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

Man, the first week was nice, but it was close to a 90-percent week.

Meeting the season-long goal of 80 percent will have to suffice.

Last season was a “meh” season, picking properly 76.9 percent, going 297-89. Playoffs were a mixed bag.

Getting within seven points of the margin? Hit that 99 times, 25.8 percent of the time. But we’re off to a good start.

The decision hasn’t been made yet to set standard for picking within seven points of the margin, so time to add figuring that out to the tasks.

Last week
24-6, 80 percent
Within 7 of the spread
10
Upset specials/perfect spread
None picked/Upson-Lee by 21, won 42-21; Jones County by x, won x
Maximum spread prediction of 39 points

Rankings are from the Georgia High School Football Daily final regular-season composite polls

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By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com

Man, the first week was nice, but it was close to a 90-percent week.

Meeting the season-long goal of 80 percent will have to suffice.

Last season was a “meh” season, picking properly 76.9 percent, going 297-89. Playoffs were a mixed bag.

Getting within seven points of the margin? Hit that 99 times, 25.8 percent of the time. But we’re off to a good start.

The decision hasn’t been made yet to set standard for picking within seven points of the margin, so time to add figuring that out to the tasks.

Last week
24-6, 80 percent
Within 7 of the spread
10
Upset specials/perfect spread
None picked/Upson-Lee by 21, won 42-21; Jones County by x, won x
Maximum spread prediction of 39 points

Rankings are from the Georgia High School Football Daily final regular-season composite polls

Games of the week

Baldwin, 0-1, at Northside, 0-1
Neither team had much joy last week, Baldwin getting unexpectedly hammered by Perry and Northside falling to underdog Eagle’s Landing on a night of celebrating Conrad Nix (which had nothing to do in any form with the performance). Baldwin was the bigger surprise.

TSR pick: Baldwin by 2

4A/No. 11 Perry, 1-0, at No. 4 Peach County, 1-0

The Panthers looked better than expected, and the Trojans looked about as expected. Both are looking for a few answers early in the season, but Perry has a little more momentum.

TSR pick: Perry by 11

A/I Manchester, 0-1, at 14 No. Upson-Lee, 1-0

Thoughts of last year’s 6-0 win by Manchester started creeping in the Knights’ minds early Saturday. But the Blue Devils are pretty good. Upson-Lee needs to show that it’s on a higher level than a few years ago.

TSR pick: Upson-Lee over Manchester by 1

AA Jackson, 1-0, at Mary Persons

Dang, the Bulldogs’ first game of the year, with some shiny new stuff at The Pitt, after last year’s frustrations, and it’s against The Rival? The smell of tailgating should be nice, and early.
TSR pick: Mary Persons by 20
No. 13 Bleckley County, 1-0, at No. 11 Dodge County

One of the actual real-live rivalries in Central Georgia gets the crammed region race off to quite a start. This time, having the first week off doesn’t help Dodge County. Have a game under its belt helps Bleckley County.

TSR pick: Bleckley County by 6

Tattnall, 0-1, at St. Anne-Pacelli, 0-1

Both teams and their new head coaches were mighty bruised last week, losing by 43 and 32. But Pacelli was in its game at halftime before Stratford went off. Win or lose, looking better than last week is most important.

TSR pick: St. Anne-Pacelli by 12

The Schedule

GHSA
Class 5A
No.7 Houston County, 1-0, at Effingham County
TSR pick: Houston County by 22
Statesboro, 1-0, at Veterans, 0-1
TSR pick: Veterans by 5

Class 4A
Jones County, 1-0, at Woodland-Stockbridge, 1-0
TSR pick: Jones County by 25
No. 13. Warner Robins, 0-1, at 3A Fayette County, 0-1
TSR pick: Warner Robins by 37

Class 3A
Groves at West Laurens
TSR pick: West Laurens by 35

Class AA
Rutland, 0-1, at A/I Jeff Davis, 1-0
TSR pick: Jeff Davis by 29
Westside, 1-0, at A-3A/No. 1 Prince Avenue Christian, 1-0
TSR pick: Prince Avenue by 27

Class A/Division I
ACE at Central, 0-1
TSR pick: ACE by 22
No. 8 Dublin, 0-1, at East Laurens, 0-1
TSR pick: Dublin by 35
No. 5 Northeast, 1-0, at Southwest, 1-0, Thompson
TSR pick: Northeast by 18
Jefferson County at Washington County, 0-1
TSR pick: Washington County by 20
Putnam County, 1-0 at Morgan County
TSR pick: Morgan County by 14
Wilkinson County, 0-1, at Treutlen, 1-0
TSR pick: Treutlen by 4

Class A/Division II
Jasper County, 1-0 at Hancock Central, 1-0
TSR pick: Jasper County by 16
Schley County, 0-1, at Hawkinsville, 1-0
TSR pick: Schley County by 6
Crawford County, 0-1 at GMC Prep, 0-1
TSR pick: Crawford County by 10
Greene County, 0-1, at Twiggs County, 0-1
TSR pick: Greene County by 34
Macon County, 0-1, at A/II No. 2 Bowdon, 0-1
TSR pick: Bowdon by 20
Taylor County, 0-1, at Wheeler County, 1-0
TSR pick: Wheeler County by 8

GIAA

Class AAAA/AAA
FPD, 1-0, at GHSA A/I Marion County, 0-1
TSR pick: FPD by 13
Deerfield-Windsor, 1-0, at Mount de Sales, 0-1
TSR pick: Deerfield-Windsor by 22
Piedmont, 1-0, at Lakeview, 0-1
TSR pick: Lakeview by 8
Southland, 0-1, at Westfield, 1-0
TSR pick: Westfield by 19

Class AA/A
Brentwood, 1-0 at Pinewood, 1-0
TSR pick: Brentwood by 13
Central Fellowship, 0-1, at Briarwood, 1-0
TSR pick: Briarwood by 3
Gatewood, 0-1, at Trinity Christian, 0-1
TSR pick:Gatewood by 9
Thomas Jefferson, 0-1, at Windsor, 1-0
TSR pick: Windsor by 6