Playoff Picture: D2 Football (Oct. 28)

Here is a look at the standings going into the final week of the regular season and a breakdown of what could happen for each team still in contention, including lowest possible football rating, highest possible rating and predicted rating.

The top seed in each conference, determined by football rating, will receive the top two seeds. The remaining six playoff spots will be determined by football rating and seeded 3-8.

East Conference

Team (record, rating, last week)

1. Gilford-Belmont (8-0, 18.0000, 1st)
2. Bow (7-1, 14.7500, 4th)
3. Kennett (5-3, 97500, 7th)
4. St. Thomas (4-4, 8.2500, 6th)
5. Plymouth (4-4, 8.0000, 8th)
6. e-Merrimack Valley (3-5, 6.0000)
7. e-Laconia (3-5, 4.7500)
8. e-Pembroke (2-6, 4.0000)
9. e-Sanborn (2-6, 3.5000)

West Conference

Team (record, rating, last week)

1. Pelham (8-0, 16.0000, 3rd)
2. Souhegan (7-1, 13.5000, 2nd)
3. Hanover (6-2, 10.7500, 5th)
4. Milford (4-4, 7.2500)
5. John Stark (4-4, 6.2500)
6. e-Hillsboro-Deering/Hopkinton (2-6, 2.7500)
7. e-Manchester West (2-6, 2.7500)
8. e-Hollis Brookline (1-7, 1.2500)
9. e-Lebanon (0-8, 0.0000)

e - eliminated from playoffs

Current Semifinal Matchups (changes in bold)

• No. 8 Plymouth at No. 1 Gilford-Belmont
• No. 5 Hanover at No. 4 Souhegan
• No. 7 St. Thomas at No. 2 Pelham
• No. 6 Kennett at No. 3 Bow

Gilford-Belmont

• Game: at St. Thomas, Friday, 6 p.m.
• Wins: Kennett, Sanborn, Bow, Pembroke, Laconia, Plymouth, Merrimack Valley, Hanover.
• Lowest rating: 16.6667.
• Highest rating: 19.1111.
• Likely rating: 18.8889.

Gilford-Belmont will clinch the No. 1 seed with a win or a loss and a Pelham loss, and can finish no worse than No. 2.

Pelham

• Game: at Hanover, Friday, 7 p.m.
• Wins: Manchester West, St. Thomas, John Stark, Hollis Brookline, Hillsboro-Deering/Hopkinton, Lebanon, Milford, Souhegan.
• Lowest rating: 14.8889.
• Highest rating: 17.7778.
• Likely rating: 17.3333.

Pelham can clinch the No. 1 seed with a win and a Gilford-Belmont loss, and can finish no worse than No. 2.

Bow

• Game: at Laconia, Friday, 2 p.m.
• Wins: Sanborn, Plymouth, Milford, Merrimack Valley, Kennett, St. Thomas, Pembroke.
• Lowest rating: 13.5556.
• Highest rating: 16.0000.
• Likely rating: 15.7778.

Bow would clinch the No. 3 seed with a win or a loss and a Souhegan loss. Will finish either third or fourth.

Souhegan

• Game: at John Stark, Saturday, 2 p.m.
• Wins: Hillsboro-Deering/Hopkinton, Milford, Manchester West, Lebanon, Plymouth, Hanover, Hollis Brookline.
• Lowest rating: 12.4444.
• Highest rating: 15.1111.
• Likely rating: 14.6667.

Souhegan clinches the No. 4 seed with a win. Could move up to No. 3 with a win and a Bow loss. Could finish at No. 5 with a loss and a Hanover win.

Hanover

• Game: vs. Pelham, Friday, 7 p.m.
• Wins: Hollis Brookline, John Stark, Milford, Hillsboro-Deering/Hopkinton, Lebanon, Manchester West.
• Lowest rating: 10.0000.
• Highest rating: 13.3333.
• Likely rating: 10.0000.

Hanover could get as high as No. 4 with a win and a Souhegan loss. Could finish as low as seven with a loss and wins by Kennett and St. Thomas.

Kennett

• Game: at Hollis Brookline, Friday, 7 p.m.
• Wins: Pembroke, Laconia, Sanborn, Plymouth, Merrimack Valley.
• Lowest rating: 9.1111
• Highest rating: 10.6667.
• Likely rating: 10.4444.

Kennett has clinched a playoff spot. A win could move the Eagles as high as No. 5. A loss could drop them as low as No. 8

St. Thomas

• Game: vs. Gilford-Belmont, Friday, 6 p.m.
• Wins: Merrimack Valley, Sanborn, Kennett, Laconia.
• Lowest rating: 7.3333.
• Highest rating: 11.1111.
• Likely rating: 7.7778.

St. Thomas gets in with a win over Gilford-Belmont, or a loss and wins by Laconia, Merrimack Valley, Sanborn and/or Kennett.

Plymouth

• Game: at Sanborn, Saturday, 1:30 p.m.
• Wins: Pembroke, Merrimack Valley, Laconia, St. Thomas.
• Lowest rating: 7.3333.
• Highest rating: 9.3333.
• Likely rating: 8.8889.

Plymouth gets in with a win over Sanborn, or a loss and a loss by Milford or St. Thomas.

Milford

• Game: at Lebanon, Friday, 7 p.m.
• Wins: John Stark, Manchester West, Hollis Brookline, Hillsboro-Deering/Hopkinton
• Lowest rating: 6.6667.
• Highest rating: 8.2222.
• Likely rating: 7.7778.

Milford needs a win and some help to get in the playoffs. The Spartans would likely clinch with a win, plus a loss by St. Thomas and wins by Bow, Plymouth, Pembroke or Hollis Brookline, or Milford would clinch with a win, plus a loss by Plymouth and a win by Bow. Milford would also likely get in with a win and a loss by both Plymouth and St. Thomas.

John Stark

• Game: vs. Souhegan, Saturday, 2 p.m.
• Wins: Hollis Brookline, Hillsboro-Deering/Hopkinton, Sanborn, Lebanon.
• Lowest rating: 5.7778.
• Highest rating: 8.2222.
• Likely rating: 5.7778.

First, John Stark would have to beat Souhegan to have a chance. The Generals would also likely need loses by at least two of St. Thomas, Plymouth and Milford.