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A look at the strength of each division and regional grouping

10/19/2017, 6:30pm CDT
By Travis Wilson

Two-time defending D5 champion Amherst competes in the toughest 8-team grouping in the state

Each year one of the most-talked about items the first week of the playoffs is the perceived strength, and lack thereof, of each of the seven divisions, as well as the 32 regional groupings.

It is certainly a relatively subjective argument, but there tend to be patterns that do start to form. Looking at win-loss percentage of the teams in each division and each 8-team grouping is an imperfect way to judge the relative strength of a group of teams, but it does provide an objective measurement to consider.

Of course, this data does not factor in the strength of the opposition for each team or account for variances in enrollment ranges. A Division 4 team that goes 9-0 against mostly D5 and D6 competition isn't necessarily better than a 7-2 team in D4 that played against D3 and D4 foes.

We tabulated the win-loss percentage of the teams in each 8-team grouping as well as each of the seven divisions, and you could argue it matches up pretty well with the "eye test".

Full results of the analysis are below.

Division 5 gained quite a bit of strength it was assumed when Grantsburg moved up as the smallest team in the division, and undefeated Lake Country Lutheran landed in D5 after previously competing in Division 6.

It is Division 5 that features the highest combined winning percentage of any division at 0.734. Division 3 is close behind at 0.724. 

The lowest combined winning percentage can be found in Division 7, by a good amount. D7 teams had a combined win-loss percentage of 0.668. Division 2 was the second lowest at 0.694, though many people, myself included, feel it may be the deepest division in terms of having the most state title contenders.

It is not surprising that the best 8-team group in win-loss percentage comes in Division 5, and it is the group that most people pointed to as the strongest when administering the eye test.

Division 5, Group B has a combined record of 58-13, good for an eye-popping 0.817 win-loss percentage. The group includes unbeaten Stanley-Boyd, two-time defending champion Amherst, 8-1 Spencer/Columbus Catholic (only loss to Stanley-Boyd), 8-1 Bonduel (only loss to Amherst), and 6-2 Stratford, who is on the road in Level 1 despite a win over D3 #1 seed Antigo, as the Tigers dropped close games to Stanley-Boyd and Edgar. The worst record in D5, Group B is 6-3, shared by Colby and Wittenberg-Birnamwood.

The weakest pod in win-loss percentage is Division 7, Group A. Unbeaten Clear Lake is the top seed, while 8-1 Loyal is the #2 seed. However, there are three teams in the group that finished 3-6 in the regular season: Elmwood/Plum City, Owen-Withee, and Frederic.

What does all this mean? Nothing perhaps, but it is always fun to give some data to the "best division" or "best grouping" conversation.

Combined Win/Loss % by Regional Grouping

Division Group Group W’s Group L’s Group Games W%
5 B 58 13 71 0.817
4 C 57 15 72 0.792
4 A 55 17 72 0.764
6 D 55 17 72 0.764
3 B 54 18 72 0.750
3 C 54 18 72 0.750
1 D 53 19 72 0.736
2 C 53 19 72 0.736
7 B 53 19 72 0.736
5 D 52 19 71 0.732
3 D 52 20 72 0.722
5 C 52 20 72 0.722
6 C 52 20 72 0.722
6 A 51 21 72 0.708
1 A 50 21 71 0.704
2 A 50 22 72 0.694
1 B 49 22 71 0.690
7 C 49 22 71 0.690
1 C 49 23 72 0.681
2 D 49 23 72 0.681
3 A 47 23 70 0.671
2 B 48 24 72 0.667
5 A 48 24 72 0.667
4 B 46 25 71 0.648
6 B 46 26 72 0.639
4 D 44 26 70 0.629
7 D 45 27 72 0.625
7 A 44 27 71 0.620

Combined Win/Loss % by Division

Division Win %
1 0.703
2 0.694
3 0.724
4 0.709
5 0.734
6 0.708
7 0.668

For the latest and most up to date football news and recruiting information, follow Travis on Twitter @travisWSN. Email story ideas, recruiting info, etc. to Travis at travis(at)wissports.net.

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