7A and 8A final four predictions

[Gold5606]

8A:

LWE vs Loyola- huge match-up, and most likely decides the winner.

Naperville Central vs Palatine- super hard to predict this side of the bracket.

7A:

Lincoln-Way Central vs Rice- Rice will come out of that Fenwick and Batavia battles. LWC is the best team in very weak top side of the bracket.

St. Rita vs Mt. Carmel- Bets 2 teams in the bottom half!

How did I do?

 

[McCaravan]

8A:

LWE vs Loyola- huge match-up, and most likely decides the winner.

Naperville Central vs Palatine- super hard to predict this side of the bracket.

7A:

Lincoln-Way Central vs Rice- Rice will come out of that Fenwick and Batavia battles. LWC is the best team in very weak top side of the bracket.

St. Rita vs Mt. Carmel- Bets 2 teams in the bottom half!

How did I do?

In 7A I'm confident BR handles Fenwick, I think there major obstacle will be DGN in round 2 whose QB is back. If they beat them I think they beat Batavia as well. LWC by default almost in the Upper. I will put MC in there if they can get past SCN in round 2. Rita's only obstacle will be Quincy, but the way MC handled an undefeated Quincy team last year makes me think Rita will have similar success just because this is where strength of schedule really comes into play.

 

[Still Missing34]

8A - LWE, Loyola, Naperville Central and Oswego

 

[SWsuburbs4]

My running theory...

The SPC is vastly overrated. Oswego will lose to York in the 2nd round

 

[McEvergreen]

My running theory...

The SPC is vastly overrated. Oswego will lose to York in the 2nd round

You already have York beating Eddie?

 

[JCHillmen]

My running theory...

The SPC is vastly overrated. Oswego will lose to York in the 2nd round

I think it is rated appropriately, which is a very below average 7A/8A league. Everyone knows that. But Oswego is clearly the outlier in that they are a decent team in a pile of not very good large school teams.

They're likely good enough to play with and beat teams like York. But in 9 weeks they played 2 teams that qualified for the playoffs. Joliet Catholic, whose offense is down this year and Minooka, who is just not a very good 8A playoff qualifier. Will the lack of them being tested in any meaningful games for so many weeks make it harder for them to win a second round or quarterfinal game? We will see.

They're good enough to be playing deep into the semifinals and beyond. But we just don't know how good they are yet and they will lack the big game experience of most of those other teams making deep playoff runs.

 

[Still Missing34]

I don't disagree that they could lose that game. The Oswego defense is going to keep them in games and they are a Senior heavy team as well.

Really not Oswego's fault that NV, JCA, Bolingbrook and Plainfield North had down years, but it's not like many (if any) of those games were close.

 

[Still Missing34]

I think it is rated appropriately, which is a very below average 7A/8A league. Everyone knows that. But Oswego is clearly the outlier in that they are a decent team in a pile of not very good large school teams.

They're likely good enough to play with and beat teams like York. But in 9 weeks they played 2 teams that qualified for the playoffs. Joliet Catholic, whose offense is down this year and Minooka, who is just not a very good 8A playoff qualifier. Will the lack of them being tested in any meaningful games for so many weeks make it harder for them to win a second round or quarterfinal game? We will see.

They're good enough to be playing deep into the semifinals and beyond. But we just don't know how good they are yet and they will lack the big game experience of most of those other teams making deep playoff runs.

You think it's "very below average"? I think it's in the middle.

 

[JCHillmen]

You think it's "very below average"? I think it's in the middle.

It is above the Upstate 8, which is about all I can grant. Any other large school leagues with title hopefuls that are clearly below it?

I mean, it's a 12 team league and 5-7 of the programs can be fairly labeled as flat out just not competitive. It is a stretch to call the league even average when half of it is composed of Romeoville, the Joliets, and 2-3 Plainfield schools that really struggle.

Remove Oswego from the other 11 and what does the league have to tout? Plainfield South exceeding expectations this year and a bunch of parity among the 4 win teams that are usually in the upper half? Middle or average just seems like a real stretch of an adjective.

 

[Still Missing34]

It is above the Upstate 8, which is about all I can grant. Any other large school leagues with title hopefuls that are clearly below it?

I mean, it's a 12 team league and 5-7 of the programs can be fairly labeled as flat out just not competitive. It is a stretch to call the league even average when half of it is composed of Romeoville, the Joliets, and 2-3 Plainfield schools that really struggle.

