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 update the 16 teams I think make the playoffs. At the end I will have the playoff projections for if the season ended today! Good Luck to all teams.
Ark Valley League
| Preseason Predictions | Week 6 Predictions |
| #1 McClave | #1 McClave |
| #2 Holly | #2 Springfield |
| #3 Springfield | #3 Holly |
| #4 Rocky Ford | #4 Las Animas |
| #5 Swink | #5 Rocky Ford |
| #6 Las Animas | #6 Swink |
I think two teams get into the playoffs, but a third team will need to be a clear cut 3rd and not get upset in the process. This league will be competitive so they could end up knocking each other out.
My predictions for the Ark Valley
League Champion: McClave
Playoff Contenders: McClave, Springfield, Holly, Las Animas
Black Forest League
| Preseason Predictions | Week 6 Predictions |
| #1 Simla | #1 Simla |
| #2 Byers | #2 Byers |
| #3 Elbert | #3 Elbert |
| #4 Calhan | #4 Calhan |
| #5 St. Mary’s | #5 St. Mary’s |
| #6 South Park | #6 South Park |
Really competitive league. I think the opening week will determine who is in the playoff hunt and who is not. 3 teams I think get in from this league with a fourth being in the hunt.
My predictions for the Black Forest
League Champion: Simla
Playoff Contenders: Simla, Byers, Elbert, Calhan, St. Mary’s
Central League
| Preseason Predictions | Week 6 Predictions |
| #1 Lyons | #1 Front Range Christian |
| #2 Front Range Christian | #2 Clear Creek |
| #3 Belleview Christian | #3 Gilpin County |
| #4 Clear Creek | #4 Lyons |
| #5 Gilpin County | #5 Belleview Christian |
| #6 Justice | #6 Justice |
I have no clue how this league is going to turn out. I am guessing just one team gets in from this league into the playoffs.
My predictions for the Central
League Champion: Front Range Christian
Playoff Contenders: Front Range Christian, Clear Creek, Gilpin County
Mountain League
| Preseason Predictions | Week 6 Predictions |
| #1 Mancos | #1 Mancos |
| #2 Dove Creek | #2 Dove Creek |
| #3 Sanford | #3 Sanford |
| #4 Sargent | #4 Norwood |
| #5 Norwood | #5 Sargent |
| #6 Dolores | #6 Dolores |
The mountain league will be a fun race to watch especially the playoff push. I think 3 teams get into the playoffs with a fourth team possibly making a push as well.
My predictions for the Mountain League
League Champion: Mancos
Playoff Contenders: Mancos, Dove Creek, Sanford, Norwood
Northwest League
| Preseason Predictions | Week 6 Predictions |
| #1 West Grand | #1 West Grand |
| #2 Rangely | #2 Plateau Valley |
| #3 Vail Christian | #3 Vail Christian |
| #4 Plateau Valley | #4 Rangely |
| #5 Hayden | #5 Hayden |
| #6 Soroco | #6 Soroco |
| #7 Lake County | #7 Lake County |
The Northwest league is already underway and that has influenced this a bit. It has been a competitive battle between the top teams and looking forward to the rest of the year. 4 teams will be in playoff contention.
My predictions for the Northwest League
League Champion: West Grand
Playoff Contenders: West Grand, Plateau Valley, Vail Christian, Rangely, Hayden
Plains League
| Preseason Predictions | Week 6 Predictions |
| #1 Haxtun | #1 Haxtun |
| #2 Merino | #2 Akron |
| #3 Akron | #3 Merino |
| #4 Sedgwick County | #4 Sedgwick County |
| #5 Dayspring Christian | #5 Dayspring Christian |
This is a very competitive league, and I think all 5 teams will be in the hunt for the playoffs. Should be a great league race to watch.
My predictions for the Plains League
League Champion: Haxtun
Playoff Contenders: Haxtun, Akron, Merino, Sedgwick County, Dayspring Christian
Six County League
| Preseason Predictions | Week 6 Predictions |
| #1 Crowley County | #1 Fowler |
| #2 Hoehne | #2Hoehne |
| #3 Fowler | #3 Crowley County |
| #4 Walsenburg | #4 Walsenburg |
| #5 Custer County | #5 Sangre De Cristo |
| #6 Sangre De Cristo | #6 Custer County |
This is another league I have no clue how it’s going to turn out. The six-county league may only get one team into the postseason due to their non-league not being the greatest. I honestly can see teams #1 thru #5 all winning the league.
My predictions for Ark Valley League
League Champion: Fowler
Playoff Contenders: Fowler, Hoehne, Crowley County, Walsenburg
Playoff Predictions
Because 8-man is so uncertain I am doing my playoff prediction teams a bit different. I am going to have teams I think are locks to make the playoffs, In the Mix, and uncertain. Uncertain will have a lot of teams in this category. A lot will be decided by league play and that is why I will have so many teams in this category. The second half of 8-Man will be a blast!
Locks-Akron, Dove Creek, McClave, West Grand, Haxtun, Mancos, Simla, Byers
In the Mix-Plateau Valley, Dayspring Christian, Springfield, Merino
Uncertain-St. Mary’s, Vail Christian, Rangely, Norwood, Las Animas, Elbert, Holly, Gilpin County, Clear Creek, Calhan, Sedgwick County, Sanford, Front Range Christian, Walsenburg, Hoehne, Fowler
I am very unsure about the second half of the field of 16 in 8-man currently. You could see teams really take a tumble if they are upset. I think the first two week of league play really shows us who is in the mix and not.
8-Man Football Playoff Projections Week 6
This year to reach the playoffs is simple. Either win your league title or be inside the top 16 of the CHSAA Seeding Index. After they select the 16 teams that make the playoffs, they use the CHSAA Seeding Index to seed the playoffs. This week I will be giving my predictions on who makes the playoffs, but I will also look at if the season ended today who would make the playoffs at the end. Good Luck to all teams.
8-Man Playoff Projections (IF the Season Ended Today)
This is if the season ended today 10/4/2024. Using the CHSAA Seeding Index I will come up with the Playoff field. League Champions selected with my Predictions. I will seed & select the bracket with the CHSAA Seeding Index. Remember this is still very early and things will change. The league champions I selected are at the top with the at-large berths following.
https://chsaanow.com/sports/2022/7/20/chsaa-postseason-seeding-index.aspx
League Champion Predictions ()=CHSAA Seeding Index
Ark Valley: McClave (3)
Black Forest: Simla (9)
Central: Front Range Christian (27)
Mountains: Mancos (7)
Northwest: West Grand (4)
Plains: Haxtun (6)
Six County: Fowler (30)
At Large Teams (Selected using 10/4 Seeding Index)
#8 Akron (1)
#9 Dove Creek (2)
#10 Dayspring Christian (5)
#11 St. Mary’s (8)
#12 Plateau Valley (10)
#13 Byers (11)
#14 Vail Christian (12)
#15 Springfield (13)
#16 Rangely (14)
First Four Out
Norwood (15), Las Animas (16), Elbert (17), Merino (18)
Playoff Bracket Seeded using Seeding Index
#1 Akron vs #16 Fowler
#8 St. Mary’s vs #9 Plateau Valley
#4 West Grand vs #13 Springfield
#5 Dayspring Christian vs #12 Vail Christian
#2 Dove Creek vs #15 Front Range Christian
#7 Mancos vs #10 St. Mary’s
#3 McClave vs #14 Rangely
#6 Haxtun vs #11 Byers
MileHigh Prep Report 