bigdog3300
The G.O.A.T.
Putting this up a bit late, but the picture in the divisions are getting clearer as we are now at the regional finals next weekend, aka the Elite 8
A good mix of expected favorites, unpredictables, rivalries, etc.
D1
St. Ed's and Mentor square up, again....Mentor took the season opener against them 42-39 but I don't think any D1 team has turned it on in the playoffs as much as Ed's. I wouldn't be surprised to see a 10+ win for Ed's.
Powell Olentangy Liberty and Dublin Coffman in another....Dublin Coffman is rolling again, my head wants to say a comfortable win for them but Liberty pitched a shutout last week against Reynoldsburg and only gave up 7 to Gahanna Lincoln. I'll say an ugly 13-7 for Coffman.
Hilliard Davidson vs Pickerington Central.....Central took the first one in OT on the road, would expect to see another nail biter and my coin says Central wins again.
Colerain and Elder.....yahhh baby! Well, at least the matchup looks cool, but Colerain should cruise to another Final 4
D2
Hoban and Maple Hts.....Hoban, I don't need to put anything else here but I will. They'll dominate a 12-0 Maple Hts squad.
Toledo Central Catholic vs Avon.....almost same as above, TCC will cruise also.
Massillon vs Wadsworth.....this is getting redundant. Wadsworth is solid but Massillon should win by 2+ scores.
Winton Woods and Anderson....easily the best game of the group and still won't be a great one. Winton Woods should come out of this and get bounced against any of the other 3.
D3
Canfield up against Kenston in what is going to be a fun, high scoring matchup. I called Kenston pre-season but I'm going to have to fall on the sword, Canfield is a machine right now.
Norwalk vs Sandusky in an unexpected rematch that should play close with Sandusky moving on.
Eastmoor Academy and Thornville Sheridan in a game I don't know much about because I didn't expect to see Thornville here but dammit Eastmoor beat Bishop Hartley which is enough for me to roll with them.
Kettering AA vs Wapakoneta in which might be my favorite matchup of the weekend. Both are state title quality teams and the favorites for whomever should advance. I'll take Kettering AA on a last minute drive.
D4
Clear Fork and St. Mary's - combined 23-1 and the 1 and 2 seeds, a bit of a stout defense vs prolific offense, gimme the defense and Clear Fork, please and thank you.
St, Clairsville vs and Licking Valley......I don't have much on this except St. Clairsville moves to 13-0. So sue me. You're not even reading at this point.
Wyoming and London.......no, no....not the Cowboy's versus the London Jaguars, just two cities you've never heard of and one unstoppable train that is Wyoming. So....Cowboys.
Girard (they're leading on Perry now) versus Hubbard....yeah I'm calling Girard over Perry and Hubbard over Girard, boom! Not Gerard Butler, he'd blow this b*tch up, but Hubbard blew up Steubenville (much appreciated) and they will move on. WILL. BOOK IT.
D5
Orrville and Gates Mills are in OT now, but whoever wins will beat Akron Manchester, so it doesn't really matter.
Genoa vs Liberty Center, 1 and 2, I knew we'd see this, I knew it! They're the same teams just wearing different jersey, but I like Comets more so I'll take Liberty or I'll take.....I dunno.
Johnstown-Monroe and Byesville Meadowbrook.....odds are the populations of each town are less then the wins they each have. But some kidding aside, Johnstown-Monroe has had the title look all year. They won't win it, but they got the loooook.
Mechanicsburg and and Middletown Madison....Madison has had 7 shutouts this year and haven't given up more than 16 all year which is why Mechanicsburg will win. Called em since Day 1....why are they the Indians though? Seriously....you can't be the mechanics?
D6
Mogadore and Kirtland in what should be a fast paced, chippy game. Kirtland was the preseason pick and not changing it now, this is their year.
Attica Seneca East and Sherwood Fairview which is a surprise as Sherwood ran over Gibsonburg, squeaked past Jeromesville Hillsdale all just to lose here :)
Shadyside vs. Fort Frye which is nothing short of an awesome matchup......Fort Frye is undefeated no more, the Shadyside train ain't stopping here.
Coldwater and Marion Local......in what has become an annual November matchup, Their other matchup went to 2OT because....of course it did. You can't go wrong here but gimme Marion Local and I'll go home a winner.
D7
Cuyahoga Hts in a bit of a surprise Warren JFK......a Cinderella story but Cuya Hts has been here, done that, and I don't foresee a nailbiter in this one as the Redskins (oops....can I say that?!) move on.
McComb and Edgerton in a match I have no idea....both teams are killing it. It worries me Edgerton has been winning almost too easily, haven't had the battles that McComb has so I'll give McComb's Panthers the ticket to the Final 4
Lucas and Gloucester Trimble......probably a push on the spread. Trimble's defense has been rolling and if bad weather hits, the D will travel....give me Trimble in this one.
Fort Laramie and Convoy Crestview......Fort Laramie hasn't given up a point yet in the playoffs, which is why I go with.....Crestview! It has not been pretty this year but they have the all state QB/WR (back to back duo) in Kline and Sheets, both seniors, gimme that senior leadership for the shocker!
Okay, I'm tired - but seriously, this is the best time of the year. If you can get to a game, it does not matter WHO is playing, you will be happy. Every division has some epic games but I'll most look forward to Coldwater and Marion Local, Kettering AA and Wapakoneta, Mechanicsburg and Madison, Mogadore Kirtland, Shadyside Fort Frye.....yes, I know, that's a lot.