Remove Oswego from the other 11 and what does the league have to tout? Plainfield South exceeding expectations this year and a bunch of parity among the 4 win teams that are usually in the upper half? Middle or average just seems like a real stretch of an adjective.

I would separate the two divisions. The West is clearly heads and shoulders above the East division and they only play two crossover games. There are definitely some CPS conferences worse than the SPC.

 

[HRCJR]

I think it is rated appropriately, which is a very below average 7A/8A league. Everyone knows that. But Oswego is clearly the outlier in that they are a decent team in a pile of not very good large school teams.

They're likely good enough to play with and beat teams like York. But in 9 weeks they played 2 teams that qualified for the playoffs. Joliet Catholic, whose offense is down this year and Minooka, who is just not a very good 8A playoff qualifier. Will the lack of them being tested in any meaningful games for so many weeks make it harder for them to win a second round or quarterfinal game? We will see.

They're good enough to be playing deep into the semifinals and beyond. But we just don't know how good they are yet and they will lack the big game experience of most of those other teams making deep playoff runs.

Oswego played 1 team ranked in the top 3000 nationally - #613 Joliet Catholic Academy

The number in front of the school is the national rank by CALPREPS

WINS: #613 Joliet Catholic Academy (Joliet, IL) (17-0), #3086 Minooka (IL) (42-10), #3344 Plainfield North (Plainfield, IL) (21-13), #3754 Oswego East (Oswego, IL) (23-7), #4615 Yorkville (IL) (27-7), #4789 Neuqua Valley (Naperville, IL) (30-7), #4982 Bolingbrook (IL) (22-6), #11661 Joliet Central (Joliet, IL) (70-7), #12238 Plainfield Central (Plainfield, IL) (49-6), LOSSES: none

The number in front of the school is the national rank by CALPREPS

Oswego (9-0) played 1 team ranked in the top 3300 nationally - #613 Joliet Catholic Academy

in contrast St. Ignatius (3-6) played 8 in the top 3000 and 6 in the top 800

WINS: #1953 Immaculate Conception (Elmhurst, IL) (31-14), #2666 St. Louis University (St. Louis, MO) (56-21), #3470 St. Viator (Arlington Heights, IL) (36-13), LOSSES: #179 Mount Carmel (Chicago, IL) (45-24), #244 Loyola Academy (Wilmette, IL) (27-6), #364 Marist (Chicago, IL) (37-19), #471 Fenwick (Oak Park, IL) (34-24), #507 Brother Rice (Chicago, IL) (24-7), #779 Montini Catholic (Lombard, IL) (28-7)

 

[McCaravan]

Oswego played 1 team ranked in the top 3000 nationally - #613 Joliet Catholic Academy

The number in front of the school is the national rank by CALPREPS

WINS: #613 Joliet Catholic Academy (Joliet, IL) (17-0), #3086 Minooka (IL) (42-10), #3344 Plainfield North (Plainfield, IL) (21-13), #3754 Oswego East (Oswego, IL) (23-7), #4615 Yorkville (IL) (27-7), #4789 Neuqua Valley (Naperville, IL) (30-7), #4982 Bolingbrook (IL) (22-6), #11661 Joliet Central (Joliet, IL) (70-7), #12238 Plainfield Central (Plainfield, IL) (49-6), LOSSES: none

The number in front of the school is the national rank by CALPREPS

Oswego (9-0) played 1 team ranked in the top 3300 nationally - #613 Joliet Catholic Academy

in contrast St. Ignatius (3-6) played 8 in the top 3000 and 6 in the top 800

WINS: #1953 Immaculate Conception (Elmhurst, IL) (31-14), #2666 St. Louis University (St. Louis, MO) (56-21), #3470 St. Viator (Arlington Heights, IL) (36-13), LOSSES: #179 Mount Carmel (Chicago, IL) (45-24), #244 Loyola Academy (Wilmette, IL) (27-6), #364 Marist (Chicago, IL) (37-19), #471 Fenwick (Oak Park, IL) (34-24), #507 Brother Rice (Chicago, IL) (24-7), #779 Montini Catholic (Lombard, IL) (28-7)

Blue was not a good division for this years Iggy team.

 

[chakazulu89]

8A:
The Beast vs the Ramblers
Naperville Central vs Oswego

7A:
LW Central vs BR
Rita Vs MC

Let the games begin!

