The Texas State 7-on-7 Championship pools are out! Here are the predictions for the order of finish in each group, plus a mini-preview for each pool.

Pool A Predicted Order of Finish

1. China Spring
2. Dumas
3. Texarkana Pleasant Grove
4. Hitchcock

This is a loaded pool to start out the Division II bracket, all four teams in this group have the potential to win multiple games in bracket play. China Spring with their offensive firepower gets the slight nod over two powers in the fall in Dumas and Pleasant Grove. Hitchcock is extremely dynamic in the skill spots and dominated in every qualifier they played in, but can the Bulldogs get it done on the big stage?

Pool B Predicted Order of Finish

1. El Campo
2. Melissa
3. Carthage
4. Whitney

This is the “Pool of Death” in the Division II bracket, El Campo, Melissa and Carthage are three of the top teams in the entire tournament will go at it in what should be some entertaining action featuring some Division I prospects. El Campo has gone the entire summer unbeaten, while Melissa punched their ticket to state early on and was unbeaten in qualifying play. Carthage isn’t known as a “7-on-7 team,” but the Bulldogs traditionally play well in College Station. Whitney, despite being picked fourth is a tough out as well and will be no pushover and could be a team that challenges on Day 2.

Pool C Predicted Order of Finish

1. Celina
2. Lorena
3. Needville
4. Pleasanton

No one has had more success at the Texas 7-on-7 State Tournament than Celina and despite qualifying on the final weekend of Division II qualifying, the Bobcats are still considered one of the tournament favorites. Lorena traditionally is another very strong team and the Leopards have looked very sharp during SQT play this summer. Needville has lost some strong skill talent the past couple of seasons, but the Blue Jays have managed to play very well this summer.  Pleasanton runs a wide-open spread offense, so 7-on-7 is right up their alley, the key for the Eagles will be adjusting to the talent in what appears to be a deep pool.

Pool D Predicted Order of Finish

1. Kaufman
2. Breckenridge
3. Lake Belton
4. Jourdanton

Another really intriguing pool that features Kaufman, who has emerged in recent years as a real power in 7-on-7, the Lions won the title back in 2016 and have been a regular in College Station. They’ll get real challenges from a Breckenridge squad that hasn’t lost a game all summer and an emerging Lake Belton bunch that features some great talent, but they are very young and won’t join a UIL district until 2022. Jourdanton suffered heavy graduation losses, so simply making it to the State Tournament is an achievement for what is a very youthful squad.

Pool E Predicted Order of Finish

1. Austin LBJ
2. Tyler Chapel Hill
3. Tuscola Jim Ned
4. Cuero

There’s some talent in this pool with 4A powers LBJ and Chapel Hill leading the way along with defending 3A-Division I state champion Jim Ned. If you want to see some big-time talent that LBJ-Chapel Hill opening game will be fun to watch, however on Day 1 Chapel Hill will be missing some key pieces so give the edge to LBJ. Jim Ned is a solid third pick, while a young Cuero squad appears to be headed in the right direction but they are in a challenging group.

Pool F Predicted Order of Finish

1. Argyle
2. The Woodlands Christian
3. Brownwood
4. Hamshire-Fannett

Argyle is a powerhouse in the fall and the Eagles will be a strong contender this weekend to make a lot of noise, they are the favorite in Pool F. The real battle could be behind Argyle as relative newcomers The Woodlands Christian and Hamshire-Fannett will battle with a Brownwood squad making their 21st straight appearance at the State Tournament.

Pool G Predicted Order of Finish

1. Paris
2. Midlothian Heritage
3. Little River-Academy
4. Somerset

Paris and Midlothian Heritage are quite familiar with each other both in the fall and in 7-on-7 and they will likely be the top contenders in this pool. Paris always brings a lot of speed to the table and they’ve got experience at the QB spot as well, while Midlothian Heritage is a team that always does damage at the State Tournament. Little-River Academy should edge out Somerset for the three seed and a more manageable bracket matchup on Friday.

Pool H Predicted Order of Finish

1. Wimberley
2. Silsbee
3. Graham
4. LaFeria

Wimberley has been a dominant force during the summer and the Texans are a real threat to win the entire tournament. Silsbee and Graham will be a really intriguing battle for second with the slight edge going to Silsbee as Graham had major challenges to simply qualify. LaFeria is a wild card at the fourth spot as the Lions are the Valley’s top small school 7-on-7 team.