Playoff Picture: Division I football

There is no shortage of big games on this week's slate in Division I, starting with a South Conference matchup that is dripping with postseason implications.

Salem takes its unbeaten record to Merrimack on Friday night for what could be a game that decides the top seed out of that conference.

A win by the Blue Devils (4-0) gives them essentially a three-game lead over everyone else in the conference, as they would be two ahead - or more - in the loss column, and already have beaten Pinkerton and Timberlane. A win for the Tomahawks (3-1) gives them the tiebreaker over Salem and would be a confidence boost, considering Merrimack's wins have come against teams that are a combined 3-9.

Bedford (4-0) travels to Pinkerton (2-2) in a cross-conference matchup that is a rematch of the 2014 championship game, and like in that contest, the Astros are very much in need of a win. If the Bulldogs get a victory in Derry, it's not out of the question for them to be undefeated going into a final-week showdown with Salem.

Also on Friday night, Exeter (4-0) hosts Portsmouth (3-1), with the Clippers looking to keep themselves in the playoff race. A win here for the Blue Hawks would make them undefeated against the East Conference, with no one but West teams left on the schedule.

Two key games will take place at Stellos Stadium on Saturday, as Nashua North (3-1) hosts Winnacunnet (1-3) at 2:30 p.m. and Dover (3-1) takes on Bishop Guertin (3-1) at 7 p.m.

Here’s a look at how Division I would look if the playoffs started this week.

East/West Cluster

East Conference

1. x-Exeter (4-0), 12.50 rating
2. x-Dover (3-1), 10.50
3. Portsmouth (3-1), 8.50
4. Winnacunnet (1-3), 2.50
5. Spaulding (0-4), 0.00

West Conference

1. x-Nashua North (3-1), 9.00
2. x-Bishop Guertin (3-1), 9.00
3. Nashua South (2-2), 5.00
4. Keene (1-3), 4.00
5. Alvirne (0-4), 0.00

Playoff teams: Bishop Guertin, Dover, Exeter, Nashua North.

Quarterfinals: No. 4 Bishop Guertin at No. 1 Exeter; No. 3 Dover at No. 2 Nashua North.

Scenarios: Bishop Guertin's loss to Keene created a few changes. Exeter took over the top spot in the cluster while North and Bishop Guertin are tied for the top of the West. Dover remained in the No. 3 position.

Games to watch this week: Keene at Nashua South, Friday, 7 p.m.; Portsmouth at Exeter, Friday, 7 p.m.; Winnacunnet at Nashua North, Saturday, 2:30 p.m.; Dover at Bishop Guertin, Saturday, 7 p.m.

North/South Cluster

North Conference

1. x-Bedford (4-0), 13.50
2. x-Goffstown (3-1), 9.00
3. Manchester Central (2-2), 5.00
4. Concord (1-3), 2.50
5. Manchester Memorial (0-4), 0.00

South Conference

1. x-Salem (4-0), 13.00
2. x-Merrimack (3-1), 9.00
3. Pinkerton (2-2), 5.50
4. Timberlane (1-3), 2.50
5. Londonderry (0-4), 0.00

Playoff teams: Bedford, Goffstown, Merrimack, Salem.

Quarterfinal matchups: No. 4 Merrimack at No. 1 Bedford; No. 3 Goffstown at No. 2 Salem.

Scenarios: No changes at all here, although Goffstown's loss now drops the Grizzlies into a tie with Merrimack. Depending on tiebreakers, either one could be the No. 3 or 4 seed.

Games to watch this week: Salem at Merrimack, Friday, 7 p.m.; Bedford at Pinkerton, Friday, 7 p.m.; Manchester Central at Timberlane, Friday, 6:30 p.m.