North Group 1 Playoff Analysis: Brearley should host a first-round playoff game

Cutoff Weekend is less than 48 hours away, and Central Jersey Sports Radio is taking a look at every team in the Big Central to see where we think they’ll land in the playoffs.

We’re not looking at too many tiebreakers just yet, and even adding the few residuals to be had can make for infinitely more possibilities – although there are none up for grabs from any Big Central opponents at this point – so we’re not doing those either. But we are looking at where we think teams will fall in the top 16. Tune in to our Playoff Projection show Saturday at 6 pm on Central Jersey Sports Radio for all our unofficial pairings.

Below is our analysis, with each team’s current ranking in the UPR standings noted.

(Click here for official standings on Gridiron New Jersey)

Top Seeds: No matter how you slice it, it looks like Weequahic, which is in the top four, won’t have a shot at a top two finish and a top-seed in either sectional. That’s because they play 3-4 Immaculata this weekend. But dig the matchups for the other three teams:

• No. 1 Wood-Ridge (7-0) at Rutherford (7-0)
• No. 2 Park Ridge (6-1) vs. Glen Rock (6-1)
• No. 4 Mountain Lakes (7-0) vs. Caldwell (7-0, on a state-best 22-game winning streak)

Those are some marquee matchups right there! But that’s what will keep all of them in the hunt for one of the top two seeds. Those first two are NJIC playoff games.

#5 Brearley: Though the Bears are undefeated after last weekend’s win over Middlesex (7-0), their schedule is weaker than the other unbeatens here, so they can’t go any higher. In fact, they’ll drop. They get a guaranteed win this weekend, as Dunellen – which has had low numbers all season – forfeited the game to Brearley. So, the Bears – now 8-0 – move down to six. We think that even with the teams behind them winning, they can finish no lower than seventh, and will host at least a first-round home game in Kenilworth next weekend.