Class 2A League Predictions Update Week 6

Class 2A 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.

Colorado League

New Predictions	Preseason Predictions
#1 Elizabeth	#1 Elizabeth
#2 Classical Academy	#2 Englewood
#3 Englewood	#3 Classical Academy
#4 Kent Denver	#4 Kent Denver
#5 Denver West	#5 Denver West
#6 Alameda	#6 Alameda

The Colorado League is one of the toughest leagues in Class 2A. 5 of the 6 teams in the Colorado League sit above .500 and 3 of those teams are undefeated. This is going to be a battle for the league crown. I believe teams 1 thru 4 have a shot at winning the league title. Elizabeth remains my pick to win the league crown. TCA, Englewood, and Kent Denver I believe will all challenge for the league title. Looking at the Seeding Index Elizabeth, Classical Academy, and Kent Denver both sit inside the top 10 currently. Denver West (18) and Englewood (20) are outside the top 16 and will be in the hunt for a playoff spot.

My predictions for the Colorado League

League Champion: Elizabeth

Playoff Contenders: Elizabeth, Englewood, Classical Academy, Kent Denver, Denver West

Front Range Mountain

New Predictions	Preseason Predictions
#1 Berthoud	#1 Eaton
#2 Eaton	#2 Berthoud
#3 Forge Christian	#3 Forge Christian
#4 Fort Lupton	#4 Steamboat Springs
#5 Steamboat Springs	#5 The Academy
#6 The Academy	#6 Fort Lupton

The Front Range Mountain has 5 of the 6 teams sitting at or above .500. Berthoud has emerged thru the preseason as the favorite to win the league title but expect the defending State Champs Eaton to push for the league crown. Forge Christian I believe could push for a playoff spot but not ready for the league crown. Fort Lupton could also emerge as a playoff contender but will need to finish inside the top 3 of the league. Looking at the Seeding Index Berthoud and Eaton sit inside the top 10 of the Seeding Index. Forge Christian will be in the playoff hunt at #23 and Fort Lupton will have some work to do at #28.

My predictions for Front Range Mountain

League Champion: Berthoud

Playoff Contenders: Eaton, Berthoud, Forge Christian, Fort Lupton

Intermountain League

New Predictions	Preseason Predictions
#1 Delta	#1 Delta
#2 Pagosa Springs	#2 Montezuma-Cortez
#3 Salida	#3 Salida
#4 Montezuma-Cortez	#4 Pagosa Springs
#5 Bayfield	#5 Bayfield

The Intermountain League has been a surprise to start the season. Delta has remained the lone constant going 5-0 in non-league play and remaining my pick to win the league. The biggest jump from the preseason to today is Pagosa Springs moving from #4 to #2. Pagosa Springs sits at 2-2 and they played a tough schedule. Pagosa Springs picked up wins over Centauri and Alamosa with close losses to La Junta and Florence. Salida holds the #3 spot, and they enter league at 4-1 overall and I think could also push for that #2 spot in league. Montezuma-Cortez is the biggest question mark entering league play. The reached the semifinals last season but enter league at 2-3. We will see if they have a second half run in them. Looking at the Seeding Index Delta is inside the top 5 currently. Salida Pagosa Springs sit inside the top 16 of the seeding index. Montezuma-Cortez sits at #26 and will have to fight for shot at the playoffs.

My predictions for The Intermountain League

League Champion: Delta

Playoff Contenders: Delta, Montezuma-Cortez, Salida, Pagosa Springs

Patriot-Central

New Predictions	Preseason Predictions
#1 Wellington	#1 Platte Valley
#2 Platte Valley	#2 Wellington
#3 D’Evelyn	#3 Bennett
#4 Bennett	#4 Valley
#5 Valley	#5 D’Evelyn
#6 Prospect Ridge	#6 Prospect Ridge

The Patriot Central League looks to be one of the weaker leagues in Class 2A. They have two teams sitting at or above .500. The Patriot Central has 3 winless teams entering league play. Wellington is my new pick to win the Patriot Central. They enter league at 4-0 but are still missing a signature win. Wellington best win is over Timnath or Sterling. Platte Valley drops into the #2 spot. They played a very tough schedule facing 3 ranked teams and securing a solid win over Weld Central. I still believe that Platte Valley could win the league but will have to get the offense rolling. D’Evelyn makes the biggest jump from #5 to #3. D’Evelyn sits at 2-2 and they are riding a two-game winning streak into league. Looking at the seeding index Wellington is the lone team sitting inside the top 16 of the seeding index. Platte Valley (22), D’Evelyn (29), and Timnath (30) will all have some work to do to stay in playoff contention.

