NEBRASKA FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS PREDICTION

CLASS A

First round: Millard South over Omaha Benson; Creighton Prep over Papillion LaVista; Omaha North over Grand Island; Elkhorn over Lincoln North Star; Millard West over Bellevue West; Norfolk over Omaha Central; Millard North over Lincoln Southwest; Lincoln Southeast over Lincoln Northeast.

Second round: Millard South over Creighton Prep; Elkhorn over Omaha North; Norfolk over Millard West; Lincoln Southeast over Millard North.

Semifinals: Millard South over Elkhorn; Lincoln Southeast over Norfolk.

Finals: Lincoln Southeast over Millard South 24-17

Darkhorse: Elkhorn.

CLASS B

First round: Aurora over Alliance; McCook over Ogallala; Adams Central over Seward; Gering over Lexington; Omaha Skutt over South Sioux City; Crete over Plattsmouth; Blair over Omaha Gross; Waverly over Gretna.

Second round: Aurora over McCook; Adams Central over Gering; Skutt over Crete; Waverly over Blair.

Semifinals: Aurora over Adams Central; Skutt over Waverly.

Finals: Skutt over Aurora.

Darkhorse: Adams Central

Class C-1

First round: Norfolk Catholic over Wayne; David City over Centennial; Wahoo over Arlington; Wahoo Neumann over Falls City; Boys Town over Fort Calhoun; Ashland/Greenwood over Wisner/Pilger; Bennington over Milford; Syracuse over Fairbury; Chadron over Boone Central; Pierce over St. Paul; Gothenburg over Minden; Broken Bow over Mitchell; Crofton over Cozad; Grand Island CC over Fillmore Central; Gordon/Rushville over Valentine; Hastings SC over Battle Creek.

Second round: Norfolk Catholic over David City; Wahoo Neumann over Wahoo; Boys Town over Ashland/Greenwood; Syracuse over Bennington; Pierce over Chadron; Gothenburg over Broken Bow; Grand Island CC over Crofton; Hastings SC over Gordon/Rushville.

Quarterfinals: Norfolk Catholic over Wahoo Neumann; Boys Town over Syracuse; Pierce over Gothenburg; Hastings SC over Grand Island CC.

Semifinals: Boys Town over Norfolk Catholic; Hastings SC over Pierce.

Finals: Boys Town over Hastings SC.

Darkhorse: Pierce

CLASS C-2

First round: Elm Creek over Randolph; Creighton over Stanton; Hartington CC over Thayer Central; Racenna over Kearney Catholic; North Platte SP over Perkins County; Cambridge over Chase County; Sutherland over Cross County; Blue Hill over Southwest; Ponca over Palmyra; Malcolm over Lourdes CC; Lincoln Christian over Elmwood-Murdock; Fremont Bergan over Laurel-Concord; HTRS over Johnson County Central; Oakland-Craig over Tri-County; West Point CC over Wilber/Clatonia; David City Aquinas over Homer.

Second round: Elm Creek over Crieghton; Hartington CC over Ravenna; Cambridge over North Platte SP; Blue Hill over Sutherland; Ponca over Malcolm; Fremont Bergan over Lincoln Christian; Oakland-Craig over HTRS; David City Aquinas over West Point CC.

Quarterfinals: Hartington CC over Elm Creek; Blue Hill over Cambridge; Ponca over Fremont Bergan; David City Aquinas over Oakland-Craig.

Semifinals: Blue Hill over Hartington CC; David City Aquinas over Ponca.

Finals: Blue Hill over David City Aquinas.

Darkhorse: Oakland-Craig

CLASS D-1

First round: Johnson-Brock over Clarkson; Freeman over Shelby; Pawnee City over Humphrey; Bancroft-Rosalie over Omaha Christian; Exeter-Milligan; Winside over Emerson-Hubbard; Osmond over Meridian; Howells over Hartington; Giltner over Franklin; Axtell over Burwell; Garden County over Crawford; Overton over Clearwater/Orchard; Maxwell over Callaway; Arapahoe over Amherst; Silver Lake over Eustis/Farnam; Palmer over Alma.

Second round: Johnson-Brock over Freeman; Bancroft-Rosalie over Pawnee City; Exeter-Milligan over Winside; Howells over Osmond; Giltner over Axtell; Overton over Garden County; Maxwell over Arapahoe; Palmer over Silver Lake.

Quarterfinals:

Bancroft-Rosalie over Johnson-Brock; Howells over Exeter-Milligan; Overton over Giltner; Maxwell over Palmer.

Semifinals: Howells over Bancroft-Rosalie; Overton over Maxwell.

Finals: Howells over Overton

Darkhorse: Axtell

CLASS D-2

First round: Hayes Center over SEM; Hyannis over Spalding/SA; Chambers over Stuart; Anselmo-Merna over Brady; Mullen over Lynch; Sargent over Ansley; St.Mary;s over Loomis; Pleasanton over Potter-Dix; Ewing over Lindsay HF; Wynot over Cedar Rapids; Hampton over Dodge; Sterling over Bruning/Davenport; Humphrey SF over Newcastle; Falls City SH over Allen; Lawrence-Nelson over Elgin Pope John; Bloomfied over Shickley.

Second round: Hayes Center over Hyannis; Anselmo-Merna over Chambers; Mullen over Sargent; Pleasanton over St. Mary's; Ewing over Wynot; Hampton over Sterling; Humphrey SF over Falls City SH; Bloomfield over Lawrence/Nelson.

