Week 6 is officially the first week that teams can automatically qualify for the playoffs.

True, some teams will eventually squeeze in playoffs with 5-4 records, but a complicated mathematical formula which often results in time travel is required to figure out which teams those are, so I’m going to narrow the focus to teams that are currently undefeated and can automatically qualify with their sixth win this week.

“Narrow" being the operative word here as Washtenaw County only has one remaining undefeated team: Father Gabriel Richard.

Should the Fighting Irish (5-0, 2-0 Catholic High School League) defeat Macomb Lutheran North (5-0, 2-0 CHSL) on Saturday - kickoff 1:30 p.m. at Father Gabriel Richard High School - it would be the third straight year that Richard qualifies for the postseason in coach Brian Lemons’ third year on the job.

Lemons would prefer for the win to come in one of the next two weeks against Richard’s remaining CHSL AA competition because that would also automatically qualify Richard for the CHSL Prep Bowl, held at Ford Field on October 22.

Richard won the C-D Division Prep Bowl last season, a win Lemons at the time described as, “the best feeling I've had as a coach.”

“That’s a special thing. To be able to play down at Ford Field is an opportunity not many teams get, so we want to do everything we can to get back there,” Lemons said.

Because Lutheran North is a team the Irish just started playing this year, on account of the newly formed CHSL AA Division, Lemons and his squad aren’t particularly familiar with their week 6 opponents.

“You play some coaches every year and get different mannerisms and sometimes it takes a while to figure them out,” Lemons said. “There’s some unfamiliarity here on both sides, which I think adds a level of excitement.”

On paper, Lutheran North and Richard have performed about as evenly as possible against three common opponents. Richard beat Pontiac Notre Dame 24-27; Lutheran North beat them 22-7. Richard beat Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood 35-0; Lutheran North beat them 38-0. Richard beat Livonia Clarenceville 34-7; Lutheran North beat them 35-0.

Then they did the Hokey-Pokey, and turned themselves around…that’s what it’s all about!

“There’s a ton of excitement,” Lemons said. “It’s going to be homecoming, going for win number six and the prep bowl…it should be a lot of fun.”

With two seemingly evenly matched teams, I’ll take the team playing at a familiar place at a familiar time. Richard, 33-30.

Huron (2-3, 2-2 SEC) at Saline (2-3, 1-3 SEC): A week after going down to the wire against a very good Bedford team, Saline got beat up in the fourth quarter against Monroe. Meanwhile, Huron was a last-minute jump ball away from being a piece of Skyline trivia. At its best, Saline’s defense should be able to disrupt Alex Hassan, and contain Huron’s Luke Denson (5.98 yards per carry) and keep its playoffs hopes alive for at least another week. Saline, 24-13.

Ypsilanti (2-3, 2-2 SEC) at Dexter (3-2, 2-2 SEC): Dexter’s three wins have come against teams with one win between them. Ypsilanti’s three loses (two by one point) have come by a combined six points to teams with two losses between them (both in overtime). Life’s not fair. Ypsilanti, 29-14.

Tecumseh (1-4, 1-3 SEC) at Chelsea (4-1, 3-1 SEC): Chelsea hasn’t had the offense we’ve all grown used to so far, but Tecumseh’s only defense against the pass this year has been malfunctioning lights and defective receiver gloves. Chelsea, 42-19.

Monroe (3-2, 3-1 SEC) at Pioneer (2-3, 2-2 SEC): After losing its first two games to Adrian and Chelsea, Monroe’s offense has been rolling during its three-game winning streak, averaging 48 points per game during the stretch. Pioneer, has proven it can score points with the best of them, the only question is, can they stop the Trojans from doing the same? Pioneer, 45-35.

Hanover Horton (1-4, 1-3 Cascades Conference) at Manchester (4-1, 3-1 Cascades): I have a soft spot for the Hanover Horton because AnnArbor.com’s championship softball team had a common mascot: the Comet (AnnArbor.Comets…get it?!). The Hanover Horton version of the Comets, however, have a lower scoring average - 11.2 points per game - than we did - 14.6 runs per game* - and don’t have the firepower to keep up with Manchester’s offense - 28.2 ppg. Manchester, 38-6. *Softball statistics completely fabricated.

River Rouge (4-1) at Willow Run (4-1): With only eight games on its schedule, Willow Run needs two wins in its three remaining games to make the playoffs for the first time since 1995. Perry in Week 8 is pretty much a gimme, but River Rouge and Dundee (Week 9) will be tests. River Rouge, 26-22.

Skyline (0-5, 0-4 SEC) at Bedford (5-0, 4-0 SEC): The Kicking Mules have never been 6-0...until now. Bedford, 50-20

Milan (4-1, 3-1 Huron League) at Monroe Jefferson (2-3, 1-3 Huron): Milan has the luxury of three solid running backs: Joe Dunn (6.39 yards per carry), Deandre Mitchell (8.18 ypc) and Leo Pittman (5.4 ypc). Milan, 35-21.

Lincoln (0-5, 0-4 SEC) at Adrian (5-0, 4-0 SEC): Adrian usually wins close games. Lincoln usually loses blowouts. Which will prevail? Adrian, 40-12

Whitmore Lake (0-5, 0-3 Tri-County Conference) at Sand Creek (1-4, 1-2 TCC): Sand Creek, 28-12.

Season Record: 44-10 (.815) Last week: 10-1 (.909). Best Pick: Bedford 45, Pioneer 42 (Bedford won 42-36). Worst Pick: Saline 21, Monroe 14 (Monroe won 25-9). Readers’ season record: 41-11-1 (.774) Last Week: 10-1 (.909).

Pete Cunningham covers sports for AnnArbor.com and can be reached at petercunningham@annarbor.com or by phone at 734-623-2561. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.