WARNING: The following blog was written without an adult editing it. We therefore apologize for any grammatical errors that follow (we’re hoping that spellcheck caught the rest).

Howdy,

Sweet, merciful Venus we need sleep.

Let’s get BRACKETOLOGY~! over quickly, then.

GROUND RULES

1. We’ve listed a team’s high and low point totals as well as their bonuses.

Bonuses are the 10 points a team receives for a win by an opponent it beat.

2. We’re going to be wrong about a bunch of these predictions because crazy stuff happens this of year and it's awesome. Surprises are (usually) FUN.

3. Just because we didn’t pick your team to qualify doesn’t mean we hate you. Hell, we don’t even know you, man.

4. Matt Fischer, the CIAC’s Professor Frink, built the ROBOABACUS so that you may stay updated on all the playoff races in real time. He even tricked it out by adding a color bar to update the current playoff status. USE IT.

5. No one officially qualifies until the CIAC football committee says so. They’ll rubber stamp everything the day after the end of the regular season, whenever that is.

6. We’ve added a high and low category to represent the most and least playoff points a team may earn.

7. This is an exhibition, not a competition. Please, no wagering.

8. You should consider quitting being a fan of #cthsfb if you’re not following along on Twitter at said hashtag. It’s 24-7 news without screaming studio hosts.

The state quarterfinals (Tuesday, Nov. 27) and semifinals (Sunday, Dec. 2) are hosted by the higher seeds.

The finals are on Saturday, Dec. 14 at Willow Brook Park in New Britain and Trumbull High.

The following have (unofficially) qualified:

CLASS LL: Darien, Newtown, Cheshire, Southington, Simsbury, Greenwich, Ridgefield and Norwich Free Academy.

CLASS L: St. Joseph, Hand, Maloney, Wethersfield, Berlin, New Canaan and Newington.

CLASS M: Rockville, Abbott Tech/Immaculate, Killingly, Waterford, Granby/Canton and New Fairfield.

CLASS S: Bullard-Havens, Ansonia, Bloomfield, Woodland, and Stafford/East Windsor/Somers.

TWENTY-SIX teams in. SIX spots left.

GO!

• • • •

CLASS LL — SUPER NO VACANCY

IN

1. DARIEN (9-0)

NEXT: vs. New Canaan (7-2), TODAY~!

HIGH: 1,520.

LOW: 1,270.

BONUSES (80): TRUMBULL (3-6) over St. Joseph (9-0); NORWALK (4-5) over McMahon (2-7); TRINITY CATHOLIC/WRIGHT TECH (2-7) over Wilton (6-3); FAIRFIELD LUDLOWE (6-3) over Fairfield Warde (4-5); WESTHILL (1-8) over Stamford (3-6); SOUTHINGTON (8-1) over Cheshire (8-1); GREENWICH (8-1) over Staples (2-7); s over Harding (3-6).

Clinches the top seed with a win. Cannot drop lower than fifth with a loss.

2. NEWTOWN (10-0)

NEXT: Regular season FIN.

HIGH: 1,420.

LOW: 1,390.

BONUSES (30): POMPERAUG (1-8) over Notre Dame-Ffld. (5-4); BARLOW (6-3) over Weston (8-1); SHELTON (6-3) over Derby (2-7).

Earns at least a top three seed, depending on what Darien and Cheshire do today.

3. CHESHIRE (8-1)

NEXT: Southington (8-1), TODAY~!

HIGH: 1,430.

LOW: 1,200.

BONUSES (60): SHEEHAN (7-2) over Lyman Hall (6-3); FAIRFIELD WARDE (4-5) over Fairfield Ludlowe (6-3); EAST HAVEN (7-2) over Branford (5-4); SHELTON (6-3) over Derby (2-7); HARDING (3-5) over Bridgeport Central (0-9).

The Rams earn a top three seed with a win. They could actually be No. 1 if it earned enough bonuses AND Darien lost. Could fall as far as sixth with a loss.

4. SOUTHINGTON (8-1)

NEXT: at Cheshire (8-1), TODAY~!

HIGH: 1,360.

