Last week: 24-8, 75 percent
This season: 273-86, 76.04 percent
Within 7 points of margin: 6 (2 perfect picks), 86 for the season 

Mid-week rankings to be updated are compiled by the Georgia High School Football Daily, and are composite rankings from from AJC, GPB, ScoreAtlanta, 680 The Fan, Maxwell, and MaxPreps. Maximum Sports Report spread is 39 points.

Games of the week
No. 8 Houston County, 8-2, R1/4, at No. 10 Brunswick, 10-0, 7-3, R2/1
          The nightmare fourth seed is on the road, owner of a stronger schedule and a little bit more explosiveness. Brunswick hasn’t played a ranked team this season, went 1-0 last season and 0-4 in 2020. The Bears are more tested.
TSR pick: Houston County by 15

By Michael A. Lough
The Sports Report
centralgasports@gmail.com

Class AAAA  

Westside, 7-3, R2/3, at Cairo, 7-3, R1/2
          The Seminole are extremely fortunate to still be playing, but that had to have been filed away by Saturday afternoon. Cairo comes in with less momentum, after a spanking by Bainbridge in the region championship. Defense makes the difference.
TSR pick: Cairo by 17

Class AA

No. 11 Worth County, 8-2, R1/3, at Northeast, 7-3, R2/2
The Raiders will have a burly battle against a solid that that didn’t finish all that well, 2-2 down the stretch with losses of 42 and 24. Northeast’s defense better bow up, and the Raiders can’t make mistakes or miss post-TD conversions.
TSR pick: Northeast by 2

ACE, 8-2, R2/3, at No. 8 Cook, 7-3, R1/2
          Cook survived back-to-back losses to get in, but the Hornets can give up some points. ACE scoring only six last week? Expect the Gryphons to make up for it, but the defense has to travel well.
TSR pick: ACE by 4 (upset special)

Class A/Division I

No. 9T Bleckley County, 8-2, R2/3, at No. 5 Brooks County, 7-2, R1/2
          It should be an action-packed showdown in Quitman.

TSR pick: Brooks County by 11

Macon County, 5-5, R6/3, at Wilkinson County, 6-4, R5/2
          The rare battle of Central Georgia teams comes with one team happy and one team a little angry, one used to the 11th game and one that’s been in a slump. Macon County finished strong.
TSR pick: Macon County by 23

The Schedule

Class 6A

Glynn Academy, 6-4, R2/3 at No. 11 Northside, 6-4, R1/2
          This may not be all that pretty, and if so, it’s a good time to Northside to sharpen up the passing game.
TSR pick: Northside by 27

Class 5A

Jenkins, 3-6, R1/3, at No. 8 Warner Robins, R2/2, Saturday
          This won’t take long, thanks to a running clock. The Demons are rolling.
TSR pick: Warner Robins by 31

Jones County, 6-4, R2/4, at No. 1 Ware County, 9-0, R1/1, Saturday
          The Greyhounds can win by 7 or lose by 27. Figuring out who’s healthy and in uniform is the weekly game. The Gators’ defense is playing pretty brutal ball lately, and the Greyhounds haven’t been consistent on O, but they’re capable.
TSR pick: Ware County by 18

Class 4A

Shaw, 4-6, R1/4 at No. 3 Perry, 9-1, R2/1
          Thanks for coming, watch out for the deer on the ride home.
TSR pick: Perry by 37

Baldwin, 4-6, R2/4, at 6-4, No. 5T Bainbridge, 6-4, R1/1
          See “Jones County.” No idea what Baldwin will do on any given Friday. The problem? The Braves’ only consistency was amid the three-game losing streak to open the season. They can beat Bainbridge, they can be rolled. Is this when they get a streak going?
TSR pick: Bainbidge by 17 (upset watch)

 Class 3A

Crisp County, 5-5, R1/4, at No. 7 Peach County, 7-3, R2/1, Saturday
          They know each other well as region mates for two seasons, and Crisp County has a 27-14 win and 14-13 loss. The Trojans are playing pretty well, and the Cougars are seeking consistency.
TSR pick: Peach County by 24

Dougherty, 8-2, R1/3, at Mary Persons, 6-4, R2/2, Saturday
          The Bulldogs have yet to find much consistency, and the Trojans went from consistent to a two-game losing streak and on the road. Dan Pitts Stadium has to feel and sound like Dan Pitts Stadium, or it can be locked up for the year on Saturday.
TSR pick: Dougherty by 9

Upson-Lee, 4-6, R2/3, at No. 8T Carver-Columbus, 7-2, R2/2, Saturday
          The Knights got a team on a bit of a roll, that’s two points from being 9-1 and is the state runner-up in 4A.
TSR pick: Carver by 25

Class AA

Central, 3-7, R2/4, at No. 1 Fitzgerald, 10-0, R1/1
          Fitzgerald may be the least dominant No. 1 team in the state, with five wins by two touchdowns or less. Nevertheless, it’s also the defending state champ.
TSR pick: Fitzgerald by 36

Toombs County, 6-4, R3/3, at No. 13 Putnam County, 8-2, R4/2
          The War Eagles better take seriously a team coming n on a two-game win streak with two straight shutouts.
TSR pick: Putnam County by 8

Washington County, 4-6, R4/4, at No. 2 Appling County, 8-1, R3/1
          Don’t discount the inconsistent Golden Hawks just yet. But the Pirates are on a roll, and have a quality defense, holding four teams to 7 or less.
TSR pick: Appling County by 24

Class A/Division I

Pelham, 3-7, R1/3, at Dublin, 6-3, R2/2
          The Irish, while working on the passing game, will likely be ready to shed all tastes of last week’s loss, and fine-tune on some things.
TSR pick: Dublin by 32

Claxton, 4-6, R3/4, at No. 11 Lamar County, 9-1, R4/1
          A good night, second half, for the Trojans to spread things around and give CJ Allen a rest.
TSR pick: Lamar County by 29

Crawford County, 3-7, R4/3, at Screven County, 8-1, R3/2
          A 44-0 loss last week aside, Screven County has a super defense with four shutouts on the resume.
TSR pick: Screven County by 28

Jasper County, 4-6, R5/3, at Mt. Pisgah, 7-3, R6/2
          It’s too much to predict the upset, but don’t be surprised if the Purple Hurricanes turn in a fairly competitive game.
TSR pick: Mt. Pisgah by 25

Class AA/Division II

Dooly County, 5-5, R4/3, at Jenkins County, 7-3, R3/2
          One team finished strong, the other one, not so much.
TSR pick: Jenkins County by 22

Hancock Central, 4-6, R5/3, at No. 10 Manchester, 6-3, R6/2
          The Blue Devils are off a closer-than-expected win, and are likely to re-flex muscles.
TSR pick: Manchester by 29

GMC, 4-6, R5/4, at No. 4 Schley County, 8-2, R6/1
          A mighty different first round for GMC than a year ago.
TSR pick: Schley County by 28 

GIAA

The GIAA split up what is Class AAA for the regular season into to playoff divisions, based on enrollment

“Play-in” round
Class AAAA

No. 9 Mount de Sales, 2-8, at No. 8 Bethlehem Christian, 9-1
TSR pick: Bethlehem Christian by 12

Class AA

No. 9 Trinity Christian, 3-7, at No. 8 Piedmont, 3-7
TSR pick: Trinity Christian by 2

Class A

(Regular first round)

No. 6 Grace Christian at No. 3 Fullington
TSR pick: Fullington by 28