Residuals down to a low trickle for playoff hopefuls in Week 8, as SI values lock in

With Cutoff Weekend upon us, and most teams having played at least seven games, there will be very few residuals to be had this week, though some teams can get an edge if they pick up three points here or one point there.

In the power points metric of the NJ UPR playoff formula, teams get three residual points for each win by an opponent they beat, and one for each win by an opponent they lost to. (Ties are worth 1.5 points.) That’s in addition to six quality points for a win, or three for a tie.

But because not every school plays the same number of games, and some have Thanksgiving, the NJSIAA has two caps in place. One maxes out residuals at 18 (six wins) and the other says only an opponent’s first seven games count for residuals.

So, a team that is 7-0 would not add residuals for any of its opponents, as this would be its eighth game.

In addition, SI values are locked in at the end of this week, for playoff qualification purposes only. Strength Index numbers change each week based on the score of a game relative to the two teams’ current SI ratings. That will still be calculated this week – and through the playoffs – but for the purposes of seeding, the NJSIAA uses the numbers as-is, after Week 7 games.

Keep in mind, Gridiron New Jersey – which does the official calculations for the NJSIAA – also will be updating the SI values for all out-of-state competition this week.

Here’s the short list of teams, by conference, who have yet to play seven games, and can provide residuals to their opponents this coming week:

• Big Central: None
• Shore Conference: Middletown North
• West Jersey Football League: Haddon Twp.
• Super Football Conference: Kennedy
• NJIC: None