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
22-5, 81.5 percent
For the season
183-57, 76.25 percent
Within 7 of the spread
5 of 27; Season: 42 of 213, 19.6 percent; Perfect spread: None
          Maximum spread to use is 39 points; Rankings are from Georgia HS Football Daily’s composite polls

Games of note

No. 12 Baldwin, 5-1/2-1, at No. 2T Troup, 6-0/3-0, Thursday

          The Braves haven’t been in this kind of air for awhile, nor had a chance to knock off a No. 2 team. Baldwin is playing steady football, its best in awhile. And Troup has had some close games. The defenses will have some big tasks. The Tigers are a little more used to this stage, but they are unlikely to run away from the Braves, if Baldwin keeps its composure.
TSR pick: Troup 16

No. 13 Howard, 4-2/3-0, at Mo. 10 Mary Persons, 3-3/1-2
          The Huskies have done a nice job staying on the tracks after the huge win over Baldwin, taking care of business against Upson-Lee and come up clutch late to beat Spalding. But Mary Persons is used to big games and being ranked. Howard isn’t. Can the Huskies block things out?
TSR pick: Mary Persons by 5 (upset watch)

No. 6 Bleckley County, 6-2/2-1, at No. 12T Dodge County, 4-2/2-0
          Black and blue will be the common colors Saturday morning for both teams, who are neighbors and long-time rivals. There are quality high school football players all over both rosters. The teams are equally balanced, so who avoids any big-play-nullifying penalties in the second half and makes the defensive play in the fourth quarters goes home delirious.
TSR pick: Bleckley County by 9 (upset watch)

Brentwood, 5-3/2-1, at Briarwood, 8-0/3-0
          Brentwood has had a week to stew over letting the Edmund Burke game get away and become a one-point loss in overtime. A rested and angry War Eagle team with a chance to end a perfect season?

TSR pick: Brentwood by 4

The Schedule

Class 6A

Houston County, 3-3/1-1, at No. 6 Coffee, 5-1/1-1
TSR pick: Coffee by 16

No. 3 Lee County, 6-2/2-1, at Northside, 3-3/1-1
TSR pick: Lee County 38

Class 4A

West Laurens, 3-4/2-1, at Long County, 1-5/0-2
TSR pick: West Laurens by 14

Class 3A

Thomson, 2-4/1-1, at Washington County, 3-4/2-1
TSR pick: Washington County by 2

Class AA

No. 3 Dublin, 5-1/2-0, at ACE, 5-2/1-2
TSR pick: Dublin 25

East Laurens, 2-5/1-2, at Vidalia, 2-4/0-2
TSR pick: Vidalia by 13

Class A

GMC Prep, 3-3/0-2, at Hancock Central, 1-5/0-2
TSR pick: Hancock Central by 1

Marion County, 3-4/3-0, at No. 5 Macon County, 5-1/1-1
TSR pick: Macon County by 21

No. 4 Taylor County, 5-1/1-1, at Central-Talbotton, 3-3/0-2
TSR pick: Taylor County by 38

Jenkins County, 2-4/2-0, at Twiggs County, 1-6/0-3
TSR pick: Jenkins County by 25

Glascock County, 3-4/2-1, at Wilkinson County, 3-4/2-1
TSR pick: Wilkinson County by 1

GIAA

Westfield , 4-3/1-0, at CFCA, 0-7/0-2
TSR pick; Westfield by 33

Tattnall Square, 4-4/1-1, at FPD, 4-4/0-2
TSR pick: FPD by 24

Mount de Sales, 5-3/0-2, at John Milledge, 8-0/2-0
TSR pick: John Milledge by 38

Flint River, 3-3/0-3, at Trinity Christian, 2-5/0-2
TSR pick: Trinity Christian by 2

Piedmont, 2-5/1-0, at Windsor, 6-1/2-0
TSR pick: Windsor by 28

Idle: Veterans, Jones County, Perry, Warner Robins, Peach County, Upson-Lee, Westside, Central, Northeast, Rutland, Southwest, Lamar County, Jasper County, Putnam County. Hawkinsville, Crawford County, Stratford, Gatewood