LOW: 1,180.

BONUSES: None.

Earns a home quarterfinal with a win. The Blue Knights can finish as high as second with a Darien loss, or far down as sixth with a loss.

5. SIMSBURY (9-1)

NEXT: Regular season FIN.

FINAL POINT TOTAL: 1,260.

BONUSES: None.

The Trojans have a great shot at being seeded fourth behind Darien, Newtown and the Cheshire/Southington winner. Greenwich can catch them for the fourth seed but must win AND collect all of its bonuses.

6. GREENWICH (8-1)

NEXT: at Staples (2-7), TODAY~!

HIGH: 1,270.

LOW: 1,090.

BONUSES (60): TRUMBULL (3-6) over St. Joseph (8-0); NORWALK (4-5) over McMahon (2-7); TRINITY CATHOLIC/WRIGHT TECH (2-7) over Wilton (6-3); FAIRFIELD LUDLOWE (6-3) over Fairfield Warde (4-5); WESTHILL (1-8) over Stamford (3-5); BRIDGEPORT CENTRAL (0-9) over Harding (3-5).

Can finish as high as fourth with a win and all of its bonuses. Can actually drop all the way to eight with a loss, but that would require a lot to go wrong.

7. RIDGEFIELD (8-2)

NEXT: Regular season FIN.

HIGH: 1,180.

LOW: 1,120.

BONUSES (60): MCMAHON (2-7) over Norwalk (4-5); WILTON (6-3) over Trinity Catholic/Wright Tech (2-7); FAIRFIELD WARDE (4-5) over Fairfield Ludlowe (6-3); STAMFORD (3-6) over Westhill (1-8); STAPLES (2-7) over Greenwich (8-1); NEW CANAAN (7-2) over Darien (9-0).

The Tigers will finish seventh if Greenwich wins; sixth if it loses.

8. NORWICH FREE ACADEMY (7-3)

NEXT: Regular season FIN.

HIGH: 1,100.

LOW: 930.

BONUSES (30): BACON ACADEMY (6-3) over RHAM (1-8); FITCH (5-4) over Ledyard (2-7); EAST LYME (5-4) over Waterford (8-1).

The Wildcasts are likely the eight seed unless Greenwich loses and does poorly on bonuses.

THE EIGHT: No. 1 Darien (10-0) vs. No. 8 NFA (7-3); No. 2 Newtown (10-0) vs. No. 7 Ridgefield (8-2); No. 3 Southington (9-1) vs. No. 6 Cheshire (8-2) (AGAIN); No. 4 Simsbury (9-1) vs. No. 5 Greenwich (9-1).

• • • •

CLASS L

IN

1. ST. JOSEPH (9-0)

NEXT: vs. Trumbull (3-6), TODAY~!

HIGH: 1,600.

LOW: 1,380.

BONUSES (90): MCMAHON (2-7) over Norwalk (4-5); FAIRFIELD PREP (5-4) over West Haven (2-7); WILTON (6-3) over Trinity Catholic/Wright Tech (2-7); FAIRFIELD WARDE (4-5) over Fairfield Ludlowe (6-3); STAPLES (2-7) over Greenwich (8-1); NEW CANAAN (7-2) over Darien (9-0); NOTRE DAME-W.H. (5-4) over Hamden (6-2); STAMFORD (3-5) over Westhill (1-8).

Already clinched a top two seed. It’ll be a scramble for the one if St. Joe's and Hand both win.

2. HAND (9-0)

NEXT: Regular season FIN.

HIGH: 1,570.

LOW: 1,510.

BONUSES (70): NORWALK (4-5) over McMahon (2-7); WEST HAVEN (2-7) over Fairfield Prep (5-4); WILBUR CROSS (2-7) over Hillhouse (4-5); NOTRE DAME-W.H. (5-4) over Hamden (6-2); SHELTON (5-3) over Derby (2-7); EAST LYME (5-4) over Waterford (8-1).

Ditto.

3. MALONEY (8-1)

NEXT: vs. Platt (4-5) at Falcon Field, TODAY~!

HIGH: 1,350.

LOW: 1,190.