Enjoy the show!
A good mix of expected favorites, unpredictables, rivalries, etc.
D1
St. Ed's and Mentor square up, again....Mentor took the season opener against them 42-39 but I don't think any D1 team has turned it on in the playoffs as much as Ed's. I wouldn't be surprised to see a 10+ win for Ed's.
Powell Olentangy Liberty and Dublin Coffman in another....Dublin Coffman is rolling again, my head wants to say a comfortable win for them but Liberty pitched a shutout last week against Reynoldsburg and only gave up 7 to Gahanna Lincoln. I'll say an ugly 13-7 for Coffman.
Hilliard Davidson vs Pickerington Central.....Central took the first one in OT on the road, would expect to see another nail biter and my coin says Central wins again.
Colerain and Elder.....yahhh baby! Well, at least the matchup looks cool, but Colerain should cruise to another Final 4
D2
Hoban and Maple Hts.....Hoban, I don't need to put anything else here but I will. They'll dominate a 12-0 Maple Hts squad.
Toledo Central Catholic vs Avon.....almost same as above, TCC will cruise also.
Massillon vs Wadsworth.....this is getting redundant. Wadsworth is solid but Massillon should win by 2+ scores.
Winton Woods and Anderson....easily the best game of the group and still won't be a great one. Winton Woods should come out of this and get bounced against any of the other 3.
D3
Canfield up against Kenston in what is going to be a fun, high scoring matchup. I called Kenston pre-season but I'm going to have to fall on the sword, Canfield is a machine right now.
Norwalk vs Sandusky in an unexpected rematch that should play close with Sandusky moving on.
Eastmoor Academy and Thornville Sheridan in a game I don't know much about because I didn't expect to see Thornville here but dammit Eastmoor beat Bishop Hartley which is enough for me to roll with them.
Kettering AA vs Wapakoneta in which might be my favorite matchup of the weekend. Both are state title quality teams and the favorites for whomever should advance. I'll take Kettering AA on a last minute drive.
D4
Clear Fork and St. Mary's - combined 23-1 and the 1 and 2 seeds, a bit of a stout defense vs prolific offense, gimme the defense and Clear Fork, please and thank you.
St, Clairsville vs and Licking Valley......I don't have much on this except St. Clairsville moves to 13-0. So sue me. You're not even reading at this point.
Wyoming and London.......no, no....not the Cowboy's versus the London Jaguars, just two cities you've never heard of and one unstoppable train that is Wyoming. So....Cowboys.
Girard (they're leading on Perry now) versus Hubbard....yeah I'm calling Girard over Perry and Hubbard over Girard, boom! Not Gerard Butler, he'd blow this b*tch up, but Hubbard blew up Steubenville (much appreciated) and they will move on. WILL. BOOK IT.
D5
Orrville and Gates Mills are in OT now, but whoever wins will beat Akron Manchester, so it doesn't really matter.
Genoa vs Liberty Center, 1 and 2, I knew we'd see this, I knew it! They're the same teams just wearing different jersey, but I like Comets more so I'll take Liberty or I'll take.....I dunno.
Johnstown-Monroe and Byesville Meadowbrook.....odds are the populations of each town are less then the wins they each have. But some kidding aside, Johnstown-Monroe has had the title look all year. They won't win it, but they got the loooook.
Mechanicsburg and and Middletown Madison....Madison has had 7 shutouts this year and haven't given up more than 16 all year which is why Mechanicsburg will win. Called em since Day 1....why are they the Indians though? Seriously....you can't be the mechanics?
D6
Mogadore and Kirtland in what should be a fast paced, chippy game. Kirtland was the preseason pick and not changing it now, this is their year.
Attica Seneca East and Sherwood Fairview which is a surprise as Sherwood ran over Gibsonburg, squeaked past Jeromesville Hillsdale all just to lose here :)
Shadyside vs. Fort Frye which is nothing short of an awesome matchup......Fort Frye is undefeated no more, the Shadyside train ain't stopping here.
Coldwater and Marion Local......in what has become an annual November matchup, Their other matchup went to 2OT because....of course it did. You can't go wrong here but gimme Marion Local and I'll go home a winner.
D7
Cuyahoga Hts in a bit of a surprise Warren JFK......a Cinderella story but Cuya Hts has been here, done that, and I don't foresee a nailbiter in this one as the Redskins (oops....can I say that?!) move on.
McComb and Edgerton in a match I have no idea....both teams are killing it. It worries me Edgerton has been winning almost too easily, haven't had the battles that McComb has so I'll give McComb's Panthers the ticket to the Final 4
Lucas and Gloucester Trimble......probably a push on the spread. Trimble's defense has been rolling and if bad weather hits, the D will travel....give me Trimble in this one.
Fort Laramie and Convoy Crestview......Fort Laramie hasn't given up a point yet in the playoffs, which is why I go with.....Crestview! It has not been pretty this year but they have the all state QB/WR (back to back duo) in Kline and Sheets, both seniors, gimme that senior leadership for the shocker!
Okay, I'm tired - but seriously, this is the best time of the year. If you can get to a game, it does not matter WHO is playing, you will be happy. Every division has some epic games but I'll most look forward to Coldwater and Marion Local, Kettering AA and Wapakoneta, Mechanicsburg and Madison, Mogadore Kirtland, Shadyside Fort Frye.....yes, I know, that's a lot.
Enjoy the show!