Academy
3. Steamboat Springs
3. Berthoud
3. Fort Lupton
3. Faith Christian
League Three has proven so far to be one of the toughest leagues in 2A. All 6 teams sit above .500. Eaton and The Academy seem to the be top of this league with the rest of the league trying to catch up. Eaton remains my pick to win League Three. Eaton sits at #3 in the Seeding Index, and they open league play against Steamboat Springs. Eaton will be tested by the passing attack of Steamboat Springs. Steamboat Springs sits at #17 in the Seeding Index, and they will look for their best win of the season if they can upset Eaton. My pick for second place remains The Academy. The Academy lost their first game of the season falling to Delta at home. Academy still sit at #4 in the Seeding Index, and they will look to bounce back against Faith Christian. Faith Christian is on the verge of being eliminated from playoff contention. Faith Christian sit at #31 in the seeding index, and we will have to see what happens with their rank following this game. One last big game to mention is Fort Lupton at Berthoud. This is a big game for both teams not only for league crown hopes but possibly playoff hopes. Berthoud sits at #19 in the seeding index and Fort Lupton sits at #24. A win for either team will boost their rank and should see them push closer to the top 16. This will be a big game with two different styles of play.
CHSAA Seeding Index: #3 Eaton, #4 Academy, #17 Steamboat Springs, #19 Berthoud, #24 Fort Lupton, #31 Faith Christian
Playoff Contenders: Eaton, The Academy, Faith Christian, Steamboat Springs, Berthoud, Fort Lupton
Eliminated from Playoff Contention: None
League Four
1. Classical Academy
2. Elizabeth
3. Englewood
4. Denver West
5. Kent Denver
6. Alameda
League Four will enter league play with 4 teams sitting above .500 and 4 teams sitting inside the top 26 of the seeding index. Those 4 teams will be in the hunt for the playoffs and winning is key. Classical Academy is my pick to finish first. TCA has emerged as one of the favorites to win the Class 2A State Crown. TCA has played well so far, and they have the #1 seeding Index. TCA will open league play against Alameda, and they will be heavily favored in that game. Elizabeth is my pick to finish in second place. Elizabeth sits at #9 in the seeding index, and open league play against Englewood. Elizabeth is in decent shape right now to reach the playoffs and a win over Englewood would really push them into a near lock status. Englewood sits at #23 in the Seeding Index, and they could use a big win over Elizabeth to probably propel them into the top 20. Englewood must be able to stop the run. This will be a big game. The final team to mention is Denver West. Denver West sits at #22 in the Seeding Index, and they open league play against Kent Denver. This is a must win game. If Denver West gets upset by Kent Denver, their hopes of a playoff berth will disappear.
CHSAA Seeding Index: #1 Classical Academy, #9 Elizabeth, #22 Denver West, #23 Englewood, #35 Kent Denver, #38 Alameda
Playoff Contenders: Classical Academy, Englewood, Elizabeth, Kent Denver, Denver West
Eliminated from Playoff Contention: Kent Denver, Alameda
League Five
1. Delta
2. Salida
3. Montezuma-Cortez
4. Pagosa Springs
5. Bayfield
League Five so far has been the most surprising with traditional powers Bayfield and Pagosa Springs starting out at 0-4. Delta the other traditional power has risen to the top at 5-0 and they are my pick to win League Five. Delta sits at #2 in the Seeding Index, and they open league play against Pagosa Springs at home. Delta has been stifling on defense allowing just 34 points this season and look for this unit to continue to dominate. Pagosa Springs sits at #32 in the Seeding Index. I have not eliminated them from playoff contention because I think if they can run the table after the Delta game, they will have a shot at the playoffs. Salida remains my pick to finish in second place. Salida cruised to a win over Del Norte last week and Salida sits at #14 in the seeding index. Salida opens league play against Montezuma-Cortez. This should be a great game and we will learn a lot about both teams. Montezuma-Cortez sits at #9 in the seeding index, and they are a surprise 4-1 team. Cortez will be facing their toughest opponent of the season, and this will be a big test. Bayfield does not play a league game this week and will face undefeated Bloomfield NM. This will be a good RPI game, but Bayfield needs wins.
