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Best Bets: Week 11 – Cincinnati

Anderson QB Jay Volpenhein (photo by Mitchell Cooke/TriStateFootball.com)

The postseason opens in Ohio this weekend, and at least two Cincinnati-area teams have qualified in each of the top divisions.

Only St. Xavier (Division I) and La Salle (Division II) are No. 1 overall seeds in their regions, but a number of local teams have an excellent shot to make a deep run in the playoffs.

Here is a look at the Best Bets for Week 11 in Cincinnati:

Division I

No. 8 Fairfield (6-4) at No. 1 St. Xavier (8-2), 7:30 p.m. – These teams met in the first round last year as well, with St. Xavier winning, 35-14 en route to a state title. The Bombers allowed just 121 points this season. The Indians pounded Middletown last week to squeak in with the final seed.

No. 7 Moeller (4-6) at No. 2 Colerain (8-2), 7:30 p.m. – Colerain’s only two losses this season were to GCL schools – La Salle and St. Xavier – by a combined seven points. And those defeats were two months ago, with the Cardinals winning eight straight since. Moeller earned a seven seed despite a losing record and two of its wins coming against Kentucky teams.

No. 6 West Clermont (7-3) at No. 3 Mason (8-2), 7:30 p.m. – Mason pitched three straight shutouts to end the regular season and finished tops in the GMC in points allowed (9.9 per game). The Comets advanced to the second round of the playoffs last year. West Clermont won the final three games of its inaugural regular season to earn its way into the postseason.

No. 5 Milford (8-2) at No. 4 Sycamore (8-2), 7:30 p.m. – It was quite a turnaround regular season for Milford, which went 2-8 and last place in the ECC to eight wins and a share of first. Sycamore has won its last four, and its two losses have come to Colerain and Fairfield. The Aviators were state quarterfinalists in 2016.

Division II

No. 8 Harrison (8-2) at No. 1 La Salle (8-2), 7:30 p.m. – What a second half of the regular season for Harrison, which won its final five games to eke into the final spot in Region 8. La Salle ran off three consecutive wins to wrap up its regular season, earning a top seed. These teams met in the 2014 playoffs, and the Lancers came out on top.

No. 7 Chillicothe (8-2) at No. 2 Winton Woods (9-1), 7:30 p.m. – What a resume for independent Winton Woods, which has beaten La Salle, Moeller and Bishop Chatard, with its lone loss coming to Elder by one in overtime. Chillicothe has won its last six and has averaged 42.7 points in that span.

No. 6 Troy (8-2) at No. 3 Anderson (9-1), 7:30 p.m. – Anderson’s Jay Volpenhein finished the regular season with 3,205 passing yards and he rushed for exactly 1,000. During its current seven-game winning streak, Troy has hold opponents to just 12.4 points per game.

Division III

No. 5 Dayton Dunbar (7-3) at No. 4 Goshen (9-1), 7:30 p.m. – Dunbar failed to make the playoffs after forfeiting its final two games last year because it used an ineligible player. Goshen was 9-0 heading into last week but was pounded by New Richmond, 51-14.

No. 6 New Richmond (8-2) at No. 3 Franklin (8-2), 7:30 p.m. – New Richmond earned its way into the playoffs with a 37-point win over Goshen in the regular season finale, earning its fourth straight postseason berth. Amazingly, this is the first local team Franklin has played since 2012.

Division IV

No. 7 London (8-2) at No. 2 Wyoming (10-0), 7:30 p.m. – London has lost two of its final three, and Wyoming has won 21 straight regular season games.

No. 6 Indian Hill (8-2) at No. 3 Taft (8-2), 7:30 p.m. – Both of Indian Hills’ losses have come by seven points. Taft has won its last seven and is making its third consecutive postseason appearance.

No. 5 Jonathan Alder (8-2) at No. 4 Clinton-Massie (9-1), 7:30 p.m. – Alder has won twice in overtime, and two more times in regulation by seven points. Massie’s lone loss was to Goshen by two, and the Falcons have advanced to at least the second round of the playoffs every year since 2009.

Division V

No. 8 Reading (7-3) at No. 1 Miami East (9-1), 7:30 p.m. – Reading has won its last two games, outscoring its opponents, 116-14. Miami East has posted consecutive shutouts and has held half of its opponents to eight points or fewer.

No. 6 Greeneview (10-0) at No. 3 CHCA (7-2), 7:30 p.m. – One of three unbeaten teams in Region 20, Greeneview has allowed just 81 points all season. CHCA has won six in a row, outscoring those opponents, 287-58.

No. 5 West Jefferson (10-0) at No. 4 Bethel-Tate (9-0), 7:30 p.m. – Both teams are undefeated, but one of West Jefferson’s wins didn’t count because it was against a club team. Bethel-Tate has scored at least 33 points eight times.

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