Last week: 19-7

Season: 161-46, 79.7.

Within 7 points of margin: 3; 42 for the season

Upset specials: 3-0 (Central, Macon County, and FPD)

A note: The Sports Report policy is to max out picks at 39 points although some games could earn a predicted margin of victory in the 40s and 50s.

Games of the Week

Coffee (6-2/1-1) at Houston County (4-3/0-1)

          The Bears are at home for their biggest game since the regular-season finale in 2016, a heartbreaking home loss to Valdosta that kept the Bears out of the playoffs. Houston County can take a phenomenal step toward its first playoff trip since 2015 with the upset. Ball-control – max of one turnover – and run defense can do it.

The Sports Report pick: Houston County by 2 (Upset special)

Warner Robins (7-1/2-0) at Bainbridge (5-2/0-1)

          The meeting of that, oh, fascinating and baffling 5A state title game meet again, and Bainbridge is likely to be amped after getting screwed out of one more play in the loss to Veterans. But the Demons are so steady.

TSR pick: Warner Robins by 8

West Laurens (6-1/2-0) at Mary Persons (4-3/2-0)

          This is a game the Raiders have slobbered towards for awhile: being favorite at Mary Persons with the chance to make sure Region 2-4A has a new region champ for the first time since 2014, when the Raiders topped the Bulldogs 21-14 in Forsyth in the regular-season finale. West Laurens is a complete team.

TSR pick: West Laurens by 17

Lamar County (6-1/2-1) at Bremen (4-3/2-1)

          Scoring O and D are mighty close, Bremen with four more points and having allowed 22 fewer points. Callaway beat Bremen 20-14 and then Lamar County 46-7 a week later. The Trojans had last week off to regroup.

This week’s Readables
Friday night’s roundup and scores (Friday)
Scouting Reports
Statewide polls and Maxwell predictions (Friday PM)
The Sports Report tells you the winners
Weekly football honorees (from teams, on Twitter)
Class A power ratings
Monday Morning Quarterback
Macon TD Club honorees
Last week
Friday night’s roundup and scores
Scouting Reports
Statewide polls and Maxwell predictions
The Sports Report tells you the winners
Weekly football honorees (from teams, on Twitter)
Class A power ratings
Monday Morning Quarterback
Macon TD Club honorees
Recently
Friday night’s roundup and scores
Video: The Sports Report on Gridiron Gab, talking about the big games of the week, and more
Scouting Reports for Friday night
Statewide polls and Maxwell Predictions
The Sports Report tells you the winners
Class A power ratings
Monday Morning QB
Macon TD Club honorees
Friday night’s roundup and scores
Scouting Reports for Friday night
Statewide polls and Maxwell predictions
The Sports Report tells you the winners
Weekly football honorees (from teams)
Class A power ratings
Monday Morning QB (polls and notes)
Macon TD Club honorees

TSR pick: Lamar County by 6 (Upset special)

Key Matchups

Howard (4-3/0-2) at Upson-Lee (2-5/0-2)

          Suddenly, the Huskies are reeling with two surprisingly convincing losses. And Upson-Lee has lost four straight, three by 19 points. So if the Knights can avoid finding a way to lose, they stay a little more alive in the playoff hunt. Howard has gone from a favorite for second place to must-win status.

TSR pick: Howard by 9

Putnam County (3-4/2-2) at Banks County (3-4/2-2)

          Welcome to the 8-AA traffic jam. The War Eagles have won two straight, the Leopards have lost two straight, to region powers Rabun County and Union County, only 14-7 in the second loss. A coin flip.

TSR pick: Putnam County by 10

No. 16 Mount de Sales (7-0/3-0) at No. 25 FPD (4-3/3-0)

          The oldest young ‘ns on the Mount de Sales side were about four years from being born when the Cavs last swept Stratford, Tattnall, and FPD, in 1997. And the Vikings have a chance to do that for the first time since 2005, but have to win this one to keep that hope alive.

TSR pick: Mount de Sales by 18

No. 23 Hancock Central (4-3/3-1) at No. 27 Warren County (4-3/2-2)

          Weird. Last year at this time, both teams were 4-3 at this point, and both 2-2 in region play. This time, the Bulldogs have the scalp of Aquinas, and some momentum and confidence. Can they avoid too much of the latter and play a disciplined game on the road?

TSR pick: Hancock Central by 5

The Games

Class 5A

Jones County (7-0/4-0) at Eagle's Landing (2-5/2-2)

TSR pick: Jones County by 29

Class 4A

Spalding (1-6/0-2) at Perry (4-3/2-0)

TSR pick: Perry by 20

Baldwin (2-6/1-1) at Burke County (7-1/2-0)

TSR pick: Burke County by 17

Class 3A

Peach County (6-1/3-0) at Central (2-6/2-2), Henderson

TSR pick: Peach County by 27

Westside (4-3/2-1) at Kendrick (1-7/0-4)

TSR pick: Westside by 28

Class AA

East Laurens (1-6/0-3) at Dodge County (3-5/2-2)

TSR pick: Dodge County by 31

Dublin (7-0/4-0) at Northeast (3-4/1-2), Thompson

TSR pick: Dublin by 27

Washington County (5-2/2-1) at Southwest (2-5/0-3), Ed DeFore

TSR pick: Washington County by 24

Elbert County (3-4/2-2) at Monticello (1-6/1-3)

TSR pick: Elbert County by 22

Class A

No. 22 Schley County (4-3/3-1) at N. 47 Crawford County (2-5/1-3)

TSR pick: Schley County by 28

No. 21 Taylor County (4-3/2-2) at No. 36 Dooly County (2-5/2-2)

TSR pick: Taylor County by 24

No. 24 Macon County (4-3/3-1) at No. 43 Hawkinsville (1-6/1-3)

TSR pick: Macon County by 28

No. 49 GMC (2-6/0-5) at No. 7 Lincoln County (5-2/3-1)

TSR pick: Lincoln County by 29

Central Fellowship (GAPPS, 6-3) at No. 28 Tattnall (3-4)

TSR pick: Tattnall by 31

No. 23 Stratford (2-5/1-2) at No. 34 Wilkinson County (1-6/1-2)

TSR pick: Stratford by 28

Aucilla Christian (Fla.) at ACE (1-6)

TSR pick: Aucilla Christian by 25

GISA/GAPPS

Augusta Prep (0-7) at Westfield (2-7)

TSR pick: Westfield by 20

Bethlehem Christian (1-6/1-0) at John Milledge (7-0)

TSR pick: John Milledge by 39

Memorial Day (1-7) at Gatewood (6-2)

TSR pick: Gatewood by 29

Central Christian (GAPPS, 0-7) at Piedmont (2-4)

TSR pick: Piedmont by 18

Briarwood (7-1/2-0) at Brentwood (6-2/1-0)

TSR pick: Brentwood by 12