8-Man League Predictions Update Week 6

8-Man League Predictions Update Week 6

Every year during the preseason I give my league prediction. This year I am going to update them just one time before we enter league play. I will have my original predictions so you can compare from the preseason. I will also just quickly breakdown each league. At the end I give the 16 teams I think make the playoffs. Good Luck to all teams.

Mountain Conference

New Predictions	Preseason Predictions
#1 Mancos	#1 Mancos
#2 Dove Creek	#2 Dove Creek
#3 Sanford	#3 Sanford
#4 Sargent	#4 Sargent
#5 Dolores	#5 Dolores

The Mountain League has proven to be one of the toughest league in 8-Man this season. I have no changes from my preseason predictions to today. Mancos looks to be the favorite after a narrow loss to Haxtun a few weeks ago. Dove Creek and Sanford appear to be the main challengers to the league crown. Looking towards playoffs Mancos and Dove Creek are inside the top 8 of the Seeding Index. Sanford sits at #12 and will be battling for a spot in the playoffs. Sargent sits at #19 and will be in the hunt as well but will need either an upset of the top 3 or will need to beat Hayden on 10/21.

My predictions for the Mountain Conference

League Champion: Mancos

Playoff Contenders: Mancos, Dove Creek, Sanford, Sargent

8-Man League 2

New Predictions	Preseason Predictions
#1 West Grand	#1 West Grand
#2 Vail Christian	#2 Plateau Valley
#3 Rangely	#3 Rangely
#4 Hayden	#4 Vail Christian
#5 Plateau Valley	#5 Hayden
#6 Soroco	#6 Soroco

League 2 or the Northwest League appears to be very competitive this season and should make for a fun league title race. West Grand has the early separation and is the early favorite to win the league title. Vail Christian, Rangely, and Hayden all sit at 2-2 and should be in the hunt for the league title. Vail Christian gets the nod at #2 after their win over McClave and close loss to Front Range Christian. Rangely holds the #3 spot with Hayden moving up one spot to #4. Hayden vs Rangely is this week and winner of that game in my opinion has a shot for 3^rd or higher in league. Looking towards the playoffs. West Grand sits at #6 and are the only team currently in the top 16 of the Seeding Index. Vail Christian sits at #17, Hayden at #22, and Rangely at #23 appear to be the main playoff contenders.

My predictions for 8-Man League 2

League Champion: West Grand

Playoff Contenders: West Grand, Vail Christian, Hayden, Rangely

Black Forest League

New Predictions	Preseason Predictions
#1 Simla	#1 Simla
#2 Calhan	#2 Calhan
#3 Elbert	#3 Elbert
#4 St. Mary’s	#4 St. Mary’s
#5 South Park	#5 South Park

The Black Forest League had just 1 playoff team a season ago in Simla. Things should change this year with possibly 3 contenders. I have no changes from my preseason predictions to today. Simla is the favorite currently and enter league at 5-0. Calhan picked up the big win over Elbert last week and should finish in 2^nd place or higher. Elbert with the loss should finish in 3^rd place if they avoid the upset bid from St. Mary’s. Looking towards the playoffs Simla (2) and Calhan (9) sit inside the top 10 currently. Elbert is next at #20 and will be in the hunt.

My predictions for the Black Forest League

League Champion: Simla

Playoff Contenders: Simla, Calhan, Elbert

Plains Conference

New Predictions	Preseason Predictions
#1 Haxtun	#1 Haxtun
#2 Akron	#2 Akron
#3 Sedgwick County	#3 Merino
#4 Merino	#4 Dayspring Christian
#5 Dayspring Christian	#5 Sedgwick County
#6 Caliche	#6 Caliche

The Plains League remains one of the tougher leagues in 8-Man. Plenty of changes from my preseason predictions to today. Haxtun and Akron remain my picks to finish 1^st and 2^nd in league. Sedgwick County makes the biggest jump going from #5 to #3. They have played well in the non-league part of the schedule. Dayspring Christian holds down the #5 spot with Merino dropping from #3 to #4. Still lots to figure out when it comes to Merino and Dayspring Christian as both enter league with just 1 win. Looking towards the playoffs Haxtun (1), Sedgwick County (8), and Akron (10) all sit inside the top 10 of the Seeding Index. Merino sits at #16 and Dayspring Christian sits at #21 both will be in the playoff hunt.

