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

In the glory days of power points, the definitive formula for decades for the NJSIAA when it came to seeding the playoffs, residuals were the quirky things that teams could bank on that final week of the season.

Even coaches whose teams were idle could gain points, and they were sometimes guaranteed when two teams they’d beaten were playing each other. Often, it was the make or break for bubble teams.

But not any more.

Several years ago with the UPR playoff system, the NJSIAA capped residuals at an opponent’s first seven games. The idea was to keep things fair for every team, since not everyone would play eight or nine games. So, some schools only had seven factoring into their power points while others had eight or nine.

That change may not be really necessary anymore, since power points are now an average rather than cumulative, but that’s the world we’re living in.

Many coaches have asked us, “Do I get residuals this week?” And the answer is no, more often than yes.

Under power points, teams are awarded quality points for their result, and residual points as a strength-of-schedule factor.

• Winning teams get 6 quality points, ties earn 3, losses earn nothing.
• For a win, teams get 3 residual points for every victory by their opponent, and 1.5 for every tie.
• For a tie, teams get 1.5 residuals for every victory by their opponent, and 0.75 for every tie.
• For a loss, teams get one residual for every victory by their opponent.

But with most teams having played seven or eight games already, few teams are playing their seventh game this weekend. Teams can only get residuals from an opponent’s first seven games.

Here’s a list, by conference, of all teams giving residuals this week around the state, based on current standings and schedules on Gridiron New Jersey, as well as this week’s opponent, if applicable. All games are Friday unless noted otherwise.

Big Central Conference

• none

Shore Conference

• Donovan Catholic at Toms River North
• Middletown North at Freehold Twp.

West Jersey Football League

• Audubon vs. Camden Catholic
• Haddon Township at Sterling
• Mastery HS of Camden vs. Gloucester Catholic
• Pitman at Gateway
• Wildwood vs. Beuna (Thursday)

Super Football Conference

• Hudson Catholic vs. Kennedy at Caven Point (Saturday)
• Irvington vs. Newark East Side
• Morris Catholic vs. Madison

North Jersey Interscholastic Conference

• Palisades Park vs. Wallington

Independent

• Newark Academy (bye)
• Pingry vs. Fieldtson-NY (Saturday)