 

[PhilsBurner]

8A:

LWE vs Loyola- huge match-up, and most likely decides the winner.

Naperville Central vs Palatine- super hard to predict this side of the bracket.

7A:

Lincoln-Way Central vs Rice- Rice will come out of that Fenwick and Batavia battles. LWC is the best team in very weak top side of the bracket.

St. Rita vs Mt. Carmel- Bets 2 teams in the bottom half!

How did I do?

Rice beat up on bad competition at the end of the year and barely got past MC 3rd string QB and multiple freshman. Not sure where the crusader praise is coming from but I’ll be shocked if they get by Round 2. Hopefully coach Q learned from his mistakes last year and accepts to play in the prep bowl this time around.

 

[King MJ_rivals]

8A; LWE,LA, Lyons, York
7A: Jacobs, Batavia, Rita, CMC

 

[PowerI66_]

I would separate the two divisions. The West is clearly heads and shoulders above the East division and they only play two crossover games. There are definitely some CPS conferences worse than the SPC.

Plainfield's won't split though

 

[RogerRabbit87]

8A:

LWE vs Loyola- huge match-up, and most likely decides the winner.

Naperville Central vs Palatine- super hard to predict this side of the bracket.

7A:

Lincoln-Way Central vs Rice- Rice will come out of that Fenwick and Batavia battles. LWC is the best team in very weak top side of the bracket.

St. Rita vs Mt. Carmel- Bets 2 teams in the bottom half!

How did I do?

Palatine getting there with a backup QB would be impressive. I’ve got Oswego with that defense getting there. I also have Jacobs over LWC since that game will be played on grass I’ve gotta give the edge to the FVC. Otherwise I agree

 

[Still Missing34]

Plainfield's won't split though

I meant in terms of strength.

 

[SWsuburbs4]

Remove Oswego from the other 11 and what does the league have to tout? Plainfield South exceeding expectations this year and a bunch of parity among the 4 win teams that are usually in the upper half? Middle or average just seems like a real stretch of an adjective.

Plainfield South is most likely the worst team in 8A. I've never seen a schedule so easy.

 

[Still Missing34]

The winner on that side of the bracket is always pretty bad. East and south had some good teams about 3-4 years ago.

 

[SWsuburbs4]

The winner on that side of the bracket is always pretty bad. East and south had some good teams about 3-4 years ago.

They have the talent and the enrollment to be good. Plainfield East is right between Plainfield North and Bolingbrook. Two great programs (or I guess one now). With that division, there's no excuse for not making the playoffs.

 

[JCHillmen]

Plainfield South is most likely the worst team in 8A. I've never seen a schedule so easy.

PS beat Joliet West 20-7. PS was 7-2 and West was 5-4. West's schedule a little bit better, but not by much. So I think it is fair to say West is clearly a step below Plainfield South.

The league had four playoff qualifiers this year. Two in the good division and two in the bad division. Out of 12 teams, 4 qualified. Mathematically, that is about the worst possible outcome for the league.

They need to completely reconsider how they do things in the league. 3 divisions of 4 teams each with the three strongest programs each headlining a division and snaking down from there. Every team plays 3 division games and 3 crossovers, as much against similar competition as possible. Then weeks 1-3 are nonconference.

This frees up one extra non-con game. Romeoville can try to find a cupcake while Oswego can try to bolster their schedule. Doing it this way, the league definitely qualifies 6-8 programs this year instead of the four they did.

 

[Still Missing34]

The League has had high number of playoff contenders for several years. A few years ago, more than any other conference.

Oswego always schedules tough OOC games.

 

[alpha08]

Palatine getting there with a backup QB would be impressive. I’ve got Oswego with that defense getting there. I also have Jacobs over LWC since that game will be played on grass I’ve gotta give the edge to the FVC. Otherwise I agree

What makes you say backup QB for Palatine? I know he got hurt in the Barrington game but have we confirmed he is done for the season, even if a run is made?

 

[redmen85]

PS beat Joliet West 20-7. PS was 7-2 and West was 5-4. West's schedule a little bit better, but not by much. So I think it is fair to say West is clearly a step below Plainfield South.

The league had four playoff qualifiers this year. Two in the good division and two in the bad division. Out of 12 teams, 4 qualified. Mathematically, that is about the worst possible outcome for the league.

