You heard it here first, New Bedford will represent the Big Three in the playoffs. Brockton has an absolutely outstanding defense, but the Whalers have a surprising offense that is more than capable of sneaking up on the Boxers. If the Whalers jump out to an early lead, can a less-than-stellar Brockton offense keep pace? New Bedford's Jon Williams is a difference-maker, and Brockton has been living on the edge for far too long this season (see: 22-20 OT game that Taunton gift-wrapped to Brockton.) The scenario is ripe for an upset, which begs the question -- is an upset still an upset if the conditions are ripe for an upset?
 
While we are on the topic, former Division 1 residents Bridgewater-Raynham and Taunton face off for the Old Colony League this week. In another 'Division 1 Dish' exclusive, we predict another huge upset in favor of Taunton.
 
(Catholic Conference) – BC High at St. John’s Prep, Saturday at 1:30

BC High is officially fighting for pride. St. John's Prep, on the other hand, has come out of a scalding schedule all the better for it, and has a shot at the playoffs with a win against BC High. All that would then stand in the way would be a home Thanksgiving game against No. 1 Xaverian. In which case, I would not take the upset.

GOING FOR TWO

Last week's game: Xaverian 14, BC Hgih 6

We've gone on and on about Xaverian. There is nothing more to be said except for perhaps the one semi-flaw the Hawks have: playing a complete game at the highest level they can. Luckily for Xaverian, they can overcome this because of sheer talent. However, the X-Men have let some teams hang around for far too long in some games, unable to put them away until the very end. It was 0-0 at halftime at BC High, and the Eagles were a Hail Mary short of potentially sending the game into overtime.

BC High quarterback Brendan Collins played a very impressive game against possibly the state's top defense and a very gusty, cold wind. His throws had some good zip on them, and he stayed poised all the way through. On a night where defense shined, Collins was perhaps the best player for the Eagles.

KING (AND THE REST) OF THE HILL

1.Xaverian (9-0) – No style points to be found in the win over BC High. The phrase “Just win, baby” comes to mind.

2.Brockton (8-1) – The defense is championship-quality, but is the offense? The Boxers don't have the quick-strike ability of last year's squad that featured Division 1's leading scorer Khalil-James Offley.

3.Everett (5-2) – With a win at Malden, Everett clinches the league before Thanksgiving for a second straight year. But even if it came down to Cambridge on Turkey Day, one wonders if even Steve Buckley himself would be caught dead at the game.

4.Billerica (8-1) – Nick LaSpada might just be Division 1's MVP. Of course, we are assuming that the 139 interceptions MaxPreps.com attributes to him are slightly inaccurate.

5.Central Catholic (7-2) – It's been a long road through the MVC (Large), but Central Catholic can make it all worth it with one more win tonight.

6.St. John's Prep (4-4) – OK, perhaps we prematurely wrote off the Prep. Not that they will beat Xaverian, but they seem to be the lone remaining roadblock to the Hawks' conference championship.

7.BC High (4-4) – We understand the Eagles graduated the large majority of their starters last year, but the fact remains: the defending Division 1 champions may finish this season under .500.

8.Andover (5-4) – After a big win against Chelmsford, coach John Rex said “there is no driver's seat in the MVC.” Following up that victory with losses to Methuen, Dracut, and Billerica proved he was right.

9.Chelmsford (5-4) – Another middle-of-the-pack MVC team, the Lions must be disappointed with a recent three-game losing streak that may give way to a .500 year.

10. New Bedford (5-3-1) – Because of the way the Big Three is set up, the mathematical possibility of the Whalers knocking Brockton off isn't something new. But coach Dennis Golden has this team believing, and it is safe to say this is New Bedford's most important game in awhile.

11. Catholic Memorial (5-3) – That 4-0 start is but a distant memory now. The only impact CM can have on the playoff race is beating Xaverian this weekend.

12. Malden (4-4) – The Golden Tornadoes don't need to beat Everett this week to have a chance at finishing at.500, which would be an achievement to be proud of in coach Joe Pappagallo's first year.

13. Malden Catholic (3-6) – Maybe Malden Catholic will become Malden Pentecostal, just to get out from that grinding Catholic Conference. And we bet this MP wouldn't have soccer games called on account of violent outbreak.

14. Medford (4-4) – Kudos to coach Rico Dello Iacono for going for two and the win with under two minutes left against Cambridge. It reminds me of an old saying -- “When you are Medford, what have you go to lose?”

15.Somerville (2-6) – Another Greater Boston League turnstile on Everett's way to the league title. When is that league realignment coming?

16. Lowell (1-8) – I suppose if the Merrimack Valley Conference (Large) is a bizzaro version of the GBL, then Lowell would be the MVC's Everett, right? Hey, gotta look on the bright side when you are 1-8.

17. Durfee (1-8) – According to a writer from The Brockton Enterprise I spoke with this weekend, Durfee has not beaten Brockton in football since 1910. Think Boxer fans chant “1910” at home games against the Hilltoppers?

18. Cambridge (0-9) – Ouch. Less than two minutes away from its first win of the season, Cambridge allowed eight points to Medford and let a 43-42 barnburner slip away. One wonders what exactly a coach can tell his students in the post-game huddle.