8-Man Football League Predictions and Playoff Projections Week 7
We have completed the first four weeks of the season. A few surprises so far early on. A few surprises teams so far. League will always separate the true playoff contenders. I will continue updating my Predictions weekly. Of course, this is early in the season but with only 1 week left of league play some things are starting to shake out. I will be limiting my article length due to the longer breakdowns done by Kerry Sherman tomorrow. Again, I am not cheering against any team just giving my predictions.
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League One
1. Mancos
2. Dove Creek
3. Sanford
4. Sargent
5. Dolores
The big thing to watch in League One is the games between Mancos, Dove Creek, and Sanford. Those games will determine the league title. All three of those teams are also near locks for the playoffs with all three inside the top 8 of the Seeding Index. Mancos and Dove Creek face off this week. Dove Creek with a win basically locks up the league title. Mancos with a win still must face Sanford. Sargent and Dolores both sit outside the top 35 of the Seeding Index and would need an upset of the top 3 to move back into contention.
CHSAA Seeding Index: #2 Dove Creek, #3 Mancos, #7 Sanford, #36 Sargent, #39 Dolores
Playoff Contenders: Dove Creek, Mancos, Sanford
Eliminated from Playoff Contention: Sargent, Dolores
League Two
1. West Grand
2. Hayden
3. Vail Christian
4. Rangely
5. Plateau Valley
6. Soroco
League Two also looks to be a fun race to watch with the top 3 teams as well. Hayden, West Grand, and Vail Christian will be the main contenders for the league title and playoff berths. West Grand is now my pick to win League Two. West Grand has been dominating this season and will look to continue that trend. West Grand sits at #9 in the seeding index and they travel to face Rangely this week. The main match to talk about this week is Hayden vs Vail Christian. Hayden drops into my second-place pick and Vail Christian remains my pick to finish third. Hayden sits at #15 in the Seeding Index with Vail Christian sitting at #13. Both teams are on the bubble and a win here will push the winner into a very good shot at making the playoffs. Rangely and Plateau Valley are both eliminated from the playoff hunt unless they upset a top team.
CHSAA Seeding Index: #9 West Grand, #13 Vail Christian, #15 Hayden, #28 Plateau Valley, #30 Rangely, #34 Soroco
Playoff Contenders: Hayden, West Grand, Vail Christian
Eliminated from Playoff Contention: Plateau Valley, Rangely, Soroco
League Three
1. Simla
2. Calhan
3. Elbert
4. St. Mary’s
5. South Park
6. Pikes Peak Christian
The farther and farther we move into the season the more and more league three looks like only the league champion will get into the playoffs. Simla is the favorite to win, and they picked up a huge win over Calhan 54-20. That win more than likely will give Simla the league title, but they still must face most of the league. Simla sits at #4 in the Seeding Index. Calhan and Elbert are both in playoff contention, but both sit outside the top 20 of the Index. Calhan sits at #20 and in striking distance but will need to win out to get into the playoffs and probably need some help. Elbert is near elimination and may need an upset of Simla to get into the playoffs. St. Mary’s, Pikes Peak Christian, and South Park are all eliminated from playoff contention.
CHSAA Seeding Index: #4 Simla, #20 Calhan, #26 Elbert, #29 St. Mary’s, #35 Pikes Peak Christian, #37 South Park
Playoff Contenders: Simla, Calhan, Elbert
Eliminated from Playoff Contention: St. Mary’s, Pikes Peak Christian, South Park
League Four
1. Haxtun
2. Akron
3. Merino
4. Sedgwick County
5. Dayspring Christian
6. Caliche
League Four is going to be a great league race to watch. Haxtun is the favorite not only to win the league but win the 8-Man state crown. Haxtun must stay focus to achieve their goal. The rest of the league looks up for grabs and we will be watching all the games. Haxtun sits at #1 in the Seeding Index and defeated Akron last week. Akron remains my pick to finish in second place. Akron sits at #14 in the seeding index and are on a 2-game losing streak. Akron will face Dayspring Christian this week at home and is a must win or Akron could be in danger of a big slip in the Seeding Index. Dayspring Christian needs a big win over Akron. Dayspring Christian sits at #11 in the Seeding Index and in decent shape but an upset of Akron would move them near a lock. Merino jumps back into my pick for third place. Merino will host Sedgwick County this Saturday. Merino jumped into the top 10 of the Seeding Index and now sit at #8. Sedgwick County picked up a monster win last week over Caliche and move back into my pick for fourth place. Sedgwick County also moved to #12 in the Seeding Index. The final team to mention is Caliche. They fall to #16 in the seeding index and will need a win in their final 4 games probably to get into the playoffs.
CHSAA Seeding Index: #1 Haxtun, #8 Merino, #11 Dayspring Christian, #12 Sedgwick County, #14 Akron, #16 Caliche
Playoff Contenders: Haxtun, Akron, Merino, Caliche, Sedgwick County, Dayspring Christian
Eliminated from Playoff Contention: None
League Five
1. Lyons
2. Byers
3. Front Range Christian
4. Belleview Christian
5. Gilpin County
6. Justice
League Five like League Three is on the way to just getting one team into the playoffs. Lyons is my pick to win League Five and must be the heavy favorite currently to win the league. Lyons sits at #5 in the Seeding Index. After that Byers, FRC, and Belleview Christian are all very close in the Seeding Index. If one of those three teams can run the table besides a loss to Lyons, they could have a shot at the playoffs. Game to watch in league this week is Belleview Christian at Front Range Christian. Winner keeps playoff hopes alive with the loser falling out of playoff contention.
