8-Man Football Playoff Projections & Bubble Watch Week 9

8-Man Football Playoff Projections Week 9

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. Just two weeks left of regular season action! Good Luck to all teams!

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Playoff Projections & Predictions

8-Man Playoff Predictions (Who I think make the playoffs)

This is who I think make the playoffs and who win the leagues. In 8-Man 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 9 At-Large teams via non-league schedules, remaining schedules, and how I think teams will do. Expect changes week to week especially making these projections/predictions so early. League Champions are posted first then the At-Large Teams.

https://chsaanow.com/sports/2022/7/20/chsaa-postseason-seeding-index.aspx

League Champion Predictions

Ark Valley: McClave

Black Forest: Byers

Central: Clear Creek

Mountains: Sanford

Northwest: West Grand

Plains: Akron

Six County: Fowler

At Large Teams

Las Animas (Ark Valley)

Elbert (Black Forest)

Simla (Black Forest)

Mancos (Mountain)

Norwood (Mountain)

Plateau Valley (Northwest)

Dayspring Christian (Plains)

Haxtun (Plains)

Sedgwick County (Plains)

Playoff Hunt for Final Spots & Bubble Breakdown

Hayden, Springfield, Merino, Calhan, Crowley County

The top 20 teams are still in the hunt for the playoffs barring an upset. #13 down to #20 are still on the bubble and are in the mix for the playoff hunt. I feel confident that the top 12 teams are locks for the playoffs. We will go down the remaining 13 teams schedule and talk about what it takes to lock up a spot in the playoffs.

Remaining Schedules

Las Animas-Rocky Ford & Swink (Win out and they are in)

Simla-Elbert & South Park (A win over Elbert for sure locks them in, a loss to Elbert and a win over South Park should keep them in the top 16 but it will depend on the teams behind them)

Plateau Valley-Rangely & Soroco (They are still the wild card, they lost to Hayden but Hayden has a much tougher schedule. Plateau Valley winning out probably gives them the inside track to the playoffs)

Fowler-Walsenburg & Crowley County (Only the League Champion from this league gets in, they face Crowley County the final week of the season)

Springfield-Swink & McClave (May need to upset McClave the final week of the season to get into the playoffs. They are .052 behind Plateau Valley or they need Plateau Valley to fall to Rangely)

Hayden-Vail Christian & West Grand (May need to upset West Grand to get into the playoffs. A win over Vail Christian should push them closer to the cusp but I am not sure if they get in without a win over West Grand)

Calhan-Byers (Must upset Byers to have a shot at getting in)

Merino-Akron (Must upset Akron to have a shot at getting in)

Seeded Playoff Bracket using my predictions and the CHSAA Seeding Index (10/22)

#1 Akron vs #16 Fowler

#8 Byers vs #9 Clear Creek

#4 Dayspring Christian vs #13 Norwood

#5 Sanford vs #12 West Grand

#2 Haxtun vs #15 Plateau Valley

#7 Sedgwick County vs #10 Elbert

#3 McClave vs #14 Simla

#6 Mancos vs #11 Las Animas

8-Man Playoff Projections (IF the Season Ended Today)

This is if the season ended today 10/22/2025. 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: Byers (8)

Central: Clear Creek (9)

Mountains: Sanford (5)

Northwest: West Grand (12)

Plains: Akron (1)

Six County: Fowler (16)

At Large Teams (Selected using 10/16 Seeding Index)

#8 Haxtun (2)

#9 Dayspring Christian (4)