BONUSES (20): FARMINGTON (5-4) over Plainville (7-2); HARTFORD PUBLIC (0-9) over Bulkeley/HMTCA/Weaver (0-9).

It’s the third seed with a win or a New Canaan loss; or fourth with a loss and New Canaan win.

4. WETHERSFIELD (8-2)

NEXT: Regular season FIN.

HIGH: 1,190.

LOW: 1,160.

BONUSES (30): FARMINGTON (5-4) over Plainville (7-2); HARTFORD PUBLIC (0-9) over Bulkeley/HMTCA/Weaver (0-9); PLATT (4-5) over Maloney (8-1).

The Eagles won't be seeded higher than fourth because they can't catch the top three teams. Almost guaranteed to fall to five if New Canaan wins.

5. BERLIN (8-2)

NEXT: Regular season FIN.

HIGH: 1,140.

LOW: 1,120.

BONUSES (20): PLAINVILLE (7-2) over Farmington (5-4); BULKELEY/HMTCA/WEAVER (0-9) over Hartford Public (0-9).

The Redcoats will be fifth if New Canaan loses, and sixth if the Rams win.

6. NEW CANAAN (7-2)

NEXT: at Darien (9-0), TODAY~!

HIGH: 1,250.

LOW: 990.

BONUSES (60): TRUMBULL (3-6) over St. Joseph (8-0); MCMAHON (2-7) over Norwalk (4-5); WILTON (6-3) over Trinity Catholic/Wright Tech (2-7); FAIRFIELD WARDE (4-5) over Fairfield Ludlowe (6-3); STAMFORD (3-5) over Westhill (1-8); STAPLES (2-7) over Greenwich (8-1).

All but locked into fourth with a win and can go as high as third if Maloney loses. It can fall as low as seventh with a loss.

7. NEWINGTON (7-3)

NEXT: Regular season FIN.

HIGH: 1,020.

LOW: 1,000.

BONUSES (20): RHAM (1-8) over Bacon Academy (6-3); MALONEY (8-1) over Platt (4-5).

Seventh if New Canaan wins, can only go as high as sixth if New Canaan loses and falls below the Indians.

BEAUTIFUL MESS

8. QUINEBAUG VALLEY (7-3)

NEXT: Regular season FIN.

HIGH: 960.

LOW: 950.

BONUSES (10): MCW UNITED (0-8) over Abbott Tech/Immaculate (7-1).

9. WINDSOR (7-3)

NEXT: Regular season FIN.

HIGH: 980.

LOW: 940.

BONUSES (40): RHAM (1-8) at Bacon Academy (6-3); FARMINGTON (5-4) over Plainville (7-2); HARTFORD PUBLIC (0-9) over Bulkeley/HMTCA/Weaver (0-9); PLATT (4-5) over Maloney (8-1).

10. WILTON (6-3)

NEXT: at Trinity Catholic/Wright Tech (2-7), TODAY~!

HIGH: 1,000.

LOW: 820.

BONUSES (60): MCMAHON (2-7) over Norwalk (4-5); FITCH (5-4) over Ledyard (2-7); FAIRFIELD WARDE (4-5) over Fairfield Ludlowe (6-3); STAMFORD (3-6) over Westhill (1-8); BUNNELL (2-7) over Stratford (0-9); STAPLES (2-7) over Greenwich (8-1).

Well, this is something else.

Quinebaug will finish at 950 because winless MCW United will not beat ATI.

Wilton will have the same floor as Windsor (940) if it wins. Both need two bonuses, then, to pass Quinebaug.

We’re not going any further.

THE EIGHT: No. 1 St. Joseph (10-0) vs. No. 8 Wilton (7-3) (we have Wilton edging Windsor, 970-960, for the eighth seed); No. 2 Hand (10-0) vs. Newington (7-3); No. 3 Maloney (9-1) vs. No. 6 New Canaan (7-3); No. 4 Wethersfield (8-2) vs. No. 5 Berlin (8-2).

• • • •

CLASS M

IN

1. ROCKVILLE (9-0)

NEXT: Regular season FIN.