My predictions for the Patriot-Central

League Champion: Platte Valley

Playoff Contenders: Platte Valley, Wellington

Patriot-East

New Predictions	Preseason Predictions
#1 University	#1 University
#2 Arvada	#2 Brush
#3 Brush	#3 Arvada
#4 Weld Central	#4 Sterling
#5 Timnath	#5 Weld Central
#6 Sterling	#6 Timnath

The Patriot East was one of the weaker leagues last season, but this year it’s total different with just 1 of the 6 teams sitting under .500. I believe the league title battle in this league will be a good one and I think any of the top 4 teams could win this league. University remains my pick to win the league. University sits at 2-2 enter league but played a very tough schedule. Arvada jumps into the #2 spot. Arvada is undefeated entering league play but did not play as difficult of a schedule as University or Brush. Arvada did pick up a nice win over Englewood a few weeks ago. Brush drops into the #3 spot. Brush defensively is going to give teams fits and could push any of the teams in this league. Weld Central is the biggest surprise entering league play. Weld Central is 3-1 entering league play. Looking towards the Seeding Index University sits inside the top 10. Arvada and Brush are inside the top 16 and will be on the bubble to start league play. Weld Central will be in playoff contention as well sitting at #25.

My predictions for Patriot-East

League Champion: University

Playoff Contenders: University, Brush, Arvada, Weld Central

Southwest League

New Predictions	Preseason Predictions
#1 La Junta	#1 Alamosa
#2 Florence	#2 Woodland Park
#3 Alamosa	#3 La Junta
#4 Lamar	#4 Florence
#5 Woodland Park	#5 Lamar
#6 Manitou Springs	#6 Manitou Springs

The Southwest League has been another very tough league in Class 2A. The Southwest League also has the most question marks entering league play with some teams having better records than expected and some having worse. La Junta is my pick to win the Southwest League. La Junta is undefeated entering league. They have key wins over Pagosa Springs and Pueblo East. Florence jumps into the #2 spot. Florence already has a league win over Woodland Park plus a quality win over Pagosa Springs. Alamosa drops to #3. Alamosa is 0-4 entering league play but they played a tough schedule with losses to Pueblo Central (4-1), Gunnison (5-1), Classical Academy (4-0), and Pagosa Springs. Alamosa needs their offense to score points but look for them to make a run-in league play. Woodlad Park, Lamar, and Manitou Springs are also going to be contender and I am very interested to see how league unfolds. Looking at the Seeding Index La Junta and Florence sit inside the top 10 of the Seeding Index. Lamar will start league play inside the top 16 of the seeding index. Woodland Park (21) and Alamosa (27) will have some work to do to push for a playoff spot.

My predictions for Southwest League

League Champion: La Junta

Playoff Contenders: Alamosa, Woodland Park, La Junta, Florence, Lamar

Western Slope League

New Predictions	Preseason Predictions
#1 Rifle	#1 Rifle
#2 Basalt	#2 Basalt
#3 Moffat County	#3 Moffat County
#4 Aspen	#4 Aspen
#5 Grand Valley	#5 Grand Valley
#6 Coal Ridge	#6 Coal Ridge

No changes from the preseason to today in my league predictions. I still have Rifle as my favorite to win the league. Basalt is the main challenger, and this should be a great battle between the two. Moffat County I think is a playoff contender but will have to hold off Aspen who I think is better than their 1-3 record indicates. Looking towards the seeding index Basalt and Rifle sit inside the top 6 of the seeding index. Moffat County is the next highest rated team at #19 with Aspen to follow at #24.

My predictions for Western Slope

League Champion: Rifle

Playoff Contenders: Rifle, Basalt, Moffat County, Aspen

Class 2A Playoff Team Predictions

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

Basalt

Delta

Berthoud

La Junta

Elizabeth

Rifle

Classical Academy