The regular season maybe 8 games long (9 in 4A), but sometimes its week 7 that has the game that will determine if your team is playoff bound or not, and/or what seed will you have in the bracket.

Being ranked in the latest coaches/media poll is not necessary, but it adds to the hype if your team is.

The latest 4A poll was almost unanimous all around. Natrona obtained all the #1 votes, while East got all the #4's and Kelly Walsh the #5's. Gillette and Sheridan still remain #2 and #3. The big game this week is in Casper, between the #3 Broncs and the #1 Mustangs. NC can secure the #1 seed with a win. The game between #4 East at Evanston, is a Thursday afternoon contest. The Kelly Walsh at Central game will go a long way in determining playoff positioning. South can't allow winless Rock Springs to get their revenge, or else the Tigers will spoil the Bison's playoff hopes.

It's a big week in the 3A ranks. It's #2 at #1 for the top seed in the East, as Douglas visits Riverton. As for the west, it will either get a little more clear, a lot messier after the game between #5 Jackson at #4 Powell. As for #3 Cody, they will try to keep Green River winless on the season, and pay attention to what going on about 20 miles away on US Highway 14A. A few other games of note, Rawlins and Torrington can clinch playoff spots in the east, and eliminated Lander and Buffalo in the process, if they win their respective games. Star Valley can secure a playoff spot in the west and eliminate Worland, if the Braves can win on the Warriors' field. Worland can't clinch a spot if they beat SV, but would have the inside track with 1 game to go, should they win this weekend.

Something has to give in 2A this weekend. One of 2 undefeated teams will fall, when #1 Big Horn visits #3 Newcastle. The Dogies can lockup the 2A East #1 seed with a win, however the Rams can't, unless Burns beats Wheatland. If BH and Wheatland both win, the Rams would be 1 game up on Newcastle and #4 Wheatland, but they still have yet to play the Bulldogs, whereas Newcastle already has a win vs. Wheatland. Elsewhere, Mountain View is still ranked #2 and Lovell now has the #5 spot to themselves. Both teams will be keeping an eye out on the game between Lyman at Greybull. If MV and Greybull both win, then the top 2 seeds in the west will be locked up. If something different plays out, then rivalry week is next week, between Lyman at Mountain View and Greybull at Lovell. One last note about the 2A East...the Thermopolis at Glenrock winner is in the playoffs, and the loser is out. The reason being is that this is the last conference game for the Herders. Since there are an odd number of teams, that means one team has to finish conference play, ahead of the others, and Glenrock is that team in the East.

1A is starting to clear itself up. #1 Cokeville can wrap up the #1 seed in the west, if their JV squad beats winless Wyoming Indian this weekend. The Panther varsity elected to play a Wednesday game at Evanston's JV. Cokeville can also get the #1 west seed, if #5 Rocky Mountain loses at Riverside. Meanwhile the Grizzlies would be assured no worse than the #2 seed with a win, and if Burlington loses home vs. Shoshoni. Speaking of the Wranglers and the Huskies, the 2 of them are in a 3-way with Riverside. This weekend's winner is not necessarily guaranteed a playoff spot, but their odds are looking really good. On the east side, #2 Lusk already has the #1 spot, and will wrap up the regular season home vs. Southeast, who is suddenly in trouble and might miss the playoffs for the first time since 1996. The other big game, is between #4 Tongue River at #3 Lingle-Ft. Laramie. The Doggers can get the east #2 seed, and a first round home playoff game with a win. TR can't secure that spot with a win, but would have the inside track with 1 game to go. Moorcroft is not out of the chase either, but the Wolves can kiss the playoffs goodbye, should they lose at winless Pine Bluffs. The same for Wind River, at winless Saratoga.

The latest 6-man rankings had a huge shakeup. Dubois rammed their way up to #2, after crushing former #2, now #5 Little Snake River into the ground. With that win, the Rams can get no worse than the #2 seed, if they win this weekend home vs. winless Ten Sleep. As for the Rattlers, they visit #4 Kaycee on Saturday, in a non-conference affair. That game will be a tune-up for both, because a huge conference game for each is on next week's schedule, with major playoff implications. Speaking of tuneup, #3 Farson-Eden will entertain winless St. Stephens, as the Pronghorns prepare for next week's big game at LSR. Not to be left out is #1 Guernsey-Sunrise. The Vikings won't play this week, because Rock River has elected to forfeit the game, due to too many injuries. Hulett can clinch the #4 East seed on Saturday with a win home vs. Midwest, provided Normative Services loses home Friday vs. H.E.M. If Midwest and NSI both win, the Oilers and Wolves will battle it out next weekend at Midwest, for the spot. Midwest has to win both of their last 2 games, to make the playoffs.

More From WyoPreps