Football Gray Power Rankings (GPR) pre-season poll Top 10

[GraysPowerRankings]

I came public with the GPR in 2014. That year, each team ranked pre-season #1 won a state title. In 2015, the pre-season #1 in 7A, 6A and 5A won a state title. In 4A and 3A, the pre-season #2 won state, and in 2A, the pre-season #5 won the title.
In the first two years, the GPR predictions are 1,608-502 for 76.2%.
The first two weeks tends to bring the lowest prediction percentage. For the first two years, beginning week 3 through the end of the season, the GPR predictions are 1,341-379 for 78.0%.
Here are the pre-season GPR rankings for 2016. Good luck to your team, and let's have a great season!

7A
1) Fayetteville 223.76
2) Cabot 191.38
3) FS Northside 114.84
4) FS Southside 110.32
5) Conway 102.27
6) Har-Ber 101.26
7) NLR 101.12
8) Bentonville 99.12
9) Bryant 87.57
10) Springdale 76.72

6A
1) Greenwood 137.25
2) West Memphis 115.92
3) Russellville 108.93
4) Jonesboro 108.00
5) Benton 84.42
6) Pine Bluff 77.01
7) Marion 68.55
8) Searcy 61.41
9) Sheridan 60.54
10) Lake Hamilton 58.41

5A
1) Pulaski Academy 124.20
2) Batesville 118.15
3) LR McClellan 107.83
4) Morrilton 82.20
5) Forrest City 78.60
6) Sylvan Hills 78.55
7) Vilonia 76.28
8) Wynne 75.43
9) Hope 72.50
10) Blytheville 64.80

4A
1) CAC 98.70
2) Nashville 87.52
3) Warren 83.62
4) Pulaski Robinson 83.00
5) Pea Ridge 72.94
6) Pocahontas 71.44
7) Heber Springs 64.10
8) Shiloh Christian 64.04
9) Ashdown 61.76
10) Prairie Grove 61.60

3A
1) Glen Rose 68.85
2) Centerpoint 60.29
3) Prescott 57.11
4) Charleston 55.38
5) Paris 50.82
6) Harding Academy 49.01
7) Junction City 46.97
8) Rivercrest 45.83
9) Smackover 42.39
10 Fouke 41.66

2A
1) England 54.61
2) Conway Christian 34.88
3) Hector 34.34
4) Danville 33.50
4) Rison 33.50
6) Quitman 33.39
7) Hermitage 31.67
8) Mount Ida 30.88
9) Lafayette County 30.50
10) McCrory 29.76

Overall top 15
1) Fayetteville 223.76
2) Cabot 191.38
3) Greenwood 137.25
4) Pulaski Academy 124.20
5) Batesville 118.15
6) West Memphis 115.92
7) FS Northside 114.84
8) FS Southside 110.32
9) Russellville 108.93
10) Jonesboro 108.00
11) LR McClellan 107.83
12) Conway 102.27
13) Har-Ber 101.26
14) NLR 101.12
15) Bentonville 99.12

 

[gatecrasherfan]

Bunch of interesting stuff lol.

In 6A, El Dorado noticeably absent, and WM and Russellville 2-3.
No HS Lakeside in 5A. They could easily win 5A South again.
Centerpoint at #2 in class 3A is intriguing. Most talented team there in probably ever. Darkhorse possibility in that class.
Des Arc missing in the 2A ratings. They're one of three teams I'm mulling over as a state champion pick.

It's gonna be a fun year.

 

[Luke Matheson]

I'm ready for the season to begin so we can see how things shake out. It was interesting to see how it played out last season. You can certainly tell this is a computer ranking with no human bias!

 

[GraysPowerRankings]

I'm sure there are questions as to where some of the mentioned teams outside the top 10 are ranked, and why some are in the top 10. Keep in mind, and Luke knows this, there are times I have disagreements with the computer. Sometimes I am right, and sometimes it is right. I think of the GPR as another voice amongst the three of us. I will go class-by-class and address issues.

In 7A, I agree Fayetteville will take the cake and they have the capability to be one of the most dominant high-class teams we've seen in a while, as long as they can stay relatively healthy.

In 6A, ElDorado is ranked 11th, just .27 points behind #10 Lake Hamilton. The West Memphis and Russellville rankings are intriguing to me. A #2? I'm not so sure of that just yet. I really believe Billy Elmore has the Blue Devils on the right track and this could be a pretty big year for them. As for Russellville, we all know how successful and quick Billy Dawson turns around football programs. I don't know if a #3 ranking is justified for this season, but time will tell.

In 5A, HS Lakeside is #12, just behind #11 LR Christian. Personally, I believe Lakeside will be better than Christian. I really feel Christian will take a big step back and will be lower than #11 at the end of the season. Lakeside still has a lot of talent, and Jared McBride is a great coach to keep them rolling in the right direction. I do agree with the computer on how tight it has PA, Batesville and McClellan. Morrilton at #4 will be in the hunt. They have some studs coming back on offense and the defense will be pretty good as well. PA is no doubt still the king, but they will have to work to keep the crown.

In 4A, I'm not real surprised to see CAC on top. For the past few years, the 4A has had some really good teams in the upper tier. This year is no different. Nashville, Warren and Pulaski Robinson will be in the fight, but my absolute dark-horse is #8 Shiloh Christian. This off-season the Saints made an absolute ace hire with offensive coordinator Adam DePriest. I'll talk about him more on the podcast. Adam was the OC in Harrison two seasons ago, so I saw him operate first-hand. He is a great play-caller.

In 3A, I agree Centerpoint has their best team in their history. I just don't know if they are a true #2 team. There's a lot of good teams in 3A. Glen Rose had an excellent season last year, probably one year ahead. I agree with the computer's #1 ranking of Glen Rose. Paris at #5 is interesting to me. A lot of returning starters on both sides of the ball, and they have talent, but it's hard for me to see them as a #5 team right now. Everyone wants to see how Junction City will rebound from last year. I think they will be good, but I don't think they will take the 3A crown.

In 2A, there are a lot of questions to be answered. I do agree for now that England is the #1 team for now. But, as we know, it will get real for this team come playoff time and will have prove the 5 is a conference capable of hoisting the crown. Des Arc is ranked #13. That is not near as surprising to me as seeing Quitman and Hermitage ranked ahead of teams like Mt. Ida, Lafayette County, Mount Ida and Camden Harmony Grove. Both teams have a lot of returning starters and good talent, but I think depth could be the issue for both of them.

The bottom line...it's gonna be interesting and controversial. That's part of what makes this game so great! I'm ready to begin chapter one of this fifteen-chapter book.

 

[gatecrasherfan]

Junction City will be a title contender in their first year of 3A because they're going to be physical.

They also have a RB transfer from California that is turning heads in camp. Name escapes me right now but a friend of mine from down there says he is an absolute stud.