Class 1A League Predictions Update Week 6

Class 1A 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.

Western Slope League

New Predictions	Preseason Predictions
#1 Meeker	#1 Meeker
#2 Buena Vista	#2 North Fork
#3 North Fork	#3 Gunnison
#4 Gunnison	#4 Buena Vista
#5 Cedaredge	#5 Cedaredge

The Western Slope League is loaded with tough teams and should make for an exciting league title race. League play has already kicked off in the Western Slope. Meeker remains my pick to win the league. They have a key win over North Fork already. Buena Vista has the biggest jump from #4 to #2. Buena Vista played tough against Limon, and they have a league win over Gunnison already. North Fork drops to #3 they are 1-1 in league play with a win over Cedaredge and a loss to Meeker. The league race is just heating up and should make for some fun games. Looking towards the playoffs Buena Vista, Meeker, Gunnison, and North Fork all sit inside the top 10. Cedaredge sits at #12 and is also in a good spot.

My predictions for the Western Slope League

League Champion: Meeker

Playoff Contenders: Meeker, North Fork, Gunnison, Buena Vista, Cedaredge

South Central League

New Predictions	Preseason Predictions
#1 Centauri	#1 Centauri
#2 Monte Vista	#2 Monte Vista
#3 Center	#3 Center
#4 Del Norte	#4 Del Norte
#5 Ignacio	#5 Ignacio
#6 Trinidad	#6 Trinidad

Currently I have no changes from my preseason predictions to my picks today. Centauri and Monte Vista remain the top teams and both played tough non-league schedules to help them push for the playoffs. Center, Del Norte, and Ignacio are the next 3 teams. Center is 0-4 currently but also played a tough schedule. They played Peyton close and fell by 12. Del Norte is 1-3 and their lone win is over Rocky Ford. They played Salida very close last week and I nearly moved them ahead of Center. Looking towards the playoffs Centauri is the only team in the top 16 currently at #10. Monte Vista sits at #18 just outside the top 16 and will have to battle to get into the top 16. Del Norte (23), Ignacio (27), and Center (28) all sit outside the top 22 and we will see who can make a push to try and get into the playoffs.

My predictions for the South Central League

League Champion: Centauri

Playoff Contenders: Centauri & Monte Vista

Tri-Peaks League

New Predictions	Preseason Predictions
#1 Rye	#1 Rye
#2 Banning Lewis	#2 Banning Lewis
#3 C.S Christian	#3 C.S Christian
#4 Peyton	#4 Peyton
#5 Ellicott	#5 Ellicott
#6 Rocky Ford	#6 Rocky Ford

The Tri-Peaks League appears to be a 3-team race for the league crown. Rye, Banning Lewis, and C.S Christian all enter league play with winning records. Rye remains my pick to win the Tri-Peaks League. Rye lone loss came to Salida in a tough matchup. Banning Lewis is my pick for second and they enter undefeated, but their best win is over Yuma. C.S Christian is my pick for third. Their lone loss is to Woodland Park. C.S Christian played Woodland Park without starting QB Jace Velasquez and if he does not return that could be a major blow. Peyton will try and push into the top 3 and may need an upset of the top 3 to get into the playoffs. Looking towards the playoffs Banning Lewis (11), C.S Christian (14), and Rye (15) will all be on the bubble to start league play but as they play each other expect two of the teams to push into more safe territory. Peyton sits at #25 and in contention but as mentioned they will need some help to get into the playoffs.

My predictions for the Tri-Peaks League

League Champion: Rye

Playoff Contenders: Rye, Banning Lewis, C.S Christian, Peyton

North Central League

New Predictions	Preseason Predictions
#1 Limon	#2 Limon
#2 Wray	#2 Wray
#3 Holyoke	#3 Holyoke
#4 Wiggins	#4 Burlington
#5 Yuma	#5 Wiggins
#6 Burlington	#6 Yuma

The toughest league in Class 1A is the North Central League. 4 teams sit above .500 entering league play and two are undefeated. This should be a great league battle to watch, and we will see who emerges. My top 3 remain the same with Limon as my pick to win the league followed by Wray and Holyoke. Wiggins moved up one spot from #5 to #4 in my predictions. Wiggins has surprised me this season and they continue to be a top team. Yuma also moves up one spot ahead of Burlington who falls from #4 to #6. I don’t think all 6 teams get into the playoffs this season so league will be very important. Looking towards the playoffs Limon, Holyoke, Wiggins, and Wray all sit inside the top 10 of the Seeding Index. Burlington sits at #13 and Yuma sits at #19 we will see how things unfold after the first two weeks of league.

My predictions for the North Central

League Champion: Limon

Playoff Contenders: Limon, Wray, Holyoke, Burlington, Wiggins, Yuma

Frontier League

New Predictions	Preseason Predictions
#1 Strasburg	#1 Strasburg
#2 Platte Canyon	#2 Platte Canyon
#3 Middle Park	#3 Denver Christian
#4 Denver Christian	#4 Middle Park
#5 Clear Creek	#5 Jefferson
#6 Jefferson	#6 Clear Creek

The Frontier League has shown some improvement this season with 4 teams sitting at or above .500. Strasburg remains my pick to win the league with Platte Canyon remaining the top challenger. Middle Park, Denver Christian, and Clear Creek all look poised to challenge for the top 3. Middle Park has the best win of the next 3 over Estes Park plus played 2A Arvada very close. Denver Christian and Clear Creek played weaker schedules and will have to make a statement in league play. If we look at the seeding Index Strasburg sits at #5 and in good position. Platte Canyon sits at #16 and will be on the bubble to start league play same goes with Middle Park who sits at #20. Denver Christian is the next highest at #26 and just outside playoff contention currently.

My predictions for the Frontier League

League Champion: Strasburg

Playoff Contenders: Strasburg, Platte Canyon, Middle Park

Longs Peak League

New Predictions	Preseason Predictions
#1 Manual	#1 Manual
#2 Estes Park	#2 Highland
#3 Highland	#3 Estes Park
#4 Flatirons Academy	#4 Flatirons Academy
#5 Pinnacle	#5 Pinnacle
#6 Sheridan	#6 Sheridan

The weakest league in Class 2A is the Longs Peak League. They have just two teams at .500 but three teams sitting at 0-4 overall. Manual remains my pick to win the league. Manual has played the toughest schedule in the league and competed well. Estes Park moves into the #2 spot but I have major concerns about their defense after giving up 34 two weeks ago and 40 last week. Highland slides into the #3 spot. Highland is 0-4 but played a very difficult schedule. We will see how much they improved when they face Estes Park to open league. Looking at the Seeding Index no teams are in the top 16 currently. Manual sits at #17, Estes Park is at #21, Highland at #22, and Flatirons Academy at #24. We will see if only the league champion gets into the playoffs.

My predictions for Long Peak League

League Champion: Manual

Playoff Contenders: Manual, Highland, Estes Park, Flatirons Academy

Class 1A Playoff Team Predictions

I am just giving the 16 teams I think make the playoffs, no particular order.

Limon

Holyoke

Buena Vista

Meeker

Strasburg

Wiggins

Gunnison