Quarterfinals: Anselmo-Merna over Hayes Center; Pleasanton over Mullen; Ewing over Hampton; Humphrey SF over Bloomfield.

Semifinals: Pleasanton over Anselmo-Merna; Ewing over Humphrey SF.

Finals: Ewing over Pleasanton.

Darkhorse: Bloomfield

L Nino's Super Six Selections

After yet another week of stellar selections, I have declared that six predictions will be made for the October 15th weekend of contests. It is nitty-gritty time for many of the teams that need to pick up wins to support their possible cause of making the post season.

Cozad vs. Gothenburg

The Swedes are getting prepped for a big run here at the end of the season. Cozad will look to grind out the clock with a consistent rushing attack, against the speed of Gothenburg. As it has been said before, "speed kills," and in this case there is a chance that the lights on the scoreboard could get blown out completely. Gothenburg rolls big, in a game that they could practically choose the score.

Gothenburg 44 Cozad 8

Lexington vs. Ogallala

It is very tough to earn victories on the road, let along winning in Ogallala. Lexington will try to regroup after the storm that blew in via a wintery front and the McCook Bison from last week. It will be a closer game than expected, but I see the Indians escaping with a win in this very important district contest.

Ogallala 17 Lexington 13

Eustis/Farnam vs. Maxwell

This contest matches the top two teams in the district. Maxwell has been rolling since a few early season defeats. Eustis/Farnam has been building confidence and strength throughout the season. The Knights have a punishing run game that has emerged in the past weeks, that should push them over the edge in one of the best matchups in the state for this week. The athletes of Eustis/Farnam will not stop Cody Calhoun, but will keep him in check enough to escape the Maxwell madhouse with a win.

Eustis/Farnam 40 Maxwell 36

Elwood vs. Medicine Valley

If you want to watch an exciting, offense-filled game? This should be a game to check out; the passing game of the Raiders and Pirates are strengths offensively. Both quarterbacks, will spread the field and use numerous receivers to move the ball up and down the field, that could turn into a potential track meet. I do think that one of the teams is going to need to encounter some success on the ground to become the victor in this matchup. My gut feeling is that the Raiders of Medicine Valley will fall victim to the Pirates, due to great team continuity and ability to run the ball along with their aerial assault.

Elwood 40 Medicine Valley 32

Nebraska Kearney vs. Western New Mexico

Every game that Western New Mexico has played in has turned into an 'Old-School' RMAC offensive shootout. If your offense is struggling, seeing Western New Mexico on the schedule should solve any offensive issues. Not so fast though, as UNK is on a roll on offense, defense and special teams. The Loper attack is running on all cylinders, and on homecoming, most individuals that suit up will play in this blowout win.

UNK 62 Western New Mexico 7

Nebraska vs. Texas Tech

In a battle of the North versus the South, it will remind people of the blue versus the grey. Both teams have had their share of yellow being thrown. It seems that there are a lot of colors in this matchup, but it will be the men in Black, from Nebraska that will be the game clinchers. The Cornhuskers are victorious, in the offensive showcase.

Nebraska 35 Texas Tech 20

Dusting off the Crystal Ball October 9-11

There is a chill in the air that has some anticipating and others dreading what is coming. No I am not speaking of the weather and thoughts of snow, but of the anticipation some of the successful teams are having in hopes of a deep playoff run, where others are dreading the last time that they take off their jersey's for the season.

Gothenburg vs. Valentine

After getting the short end of the stick from the officials and falling in the previous weeks district matchup, Gothenburg goes on the road to reek havoc on the Valentine Badgers. The only thing that Valentine has going for them is the long road trip that Gothenburg has to endure. The Swedes will step off the bus hungry, and wanting to get the big red rushing attack back on track, and will not have much trouble, since it isn't "Valentine's Day."

Gothenburg 40 Valentine 7

Ainsworth vs. Cozad

Cozad will look to bounce back from defeat, and playing at home adds some extra confidence. It will take a full-game effort to walk away the winner in this contest. Both the Bulldogs and Haymakers are looking for their first district wins. The running game of Cozad has the chance to re-establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with, and turn the Bulldogs back to the pound puppies.

Cozad 21 Ainsworth 6

McCook vs. Lexington

The Bison and their red plague following will travel to Lexington in a district opener for each team. Both teams are 4-2 and looking for their fifth win. If depth is an issue, McCook definitely has the edge, but on the other hand, only 11 players can be on the field at a time and if the Minutemen can get Quarterback Seberger time to throw, it could be devastating to the Bison. It will be a knockdown, dragout type of game, where every little detail could be the difference maker. I feel the Minutemen magic at home will have a slight edge.

Lexington 20 McCook 17

Eustis/Farnam vs. Wauneta/Palisade

This is a battle that should be closer than expected, due to some key injuries on both sides for the Broncos and Knights. A balanced run, pass attack by the Knights, who on paper have a quantity of stellar athletes, will definitely be the difference as Eustis/Farnam prevails.

Eustis/Farnam 30 Wauneta/Palisade 12

Nebraska-Kearney vs. New Mexico Highlands

The Lopers should be able to pick their score in this contest. It is far from the Nebraska prairies, but the Antelopes will run wild all over the field. Offense, Defense and Special teams will be dominated by UNK.

UNK 56 New Mexico Highlands 7