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Best Bets: Playoff push begins

While the regular season continues in Kentucky and Indiana, the playoffs are set to begin in Ohio. Many of the top Cincinnati teams have a first round bye, but we are still in for an exciting start to the postseason. Everyone gets a shot in this March Madness style bracket, now we see if there will be any Cinderella stories, or if the big dogs will roll. Here is a look at this week’s 5 Best Bets.

NO. 16 MOELLER AT NO. 10 HAMILTON
This should be one of the more interesting games of the weekend as they are two teams that could be ever so dangerous, but either could also come out and lay an egg. Yes the Crusaders have lost five in a row, yes they turn the ball over at a high rate, but this is a team that won’t quit fighting until the end. If there is such a thing as a moral victory, Moeller had it last week as they lost to LaSalle 27-25 in the final seconds of the game. It was their best game played of the year, and they did it against a state title favorite. For the Big Blue, they are coming off a heartbreaking, last-second loss to Colerain 14-13 as they missed a two-point conversion for the win. They didn’t have Quincy Simms Marshall, but senior athlete Malik Verdon came in and ran for 134 yards and a touchdown. That now adds another dimension to this offense. This game plays to Hamilton’s strength of running the football. They average 294 yards per game, while Moeller allows 174 yards per game. The Crusaders like to have a balanced attack with the passing game, but Hamilton’s secondary has been stifling, allowing only 83 yards per game through the air. If the Crusaders turn the ball over like they have, the Big Blue could wear them down with the running attack, but if the Crusaders carry over the momentum from last week, there might very well be a 1-5 team that plays in the second round of the postseason.

NO. 17 FAIRFIELD AT NO. 5 ELDER
Here’s another GMC-GCL South showdown. These teams have similar strengths, although the overall potency has been completely different.  A year after competing for an outright GMC championship and returning an excellent offensive line, Fairfield has taken a step back this season and has lost four games in a row to end the season. Much of that has to do with losing the majority of their offensive production and starting a true freshman quarterback. The Panthers are coming off a tough 36-14 loss against an Indianapolis Cathedral team that has swept through the GCL South. Elder is at their best when they can score points in bunches. They are 3-1 when scoring more than 30 points, but 1-2 when scoring under that mark. Drew Ramsey is the ultimate weapon as he can throw, catch, and run. Ben Hambelton has put up excellent numbers getting the ball to their other playmakers such as Cooper Johnson and Scott Niemen. The Indians give up 25 points per game, and just gave up 40 to Princeton last week. Expect the Panthers to put up big offensive numbers and defensively overwhelm a young Fairfield offense.

WALNUT HILLS AT NO. 2 ST. XAVIER
After only playing three games due to COVID, the Eagles now go into the postseason playing their second GCL South team in three weeks. It didn’t go well against Elder; don’t expect it to be much different here. Walnut Hills has an excellent offensive line with Division I talent everywhere, but don’t have the overall talent or bodies to compete with a team like St. Xavier. The Eagles’ secondary has been shredded two weeks in a row, allowing 318 yards in Week 6 and 204 in Week 5. Middletown receiver Elijah Rockhold had six receptions for 191 yards and three scores against them. Now Liam Clifford gets a crack, and he could be in for an even more historic night. The Eagles also couldn’t stop a potent Elder rushing attack, allowing two different players to go over 100, and the Bombers are at their best when they run the ball effectively. Barring a miracle, this game should be all St. Xavier.

LEBANON AT NO. 11 MASON
Here are two teams with opposite records, but they finished the season playing and feeling different about themselves. The Comets were flying high after four weeks, as they were undefeated and chasing a conference championship. Although in the past two weeks the wheels have fallen off, losing those games by a combined score of 33-7. Their defense has still been excellent, but the offense is now virtually nonexistent going into the playoffs. The Warriors lost four in a row, but finished strong with a 41-7 win against Little Miami, and now have a confidence boost going into the postseason. In their two wins they allowed 13 and seven points. In all of their losses they allowed 27 or more points, including two 40-point outbursts. This game favors the Comets due their consistency on defense, and Lebanon plays to Mason’s strengths. Mason allows 166 rushing yards per game, but the Warriors only average 87 yards. They thrive through the air, passing for 272 yards per game, but the Comets allow only 68 passing yards per game, second best in the GMC. With that being said, confidence and momentum can take over here, so don’t be surprised if the Warriors keep this close or even pull the upset.

NO. 19 SIMON KENTON AT DIXIE HEIGHTS
Dixie Heights has won two in a row after losing their first two, while Simon Kenton has lost two in a row after an impressive 2-0 start. The Colonels had a tough start to their schedule, playing defending state champions Covington Catholic in Week 1 and Corbin in Week 2, losing both of those games close. Since then they have won two straight close games against less talented teams in Beachwood and Madison Central. The Pioneers struggles have been fairly easy to detect, their defense has fallen apart. In their first two weeks combined they allowed 20 points. The last two weeks they have allowed 79. Dixie Heights is in good position to keep the Pioneer defense on its heels, as they have scored 20 more in three consecutive games. A close game also favors the Colonels with their experience. This game will tell a lot about both teams as we get close to playoff time in the Bluegrass State.

GAME OF THE WEEK
Make sure to check out the COMPLETE PREVIEW for this week’s featured Blitz 5 Game of the Week – Milford at Colerain.

Here are some other games for teams ranked inside the Blitz 5 Top 25:

OHIO
West Clermont at NO. 1 Lakota West
NO. 15 Sycamore at NO. 13 Lakota East

KENTUCKY
Boone County at NO. 22 Highlands

INDIANA
NO. 9 East Central at Greensburg

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