My predictions for the Plains League

League Champion: Haxtun

Playoff Contenders: Haxtun, Akron, Merino, Dayspring Christian, Sedgwick County

Central League

New Predictions	Preseason Predictions
#1 Lyons	#1 Lyons
#2 Byers	#2 Byers
#3 Front Range Christian	#3 Front Range Christian
#4 Belleview Christian	#4 Belleview Christian
#5 Justice	#5 Gilpin County
#6 Gilpin County	#6 Justice

The Central League has quietly become one of the tougher leagues in 8-Man this season. They have two teams sitting undefeated entering league play with a third team sitting at 3-1 overall. Lyons and Byers face off this week and I believe the winner will win the league and have a very good shot at hosting a first-round game. Front Range Christian will also be in the mix for the league title. Looking towards the playoffs Lyons and Byers both sit inside the top 5 and should both make the playoffs. Front Range Christian sits at #14 and will have to fight to get into the playoffs. Belleview Christian sits at #33 and will have to make a jump soon to get back into playoff contention.

My predictions for the Central League

League Champion: Lyons

Playoff Contenders: Lyons, Byers, Front Range Christian

Six County Conference

New Predictions	Preseason Predictions
#1 Fowler	#1 Fowler
#2 Hoehne	#2 Walsenburg
#3 Walsenburg	#3 Crowley County
#4 Crowley County	#4 Hoehne
#5 Custer County	#5 Dolores Huerta
#6 Dolores Huerta	#6 Custer County

The Six County League has the most question marks enter league play. Just one team sits above .500 in Custer County. The rest of the league played tough non-league schedules, and this makes figuring out this league very tough. I am going with Fowler still to win the league despite their 0-4 start. Fowler has 3 losses to ranked teams and the fourth was to Swink. Swink was healthy still in that game and since has been hit by the injury bug. Fowler, I believe will turn things around in league play and they open against Crowley County. Hoehne moves into the #2 spot. They have a pair of nice wins over Sargent and Swink. Walsenburg, I have a few question marks on after their 20-0 loss to Wiley. Looking towards the playoffs Hoehne is the highest ranked team at #11. Custer County sits at #24, Walsenburg at #25, Crowley County at #28, and Fowler at #29. For now, a lot of question marks and we will see how things shape up the first two weeks.

My predictions for the Six County League

League Champion: Fowler

Playoff Contenders: Fowler, Walsenburg, Crowley County, Hoehne, Custer County

Ark Valley League

New Predictions	Preseason Predictions
#1 Holly	#1 Holly
#2 McClave	#2 Swink
#3 Swink	#3 McClave
#4 Springfield	#4 Springfield
#5 Wiley	#5 Wiley
#6 Las Animas	#6 Las Animas

Just two teams sit at .500 in the Ark Valley league, and we will see how things shape up the rest of the way for this league. Holly and McClave both seem to be the favorites in the league especially if Swink does not get QB Hunter Bauserman back from injury. I am interested to see if Springfield of Wiley could make a push for the #3 spot and possibly sneak into the playoffs. Looking towards the playoffs Holly sits at #13 and McClave at #15 both are on the bubble currently. Wiley sits at #26 and the rest of the league is outside the top 30. We will see if any playoff contenders emerge in the next couple weeks.

My predictions for Ark Valley League

League Champion: Holly

Playoff Contenders: Holly, McClave, Wiley

Playoff Predictions

These are the 16 teams I think will make the playoffs, no particular order.

Haxtun

Simla

Mancos

Lyons

Byers

West Grand

Dove Creek