Who's going to win this week's Central Georgia high school football games?
By Michael A. Lough
The Sports Report
centralgasports@gmail.com
Last year: 291-79, 78.65 percent
Within 7 points of margin: 90
Last week: 19-8, 70.37 percent
There was joy at picking the Mount de-Sales-Strong Rock spread on the money, and Lee County over Warner Robins.
Not so much with Portal-Hawkinsville, Whitefield-Macon County, Southland-Taylor County, among the top “upsets” as per the Georgia High School Football Daily, favorites of seven points or more.
Thus, a subpar first week. Week 2 brings us another batch of quality matchups.
Games of the Week
Perry at Houston County, 1-0
HoCo has an advantage from playing, Perry has an advantage from watching HoCo play. Two quality QBs will test defenses, but Perry can’t start off a dream season with a loss.
TSR pick: Perry by 13
Northside, 0-1, at Peach County, 1-0, 8 p.m.
The Eagles weren’t consistently sharp last week, and the Trojans watched a stunning number of flags fly in their direction. It’d be a surprise to see the same from both teams this week. And Peach County has memories of being surprised last year 28-14.
TSR pick: Peach County by 7
Baldwin, 0-1, at Putnam County
Baldwin fumbled in every facet of the game last week, between the lines and on the sidelines. If the Braves weren’t humbled enough last week, Putnam County will take advantage of similar blunders. Playing at a AA school is notable, and losing to one, ranked or not, would be a body blow.
TSR pick: Baldwin by 4
Macon County, 0-1 at Clinch County, 1-0
The Bulldogs had their eyes opened a bit with their first season-opening home loss since 2019, which was their first opening loss under Dexter Copeland. Clinch County came up clutch last week, and recalls the 26-0 loss a year ago in Montezuma.
TSR pick: Clinch County by 9
Games to watch
ACE Charter, 1-0, at GMC Prep, 0-1
Can ACE win two straight, and knock off a top-15 team on the road in the process? How drastic a change will this Friday be from a 123-point game?
TSR pick: GMC by 11
Lamar County, 1-0, at Upson-Lee, 0-1
The county neighbors are, amazingly, playing for the first time as their current names. The Knights need to get some momentum going at home, and this would be a quality win over a ranked AA team.
TSR pick: Upson-Lee by 3
Jones County, 1-0 at Dacula, 0-1
The Greyhounds are off to a solid start after beating Northside, and last year beat a 7A metro Atlanta team on the road.
TSR pick: Jones County by 7
Veterans, 1-0 at Griffin, 0-1 (GM)
It’s 6A vs. 4A, a program with a state title in the last decade and only two losing seasons since 2000 and one seeking its fourth winning season since 2010.
TSR pick: Veterans by 4
The schedule
Class 4A
Howard, 1-0 at Central, 0-1 (Ed DeFore), 8 p.m.
TSR pick: Howard by 21
Class 3A
Spalding, 1-0, at Mary Persons
TSR pick: Mary Persons by 6
Class AA
Bleckley County, 1-0, at Wilcox County, 0-1
TSR pick: Bleckley County by 24
West Laurens at Dodge County, 0-1
TSR pick: West Laurens by 8
Westside, 1-0, at Southwest, 0-1 (Henderson), 5:30 p.m.
TSR pick: Westside by 25
Swainsboro, 1-0, at Washington County
TSR pick: Washington County by 2
Class A
Dooly County, 0-1, at Irwin County, 0-1
TSR pick: Irwin County by 15
Hancock Central, 1-0, at Harlem, 1-0
TSR pick: Hancock Central by 10
Pike County, 0-1, at Jasper County, 0-1
TSR pick: Pike County by 19
Rutland, 1-0, at Hawkinsville, 0-1
TSR pick: Rutland by 8
Taylor County, 0-1, at Crawford County, 0-1
TSR pick: Crawford County by 8 (upset special)
Twiggs County at Portal, 1-0
TSR pick: Portal by 14
GIAA
Central Fellowship (1-0) at SW Georgia (0-1)
TSR pick: CFCA by 12
FPD vs. Chambers, Ala., 0-1, at West Georgia, Saturday
TSR pick: Chambers by 3
John Milledge, 1-0, vs. Lamar, Miss., 0-2, at West Georgia
TSR pick: John Milledge by 19
Memorial Day, 1-0, at Fullington (0-1)
TSR pick: Memorial Day by 15
Mount de Sales, 1-0, at Brentwood, 0-1
TSR pick: Brentwood by 3
Piedmont, 0-1, at Terrell, 1-0
TSR pick: Terrell by 20
Stratford at Westfield, 0-1
TSR pick: Stratford by 9
Tattnall, 0-1, at St. Anne-Pacelli, 1-0
TSR pick: Tattnall by 10
Trinity Christian, 1-0, at Gatewood
TSR pick: Gatewood by 13