FINAL POINT TOTAL: 1,480.

BONUSES: None.

It has clinched the top seed.

2. ABBOTT TECH/IMMACULATE (8-1)

NEXT: at MCW United (0-9), TODAY~!

HIGH: 1,290.

LOW: 1,190.

BONUSES: None.

THE UNITED will beat MCW. They can earn a top-four seed, but Waterford and Weston will both pass them with wins.

3. KILLINGLY (9-1)

NEXT: Regular season FIN.

HIGH: 1,320.

LOW: 1,300.

BONUSES (20): STONINGTON (0-9) over Westerly (6-2); EAST LYME (5-4) over Waterford (8-1).

It will be seeded no lower than fourth, depending on what Waterford and Weston do.

4. WATERFORD (8-1)

NEXT: at East Lyme (5-4), TODAY~!

HIGH: 1,350.

LOW: 1,160.

BONUSES (30): BACON ACADEMY (6-3) over RHAM (1-8); LEDYARD (2-7) over Fitch (5-4); STONINGTON (0-9) over Westerly (6-2).

The Lancers earn the two seed with a win, but likely tumble out of the top four with a loss unless Weston loses and they get enough bonuses.

6. GRANBY/CANTON (8-2)

NEXT: Regular season FIN.

HIGH: 1,160.

LOW: 1,150.

BONUSES (10): OLD SAYBROOK/WESTBROOK (2-7) over Morgan (1-8).

The Bears can finish as high as fourth if Waterford and Weston both lose and Waterford craps out on bonuses. They’d be passed by Waterford, however, once the Lancers have one bonus go their way.

7. NEW FAIRFIELD (8-2)

NEXT: Regular season FIN.

HIGH: 1,190.

LOW: 1,160.

BONUSES (30): WESTON (8-1) over Barlow (6-3); STRATFORD (0-9) over Bunnell (2-7); NOTRE DAME-FFLD. (5-4) over Pomperaug (1-8).

The REBELS have a bit of a predicament in that they have a 1,190 floor that will allow them to pass Waterford if it loses along with Granby/Canton, but the only way they reach that number is if Weston wins and gives them that bonus.

JUST WIN, BABY

5. WESTON (8-1)

NEXT: vs. Barlow (6-3), TODAY~!

HIGH: 1,310.

LOW: 1,120.

BONUSES (30): NOTRE DAME-FFLD. (5-4) over Pomperaug (1-8); HILLHOUSE (4-5) over Wilbur Cross (2-7); STRATFORD (0-9) over Bunnell (2-7).

The Trojans, if they lose, will either need to beat out SMSA on bonuses, or hope Watertown loses.

LIMBO

8. SMSA/UNIVERSITY/CLASSICAL (8-2)

NEXT: Regular season FIN.

HIGH: 1,140.

LOW: 1,130.

BONUSES (10): MORGAN (1-8) over Old Saybrook/Westbrook (2-7).

The TIGERHAWKS~! need Weston or Watertown to lose, although Weston has a chance to edge them out even if they lose to Barlow.

WIN-AND-PRAY

9. WATERTOWN (7-2)

NEXT: vs. Torrington (5-4), TODAY~!

HIGH: 1,170.

LOW: 990.

BONUSES (30): CROSBY (1-8) over Kennedy (1-8); DERBY (2-7) over Shelton (5-3); NAUGATUCK (5-4) over Ansonia (9-0).

Qualifies with a win and a Weston loss.

If Watertown and Weston both win, then Watertown will need just one bonus to go its way to pass SMSA.

THE EIGHT: No. 1 Rockville (10-0) vs. No. 8 Watertown (8-2); No. 2 Killingly (9-1) vs. No. 7 Granby/Canton (8-2); No. 3 Weston (9-1) vs. No. 6 Waterford (8-2); No. 4 ATI (9-1) vs. No. 5 New Fairfield (8-2).

• • • •

CLASS S

IN

1. BULLARD-HAVENS (10-0)

NEXT: Regular season FIN.

FINAL POINT TOTAL: 1,560.

It has no bonuses and will be a top two seed.

