This Week's high school football games, and who's going to win

Last week: 24-7.

Season: 44-13

Within 6 points of margin: 10 (14 for two weeks, perfect on Treutlen by 20 over Twiggs County)

Upset special (vs. Maxwell, 10-point diff.): Yes (Dodge County over West Laurens).

Games of the week

Westside vs. Howard, at Ed DeFore

          The two best teams, and by a little bit, in Bibb County go at it at each one’s “home” field. The Huskies didn’t lose a step – or a yard or touchdown – with RB Jeremiah Kelly being hobbled last week. Marvarsia Meadows stepped in with 237 yards and three touchdowns against Central. Howard’s size and speed on defense will be tested by RB TyShaun Freeman, who has 353 yards in three games. The Seminoles aren’t avoiding negative plays very well, and QB Victor Dixon is losing 19 yards a game. The Seminoles’ offensive line will have to bow up against a defense that can attack from almost anywhere. Westside continues to get in its way at times, and has only paid for it against Perry, a winnable game it lost as much because of itself as because of Perry. Howard is one of six teams in 4A with more than 100 points in three games, so Westside's speed on defense will be tested.

TSR pick: Howard by 20 (upset special 1)

Statesboro at Veterans

          Finally – no disrespect intended, but reality is reality – Veterans plays somebody. Sort of. Statesboro used to be a big program – seven seasons of at least 10 wins, including a 29-1 two-year stretch in 2004-05, from 2004-13 – and has become almost a homecoming opponent. They were 0-10 in 2016, three seasons after 10-2, and haven’t won more than two games in a season since that 2016 year. The 5A program has beaten 6A Greenbrier 7-3 and 3A top-10 Liberty County 23-6, turning in a quality defensive effort in that game. Veterans’ three opponents are all smaller, and own a 4-5 record. The Warhawks’ wins have been distinctly different from each other, and worth celebrating for different reasons. But they’ll have to put it all together much more, even at home, to go 4-0 in this battle of hungry programs.

TSR pick: Veterans by 5.

Houston County at Peach County (8 p.m.)

          Peach County won by 30 last year, but the Bears – in the beginning of the Post-Fromms (all three of them) Era – weren’t as bad as it seemed, even if the season got no better. Houston County is 2-1 playing smaller programs, wisely scheduling during a rebuilding period. Peach County is regaining its composure after a 33-0 lightning-shortened loss to Lee County, Peach County choosing to stop the game there rather than wait out more weather delays (the game started more than an hour late). The Trojans haven’t been that humbled in a long time, so it might be a little different mental week of practice. This is a “don’t let the underdog hang around long” kind of game, because the Bears have some confidence after beating Rutland 62-17, the key part of all that being 62 points, against anybody.

TSR pick: Peach County by 21.

Union Grove at Jones County

          Union Grove is 2-0, with a 12 point win over 4A Henry County and 28 point win over Class A Strong Rock Christian. Neither is an imposing win, but the Wolverines haven’t had a winning season or 2-0 start since 2013. Any concerns about Jones County being flat after the huge win at Northside may last about 76 seconds, since the Greyhounds are at home and this is the region opener. The team may have a 24-hour rule, but the Barking Lot will still be panting about last week.

TSR pick: Jones County by 24.

Central vs. Southwest, Henderson

          The teams have played 45 times, and Central leads 26-15. Southwest, though, won 40-0 last year, breaking a six-game losing streak to the Chargers. Southwest is still in transition on offense, having lost QB Jordan Slocum to Hapeville Charter – No. 1 in AA, and where he is sharing playing time – in the summer. Central has played the better schedule, against 6A Houston County and 4A Howard, and showed bright spots in both games.

TSR pick: Central by 7 (upset special 2).

Perry at Monroe

          The Tornadoes lost to their top opponent, Westover, 26-6. That will have more impact than the wins over Jordan (47-14) and Terrell County (51-32) by doing what a loss is supposed to do: tighten focus. The 1-AAA Tornadoes are, like the Panthers, a hungry program. Monroe is a win short matching last year’s total, which was one win more than in 2016.

TSR pick: Perry by 6.

The matchups

Appling County at Dodge County

TSR: Dodge County by 25.

Central Talbotton at Taylor County

TSR pick: Taylor County by 24.

Dooly County at Clinch County

TSR pick: Clinch County by 20.

East Laurens at Wheeler County

TSR pick: Wheeler County by 13.

Glascock County at Crawford County

TSR pick: Crawford County by 23.

GMC at ACE

TSR pick: GMC by 29.

Greenbrier at Washington County

TSR pick: Washington County by 19.

Hancock Central at FPD

TSR pick: FPD by 13.

Lincoln County at Tattnall

TSR pick: Tattnall by 3.

Lovett at Mary Persons

TSR pick: Mary Persons by 25.

North Cobb Christian at Monticello

TSR pick: NCC by 9.

Northeast at Manchester

TSR pick: Manchester by 14.

Rutland at Holy Innocents

TSR pick: Holy Innocents by 17.

Upson-Lee at Fitzgerald

TSR pick: Upson-Lee by 8 (upset special 3).

Warner Robins at Baldwin

TSR pick: Warner Robins by 37.

Warren County at Twiggs County

TSR pick: Warren County by 26.

Washington-Wilkes at Stratford

TSR pick: Stratford by 9.

Whitewater at Northside

TSR pick: Northside by 31.

Wilkinson County at Burke County

TSR pick: Burke County by 29.

GISA

Gatewood at Brentwood

TSR pick: Gatewood by 27.

Trinity Christian at John Milledge

TSR pick: John Milledge by 29.

Westwood at Piedmont

TSR pick: Piedmont by 24.