Last week: 25-6
Season: 182-59, 75.52
Within 7 points of margin: 7, 49 for the season
Upset specials: none; ‘upset watch’ was Northeast and Dodge 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.

Class 6A

Northside (3-6/0-2) at Houston County (5-4/0-2)

TSR pick: Houston County by 14

 

Class 5A

Coffee at No. 2 Warner Robins, canceled

Veterans (4-4/0-2) at No. 3 Ware County (6-1/1-1)

          The Warhawks enter with football and life heartbreaks, from last week’s OT loss to Coffee to the death Wednesday of freshman player D.J. McMullen. They need a big upset to stay alive for the playoffs against a team that’s playing for a home playoff game. And it’s on the road.

TSR pick: Ware County by 22

Woodland-Stockbridge (6-2/3-2) at No. 10 Jones County (5-3/5-0)

          The Greyhounds wouldn’t be hurt by a challenge for a change as they start eyeing a playoff run, and Woodland might provide it. Might not, too.

TSR pick: Jones County by 27

 

Class 4A

Perry (4-4/4-0) at Howard (2-3/0-2), Ed DeFore

          A win puts Perry in a region title game. Howard’s season has been forgettable since just about the start, and the new goal is to avoid a winless season. Playing spoiler would feel nice, too, but Perry is on a hot streak.

TSR pick: Perry by 22

Westside (4-3/2-2) at Rutland (1-6/0-4), Monday, Ed DeFore

          The Hurricanes haven’t had momentum since the third game, and now a Westside win keeps alive the Seminoles’ hopes for a third-place finish.

TSR pick: Westside by 27

 

Class 3A

No. 4 Crisp County (7-1/4-1) at Central (5-2/5-0), Henderson

          The Cougars are unlikely, at least after a few series, to overlook Central, which is eyeing its biggest upset in forever, which would clinch a home playoff game. Crisp County may start slow.

TSR pick: Crisp County by 23

Mary Persons (4-4/2-3) at Jackson (3-4/2-3)

          Ah, this little rivalry has playoff fingerprints for the first time since 2009. But both teams had winning records back then. Mary Persons finishes up with 0-7/0-5 Americus-Sumter and Jackson with 4-4/2-3 Upson-Lee, so the Red Devils are more done with a loss than the Bulldogs.

TSR: Mary Persons by 11

Upson-Lee (4-4/2-3) at No. 3 Peach County (6-1/5-0)

TSR pick: Peach County by 30

 

Class AA

Dodge County (4-3/3-1) at Washington County (5-3/3-1)

          There’ll be some snoring overnight and groaning in the morning after this slobberknocker, the loser of which can’t get a No. 1 seed. There’s speed and strength on both sides, and the desire to be that top seed. A poster child for Friday night high school football.

TSR pick: Dodge County by 3

East Laurens (3-4/0-3) at Jeff Davis (7-1/3-1)

TSR pick: Jeff Davis by 33

Josey (1-6/0-5) at Putnam County (7-1/4-1)

TSR pick Putnam County by 24

No. 9 Northeast (5-2/3-1) at Jasper County/Monticello (2-6/1-3)

TSR pick: Northeast by 19

 

Class A

Dooly County (3-3/3-3) at Johnson County (6-2/4-2)

TSR pick: Johnson County by 24

Hawkinsville (2-6/1-5) at Treutlen (1-7/0-6)

TSR pick: Hawkinsville by 9

Marion County (3-3/2-2) at Taylor County (5-2/4-2)

TSR pick: Taylor County by 13

Mount de Sales (4-4/2-1) at Deerfield-Windsor (2-6/0-3)

TSR pick: Mount de Sales by 7 (upset watch)

Stratford (5-2/2-1) at FPD (5-3/3-0)

          The playoff-contending teams in the region are all pretty even, but one difference is FPD’s versatility on offense. The Vikings can throw and catch the ball, and do so on a regular basis. Weapons by ground and by air end up the difference as Greg Moore gets his 150th career win to seal the Vikings’ first GHSA region title.

TSR pick: FPD by 11

Strong Rock (4-4/1-2) at Tattnall (3-5/1-2)

TSR pick: Strong Rock by 13

Telfair County (4-4/2-4) at No. 5 Dublin (7-1/6-0)

TSR pick: Dublin by 29

Warren County (5-2/2-1) at ACE (2-5/1-2)

TSR pick: Warren County by 30

Wilkinson County (2-4/2-1) at Hancock Central (4-0/3-0)

TSR pick: Hancock Central by 27

 

GISA

Creekside Christian (5-2/0-1) at John Milledge (6-0/1-0)

TSR pick; John Milledge by 29

Gatewood (7-1) at Piedmont (6-2/0-1)

TSR pick: Gatewood by 25

Solid Rock at Brentwood (6-1)

TSR pick: Brentwood by 24

Westfield (5-1-1/1-0) at Bethlehem Christian (1-6/0-1)

TSR pick: Westfield by 22