I don't pretend to be an expert on every team in Illinois, I went to LWN and I am going to rooting like crazy for them because I know a lot of those guys and it would mean a lot to me for them to get a state title in their last year. I have some insight into them and talk to a couple of the players pretty often. That said, just going off of what gets posted on here and looking at teams records I want to predict the champions from 5A thru 8A. You can tell me I'm wrong, or crazy, or a genius, but lets get some discussion going on who we think is going to win and why you think so.
5A. Joliet Catholic over Lincoln-Way West. You can argue Naz here given how many injuries JCA has suffered. That was a big win last week over Marist and they have a little momentum going into these playoffs. I look at LWW and they seem a lot more battle tested than the teams they'll play downstate. That big o-line with a power run game will pay big dividends in November. LWW has played JCA couple times in the playoffs over the years and haven't beaten them. I know JCA has one of the best coaches in the state and they'll been here before, I think the Hilltoppers.
6A. Sacred Heart-Griffin over Montini. SHG's SOS doesn't look the best but they more than held their own against a previously undefeated Rochester. They will have to earn their way into the state game, but with the way I think the bracket will play out, SHG will have home field until the semis and that will be a huge difference against Lemont. I expect LWN to get to the semis and I think that will be a hell of a ball game, I'll look at this objectively and say LWN's talent doesn't match SHG's talent. Montini won't get much resistance until the semis against Prairie Ridge, and I think Montini has beaten better teams than the Ridge has. This is rematch from last year and SHG has been on a roll for two years and I don't think that'll change.
7A. Libertyville over Glenbard West. This championship matchup is a toss up. This could look very different depending upon each of these teams round two matchups. Libertyville-LWE and GW-MC/GN. Look, both of these teams have been destroying their competition and I think momentum carries all the way through. Don't know much about either one of these teams so for the sake of an "upset" in a championship game, I'll go with Libertyville. Someone can fill me in on this.
8A. Homewood-Flossmoor over Naperville Central. I know has gotten a lot of crap on this board especially after this past Friday, but you can't deny that they are good. They are extremely talented, deep and very explosive. Honestly, a loss will probably do them a lot of good as they are probably a bit humbled after the Bolingbrook loss. Loyola is probably the best team in the state, but HF's speed MAY overwhelm them a little bit, and if the Vikings get an early score, Loyola may be forced to play catch-up and you don't want to get into a shootout with HF. That quarterfinals matchup should be the for state championship. If Brother Rice's seed was flipped with Naperville Central I would have picked them. There's nothing easy about the other side of the bracket, but I think that NC can handle their own against any potential opponent. If this is the state championship, I think NC can win, I just think if HF goes through Loyola that their confidence will be through the roof.
I probably will be wrong on every matchup, and that's okay. It's playoff football time, anything can happen. I'm curious to see who everyone else has winning. Again you can tell me I'm wrong because I am no expert here. Let's all just enjoy these next five weeks!
5A. Joliet Catholic over Lincoln-Way West. You can argue Naz here given how many injuries JCA has suffered. That was a big win last week over Marist and they have a little momentum going into these playoffs. I look at LWW and they seem a lot more battle tested than the teams they'll play downstate. That big o-line with a power run game will pay big dividends in November. LWW has played JCA couple times in the playoffs over the years and haven't beaten them. I know JCA has one of the best coaches in the state and they'll been here before, I think the Hilltoppers.
6A. Sacred Heart-Griffin over Montini. SHG's SOS doesn't look the best but they more than held their own against a previously undefeated Rochester. They will have to earn their way into the state game, but with the way I think the bracket will play out, SHG will have home field until the semis and that will be a huge difference against Lemont. I expect LWN to get to the semis and I think that will be a hell of a ball game, I'll look at this objectively and say LWN's talent doesn't match SHG's talent. Montini won't get much resistance until the semis against Prairie Ridge, and I think Montini has beaten better teams than the Ridge has. This is rematch from last year and SHG has been on a roll for two years and I don't think that'll change.
7A. Libertyville over Glenbard West. This championship matchup is a toss up. This could look very different depending upon each of these teams round two matchups. Libertyville-LWE and GW-MC/GN. Look, both of these teams have been destroying their competition and I think momentum carries all the way through. Don't know much about either one of these teams so for the sake of an "upset" in a championship game, I'll go with Libertyville. Someone can fill me in on this.
8A. Homewood-Flossmoor over Naperville Central. I know has gotten a lot of crap on this board especially after this past Friday, but you can't deny that they are good. They are extremely talented, deep and very explosive. Honestly, a loss will probably do them a lot of good as they are probably a bit humbled after the Bolingbrook loss. Loyola is probably the best team in the state, but HF's speed MAY overwhelm them a little bit, and if the Vikings get an early score, Loyola may be forced to play catch-up and you don't want to get into a shootout with HF. That quarterfinals matchup should be the for state championship. If Brother Rice's seed was flipped with Naperville Central I would have picked them. There's nothing easy about the other side of the bracket, but I think that NC can handle their own against any potential opponent. If this is the state championship, I think NC can win, I just think if HF goes through Loyola that their confidence will be through the roof.
I probably will be wrong on every matchup, and that's okay. It's playoff football time, anything can happen. I'm curious to see who everyone else has winning. Again you can tell me I'm wrong because I am no expert here. Let's all just enjoy these next five weeks!
