temptation

Complete speculation on my part, but I would venture to say that Sagarin is probably the least accurate I can remember in 2020 for obvious reasons. A lot of unpredictability week in and week out in relation to team health.

42-14 prediction? Wow. I'd say Chatard is a favorite, no doubt. But 28 points? Whoa.

High school example: 6A Warren quarantines in week 1 and gets two weeks to prepare for CG. Loses 20-0 but plays CG arguably tougher than anyone else this season. Same Warren team gets two weeks off prior to the start of the sectional...avenges regular season losses to North Central and Lawrence North, while playing its best football of the season in winning its sectional. For every example you cite, I can find an opposing one. You'll certainly now move the goal posts from "You can't compare the NFL, to you can't compare 6A to 1A." NO ONE is feeling sorry for poor LCC for having had to sit a week at home...trust me.

Techies: Is there a way to get more than one window going simultaneously on the same device? If so, the $19.95 is a steal. If not, it’s not so great. Not much for watching games of which I already know the result and am not patient enough to avoid the result and watch on Saturday morning.

I like Hobart by 7-10, Valpo is in a pick em with Zionsville and Westfield by 17-21. Yes. There is no comparison between Elkhart and Westfield’s schedule. Night and day.

I’m not. It’s 2020. Indiana University is leading the Big Ten... Seriously though, this is an awesome testament to Indiana high school football, pandemic or not.

Guess NFL teams should just start shooting for 9-7 and trying to squeeze into the playoffs then huh?

Yep. Spot on. Yet calling someone who disagrees with you and has a differing opinion than you names is much more fun. Ah, 2020.

LOL...”game level conditioning.” Guess I’m gonna have to break out my exercise science degree on you fellas here soon. You are embarrassing yourself...again. Some were heavy underdogs regardless...once again it’s not all or none. Maybe the games were closer than anticipated and part of that can be attributed to the rest involved?

Data (which I’m too lazy to look up at this point in time) supports this statement. Why else would NFL teams battle for the coveted byes annually? Were threads created about those six schools? Are they playing this weekend? Would you feel better if I retroactively created threads about those teams?

Oh, I agree, in name only. Because they played a converted WR at QB due to their starter getting hurt in the sectional against Brownsburg. Its not a shot at historically great programs like LCC/Ben Davis by saying they were fortunate due to a forfeiture (in LCC’s case) and a JV sectional (in BD’s case). It’s an honest fact. Playing one fewer game is an advantage at any level and does not take away from the accomplishment of making the final four but facts are facts. It doesn’t have to be all or none. They can have grit, experience and a little luck.

I just watched Wisconsin come out hungry and on fire after a three week layoff... In 6A, I just watched a Ben Davis team that lost to Carmel by 22 in the regular season play their JV in the second half of two sectional blowouts and then handle that same Carmel team. Same in 5A with Zionsville. Had two weeks to prepare for the regional. Will LCC be rusty? Sure, it’s possible. But it didn’t look that way the other night. Health, hunger and freshness is paramount, especially at the 1A level. I still clearly think South Adams is the superior team but if you don’t think that LCC has an advantage coming into this one based on their sectional folding, you are kidding yourself.

I get the rule clearly and completely but it still does not change my opinion that the rules should revert to the same criteria used when a team earns a bye (CAUSED by ping pong balls) in the sectional draw. I think, especially in a sport like football, ESPECIALLY during a Covid year, that the benefit of playing one fewer game FAR outweighs any home field advantage.

Bloomington North would clean house in the non revenue sports were they to join the HHC. Be careful what you ask for. All 20 sports must be considered, even though they usually aren’t.

WITHOUT the strength of schedule component. Irish by 42. Yep. Posted this in another thread but Zionsville should have had to travel last week and LCC should this week.

Side note: Even though it was out of their control, I think it’s a bit ridiculous that LCC (said the same thing about Zionsville last week) gets to host the semi-state after receiving a bye the previous week. I think it should be treated as first/second round matchups are when the pairings are released and they should have to travel.

I’ve NEVER seen a 79 percent difference in free/reduced lunch percentage within a district. Any more examples?

McCutchanville = 17 percent

Some quick research yields that this is a true (and fascinating) statement as I’m not sure I’ve EVER seen this wide of a discrepancy WITHIN a particular school district. Taking a quick glance at the five elementary schools that feed into North: Delaware: 93 percent Evans: 89 percent Vogel: 62 percent Oak Hill: 88 percent Scott: 14 percent How many of those golfers were Scott Elementary kids?

A quick search reveals that these are Castle’s team stats but I’m not sure what you are inferring here. Perhaps you think that Castle’s superior offensive stats prove that they are more of a worthy opponent to Cathedral than Whiteland was? Has more of a passing attack? If so, I’ll point to schedule strength as Whiteland played Decatur Central AND Mooresville (two top 5 teams in their respective classes) in the regular season. Castle’s schedule is respectable as the SIAC is no joke but Sagarin has it at #66 whereas Whiteland is #22. That being said, I’ll stick with a running clock after halftime and a comfortable 5-6 TD win for the Irish.

Covenant Christian has a chance to make the state finals in just its SIXTH year as a program. Any other examples of such immediate success? Fishers (2010) comes to mind as of late. Anyone?

This one made me do a double take. Not THAT Southridge won, but HOW EASILY they won. Looks like a couple of great matchups possibly left in 3A.

True. I said “fighting chance.” Thought they could keep it within 3 possessions.

Not your typical LCC team in my opinion. Gimme the Starfires comfortably.

Anomaly. Must have had a couple of great groups roll through. Taking a look at the remaining schools in the top ten, my statement holds true. Kudos to the Huskies.