By Michael A. Lough
The Sports Report
centralgasports@gmail.com

Last week
19-3, 86.4 percent
Season
196-46, 81.4 percent
Within 7 of the spread
8; 76 for the season, 28.8 percent
Upset specials/perfect spread
None made/None

Maximum spread prediction of 39 points. Goals: 80 percent picks, 25 percent within 7 points of margin
Rankings are from the Georgia High School Football Daily regular-season composite polls

Games of the week

Coffee, 3-4/1-1, at No. 4 Houston County, 7-0/2-0
All about the D, ‘bout the D, ‘bout the D. Houston County is playing the most complementary football it’s shown in years, maybe a decade or two, and more balance on offense, less fancy and flashy. That’s why the Bears may have an epic season, starting in part on Friday.
TSR pick: Houston County by 23

No. 7 Bleckley County, 6-1/5-1, at No. 11 Dublin, 5-2/5-1
Big. Burly. Huge. A Pride Bowl. The biggest Bleckley County-Dublin game in how long? A good while. Sure, they’re both in the postseason and at home in the first round, but, well, there’s juice in this one. Bleckley County is on par with Northeast, which beat Dublin 20-0. Don’t expect a shutout, but the Royals have speed and balance, and they throw the ball. This is among the best matchups in Central Georgia all season. If you can, go.
TSR pick: Bleckley County by 8

Social Circle, 5-2/3-0, at Jasper County, 7-0/3-0
If you can, go. These two the last few years have turned in some entertainment and suspense, like last year’s three-overtime win by Jasper County. The Hurricanes are having a historic year, and use all three phases to win. But this will be a slobberknocker.

CENTRAL GEORGIA’S BEST HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COVERAGE

This week
🏈 Breaking down the GHSA, GIAA playoff picture
🏈 Central Georgia state composite rankings
🏈 Central Georgia rankings
🏈 Monday Morning Quarterback: Sit down for more Palooza on the Plains; surprises, Loughdmouthings
🏈 Macon Touchdown Club players of the week

Last week
🏈 Roundup : West Laurens, Lamar County stay perfect; Thrillers with Baldwin, Mary Persons, Westfield; Streak-breakers for Westside, Hawkinsville, John Milledge outlasts FPD, CFCA rollsp
🏈 Scouting Reports: This week’s GHSA and GIAA games
🏈 Maxwell Predictions
🏈 Who’s going to win this week’s games
🏈 Central Georgia state composite rankings
🏈 Central Georgia rankings
🏈 Monday Morning Quarterback: Nobody knows who’s in the CFP, nobody, so get ready; Surprises, Loughdmouthings (are loaded up, from ball dropping, high schools, fibbing …)
🏈 Macon Touchdown Club players of the week

Brookstone, 7-1/2-0, at Westfield, 6-2/2-0
So, for silly circular reason, let’s note that Stratford beat Brookstone by 27, and Brookstone beat FPD by 9, and FPD beat Stratford by 11, and Westfield beat FPD by 11, and, well, yeah. Westfield finds ways to win, and spends the night grinding.

TSR pick: Westfield by 3

The Schedule

Class 5A
No. 1 Thomas County Central, 7-0/2-0, at Northside, 0-7/0-2
TSR pick: Thomas County Central by 38

Veterans, 2-5/0-2, at No. 7 Lee County, 5-2/1-1
TSR pick: Lee County by 33

Class 4A
New Hampstead, 1-6/0-2, at Warner Robins, 3-4/0-2
TSR pick: Warner Robins by 9

Perry, 4-3/2-0, at No. 5T Ware County, 6-1/1-1
TSR pick: Ware County by 15

Class 3A
Aquinas, 5-2/3-2, at Baldwin, 3-4/2-3
TSR pick: Baldwin by 3 (upset special 1)

Bainbridge, 0-7/0-2, at No. 2 Peach County, 7-0/2-0
TSR pick: Peach County by 34

Fayette County, 0-7/0-5, at Upson-Lee, 4-3/2-3
TSR pick: Upson-Lee by 32

Hephzibah, 3-5/2-4, at No. 8 West Laurens, 7-0/5-0
TSR pick: West Laurens by 34

Howard, 1-6, 0-5, at Cross Creek, 1-7/0-6
TSR pick: Howard by 24

Spalding, 2-6/2-4, at Mary Persons, 4-3/3-2
TSR pick: Mary Persons by 15

Please consider a contribution of support for Central Georgia's most relevant and extensive sports coverage. It's easy and safe. Every $5, $20, or $50 helps keep it going. Visit a page and click up top, or email centralgasports@gmail.com.

Class AA
Rutland, 0-7, at A/I No. 13 Jeff Davis, 6-1
TSR pick: Jeff Davis by 29

Class A/Division I
No. 9T Dodge County, 6-1/5-1, at Jefferson County, 1-6/1-5
TSR pick: Dodge County by 34

Central, 0-7/0-6, at No. 5 Northeast, 5-2/5-1
TSR pick: Northeast by 35

ACE Charter, 4-3/3-3, at Southwest, 2-5/1-5
TSR pick: ACE by 18

East Laurens, 3-4/3-3 at Washington County, 2-5/2-4
TSR pick: Washington County by 5

No. 8 Lamar County, 6-0/2-0, at Putnam County, 5-3/3-1
TSR pick: Lamar County by 9

Class A/Division II

Chattahoochee County, 3-4/2-2, at Taylor County, 5-2/3-0
TSR pick: Taylor County by 29

Marion County, 0-7/0-3, at Macon County, 2-5/2-1
TSR pick: Macon County by 24

Montgomery County, 1-7/0-4, at Hawkinsville, 5-2/1-2
TSR pick: Hawkinsville by 27

GIAA

Class 4A/3A
Bethlehem Christian, 6-2/5-0, at Piedmont, 5-3/2-3
TSR pick: Bethlehem Christian by 22

Stratford, 6-2/1-2, at Mount de Sales, 2-6/1-1
TSR pick: Stratford by 35

Tattnall, 0-8/0-2, at John Milledge, 6-1/2-0
TSR pick: John Milledge by 38

Class AA
Augusta Prep, 1-8/0-3 at Brentwood, 7-1/3-0
TSR pick: Brentwood by 39

Gatewood, 3-5/2-1, at Edmund Burke, 5-3/2-1
TSR pick: Edmund Burke by 17

Central Fellowship, 4-4/1-1, at Windsor, 2-7/0-2
TSR pick: CFCA by 11

Southwest Georgia, 5-3/1-0, at Trinity Christian, 5-3/0-1
TSR pick: Southwest Georgia by 16

Idle: Jones County, Westside, GMC Prep, Wilkinson County, Hancock Central, Twiggs County, FPD