CHSAA Seeding Index: #2 Delta, #9 Montezuma-Cortez, #14 Salida, #29 Bayfield, #32 Pagosa Springs
Playoff Contenders: Delta, Salida, Montezuma-Cortez
Eliminated from Playoff Contention: None
League Six
1. Basalt
2. Moffat County
3. Rifle
4. Coal Ridge
5. Grand Valley
6. Aspen
League Six looks to be a very good race with 5 of the 6 teams sitting above .500. League Six also has 3 teams sitting inside the top 16 of the Seeding Index. Basalt remains my pick to win League Six. Basalt sits at #6 in the Seeding Index, and open league play against Grand Valley. Basalt has not played the toughest schedule with their best win coming against Glenwood Springs. Basalt will be tested in the first game but should cruise to 1-0 in league. Grand Valley sits at #28 in the Seeding Index and their playoff hopes took a hit last week when they fell to Manual. Grand Valley desperately needs an upset and they have their shot against Basalt. My pick for second place is Moffat County. Moffat County enters league play at 3-1 and with the #15 seeding index. Moffat County will open league play against Rifle and this game is big for keeping pace with Basalt. Moffat County must be able to stop the run this week. Rifle picked up a huge win last week defeating Burhs 28-23. Rifle has a lot of momentum, and they will hope to knock off Moffat County. Rifle sits at #10 in the seeding index. The final matchup to talk about is Coal Ridge vs Aspen. Both teams sit outside the top 30 of the Seeding Index and this is basically an elimination game. Loser I think falls out of playoff contention and the winner we will see how much their ranking improves.
CHSAA Seeding Index: #6 Basalt, #10 Rifle, #15 Moffat County, #28 Grand Valley, #33 Coal Ridge, #34 Aspen
Playoff Contenders: Moffat County, Basalt, Rifle, Coal Ridge,
Eliminated from Playoff Contention: None
League Seven
1. Florence
2. La Junta
3. Alamosa
4. Woodland Park
5. Lamar
6. Manitou Springs
League Seven is going to be a battle with every game being important. Looking at the league standings 5 of the 6 teams sit above .500 and 4 of the 6 teams sit inside the top 16 of the seeding index. The first week of games are all very good and should help determine the order. Florence is my pick to win League Seven. Florence enters league at 3-1 and they sit at #5 in the seeding index. Florence opens league play against Lamar. This is a must win for Florence as they look to keep atop the league standings and if Florence wants a home game in the first round. Lamar sits at #3 in the seeding index, and I have eliminated them from playoff contention. If they get any upsets, they could quickly move back into playoff contention. La Junta remains my pick to finish in second place. La Junta sits at 3-1 and they sit at #11 in the Seeding Index. I believe this will be the first true test for La Junta since their QB left with an injury. La Junta opens league play against Alamosa. Alamosa sits at #13 in the Seeding Index. Alamosa is on the bubble. An upset of La Junta would probably get them more secure if not they will need other wins down the road. Alamosa will look for their offense to get going in league play. The final game to mention is Woodland Park at Manitou Springs. Woodland Park sits at #7 in the Seeding Index and Manitou Springs sits at #26 in the Seeding Index. This is a big game for both teams as they look to keep pace with the league leaders. Woodland Park has been a big surprise this season and they look for a playoff berth this year. Manitou Springs will be looking for a big upset.
CHSAA Seeding Index: #5 Florence, #7 Woodland Park, #11 La Junta, #13 Alamosa, #26 Manitou Springs, #36 Lamar
Playoff Contenders: Florence, La Junta, Alamosa, Woodland Park
Eliminated from Playoff Contention: Lamar
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