DarterBlue2

Fair enough. See my totals below. Cocoa vs GC = 49 points Osceola vs WB = 35 points Hopefully, we won't need the tie breaker as I expect ST. Thomas and Lake Mary to win. But just in case, we are all set. If one of the games has a ton of points, then hats off to you.

Ray, I believe Osceola wins this game. But they need to play it first. West Boca, like Lake Mary, is making its very first appearance in the finals. But they are technically undefeated and there's a reason for it. Their only loss on the field was to Western, a team that Columbus barely beat.

Osceola by a touchdown or less in a game mostly dominated by defense. Swint, Osceola's best weapon, breaks a long TD run to win the game.

Cocoa - This will be a difficult game for Cocoa as GC is no slouch. I am going to pick them because I think they are more complete and they have more big game experience. However, I could easily see an upset. MNW - This should be my easiest pick of the finals. I would be very surprised if the Bulls lose. AHP - Jones will not be at full strength and AHP has more finals experience. With that said, Jones is undefeated for a reason and I expect they will fight to the end. STA - Despite both being in the finals, I believe that both teams have had relatively disappointing seasons. I feel the game is a toss up and I am picking STA because they usually, somehow find a way to win toss up games. Osceola - This is another toss up game. I can see it going either way. But I believe Osceola will pull it off as they are the more physical team and have more deep playoff experience. It won't be easy. Lake Mary - I have gone back and forth in my head over this one. Venice has more Power 4 talent; but I think Lake Mary has the best player with the most upside potential on the field. I also believe that the Rams will not be intimidated and will come to play 48 minutes of football. I will celebrate the triumph of a team that is largely home grown. Enough said. @nolebull813, unless you change any of your picks, we have two differences: 1. The Lakeland vs St. Thomas game; and, 2. The Venice vs Lake Mary game. Therefore, please post the tie breaker. I would like to suggest you use the Osceola vs West Boca game or the Cocoa vs Gadsden County game. I believe these will both be very tight and there are several criteria you could use to come up with a fair tie breaker.

I will no later than Monday evening. If it can't be a tie (we have one difference or three differences), then there's no need for a tie breaker. If we have no differences (very unlikely unless I have a divine revelation) or two differences, then you will come up with a tiebreaker.

I am going to make honest picks. I don't want to win that way. If, for some reason, my picks mirror yours, it's not because I am doing what you said I can. In fact, to make it more honest, I would agree to using some kind of points/spread on a designated game to break a potential tie. Looking at the teams you have picked there's at least one difference between what I am currently leaning towards and the teams you picked. If that one difference remains, there will be an outright winner. However, there could possibly be two differences. If there are two, we could end up tied if we split wins. As of now, we are in agreement in at least 4 of the 6 games, and possibly 5. I need to do a bit more analysis and research and I will post my final picks Monday evening.

No, it should not be given they are in Miami unless a powerful front comes through. I think Osceola has the best chance of lifting a title of the three Orlando area teams, but I actually think all thee have realistic chances of winning.

Ray, I believe a number of people discounted Osceola this year because of the disappointing year you had in 2023. Those not close to the program don't understand how bad the injury bug hit you last year. This year has been a more normal one for Osceola injury wise and your team is demonstrating what it can and could have done. Good luck new week. Due to my departure plans, I won't make the state finals this year. However, I will endeavor to watch most of the games via streaming. BTW, I took the liberty of sharing your contact information with Mark. I hope you don't mind.

Sticks and stones, fool!

@nolebull813, you probably laid down the rules before the playoffs, but I am old and forgetful. Further, there are only 6 games in the finals that are up for consideration. Therefore, it is quite likely that we will end up tied. What were/are the rules for a tie breaker. Personally, I think in the spirit of fairness it should be something like total points in one of the games or final margin in one of the games. With that said, I am obligated to abide with whatever was decided before the playoff brackets started. However, before I make my picks I would appreciate a refresher so I know what I am up against.

He was watching a game you officiated.

There's a third and now this which is a fourth.

Plus Lakeland and Cocoa on the I-4 corridor. Maybe I should just be a homer pick those and add Miami Northwestern for good measure and let the chips fall where they may.

To make matters worse, there are three Metro Orlando area teams in the finals. How do I keep my objectivity?

Oh boy; I am speechless!

Me, too. In a sense, it was much better.

If Deerfield Beach had not wasted their talent when they were loading up every year, Broward publics would have had at least two titles in the not distant past.

If everyone stays home, Dillard has a shot at making a legitimate statement next year and I could see a state title appearance and possible win next year. IF AHP wins state this year, which they are the favorite right now, it would put Dillard's performance into an even more favorable perspective.

He retired to where he came from; never to be heard from again.

Good season for Dillard. They have something to build on for next year. Bad draw in the playoffs facing AHP so soon. But you went down fighting and had a chance to win the game.

Yes, if you look at my revised post above yours, I acknowledged that. But, even if you were 7 going into the playoffs, beating Armwood at their place, combined with your other playoff victories, should have had you ranked no less than number two in my opinion, if not number one. Therefore, if they were constantly revising the rankings, I don't understand how Osceola is only number three.

Ray, it did. You were always going to be travelling based on the end of season ranking. But yes, it would have been to West Boca. But the issue I do have, though, is how are you the number thee seed if you just took down the number one seed. That, my friend, makes no sense to me at all. Osceola should be hosting as the new number one or number two seed based on the Armwood win.

While the rankings for 7A and 6A changed, it didn't affect the matchups in the semis because the final four's relative rankings didn't change. In the case of 5A they did; hence, the change in opponent. But, it's clear that the FHSAA violated its own rule in reranking the teams to account for playoff games. With that in mind, it begs the question: what else have they done contrary to what they were supposed to do? That question, unfortunately, will never be answered.

Great minds think alike and fools seldom differ, right?

That's the key sentence right there. Not the most athletic defense, but the front 7 is hard to run on because they line up well and are relatively disciplined. Their secondary is a bit of a weak spot, but it has improved over the course of the season, and their offense is capable of scoring against any defense. If they come into the final on a high note (I am assuming both Venice and Lake Mary win which is not a certainty in either game, but it is the most likely scenario), I could see Lake Mary winning in a very high scoring game, particularly if Grubbs has the kind of night he's capable of. This Venice team is very capable, but it's not the 2021 version of Venice which I though was likely the best team in state that year. It's more akin to last year's team with the exception that their feature runner this year is as good as it gets in high school football. Find a way to limit him, and you reduce the number of scores you are going to give up by a large factor.