defensewinsgames wrote:Most Interesting Matchups:
- Wyndmere @ Hankinson: Two traditional rivals playing for playoff seedings. I think this ends up being a good game but Wyndmere pulls away late and uses it as a slingshot for momentum into the playoffs. Wyndmere wins 38 to 16.
- Cavalier @ FSHP: A game that means a lot for both teams for playoff seedings. After seeing Cavalier hang a 22 point win on MayPort, I think this one is even more lopsided. Cavalier has pushed through the noise and shown they are real deal again. Cavalier wins 40 to 12.
- Nelson County @ New Rockford: Both teams are undefeated in region play so this is the region championship. New Rockford lost the first two and is on a 5 game winning streak since then. Nelson County has only had one game this season decided by a touchdown or less. I think this is a slugfest and will take Nelson County to win at the end. Nelson County 18 to 12.
- Hettinger @ Napoleon: A non-region game between two teams with a lot of hopes for the playoffs. It doesn't mean anything to determine playoff seedings but means a lot for these two teams to build momentum. I think this is a huge game for NGS. They have lost two of the last 3 to New Salem and then South Border (both games by 20 points). NGS needs this one to get back on track and go into the playoffs with a head of steam. NGS wins 26 to 20.
- Surrey @ Divide County: Another non-region game that has a ton of intrigue. I think this is the game of the week in 9 man and maybe the state. Surrey has rolled since that early season disappointment at Ray/Powers Lake. Divide is coming off big wins over Mohall and Ray/Powers Lake. I think Divide shows they should be post season favorite with a big win at home. Divide wins 30 to 22.
I agree with your picks for the top 5 games of the week.
Wyndmere vs. Hankinson-
Is Wyndmere's RB (Arth) healthy? I heard he went out of the game a few weeks ago vs. LaMoure and saw that he was not among the 6 different players to score for W/L in last week's game. Hopefully he is healthy, but if not, I think they may be a totally different team than they were early in the year.
Cavalier vs. FSHP-
I think Cavalier is playing really good football right now. They had a slow start winning a tight game in week 1 against a team that very likely is a playoff team. Then they won a close match against a very good W/L team. Since then they have blown out everyone they have played. If they beat FSHP they will likely have wins over four play-off teams with 3 of those wins on the road (E-MV at home, W/L, MPCG, and FSHP on the road) and with two of them being top-5 in the state at the time of those games. I think a convincing win could give Cavalier a strong case to be a #2 overall seed. I just don't think they could move ahead of Lamoure the way they've dominated all year.
Nelson County vs New Rockford-
I like your prediction, I too think Nelson County wins this one, but I think both teams put up a few more points. Maybe something like 40-34
Hettinger/Scranton @ Napoleon
Is Napoleon's QB healthy? He's a tremendous player and they're not the same team without him.
Surrey @ Divide County
Game of the week for sure. Divide County, with a win, is solidly a top 4 seed in the playoffs and Surrey with a loss is unfortunately probably a 7 at best, probably an 8 with 2 losses. A Surrey win, however, could change that big time. it would be impossible to put them behind DC with a head to head win. It might be enough to vault them as high as 5-6 and drop DC as low as 6-7. This one game will absolutely change the entire landscape of the play-off seedings based on who wins.
I might even add in a 6th game with North Prairie @ Bottineau. If NP loses, there's a really good chance that they play each other again in the 2nd round of playoffs.