They need to completely reconsider how they do things in the league. 3 divisions of 4 teams each with the three strongest programs each headlining a division and snaking down from there. Every team plays 3 division games and 3 crossovers, as much against similar competition as possible. Then weeks 1-3 are nonconference.

This frees up one extra non-con game. Romeoville can try to find a cupcake while Oswego can try to bolster their schedule. Doing it this way, the league definitely

 

[3OrangeWhips]

Rice beat up on bad competition at the end of the year and barely got past MC 3rd string QB and multiple freshman. Not sure where the crusader praise is coming from but I’ll be shocked if they get by Round 2. Hopefully coach Q learned from his mistakes last year and accepts to play in the prep bowl this time around.

Just happy they didn’t finish 4-5 per your prediction after week 3.

 

[Southland Fan 2016]

8A LWE vs Marist, and LT vs York
7A: Batavia vs LWC, and MC vs SR

 

[MustangFB]

Palatine getting there with a backup QB would be impressive. I’ve got Oswego with that defense getting there. I also have Jacobs over LWC since that game will be played on grass I’ve gotta give the edge to the FVC. Otherwise I agree

LWC already beat Waubonsie Valley on grass week 8

 

[SWsuburbs4]

LWC already beat Waubonsie Valley on grass week 8

They also beat Jacobs last year in Round 1

 

[sporthog_9er]

LWC pretty much walking into the semi's is quite a statement on the top half of this bracket. I could see Jacobs, WY/Kenwood knocking them off of the stars align. But LWC, after a very favorable regular season schedule, is set up to make it's farthest postseason run in a long time.

 

[Alexander33]

The League has had high number of playoff contenders for several years. A few years ago, more than any other conference.

Oswego always schedules tough OOC games.

The teams of the SPC have collectively produced one semifinal appearance (Plainfield North - 7A - 2016) and no championships in the last ten years. That result does not represent a "high number of playoff contenders" over the last several years.

Yes, the conference is better than the Upstate Eight and the Chicago Public League, but it is definitely a below average (large school) conference.

 

[JCHillmen]

The teams of the SPC have collectively produced one semifinal appearance (Plainfield North - 7A - 2016) and no championships in the last ten years. That result does not represent a "high number of playoff contenders" over the last several years.

Yes, the conference is better than the Upstate Eight and the Chicago Public League, but it is definitely a below average (large school) conference.

No doubt. I didn't want to seem like I was piling on. But I agree, better than Upstate 8 and some CPS leagues and then it is below just about every other major suburban 7A/8A league in terms of expectations for playoff success.

To get more qualifiers and to better prepare the top teams, I suggest these three divisions.....

Oswego-Oswego East-Joliet West-Joliet Central
Plainfield North-Yorkville-Plainfield East-Romeoville
Minooka-Brook-Plainfield South-Plainfield Central

Play your three division games. Then play three crossovers. Preferably Joliet Central vs. Romeoville and Oswego vs. PFN type games. Then weeks 1-3 are nonconference and the better programs can really try to beef up their schedule with an extra nonconference game. And the struggling programs can try to find a creampuff to help bolster their chances of finding a 5th win. Better for Plainfield Central to find a CPS school or a 3A type program than get forced into a crossover with Plainfield North or Oswego.

That's it. That's the plan to get more than 4 playoff qualifiers and to better prepare the top handful of qualifiers.

 

[SiuCubFan8]

No doubt. I didn't want to seem like I was piling on. But I agree, better than Upstate 8 and some CPS leagues and then it is below just about every other major suburban 7A/8A league in terms of expectations for playoff success.

To get more qualifiers and to better prepare the top teams, I suggest these three divisions.....

Oswego-Oswego East-Joliet West-Joliet Central
Plainfield North-Yorkville-Plainfield East-Romeoville
Minooka-Brook-Plainfield South-Plainfield Central

Play your three division games. Then play three crossovers. Preferably Joliet Central vs. Romeoville and Oswego vs. PFN type games. Then weeks 1-3 are nonconference and the better programs can really try to beef up their schedule with an extra nonconference game.

That's it. That's the plan to get more than 4 playoff qualifiers and to better prepare the top handful of qualifiers.

If The Brook could get it together that would greatly help.

 

[Still Missing34]

The teams of the SPC have collectively produced one semifinal appearance (Plainfield North - 7A - 2016) and no championships in the last ten years. That result does not represent a "high number of playoff contenders" over the last several years.

Yes, the conference is better than the Upstate Eight and the Chicago Public League, but it is definitely a below average (large school) conference.

