HSFB2019: Who's going to survive and advance?

Last week: 18-4
Season: 220-66, 76.92

Within 7 points of margin: 9; 67 for the season
Upset specials: 0 for 3 (Dodge County, Washington County, Macon County)

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.

The overall record, region and region finish accompany each team. Ranking is from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s final regular-season poll.

Class 6A
Houston County, 6-5, R1/4, at South Paulding, 9-2, R5/2
          Defensive backs and backers, get your rest, because there’ll be some throwing. The run game will be huge: Houston County needs one, and has to stop one on a more balanced offense.

The Sports Report pick:  Houston County by 4

Class 5A
No. 3 Rome, 9-2, R7/2, at No. 2 Warner Robins, 10-1, R1/1
          Fans – and can the home side be overflowing with home fans? - might want to wear some protective equipment, because this will be a slobberknocker on a major scale. And chippy. Thus, whoever avoids the dumb 15-yarders the best – and has the fewest pre-snap mistakes – wakes up Saturday happy.
TSR pick:  Warner Robins by 5

Veterans, 9-2, R2/2, at No. 1 Carrollton, 11-0, R7/1
          The Warhawks have been gritty, a find-a-way-to-win team most of the year. Can they convert that into playing the best pass defense of the year on the road? And mix in some balance?
TSR pick:  Carrollton by 14

Cedar Shoals, 8-3, R8/3, at No. 7 Jones County, 10-1 R4/1
          The Jags aren’t the easiest three seed around, all three losses to teams still playing in Class 4A. This may be quite the chess match and back-and-forth game that comes down to the last couple minutes.
TSR pick:  Jones County by 11

Class 4A
No. 10 North Oconee, 10-1, R8/2 at No. 7 West Laurens, 10-1, R2/1
          This is basically a battle between No. 1 region seeds, and everybody in Region 8 is still alive. The Raiders will need an elite performance against a balanced-in-yards offense that’s failed to score 30 points only three times.
TSR pick: West Laurens by 3

Perry, 7-4, R2/2 at No. 6 Oconee County, 10-1, R8/1
          The Panthers needed a big offensive night last week to have some confidence this week against a defense that hasn’t given up more than 14 points in a game since Aug. 30.
TSR pick: Oconee County by 17

Madison County, 5-6, R8/4, at Mary Persons, 6-5, R2/3
          Don’t write off Madison County, whose losses  are all to team still playing, including 5A Cedar Shoals. The Bulldogs keep finding a way to avoid losing, and that’ll happen again.
TSR pick: Mary Persons by 8

Baldwin, 5-6, R3/3, at No. 3 Blessed Trinity, R7/1
          The Braves got off to a good start at home a year ago against Cartersville, leading 13-0 in the second quarter, but lost 42-13. Expect something of a rerun, but maybe closer.
TSR pick: Blessed Trinity by 23

Class 3A
Calhoun, 10-1, R6/2 at No. 1 Peach County, 10-1, R4/1
          Goodness. Third straight year, a playoff meeting. Last week’s ugly game against Brantley County helps the exceedingly well-rested Trojans, but keep on eye on penalties.
TSR pick: Peach County by 12

Class AA
Bremen, 8-3, R5/2, at No. 5 Dublin, 10-1 R3/1
          Those who beat Bremen are still playing, but Region 5 was pretty top-heavy. The Irish will, though, have a good battle.
TSR pick: Dublin by 20

Class A Private
No. 12 Hebron Christian (R8, sub-region champ), 7-4, at No. 5/8 Mount de Sales (Region 7 champ), 10-0
          The Lions have had some late-season issues scoring, but they’ve played a pretty burly schedule. This will be a tight one.
TSR pick: Mount de Sales by 1

GISA

Class AAA
Southland, 7-4, R3 at John Milledge, 10-0, R4
TSR pick: John Milledge by 24

Class AA
Terrell, 7-5, R3, at Brentwood, 9-2, R4
TSR pick:  Brentwood by 18

Memorial Day, 3-8, R2, at Gatewood, 9-2, R1 (7 p.m.)
TSR pick: Gatewood by 32