Below in bold is the Massey projection with homefield option and neutral site as needed (Mooseheart). Below the Massey in italics is the calpreps neutral site projection. Under that is the consensus line between the 2 services from the CCL teams point of view and if the game involves 2 CCL teams than the line is from the favorites' view. Without further ado (and without further fragmented sentences and/or run on sentences, I bring you The Quarterfinal edition of the Ignazio CCL pick'em brought to you by the fine people behind the BOWIE50 XXL PROTEIN SHAKE as presented by me, Soup for short, Rock-a-Fella Minestrone for long.
LA 28 Mar 24
LA 27 Mar 22
LA -4.5
LZ 28 SR 14
LZ 28 SR 21
SR +10.5
ESL 34 MC 21
ESL 34 MC 24
MC +11.5
PC 32 SL 20
PC 27 SL 22
PC -8.5
SICP 28 MA 25
SICP 28 MA 26
SICP -2.5
Good luck to all the teams. This should have been our South Side New Years Day Saturday. Shaking off a hangover at a 10am game, then head to a 130pm game to a 430pm game and finish with a 8pm night cap. But it's not to be. If you have a horse in the race or you don't, try to make it out to support these hard working future leaders before it's too late! I'll be back tomorrow with the breakdowns and winners. Right now, I'm digesting tape while downing my BOWIE50 XXL PROTEIN SHAKE found at a reputable store near you! Buy your 4-year supply for the low price of $14,999 a year!!!
Marist +4.5 On the road, this line shouldn't be above a FG. LA provided as many answers last week as they gave us questions in round one. A major program signature win for Coach Dawczak and the RedHawks? I think LA pulls it out in this matchup of 8A Goliaths but 4 and the hook is too juicy to leave on the table. LA 23-22
MC +11.5 MC comes into this game rolling figuring out the ingredients for the offense and improving defensively. ESL brings the fans, the pride, the speed and the talent like few others in the state. The Flyers are getting healthy at the right time. MCs O can't give up any short fields. It's hard picking against Coach Lenti in November and I hope a surprise awaits but right now I have to say ESL 28-20
StL +8.5 Seems like I'm taking the points a lot but I don't think the algos have the quarterfinal factor correct. PC has the right size, O and D to move on but #28 likes that turf in Burbank and the Vikings passing game, while complimentary, can deliver when needed. PC 24-20.
MA +2.5 MA has the size upfront to neutralize a nasty Wolfpack defense but it won't be easy. If it were played at Marmion on the beat up natural stuff, I'd say advantage Iggy but MA's #12 on the field turf, I go advantage Cadets. MA 16-14
SR +10.5 Why stop taking the points now? The MASH (old tv show reference for the youngsters, google it) unit Mustangs have continued to answer the bell. Upcoming is their stiffest test yet, the #1 team in 7A, Coach Mertens' Lake Zurich Bears led by a fantastic LB in #7. Can the Mustangs execute enough of a balanced offensive attack to keep one of the state's best defenses from keying on the run? Can the Mustangs D, led by a pair of unheralded but excellent LBs in #31and #34 keep the game close while the O tries to figure out the LZ D? Who gets the big turnover? Who makes the big stop? Lake Zurich is very fortunate to have Coach Mertens. Once I figured out who it was, I was like that is the right coach for one of state's best programs at the right time. But, I've enjoyed watching this version of the Mustangs all year, great no-excuses, no-crap-after-the-whistle type football players, old 63rd street tough, so if they go down, I'm going down with them. SR 21-20.
