Class 8A playoff point averages & projected seeds after Week 7

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — After seven weeks of football, the FHSAA has once again updated the playoff point averages for all teams in all classifications.

There are big changes across the board this week as some teams have entered the projected playoff picture while others have fallen out. In Classes 5A-8A, district record was taken into consideration except on certain exceptions which are noted.

For Class 8A, you will find a breakdown of point averages for each team in every region and a projected seeding (including tiebreakers) based upon the guidelines as published by the FHSAA (click here to view), as well as quick thoughts about each region.

REGION 1

PROJECTED SEEDS

District Champions

No. 1 Winter Park (8A-3)
No. 2 Flagler Palm Coast (8A-1)
No. 3 Apopka (8A-4)
No. 4 Oviedo (8A-2)

Wildcards

No. 5 Wekiva
No. 6 Mandarin
No. 7 Lake Mary
No. 8 West Orange

PROJECTED REGIONAL QUARTERFINAL PAIRINGS

No. 8 West Orange at No. 1 Winter Park
No. 5 Wekiva at No. 4 Oviedo
No. 6 Mandarin at No. 3 Apopka
No. 7 Lake Mary at No. 2 Flagler Palm Coast

QUICK THOUGHTS: A lot is still in play for this region and I don’t think anyone has locked up anything at this particular point. All seeds are pretty much still in play and with this being a big district week, anything is bound to happen. Teams sitting outside looking in that I feel still have a chance at berth include DeLand, Seminole (Sanford), Sandalwood and Boone.

REGION 2

PROJECTED SEEDS

District Champions

No. 1 Vero Beach (8A-8)
No. 2 Osceola (Kissimmee) (8A-7)
No. 3 Manatee (8A-6)
No. 4 Dr. Phillips (8A-5)

Wildcards

No. 5 Centennial
No. 6 Treasure Coast
No. 7 Gateway (Kissimmee)
No. 8 George Jenkins

PROJECTED REGIONAL QUARTERFINAL PAIRINGS

No. 8 George Jenkins at No. 1 Vero Beach
No. 5 Centennial at No. 4 Dr. Phillips
No. 6 Treasure Coast at No. 3 Manatee
No. 7 Gateway at No. 2 Osceola

QUICK THOUGHTS: I think Vero Beach has a locked down hold on this top spot unless they somehow slip up to Treasure Coast or Fort Pierce Central here in the next few weeks, but for now they are pretty much holding things down. What might be hard to believe is District 8A-8 is controlling the top three overall positions right now in the region rankings. I think Osceola is almost for sure to be in as long as they beat Gateway this week, while Manatee and Dr. Phillips right now stand favorite to win their districts. I think what we are seeing in wildcards right now might be it as things are a mess after George Jenkins in terms of teams trying to seek a wildcard spot.

REGION 3

PROJECTED SEEDS

District Champions

No. 1 Atlantic (Delray Beach) (8A-10)
No. 2 Deerfield Beach (8A-11)
No. 3 Palm Beach Central (8A-9)
No. 4 Plantation (8A-12)

Wildcards

No. 5 Piper
No. 6 Wellington
No. 7 Western
No. 8 Taravella

PROJECTED REGIONAL QUARTERFINAL PAIRINGS

No. 8 Taravella at No. 1 Atlantic
No. 5 Piper at No. 4 Plantation
No. 6 Wellington at No. 3 Palm Beach Central
No. 7 Western at No. 2 Deerfield Beach

QUICK THOUGHTS: Right now, the top four seeds are clear leaders in their district, but the wildcard spots, in my opinion, are still up for grabs. Teams like Miramar, Park Vista, Santaluces and Seminole Ridge are by no means out of the playoff hunt right now, but they are going to need to likely win most, if not all, of their games to force things to change in their favor in the next few weeks.

REGION 4

PROJECTED SEEDS

District Champions

No. 1 South Dade (8A-16)
No. 2 Columbus (8A-14)
No. 3 Belen Jesuit (8A-15)
No. 4 Hialeah (8A-13)

Wildcards

No. 5 Miami Southridge
No. 6 Miami Palmetto
No. 7 Homestead
No. 8 Coral Gables

PROJECTED REGIONAL QUARTERFINAL PAIRINGS                                            

No. 8 Coral Gables at No. 1 South Dade
No. 5 Miami Southridge at No. 4 Hialeah
No. 6 Miami Palmetto at No. 3 Belen Jesuit
No. 7 Homestead at No. 2 Columbus

QUICK THOUGHTS: I think right now we are looking at the eight teams that will represent this region in the playoffs, but I do think the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds could flip depending on the results of the next few weeks. However, I will say that teams like Braddock, North Miami and even possibly Coral Reef still have a slight chance if they can make the magic work and win the games needed to steal a spot from one of the teams above.