Our Colorado PrepsCast from last week involved a rundown of our picks for the playoff football teams in each classification.  That report was lost with several other stories from the past two weeks when our website went down earlier today.  As a result, we’ll post the predictions in written format.
Our selections are based exclusively on results from the first four weeks of the season as we’ve not looked at the RPI standings in-depth at all thus far.  Our feeling is that the RPI won’t give us a true picture of standings until week seven or eight and by that time, some league standings will have taken shape enough to easier predict league champions.  Our predictions were also made before any games in week five were played and you will see that some of our selections have already taken a big hit.
We begin by picking league champions in each class and then provide a list of teams we feel are locks to make the playoffs as wildcards if they don’t land conference crowns.  Our final group in each class involve the “last teams in”.  We have loaded the audio below the projections as it provides a breakdown of each division a bit more in-depth.
Feedback, both positive and negative, can be sent to [email protected]

SIX MAN

  • League champs:  Deer Trail, Stratton/Liberty, Fleming, Kim/Branson, Kit Carson, Cotopaxi (6)
  • Wildcard Locks:  Flagler/Hi Plains, Prairie, Peetz, North Park, Briggsale, Cheyenne Wells, Granada & Sierra Grande (8)
  • Last Teams In:  Cheraw & Walsh (2)

EIGHT MAN

  • League champs:  Hoehne, Denver Christian, Mancos, West Grand, Sedgwick County, Pikes Peak Christian (6)
  • Wildcard Locks:  Fowler, Sanford, Dove Creek, Sargent, Vail Christian, Rangely, Caliche, Dayspring Christian & Merino (9)
  • Last Teams In:  Simla (1)

CLASS 1A

  • League champs:  Clear Creek, Limon, Strasburg, Peyton, Centauri, Colorado Springs Christian, Meeker (7)
  • Wildcard Locks:  Holyoke, Burlington, Wray, Highland, Florence & Rye (6)
  • Last Teams In:  Buena Vista, Paonia, Hotchkiss (3)

CLASS 2A

  • League champs:  Kent Denver, Faith Christian, Alamosa, Platte Valley, Resurrection Christian, La Junta, Delta (7)
  • Wildcard Locks:  Rifle, Basalt, Sterling, Eaton, Lamar (5)
  • Last Teams In:  Aspen, D’Evelyn, Bayfield, Classical Academy (4)

CLASS 3A

  • League champs:  Palmer Ridge, Green Mountain, Mead, Roosevelt, Pueblo South, Harrison, Palisade (7)
  • Wildcard Locks:  Durango, Erie, Frederick, Conifer, Discovery Canyon (5)
  • Last Teams In:  Holy Family, Lutheran, Pueblo East, Thomas Jefferson

CLASS 4A

  • League champs:  Chatfield, Silver Creek, Montrose, Broomfield, Fruita Monument, Pine Creek, Pueblo West (7)
  • Wildcard Locks:  Vista Peak, Longmont, Ponderosa, Heritage, Dakota Ridge (5)
  • Last Teams In:  Loveland, Windsor, Greeley West, Brighton (4)

CLASS 5A (24 teams)

  • League champs:  Fairview, Smoky Hill, Grandview, Valor Christian, Columbine, Regis (6)
  • Wildcard Locks:  Rocky Mountain, Poudre, Eaglecrest, Cherry Creek, Arapahoe, Cherokee Trail, Castle View, ThunderRidge, Lakewood, Ralston Valley, Mullen, Pomona, Legend (14)
  • Last Teams In:  Fountain Fort Carson, Overland, Horizon, Far Northeast (4)