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

Last week
27-7, 79.41 percent
Season
250-56, 81.7 percent
Within 7 of the spread
16; 104 for the season, 34 percent
Upset specials/perfect spread
Trinity Christian over RTCA, RTCA won/Picked Hancock Central by 20, won 36-16; Picked Taylor County by 18, won 24-6

Upset watches

Cairo vs. Peach County, Cairo upset (plus); ACE vs. Bleckley County, BC won by 39 (minus); Veteran vs. Coffee, Coffee won by 10 (plus); Rutland vs. Westside, Westside won by 2 (plus)

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

*Playoff qualifier (Central Georgia teams only)

Games of the week

No. 6T Lee County, 7-2/3-1, at No. 6T *Houston County, 8-1/3-1
The Bears are due. Last week’s 24-point loss to Thomas County Central is obviously disappointing, but holding TCC to 31 points is an accomplishment. And Houston County knows it can play better. Can the Bear fill the home side with a home playoff game on the line?
TSR pick: Houston County by 5

CENTRAL GEORGIA’S BEST HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COVERAGE

This week
🏈 Roundup
🏈 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: Will this Atlanta turkey of a season have a coaching change by Thanksgiving?; Bears are ballin’ at Mercer; Loughdmouthings
🏈 Macon Touchdown Club players of the week

Last week
🏈 Roundup: Warner Robins stuns Ware County; Jones County surprised in 2 OT; Peach County upset; West Laurens stays perfect; Northeast nears rare title; Brentwood bops rival; CFCA, Windsor hit 50
🏈 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: What do we know about our main teams in Georgia, near and far? Well, it’s complicated, and entertaining; Surprises, Loughdmouthings (a readable podcast, OK?) galore
🏈 Macon Touchdown Club players of the week

*Warner Robins, 5-4/2-2, at *Perry, 4-5/2-2
Both teams are having disappointing years, and they’re both in the playoffs. And both teams will be amped, regardless. But figuring out how good either team is remains difficult, because of inconsistency.
TSR pick: Perry by 8

No. 11 Westside-Augusta, 9-0/7-0, at No. 6T *West Laurens, 9-0/7-0
Games come down to the same things – turnovers, third downs, fundamental mistakes, health – but this one sort of does come down to one thing: Can Westside slow down Ty Cummings and force the Raiders to pass more? Granted, that doesn’t guarantee a win, because slowing down Cummings may still mean he gets “only” 125 yards a game. Keeping him out of the end zone, be it from 70 yards or 7, is the key.
TSR pick: West Laurens by 4

*Dodge County, 7-2/6-2, at No. 7T *Dublin, 7-2/7-1
This comes down to the health of quarterback Kain Mincey, who emerged last week from a pileup against Northeast unable to finish, a huge game-changer in the Indians’ loss. His backup? Freshman Jordan Spady. Tied with Mincey’s status is how well Dodge County’s defense does against Dublin’s Wing-T. We’re unlikely to see 88 points again (Dublin won 50-33 last year).
TSR pick: Dublin by 3

No. 9 *Lamar County, 9-0/5-0, at No. 10 *Jasper County, 9-0/5-0
This should be one of those ultimate ‘high school football on a Friday night in a small town” atmospheres, what with two undefeated teams, one of which is only four seasons removed from going 0-10 and scoring but 88 points. Should be standing room only and worth a picture. Lamar County is used to this stage, and Jasper County isn’t. Nevertheless, the Hurricanes keep taking steps forward.
TSR pick: Jasper County by 3

Class 5A
Veterans, 2-7/0-4, at Northside, 0-9/0-4
TSR pick: Veterans by 11

Class 4A
Locust Grove, 8-1/7-1, at Jones County, 6-3/5-3
TSR pick: Locust Grove by 10 (upset watch)

Class 3A
Howard, 2-7/1-6, at Baldwin, 3-6/2-5
TSR pick: Baldwin by 9

Monroe, 3-6/1-3, at No. 8 *Peach County, 8-1/3-1
TSR pick: Peach County by 25

Upson-Lee, 5-4/3-4, at No. 6T LaGrange, 7-2/5-2
TSR pick: LaGrange by 22

Whitewater, 4-5/3-4, at Mary Persons, 5-4/3-4
TSR pick: Mary Persons by 9

Class AA
Rutland, 0-9/0-4, at Pike County, 3-6/0-4
TSR pick: Pike County by 8 (upset watch)

Jackson, 3-6/2-2, at *Westside, 3-6/2-2
TSR pick: Jackson by 6

Class A/Division I
ACE Charter, 5-4/4-4, at Washington County, 4-5/4-4
TSR pick: ACE by 2

Central, 0-9/0-8, at No. 11 *Bleckley County, 7-2/6-2
TSR pick: Bleckley County by 38

East Laurens, 3-6/3-5, at No. 4 *Northeast, 7-2/7-1
TSR pick: Northeast by 27

Southwest, 2-7/1-7, at Jefferson County, 2-7/2-6
TSR pick: Jefferson County by 4

Class A/Division II
Crawford County, 4-5/2-3, at Chattahoochee County, 4-5/2-3
TSR pick: Crawford County by 17

Dooly County, 1-7/1-4, at *Hawkinsville, 7-2/3-2
TSR pick: Hawkinsville by 23

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Glascock County, 2-7/1-3, at Hancock Central, 3-6/1-3
TSR pick: Hancock Central by 9

GMC Prep, 4-5/3-1, at No. 4 Johnson County, 9-0/4-0
TSR pick: Johnson County by 37

*Taylor County, 7-2/5-0, at *Macon County, 4-5/4-1
TSR pick: Taylor County by 7 (upset watch)

*Wilkinson County, 3-6/3-1, at Twiggs County, 0-9/0-4
TSR pick: Wilkinson County by 34

GIAA Playoffs
Class AAA
9. Piedmont, 6-4 at 8. Lakeview, 5-5
TSR pick: Lakeview by 8
Class AA
10. Heritage, 1-9, at 7. Gatewood, 3-7
TSR pick: Gatewood by 23

9. Augusta Prep, 2-8, at 8. Windsor, 4-6
TSR pick: Windsor by 10