Who's going to win this week's Central Georgia high school football games?
Last week: 18-4
Season: 50-15, 76.9 percent
Within 7 points of margin: 3, 9 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.
Games of the Week
Fitzgerald at Dodge County
There are folks in the southern part of Central Georgia smiling at the Indians’ start under new head coach Ray Hardin. Fitzgerald has a tendency to wipe off smiles. The Indians have some balance, the Purple Hurricane don’t. An offensive lineman’s dream night.
TSR pick: Fitzgerald by 4
Jones County at Union Grove
The Wolverines beat the Greyhounds the first time they played, in 2010. Haven’t won since, losing six straight, and four by at least 25 points. But they’re off a quality road win over Starr’s Mill, and their ears haven’t been burning all week. A huge game for the Greyhounds.
TSR pick: Jones County by 6
Perry at Veterans
Another year of trying to figure out the Warhawks is underway. They thumped Jones County a year ago, and soon after, the season started circling the drain. Veterans needs to at least keep playing gutty football in this game to retain some momentum. A good home crowd wouldn’t hurt.
TSR pick: Perry by 17
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Monday Morning QB: Rippin’ Rush, WR-Northside, Jones County-Veterans, loads of Loughdmouthings; Central Georgia polls
The schedules, they are a-changing
Warner Robins at Northside
Goodness, it’s been so long since the Eagles scored on the Demons, half the team doesn’t know what it looks like. Northside is clearly better than the past few years, and will not get shut out. But the Demons have too many weapons on offense, from RBs Malcolm Brown and Jafrederick Petty to receivers Daveon Walker and Deuce Petty.
TSR pick: Warner Robins by 22
Notables
Baldwin at Brookwood
Brookwood rarely plays a lower-classification team, and Baldwin being outside of the perimeter, 73 percent of those connected to the home team have never heard about Baldwin. That won’t be enough for the upset, but it’s enough for a scare.
TSR pick: Brookwood by 17
Dublin at Wheeler County
The Irish lost their first home opener since 2014 a few weeks ago. The odds of them going 0-2 for the third time – excluding forfeits in 2004 – under Roger Holmes? Even with a team off three straight 1-9 seasons and is rolling at 2-0?
TSR pick: Dublin by 20
Dougherty at Northeast
The gut feeling is about what adds up to a trap-game performance: The Raiders had an off week to get backs patted, and can easily underestimate Dougherty, which is off to an inspiring 2-0 start, very much a rarity for that program. It’s easy to foresee some early sluggishness for Northeast, which should then – on its new turf – be able to take some control.
TSR pick: Northeast by 16
FPD at Aquinas
Here’s quite the test for FPD, taking on a perennial power. But it’s at the right time. FPD is moving up, and Aquinas may be sliding back a hair. The Vikings haven’t had a quality road win in more than a half-dozen wins. That streak is broken.
TSR pick: FPD by 8
Mary Persons at Newnan
Last year’s game was supposed to be competitive, and really wasn’t, a 44-7. The 7A Cougars haven’t been 0-2 since 2017. Newnan win at The Pitt. That’s not been forgotten this week.
TSR pick: Mary Persons by 17
Savannah Christian at John Milledge
A crossover game to pay attention to, especially since John Milledge beat then No. 7 in Class A Private 52-13 in Savannah. SC went on to win seven straight. The Trojans dominated what was supposed to be good competition last week.
TSR pick: John Milledge by 11
The Games
ACE (0-1) at Pataula Charter (1-1)
TSR pick: Pataula Charter by 11
Beach (0-0) at West Laurens (0-2)
TSR pick: West Laurens by 17
Brentwood (1-1) at Edmund Burke (1-2)
TSR pick: Brentwood by 10
Briarwood (2-1) at Trinity Christian (1-2)
TSR pick: Briarwood by 19
Notre Dame (0-1) at Fullington (0-2)
TSR pick: Notre Dame by 3
GMC (2-0) at Riverside Military (1-0)
TSR pick: GMC by 2
George Walton at Crawford County (0-2)
TSR pick: George Walton by 20
Greene County (1-1) at Hancock Central (0-0)
TSR pick: Greene County by 4
Irwin County (1-1) at Wilkinson County (1-1)
TSR pick: Irwin County by 39
Oglethorpe County (0-1) at East Laurens (2-1)
TSR pick: East Laurens by 15
Macon County (2-0) at Marion County (1-2, 1-0)
TSR pick: Macon County by 15
Memorial Day (0-1) at Piedmont (0-1)
TSR pick: Piedmont by 3
McIntosh (2-1) at Upson-Lee (1-1)
TSR pick: Upson-Lee by 6
Mount de Sales (2-0) at Brookstone (2-1)
TSR pick: Mount de Sales by 2
Montgomery County (2-0) at Dooly County (1-1)
TSR pick: Dooly County by 7
Morgan County (0-2) at Jasper County (0-2)
TSR pick: Morgan County by 3
Pacelli (2-0) at Lamar County (3-0)
TSR pick: Lamar County by 15
Rockdale County (0-2) at Westside (1-0)
TSR pick: Westside by 19
Rutland (0-2) at Worth County (1-2)
TSR pick: Worth County by 20
Schley County (2-0) at Taylor County (1-1, 0-1)
TSR pick: Schley County by 16
Social Circle (2-1) at Putnam County (2-0)
TSR pick: Putnam County by 9
Statesboro (1-1) at Houston County (1-2), at Herb St. John, Perry
TSR pick: Statesboro by 3
Swainsboro (2-1) at Washington County (0-0)
TSR pick: Washington County by 13
Tattnall (1-0) at Deerfield-Windsor (1-2)
TSR pick: Tattnall by 8
Telfair County (0-1) at Hawkinsville (1-1)
TSR pick: Hawkinsville by 18
Vidalia (0-1) at Bleckley County (3-0)
TSR pick: Bleckley County by 21