In context to the conversation, I should’ve typed qualifiers instead of contenders.

 

[Still Missing34]

No doubt. I didn't want to seem like I was piling on. But I agree, better than Upstate 8 and some CPS leagues and then it is below just about every other major suburban 7A/8A league in terms of expectations for playoff success.

To get more qualifiers and to better prepare the top teams, I suggest these three divisions.....

Oswego-Oswego East-Joliet West-Joliet Central
Plainfield North-Yorkville-Plainfield East-Romeoville
Minooka-Brook-Plainfield South-Plainfield Central

Play your three division games. Then play three crossovers. Preferably Joliet Central vs. Romeoville and Oswego vs. PFN type games. Then weeks 1-3 are nonconference and the better programs can really try to beef up their schedule with an extra nonconference game. And the struggling programs can try to find a creampuff to help bolster their chances of finding a 5th win. Better for Plainfield Central to find a CPS school or a 3A type program than get forced into a crossover with Plainfield North or Oswego.

That's it. That's the plan to get more than 4 playoff qualifiers and to better prepare the top handful of qualifiers.

Since 2018 they’ve averaged around six playoff qualifiers a year, including eight in 2018

 

[SEHSSTORM1]

I think it is rated appropriately, which is a very below average 7A/8A league. Everyone knows that. But Oswego is clearly the outlier in that they are a decent team in a pile of not very good large school teams.

They're likely good enough to play with and beat teams like York. But in 9 weeks they played 2 teams that qualified for the playoffs. Joliet Catholic, whose offense is down this year and Minooka, who is just not a very good 8A playoff qualifier. Will the lack of them being tested in any meaningful games for so many weeks make it harder for them to win a second round or quarterfinal game? We will see.

They're good enough to be playing deep into the semifinals and beyond. But we just don't know how good they are yet and they will lack the big game experience of most of those other teams making deep playoff runs.

Minooka and Oswego are sleeping giants. Just the right coach/admin and they explode.

 

[SEHSSTORM1]

The teams of the SPC have collectively produced one semifinal appearance (Plainfield North - 7A - 2016) and no championships in the last ten years. That result does not represent a "high number of playoff contenders" over the last several years.

Yes, the conference is better than the Upstate Eight and the Chicago Public League, but it is definitely a below average (large school) conference.

Lots of bad conferences. Upstate Eight, MSL East, CSL North, Antioch's Conference and most of the Catholic League sans the Blue and Orange, Chicagoland Christian, just to name a few.

 

[Still Missing34]

Minooka and Oswego are sleeping giants. Just the right coach/admin and they explode.

With the amount of growth continuing around both Oswego and Oswego East high school’s, and the success of the lower levels and feeder program I don’t see how Oswego covered being bare for a while

 

[SiuCubFan8]

Lots of bad conferences. Upstate Eight, MSL East, CSL North, Antioch's Conference and most of the Catholic League sans the Blue and Orange, Chicagoland Christian, just to name a few.

Might want to revise your CCL comment:

CCL/ESCC (Green)​

Playoff Bid	School	Conference	Overall	Opponents' Wins	Points
Won	Lost	Won	Lost	For	Against
C	LaGrange Park (Nazareth Academy)	2	1	7	2	54	305	188
C	Wheaton (St. Francis)	2	1	7	2	50	281	214
C	Chicago (St. Rita)	2	1	7	2	47	267	137
	Elmhurst (IC Catholic)	0	3	4	5	49	189	221

CCL/ESCC (White)​

Playoff Bid	School	Conference	Overall	Opponents' Wins	Points
Won	Lost	Won	Lost	For	Against
C	Oak Park (Fenwick)	3	0	7	2	45	217	117
C	Lombard (Montini)	2	1	7	2	48	262	94
C	Burbank (St. Laurence)	1	2	6	3	42	245	142
	Mundelein (Carmel)	0	3	3	6	50	226	227

 

[privatone]

8A:

LWE vs Loyola- huge match-up, and most likely decides the winner.

Naperville Central vs Palatine- super hard to predict this side of the bracket.

7A:

Lincoln-Way Central vs Rice- Rice will come out of that Fenwick and Batavia battles. LWC is the best team in very weak top side of the bracket.

St. Rita vs Mt. Carmel- Bets 2 teams in the bottom half!

How did I do?

If that 7A prediction comes to fruition, we might see some sort of public/private debate develop.