Who's going to win this week's Central Georgia high school football games?
By Michael A. Lough
The Sports Report
centralgasports@gmail.com
Last week
22-7, 71.26 percent
Season
95-26, 78.5 percent
Within 7 of the spread
7; 26 for the season, 21.5 percent
Upset specials/perfect spread/Upset watches
0-1 (CFCA over Flint River, CFCA lost by 6 in OT;/none/2-accurate on Macon County-Manchester, not on John Milledge-Athens Academy
Maximum spread prediction of 39 points
Rankings are from the Georgia High School Football Daily regular-season composite polls
Games of the week
6A Tift County, 3-1, at No. 6 Houston County, 4-0
A good ol’ fashioned throwdown at Freedom Field. Expect loads of action. The Bears can show they’re getting to the Lee County/TCC/Coffee level with a win.
TSR pick: Houston County by 13
5A Veterans, 2-1, at Perry, 1-2
The Family Affair – Veterans HC Steve DeVoursney is the uncle of Perry OC Eric DeVoursney – will be more interesting than we would have thought a month ago. Perry’s young, and Veterans has some confidence.
TSR pick: Perry by 15 (upset watch)
Mary Persons, 3-0/1-0, at No. 6T Troup, 3-0/1-0, Saturday
The Bulldogs remember everything from last year, the forfeits and the actual losses. This was an actual loss, 24-17. And this year’s game will be just as tight.
TSR pick: Mary Persons by 3 (upset alert)
No. 3 Sandy Creek, 3-0/1-0, at No. 12T Upson-Lee, 3-0/1-0
One big burly game at Matthews Field, which – come on, Upson County – should be pretty dang full. Huge challenge for the Knights in only the second meeting. Upson-Lee will remember the bruises from last year’s 31-0 loss.
TSR pick: Sandy Creek by 6 (upset watch)
John Milledge, 2-1, at Bulloch, 3-0
The defending GIAA AAA champ hosts the former champs now in the hunter role. The Trojans are in that rare position of coming off an early-season loss for a second straight year.
TSR pick: John Milledge by 6
The schedule
Class 5A
AA No. 7 Burke County, 3-1, at Northside, 0-3
TSR pick: Burke County by 2 (upset watch)
Class 4A
Jones County, 2-2/1-2, at Union Grove, 0-4/0-3
TSR pick: Jones County by 28
Class 3A
Harlem, 2-0, at Baldwin, 2-1
TSR pick: Baldwin by 9
Howard, 1-2/0-1, at Richmond Academy, 0-3/0-1
TSR pick: Howard by 16
Cross Creek, 1-2/0-1, at West Laurens, 3-0/1-0
TSR pick: West Laurens by 31
Class AA
A/II No. 11 Hawkinsville, 3-0, at Rutland, 0-3
TSR pick: Hawkinsville by 8
Class A/Division I
Dodge County, 2-1, at Vidalia, 1-3
TSR pick: Dodge County by 11
No. 9 Dublin, 2-1/2-0, at East Laurens 1-2/1-1
TSR pick: Dublin by 35
AA Jackson, 1-3, at Jasper County, 3-0
TSR pick: Jasper County by 9
Class A/Division II
Crawford County, 2-1, at Macon County, 0-4
TSR pick: Macon County by 21
GIAA AA Creekside Christian, 3-1, at GMC Prep, 0-4
TSR pick: Creekside by 20
Taylor County, 1-2, at Montgomery County, 1-2
TSR pick: Taylor County by 14
Twiggs County, 0-3, at AA Josey, 0-3
TSR pick: Josey by 7
Warren County, 0-4, at Hancock Central, 2-2
TSR pick: Warren County by 7 (upset alert)
Wilkinson County, 0-4, at ACE Charter, 3-0
TSR pick: ACE by 24
GIAA
Class 4A/3A
Frederica, 2-2, at Stratford, 3-0
TSR pick: Stratford by 19
Loganville Christian, 2-1, at Piedmont, 2-1/0-1
TSR pick: Loganville Christian by 19
Pinewood Christian, 2-2, at FPD, 3-1
TSR pick: FPD by 17
Strong Rock, 3-1, at Tattnall, 0-4
TSR pick: Strong Rock by 13 (upset watch)
Westfield, 2-1, at Tiftarea, 1-2
TSR pick: Westfield by 3
Class AA/A
4A Mount de Sales, 0-4, at Gatewood, 0-4
TSR pick: Gatewood by 1
Thomas Jefferson, 1-3, at Brentwood, 4-0
TSR pick: Brentwood by 29
Windsor, 1-3, at Trinity Christian, 3-1
TSR pick: Trinity Christian by 22