Central Georgia Sports ReportComment

Who's going to win this week's Central Georgia football games?

Central Georgia Sports ReportComment
Who's going to win this week's Central Georgia football games?

Last week: 19-4

Season: 266-73, 78.47 percent
Within 7 points of margin: 5, 81 for the season

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

Douglas County (R5/4, 8-3) at Northside (R1/2, 8-3)

          Can the Eagles have a second straight game of decent passing and of taking care of business?

TSR pick: Northside by 8

Class 5A

No. 4 Warner Robins (R1/2, 10-1) at No. 1 Cartersville (R7/1, 10-0)

          Warner Robins brought a truck can of, well, ya know, to the championship game at old Turner Field. Intensity will not be in issue, and intensity – way too many people will blather about Cartersville wanting revenge, and “want” doesn’t equal execution – won’t win the game. Execution will. The only given is that it won’t be a blowout this time on either side. QB Christon Lane has better passing numbers than predecessor Jalen Addie, who was awfully good, but isn’t anywhere near the run threat, which can be a difference, especially with RB Malcolm Brown out. What if it comes down to kickers, and perfection on PATs or somebody needing a field goal?

TSR pick: Warner Robins by 11

Eastside (R8/3, 8-3) at Jones County (R4/1, 9-2)

          One is a ball-control run team, the other is among the more balanced teams in the state. The Eagles are no playoff newbies, reaching the quarterfinals last year and in 2018. Jones County struggled with a mistake-plagued Griffin team last week, and the Greyhounds can’t trade sluggishness this week. This could end up a line-of-scrimmage run-game slugfest.

TSR pick: Jones County by 4

Class 4A

Flowery Branch (R8/3, 8-3) at No. 7 Perry (R4/1, 10-1)

          Perry’s offensive line and back to levels on defense will have to bow up and be able to run the ball, and defend a quality balanced offense with nearly 1,400 yards passing and almost 2,000 yards rushing. Flowery Branch runs 65.9 percent of the time, and has had the last two seasons ended in the playoffs by Cartersville (14-6) and Marist (24-0) on the road. How full and loud will The Pit be?

TSR pick: Perry by 2

Class AAA

Peach County (R2/2, 7-3) at No. 1 Monroe Area (R8/1, 11-0)

          The Purple Hurricanes have been steady, rising in the rankings from No. 10 back in August. Only two teams have cracked 20 points, and Monroe has a Peach County-like 26-point margin of victory average. Facing two backs teaming for most of the hosts 3,092 rushing yards will be a burly challenge.

TSR pick: Monroe County by 12

Class AA

No. 7 Callaway (R5/2, 8-2) at No. 3 Bleckley County (R3/1, 11-0)

          The Royals kept the “team of destiny” thing going last week with another comeback win, their sixth win this year by one possession. Callaway is off two straight such games, the only two of the season. The Cavs do well away from home, but there will be just so much purple.

TSR pick: Bleckley County by 5

No. 8 Northeast (R3/2, 8-3) at No. 6 Haralson County (R5/1, 10-1)

          The Rebels have won nine straight, with only a few real challenges, and nine of their last 10 at home. They’re not playoff veterans, either, winning their first playoff game ever last week. The Raiders have yet to win a second-round game, but this is the first time they’ve been ranked. Still, there’s some momentum for the home team.

TSR pick: Haralson County by 4

Lovett (R6/2, 8-3) at No. 5 Putnam County (R4/1, 11-0)

          This one kind of comes to down to experience in the playoffs. Putnam County hasn’t won a second round game since 1996, and have had only four since then. Lovett is more used to the stage, program-wise, with a 2013 title sandwiched by quarterfinal trips. But the Lions haven’t had any second-round success since then. The edge goes to the Kilgores (Gerald and Jalen) and Cedrion Brundage.

TSR pick: Putnam County by 9

Class A Public

No. 10 ECI (R3/2, 9-2) at No. 3 Macon County (R5, 10-0)

          Ah, finally folks in Montezuma will have a reason to stay the whole game, rack up some decent concession-stand numbers for a change.

TSR pick: Macon County by 11

Class A Private

Mount Vernon (R5/2, 6-4) at No. 9 FPD (R1/1, 9-2)

          The hosts are balanced, the visitors have a QB who is 72 yards from 2,000 for the season. Balance is better.

TSR pick: FPD by 13

Tattnall (R1/2, 9-1) at No. 8 Darlington (R7/1, 10-1)

          The Trojans are on an offensive roll, with 43 points a game the last four outings. The Tigers have won 10 straight. Both give up about 17 a game. Tattnall has some balance.

TSR pick: Tattnall by 5

 

GISA

No. 9 Bulloch at No. 1 John Milledge

          About what you’d expect.

TSR pick: John Milledge by 34

No. 6 Brookwood at No. 3 Westfield

          The Hornets won 49-48 in last year’s first-round matchup. They might score 49 again, but it won’t be a one-point win.

TSR pick: Westfield by 25

No. 8 Robert Toombs at No. 1 Brentwood

          The War Eagles should come pretty close to matching Gatewood’s 45-0 win a year ago over RTCA.

TSR pick: Brentwood by 38

No. 5. Southwest Georgia at No. 4 Gatewood

          The Gators may be a hair more consistent.

TSR pick: Gatewood by 9