2. ANSONIA (9-0)

NEXT: at Naugatuck (5-4), TODAY~!

HIGH: 1,600.

LOW: 1,380

BONUSES (40): HOLY CROSS (7-2) over Wolcott; WATERTOWN (7-2) over Torrington (5-4); KENNEDY (1-8) over Crosby (1-8); DERBY (2-7) over Shelton (5-3).

Earns the top seed with a win. No. 3 with a loss.

3. BLOOMFIELD (10-0)

NEXT: Regular season FIN.

HIGH: 1,530.

LOW: 1,500.

BONUSES (30): HILLHOUSE (4-5) over Wilbur Cross (2-7); PLAINVILLE (7-2) over Farmington (5-4); BULKELEY/HMTCA/WEAVER (0-9) over Hartford Public (0-9).

The WARHAWKS will be seeded third if Ansonia wins.

Bloomfield will be seeded second if the Chargers lose.

4. WOODLAND (9-1)

NEXT: Regular season FIN.

HIGH: 1,340.

LOW: 1,300.

BONUSES (40): WOLCOTT (6-3) over Holy Cross (7-2); TORRINGTON (5-4) over Watertown (7-2); CROSBY (1-8) over Kennedy (1-8); DERBY (2-7) over Shelton (6-3).

It will be amusing if Sheehan and Plainfield both win today because they and Woodland will all have the same floor (1,300). Then it’s on to BONUSES.

Earns the fourth seed if Sheehan and Plainfield lose.

8. STAFFORD/EAST WINDSOR/SOMERS (8-2)

NEXT: Regular season FIN.

FINAL POINT TOTAL: 1,170.

BONUSES: None.

Oh, what the Bulldogs have endured this season.

They graduated almost a third of the team, including 16 starters, and 55 of 58 touchdowns.

Worse than all of that was the unfathomable tragedy that befell head coach Brian Mazzone and his family when his father, Gary, was among the seven who died in the B-17 crash at Bradley Airport on Oct. 3.

Through all of that, the Bulldogs persevered and qualified for states for the fourth straight year.

What a remarkable job all around.

JUST WIN, BABY

5. SHEEHAN (7-2)

NEXT: vs. Lyman Hall (5-4), TODAY~!

HIGH: 1,340.

LOW: 1,150.

BONUSES (30): BARLOW (6-3) over Weston (8-1); BRANFORD (5-4) over East Haven (7-2); HAMDEN (6-3) over Notre Dame-W.H. (5-4).

Stafford/East Windsor/Somers’ playoff berth puts the Titans and the next three teams on thinner ice.

They need a win, or a loss by one of the teams below them.

6. PLAINFIELD (8-1)

NEXT: at Griswold/Wheeler (6-2), TODAY~!

HIGH: 1,320.

LOW: 1,140.

BONUSES (20): BACON ACADEMY (6-3) over RHAM (1-8); STONINGTON (0-9) over Westerly (6-2).

Same.

7. HOLY CROSS (7-2)

NEXT: at Wolcott (6-3), TODAY~!

HIGH: 1,270.

LOW: 1,080.

BONUSES (20): TORRINGTON (5-4) over Watertown (7-2); NAUGATUCK (5-4) over Ansonia (9-0).

Ditto.

WIN-AND-PRAY

9. PLAINVILLE (7-2)

NEXT: vs. Farmington (5-4), TODAY~!

HIGH: 1,160.

LOW: 980.

BONUSES (10): LAW (2-7) over Foran (4-5).

It must win and hope Sheehan, Plainfield or Holy Cross lose. Sheehan and Plainfield have a slim chance to qualify even if they lose.

THE EIGHT: No. 1 Ansonia (10-0) vs. No. 6 Plainfield (8-2); No. 2 Bullard-Havens (10-0) vs. No. 7 Stafford/East Windsor/Somers (8-2); No. 3 Bloomfield (10-0) vs. No. 6 Holy Cross (8-2); No. 4 Sheehan (8-2) vs. No. 5 Woodland (9-1).

• • • •

That’s all for now. Thanks for reading.

HAPPY THANKSGRABBING~!

Adios....