HSFB2019: Who's going to win this week's Central Georgia football games?

HSFB 2019: Who’s going to win this week’s football games?

Last week: 18-4

Season: 137-36, 79.19

Within 7 points of margin: 5; 32 for the season

Upset specials: 0-1

A note: The Sports Report policy is to max out picks at 39 points although some games could earn a predicted margin of victory in the 40s and 50s.

Games of the week

Lamar County (6-0/2-0) at Callaway (5-1/2-0), Thursday

          It’s one of those “play who’s in the uniform, not the name on the front of the uniform”, since Callaway has won eight straight, and Lamar County has scored all of 58 points in those games while Callaway has put up 327. Ouch. The good news for Lamar County is that the scoring will be very different. But ...

TSR pick: Callaway by 9

Northeast (2-4/0-2) vs. Southwest (2-3/0-1), Thursday

          The Raiders have to win to keep their playoff hopes, dim as they are, alive. Southwest has been outscored 101-14 in its last two games, which came before a week off. Not great timing.

TSR pick: Northeast by 23

Bainbridge (5-1) at Veterans (5-1)

          Even? Veterans has scored three more points, Bainbridge has given up four fewer points. The defending state champs have played a tougher schedule – three ranked teams, in smaller classes – and, like Veterans, have won close games. The Bearcats are off a subpar game in a 24-6 to sub-.500 7A Tift County. Do the state champs go down to Veterans for the second straight year?

TSR pick: Veterans by 4

Dublin (5-0/2-0) at Dodge County (3-3/2-0)

          Both teams had different versions of wakeup calls last week, Dublin with in inability to put Bleckley County away and Dodge County needing a big goal-line stand at the end to hold off Northeast. The Indians are getting back to running more, but they have a passing game. Still, this is some old-school football, and Dublin has too many weapons. But if the Irish get foggy, on the road ...

TSR pick: Dublin by 19

Houston County (4-2) at Valdosta (5-1)

          The Bears have had two odd losses, and Valdosta will either be angry or perhaps a little flat after falling 24-0 to Lowndes, and then having a week off before facing a team it beat 55-14 last year (two weeks after losing 71-35 to Lowndes).

TSR pick: Valdosta by 22

Jones County (6-0/3-0) at Dutchtown (6-0/3-0)

          The Greyhounds lost a very winnable game 18-10 last year at home against the eventual region champs, who finished the regular season 10-0, and gave up only 92 points in 13 games. The Bulldogs are already at 74 points allowed, and facing a Jones County team that’s balanced, and may get a boost from the visiting crowd.

TSR pick: Jones County by 8

Upson-Lee (2-4/0-1) at Mary Persons (3-3/1-0)

          The same goes here for Upson-Lee as for Lamar County above: try to avoid being intimidated by the name of the opponent. The Knights also have to get out of their own way in just about every phase of the game, having found ways to lose to Fitzgerald and Perry. Mary Persons is surviving, but could be 1-5. How much difference there is between the two teams who lost the most regulars from a year ago is tough to figure out, but confidence is the difference this time around.

TSR pick: Mary Persons by 15

Washington County (4-1/1-0) at Bleckley County (4-2/1-1)

TSR pick: Any chance the Golden Hawks had to overlook Bleckley County was pretty much dismissed with the Royals’ performance against Dublin on the road. There’s not much series history here, so less a chance for Bleckley County to be intimidated. The Royals’ speed on defense only matters if they’re disciplined against the Golden Hawks’ single-wing.

TSR pick: Washington County by 14

The Games

Thursday

Central (0-6/0-2) vs. Kendrick (1-5/0-2), 7 p.m., Pacelli

TSR pick: Central by 3

Friday

Class 6A

Northside (3-3) at Coffee (5-1)

TSR pick: Coffee by 19

Class 5A

Harris County (4-2) at Warner Robins (5-1)

TSR: Warner Robins by 17

Class 4A

Upson-Lee (2-4/0-1) at Mary Persons (3-3/1-0)

TSR pick: Mary Persons by 16

West Laurens (5-1/1-0) at Spalding (1-5, 0-1)

TSR pick: West Laurens by 29

Richmond Academy (3-2) at Baldwin (1-5)

TSR pick: Baldwin by 15

Class 3A

Jackson (4-2/2-0) at Westside (4-2/2-0)

TSR pick: Jackson by 4

Rutland (2-4/1-1) at Pike County (2-3/0-1)

TSR pick: Pike County by 11

Class A

Hawkinsville (1-4/1-1) at Dooly County (1-4/1-1)

TSR pick: Dooly County by 8

Crawford County (1-4/0-2) at Macon County (2-3/1-1)

TSR pick: Macon County by 22

Taylor County (3-2/1-1) at Schley County (3-2/2-0)

TSR pick: Schley County by 9

Stratford (1-4/0-1) at Tattnall (3-2/2-0)

TSR pick: Tattnall by 8

Mount de Sales (5-0/1-0) at Twiggs County (0-6/0-2)

TSR pick: Mount de Sales by 28

GMC (2-4/0-3) at Warren County (3-3/1-2)

TSR pick: Warren County by 27

FPD (2-3/1-0) at Wilkinson County (0-5/0-1)

TSR pick: FPD by 22

Greene County (1-4/1-1) at Hancock Central (2-3/1-1)

TSR pick: Hancock Central by 13

Glascock County (1-5)  at ACE (0-5)

TSR pick: Glascock County by 5

GISA

Trinity Christian (1-4) at Augusta Prep (0-6)

TSR pick: TCS by 10

John Milledge (5-0) at Bulloch (4-1)

TSR pick: John Milledge by 15

Frederica (2-3/0-1) at Westfield (1-6/1-1)

TSR pick: Frederica by 6

Piedmont (1-3) at Terrell (3-3)

TSR pick: Terrell by 18

Robert Toombs (2-4) at Brentwood (4-2)

TSR pick: Brentwood by 17