Bracket chatter: The Playbook has you covered for tonight's big games

The WIAA Division 1 football playoffs are officially upon us. Here's your primer for some of the biggest battles, including which games will be covered by our staff.

(5) Middleton (7-2, 7-2 in Big Eight) at (4) Oconomowoc (8-1, 6-1 in Wisconsin Little Ten). The Raccoons had an adventurous year but still finished with a great record, which may mean its No. 4 seed comes as a bit of a surprise (behind Sun Prairie, Badger and Verona in the group of eight). Middleton took a loss to Madison LaFollette midyear when it was dealing with some suspensions and lost by single digits to both Verona and Sun Prairie, so this team is more than legit. It’s a throwback to three years ago, when Middleton came to Oconomowoc in Level 2 and the Raccoons prevailed without injured quarterback Canton Larson. Follow Rob Reischel for updates on Twitter.

(6) Arrowhead (5-4, 4-3 in Classic 8) at (3) Verona (8-1, 8-1 in Big Eight). Yet another referendum on the strength of Milwaukee vs. Madison, as Verona’s only loss came in a close call to Sun Prairie, and Arrowhead had an uncharacteristic season with four losses, including twice to teams that did not make the playoffs out of the Classic 8. It would be foolish to sleep on a program that has been to four straight state title games, however.

(5) Kenosha Bradford (4-5, 4-3 in Southeast) vs. (4)Oak Creek (6-3, 4-3 in Southeast). Oak Creek gets a heck of a mulligan on this one, which a chance to battle the team that dealt the Knights a stunning loss earlier this season, 43-42. That’s a huge reason Bradford was able to make the postseason, and it compelled Oak Creek to win a thriller against Kenosha Indian Trail in Week 9 to get this far. With a win, the Knights get to see local rival Franklin again, so this has a chance to be a fun redemption tour. Follow JR Radcliffe for updates on Twitter.

(5) Messmer/Shorewood (5-4, 4-3 in Woodland East) at (4) Germantown (4-5, 4-3 in North Shore). Germantown needed some last-season heroics to even get this far, after staging victories over Port Washington and Milwaukee Lutheran to make the field. To top it off, the Warhawks will get a home game against a squad that won a couple thrillers this year but will be a much bigger underdog than the seeds and records suggest. Follow Steve Tietz for updates.

(6) Cedarburg (4-5, 4-3 in North Shore) at (3) Brookfield East (7-2, 5-2 in Greater Metro). One of the more dangerous teams in the field is East, which has struggled with health this year and could be hitting its stride, if a Week 9 shellacking of Sussex Hamilton is any indication. Cedarburg didn’t have its customary level of excellence in 2016, but it remains a dangerous foe. Follow John Rech for updates.

(6) Jefferson (6-3, 6-3 in Rock Valley) at (3)Pewaukee (8-1, 6-1 in Woodland West). The Woodland Conference champion won’t have to face other Milwaukee-area teams in first rounds of the tournament, and assuming it gets healthy, it’s a dangerous squad with multiple weapons and quality line play. Jefferson’s best win came in Week 2 when it handed Evansville/Albany – the squad that defeated Pewaukee in last year’s playoffs – its only loss of 2016. Follow Chuck Delsman for updates.

(5) Wisconsin Lutheran (6-3, 6-1 in Wisconsin Little Ten) at (4) New Berlin Eisenhower (7-2, 6-1 in Woodland West) This is one of the more intriguing Level 1 battles in the entire playoff field. Wisco shared the final Wisconsin Little Ten title and played a tough nonconference schedule against Marquette and Pewaukee, and Eisenhower’s lone league loss came in a heartbreaker to Pewaukee. Expect this one to go down to the wire. Follow Andrew Gruman for updates.

(6) Greendale (7-2, 4-2 in Woodland West) at (3) Plymouth (7-2, 6-1 in East Central). Plymouth edged Eisenhower before the season, so that would give it an advantage on paper. Greendale, among the largest Division 3 schools, is nonetheless a threat, even though it has struggled offensively since handing Menomonie its lone loss of the season in Week 1.

(7) Port Washington (5-4, 4-3 in North Shore) at Kewaskum (8-1, 6-1 in East Central) Port gets the other half of the formidable one-two East Central punch each year (though the teams shared the league title with Berlin). The Pirates had a rollercoaster year, alternating wins and losses throughout, to land their first playoff berth since 2008. Running back Matt Ruppel put up big numbers this year. Dalton Poole threw for more than 1,500 yards at quarterback for Kewaskum. Port fell in nonconference play to Kewaskum by a mere touchdown.

(6) Martin Luther (6-3, 4-3 in Metro Classic) at(3) University School (7-2, 5-2 in Midwest Classic). It’s an intriguing first-round battle between two smaller programs enjoying productive seasons. The Spartans have overcome some key injuries to get the necessary number of wins this year, while U-School has made the most of its small roster.

(5) Dodgeland (8-1, 5-1 in Trailways Large) at (4) Lake Country Lutheran (9-0, 7-0 in Midwest Classic). What a brutal draw Division 6 is. Despite going undefeated and beating a conference champ from another league (and a higher-enrollment division) in the nonconference season, LCL is the fourth-seeded team in its own group of eight. Dodgeland is led by running back Andrew Mountin, who has rushed for more than 1,100 yards. Follow Evan Frank for updates.