Playoff Projections - Week 8

With just three weeks left in the regular season, many of the projected spots will likely stay in place but there are some key games to keep an eye on this week that could dramatically effect the balance of power between Division I and II.

In District 8-5A, the outcome of Friday's game between Plano and McKinney Boyd will play a big role in determining where defending state champion Allen will go. If Plano wins out they will finish with a record of 3-3 in district play. With head-to-head wins over Wylie, Boyd and Jesuit, that would be good enough to get them into the playoffs.

With the largest enrollment in 8-5A, Plano would join Plano East in the Division I bracket. That would push Allen to Division II. If Boyd wins, then Plano is eliminated from playoff contention and Allen (with the third largest enrollment in the district) would join Plano East in Division I.

The implications of that are substantial. Should the Eagles go to Division II, they would be looking at a potential second round matchup between the winner of Southlake Carroll and Grapevine. If they go Division I, it's a much easier (on paper) matchup between the winner of Keller and Coppell. Any good coach will tell you that it doesn't matter who they play, but you can bet deep down, players and fans would much rather take the easier road to a state title than the tough one.

If Allen were to draw Carroll in the second round, they would in all likelihood eventually have to face top-ranked Cedar Hill just to win their region. To repeat as state champions, it's a good bet that they would face defending 5A Division II state champion Katy.

Plano needs to win its final two games just to get into the playoffs. Many other teams from around the state find themselves on the bubble this week and for that reason, the playoffs in essence start this week. Here is how things would look if the playoffs started today. Most of these matchups are guaranteed but a few (including Duncanville vs. Plano) in the first round are based on projections.

5A Playoff Match-Ups as projected by 5A Texas Football

Division 1

Region 1

EP El Dorado vs. Odessa Permian
FW Haltom vs. Arlington High
Euless Trinity vs. Flower Mound
Duncanville vs. Plano

EP Franklin vs. Odessa High
Burleson vs. Arlington Martin
Keller vs. Coppell
Irving Macarthur vs. Plano East

Region 2

Dallas Skyline vs. Sachse
DeSoto vs. Bryan
Spring Westfield vs. Conroe
Cy Woods vs. RR Westwood

Richardson Berkner vs. Garland
Tyler Lee vs. A&M Consolidated
Klein Forest vs. The Woodlands
Cy Springs vs. RR Stony Point

Region 3

Cinco Ranch vs. Alief Elsik
Aldine Eisenhower vs. Houston Lamar
North Shore vs. Deer Park
FB Hightower vs. Clear Brook

Katy Taylor vs. Houston Memorial
Kingwood vs. Houston Westside
Beaumont West Brook vs. Pearland
FB Clements vs. Clear Creek

Region 4

Bastrop vs. Smithson Valley
Converse Judson vs. SA Stevens
Del Rio vs. Donna
Harlingen vs. San Benito

Austin Westlake vs. SA Madison
Victoria Memorial vs. SA Clark
Laredo United vs. Mission Sharyland
Edinburg vs. Brownsville Hanna

Division 2

Region 1

EP Coronado vs. Midland Lee
Abilene vs. Arlington Lamar
Colleyville Heritage vs. FM Marcus
Cedar Hill vs. Plano West

EP Montwood vs. Amarillo High
Richland vs. Arlington Bowie
Grapevine vs. Southlake Carroll
Irving Nimitz vs. Allen

Region 2

Lake Highlands vs. North Garland
John Tyler vs. Belton
Klein Collins vs. TW College Park
Cy Creek vs. Cedar Park

Richardson vs. South Garland
North Mesquite vs. Copperas Cove
Spring DeKaney vs. Lufkin
Cy Falls vs. Leander

Region 3

Katy vs. Strake Jesuit
Humble Atascocita vs. Houston Madison
Port Arthur Memorial vs. La Porte
FB Elkins vs. Galveston Ball

Katy Mayde Creek vs. Houston Stratford
Humble vs. Houston Chavez
Baytown Lee vs. Pasadena Memorial
FB Kempner vs. Clear Springs

Region 4

Austin High vs. New Braunfels
SA Wagner vs. SA O?Connor
SA Southwest vs. McAllen Memorial
PSJA North vs. Brownsville Pace

Pflugerville vs. SA Reagan
CC Carroll vs. SA Brandeis
Eagle Pass vs. McAllen High
Edinburg North vs. Los Fresnos   

Date of Article: Tue Oct 20, 2009 9:35 am