CHSAA Seeding Index: #5 Lyons, #21 Front Range Christian, #23 Belleview Christian, #25 Byers, #38 Gilpin County, #41 Justice
Playoff Contenders: Lyons, Front Range Christian, Byers, Belleview Christian
Eliminated from Playoff Contention: Gilpin County, Justice
League Six
1. Crowley County
2. Fowler
3. Hoehne
4. John Mall
5. Dolores Huerta
6. Custer County
League Six like the two other mentioned leagues will probably by a One team into the playoff league. Crowley County is the heavy favorite to win the league and my pick to win the league as well. Crowley County sits at #6 in the Seeding Index. Hoehne, Fowler, and John Mall can make a run for the playoffs, but one has to win out besides Crowley County game. Hoehne will travel to face John Mall this week and is basically an elimination game. Fowler has a must win home game against Custer County. Next weeks seeding index could determine if any of the other 3 contenders have a shot at the playoffs.
CHSAA Seeding Index: #6 Crowley County, #22 Hoehne, #24 Fowler, #27 John Mall, #33 Dolores Huerta, #40 Custer County
Playoff Contenders: Crowley County, Fowler, Hoehne
Eliminated from Playoff Contention: Dolores Huerta, Custer County
League Seven
1. Holly
2. McClave
3. Wiley
4. Swink
5. Springfield
6. Las Animas
League 7 looks to be a wild ride to winning the league title. 4 teams currently will be in the battle for that league title and those same four teams will also be in the hunt for a playoff berth. Holly remains my pick to win league 7. Holly sits at #10 in the Seeding Index and open league play against Springfield. McClave jumps into my pick for second place. McClave had a huge win over Swink in OT. McClave will face Las Animas this week and should win. McClave sits at #17 in the seeding index. The main game to talk about this week is Swink at Wiley. Swink sits at #19 in the Seeding Index and Wiley sits at #18. Winner will have a shot at the playoffs, but the loser could be in danger of falling out of contention. Look for a high scoring game and both teams to leave it all out on the field.
CHSAA Seeding Index: #10 Holly, #17 McClave, #18 Wiley, #19 Swink, #31 Springfield, #32 Las Animas
Playoff Contenders: Holly, McClave, Wiley, Swink
Eliminated from Playoff Contention: Springfield, Las Animas
Playoff Projections & Predictions
What I have decided to do with 6-Man and 8-Man is combine my predictions and projections article since Kerry Sherman will be covering in more depth the league races. Remember to qualify for the playoffs you MUST Finish in the Top 16 of the CHSAA Seeding Index or WIN your league title.
8-Man Playoff Predictions (Who I think make the playoffs)
This is who I think make the playoffs and who win the leagues. In the 6-Man ranks all league champions are guaranteed a berth. The rest will be selected by CHSAA Seeding Index. Seeding is determined by CHSAA Seeding Index. I am picking my 11 At-Large teams via non-league schedules, remaining schedules, and how I think teams will do. League Champions are posted first then the At-Large Teams.
https://chsaanow.com/sports/2022/7/20/chsaa-postseason-seeding-index.aspx
(NOT IN ORDER!)
#1 Mancos (League 1)
#2 West Grand (League 2)
#3 Simla (League 3)
#4 Haxtun (League 4)
#5 Lyons (League 5)
#6 Crowley County (League 6)
#7 Holly (League 7)
At Large Teams
#8 Dove Creek (League 1)
#9 Sanford (League 1)
#10 Hayden (League 2)
#11 Vail Christian (League 2)
#12 Akron (League 4)
#13 Merino (League 4)
#14 Sedgwick County (League 4)
#15 Dayspring Christian (League 4)
#16 McClave (League 7)
Playoff Hunt for Final Spots
Caliche, Byers, Fowler, Wiley, Swink
Seeded Playoff Bracket using my predictions and the CHSAA Seeding Index
#1 Haxtun vs #16 McClave
#8 Merino vs #9 West Grand
#4 Simla vs #13 Vail Christian
#5 Lyons vs #12 Sedgwick County
#2 Mancos vs #15 Hayden
#7 Sanford vs #10 Holly
#3 Dove Creek vs #14 Akron
#6 Crowley County vs #11 Dayspring Christian
6-Man Playoff Projections (IF the Season Ended Today)
This is if the season ended today 10/5/2022. Using the CHSAA Seeding Index I will come up with the Playoff field. League Champions are still selected with my Predictions. I will seed & select the bracket with the CHSAA Seeding Index. Remember this is still early and things will change. The league champions I selected are at the top with the at-large berths following.
(NOT IN ORDER!) ()=CHSAA Seeding Index
#1 Haxtun (1)
#2 Mancos (3)
#3 Simla (4)
#4 Lyons (5)
#5 Crowley County (6)
#6 West Grand (9)
#7 Holly (10)
At Large Teams (Selected using 10/5 Seeding Index)
#8 Dove Creek (2)
#9 Sanford (7)
#10 Merino (8)
#11 Dayspring Christian (11)
#12 Sedgwick County (12)
#13 Vail Christian (13)
#14 Akron (14)
#15 Hayden (15)
#16 Caliche (16)
Playoff Bracket Seeded using Seeding Index
#1 Haxtun vs #16 Caliche
#8 Merino vs #9 West Grand
#4 Simla vs #13 Vail Christian
#5 Lyons vs #12 Sedgwick County
#2 Mancos vs #15 Hayden
#7 Sanford vs #10 Holly
#3 Dove Creek vs #14 Akron
#6 Crowley County vs #11 Dayspring Christian
MileHigh Prep Report 