Who's going to win Friday night's games?
Last week: 26-6
Season: 185-47 (79.9)
Within 6 points of margin: 5
Upset specials: None picked (1 of 2 upset alerts happened, with Dooly County)
Top Games
Class 6A
Northside (R 1, 3, 5-5) at Tucker (R4, 2, 7-3)
The Tigers are No. 5/9 and the Eagles still No. 5 in a poll. Both are running teams, but Northside QB Jadin Daniels’ passing has improved, and he’s a 1,387-yard passer and 1,102-yard runner, but the Eagles have more running threats than it seems. Northside’s schedule and being 0-5 against Tucker come into play.
The Sports Report pick: Northside by 9
Class 5A
Veterans (R2, 3, 8-2) at Stockbridge (R4, 2, 9-1)
The Warhawks went from plenty of momentum to back and forth, and enter the playoffs off a 28-0 loss. This is still a program in progress, facing a program program, one that just took care of Jones County in Gray – no easy task – and has lost one game, to No. 5/6, by seven. Veterans will have to be on point like it hasn’t really been in awhile.
TSR pick: Stockbridge by 17
Class 4A
Howard (R2, 3, 6-4) at Burke County (R3, 2, 7-3)
The equation is fairly simple for Howard against most teams: just play smart. The Huskies could easily be an 8-2 team if they could’ve gotten out of their way a few times. They physically match up with anybody on their schedule. Another issue is how quickly they put the 60-14 pasting by Mary Persons in the rearview mirror.
TSR pick: Howard by 2 (Upset Special)
Perry (R2, 4, 6-4) at Baldwin (R3, 1, 5-5)
The Braves are one of the better stories in the area, starting off 0-5 and yet winning the region. They’ve battled through some key injuries, like at quarterback, and kept plugging. Both teams have some quality playmakers on both sides of the ball – like Baldwin’s Milton Adams and Perry’s Jordan Thompkins on defense – but 2-4A is a stronger region, which gives the Panthers an edge.
TSR pick: Perry by 11
Washington County (R3, 3, 8-2) at Vidalia (R2, 2, 9-1)
A serious strap-it-up, rub dirt on it, hide-the-blood-on-the-uniform game that makes linemen giddy, because this will be straight up power will-imposing football. The teams are about 85-15 or so run-pass. But coming off a loss at home and playing a tougher schedule should bolster Washington County.
TSR pick: Washington County by 8
Class A
No. 19 Hancock Central (6-4) at No. 14 Dooly County (6-4)
Both have been set for the postseason for a few weeks. Both have been up and down, but Hancock Central gets a pretty healthy Bo Lawson to deal with at QB for the Bobcats. That’s a lot to deal with.
TSR pick: Dooly County by 24
The Matchups
Class 5A
Jones County (R4, 3, 8-2) at Bainbridge (R1, 2, 5-5)
Greyhound coaches won’t admit publicly the joy at their first-round draw, even if they have to travel. And that’s a haul. Bainbridge is a nice team that lost 38-0 to another 5A passing team, Warner Robins.
TSR pick: Jones County by 23
Class 4A
Thomson (R3, 3, 4-6) at Upson-Lee (R2, 2, 7-3)
Thomson went 10-2 last year, so this is no gimme, losing record aside. Upson-Lee’s biggest challenge, though, might be keeping cool amid the electricity of the Knights’ first home playoff game since 1993. Head coach Justin Elder was a junior at Mary Persons. The Knights can’t get caught up in things.
TSR pick: Upson-Lee by 14
Class A
No. 22 Stratford (5-5) at No. 11 Aquinas (8-2)
The Eagles came up big at the right time to seal a playoff spot, winning at Aquinas last week, getting ahead early and holding on. The odds of a repeat are not good. Aquinas had won six straight at home.
TSR pick: Aquinas by 15
No. 20 Tattnall (6-4) at No. 13 Wesleyan (6-4)
The Trojan coaches are most likely tolerable of this draw, against a team that also started off rough and found itself. Wesleyan could be a hair flat early against a team off a 35-10 loss.
TSR pick: Wesleyan by 11 (upset alert)
GISA 3A
Westfield (R4, 2, 4-6) at Southland (R3, 2, 8-2)
They played in late August, and Southland won by one, before Westfield got going. Hornet QB Garan Daw is a player to watch, having improved since then, Westfield finding some offense lately.
TSR pick: Westfield by 2 (upset special)
The Games
Class 5A
Locust Grove (R4, 4, 5-5) at Warner Robins (R1, 1, 8-2)
TSR pick: Warner Robins by 33
Class 4A
Richmond Academy (R3, 2, 7-3) at Mary Persons (R2, 1, 10-0)
TSR pick: Mary Persons by 38
Class 3A
Ringgold (R4, 4/at-large, 5-5) at Peach County (R4, 1, 8-2)
TSR pick: Peach County by 34
Cook (R1, 3, 3-7) At Westside (R4, 2 7-3)
TSR pick: Westside by 29
Class AA
Toombs County (R2, 3, 5-5) at Dublin (R3, 1, 9-1)
TSR pick: Dublin by 30
Jeff Davis (R2, 4, 7-3) at Dodge County (R2, 2, 9-1)
TSR pick: Dodge County by 27
Northeast (R3, 4, 4-6) at Swainsboro (R2, 1, 8-2)
TSR pick: Swainsboro by 20
Monticello (R8, 4, 5-5) at Heard County (R5, 1, 8-2)
TSR pick: Heard County by 37
Class A Public
No. 21 Macon County (5-5) at No. 12 Chattahoochee County (7-3)
TSR pick: Macon County by 3 (Upset special)
No. 22 Taylor County (5-5) at No. 11 Charlton County (7-3)
TSR pick: Charlton County by 17
Class A Private
No. 24 Holy Innocents’ (5-5) at No. 9 Mount de Sales (9-1)
TSR pick: Mount de Sales by 13
GISA
Class AAA
Trinity Christian (R2, 3, 6-4) at Loganville (R1, 2, 4-7)
TSR pick: TCS by 5
John Milledge (R4, 1, 10-0) bye (next: Bulloch/Brookwood winner)
Class AA
Westwood (R3, 3 at Brentwood (R4, 2, 5-5)
TSR pick: Brentwood by 19
St. Andrews (R2, 3, 2-5-1) at Piedmont (R1, 2, 3-6-1)
TSR pick: Piedmont by 6
Gatewood (R1, 1, bye (next: vs. SW Ga./Briarwood winner)