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Last week: 16-9, 64 percent
This season: 16-9, 64 percent
Within 7 points of margin: 7

**Maximum spread for The Sports Report predictions is 39 points.**

Classification listing based on home team when both are Central Georgia teams. Next week, records and rankings will be added

Games of the week

By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com

No. 11/3A Peach County at No. 9 Northside
This has been a fairly funky series lately, with a down Northside coming up with clutch wins – like 14-7 in 2020 and 35-7 last year, both times with the Trojans ranked and the Eagles unranked. Northside is off a solid, rep-altering and confidence-boosting win, but if the Eagles don’t take seriously a clearly struggling Trojans group and lose, they’ll hear it.
TSR pick: Northside by 19

No. 4/6A Houston County at No. 6/4A Perry
There are mutterings about this perhaps being the best Bears team ever. Early mutterings, but perhaps legit. Perry has a few more questions than Houston County, but not many. And having become A Program, the Panthers expect to have answers. Whoever handles best the nerves of what will be the most electric night any player on any team has been a part of – and it may be a subtle play or two – will win. It’s doubtful they’ll match the remarkable display of last year’s 57-56 Houston County win. Of course, nobody saw all that coming, either.
TSR pick: Houston County by 12

No. 11/AA Putnam County at Baldwin
Baldwin is a coin-flip early in the year a bit lately, like last year when it followed a thumping by Peach County with a road loss to the AA War Eagles, looking kind of bad in both games. Will the Braves have too much spring in their step and stagger a little bit, or will they make a statement? And yes, beating a ranked AA team – even with a new head coach - would be a needed statement.
TSR pick: Baldwin by 16

No. 3/II Clinch County at No. 9/II Macon County
The battle of the balanced Bulldogs and pound-it Panthers. Clinch County is on the List of Avenging for Macon County, which might be set up for a night of overconfidence. It’s happened.
TSR pick: Macon County by 3

Upson-Lee at No. 8/I Lamar County
The Knights need to sharpen up the passing game, especially on the road against a team that’s won five straight against bigger classifications, including by one in Thomaston last year. A win for either team is a marketable W.
TSR pick: Lamar County by 4

Westfield at Stratford, 8 p.m.
The Reunion Bowl, sort of, with Stratford’s connections to Westfield and all. Stratford has won the past two years by an 88-31 margin. Considering a new staff and new players replacing quality and an overtime win, Westfield comes in with confidence and momentum.
TSR pick: Westfield by 3 (upset special)

Tattnall at St. Anne-Pacelli
The defending state 4A champs are in something of a rebuilding mode, and Tattnall – minus some key impact players – is probably a little miffed after a first-week thumping.
TSR pick: Tattnall by 13 (upset special)

Class 6A
Griffin at Veterans
TSR pick: Veterans by 14

Class 5A
Dacula at No. 11 Jones County
TSR pick: Jones County by 13

Class 4A
Central at Howard, Thursday, Ed DeFore, 7 p.m.
TSR pick: Howard by 27
Dodge County at West Laurens
TSR pick: West Laurens by 10
Southwest at Westside, Ed DeFore, 6 p.m.
TSR pick: Westside by 30

Class 3A
Mary Persons at Spalding
TSR pick: Mary Persons by 12

Class AA
GMC Prep at ACE
TSR pick: ACE by 30
Hawkinsville at Rutland, Saturday, 6 p.m., Ed DeFore
TSR pick: Rutland by 9
Washington County at Swainsboro
TSR pick: Swainsboro by 19

Class A
Crawford County at Taylor County
TSR pick: Taylor County by 3
Harlem at Hancock Central
TSR pick: Hancock Central by 20
Pike County at Jasper County
TSR pick: Jasper County by 7
Twiggs County at Portal
TSR pick: Portal by 20
Washington County at No. 2/I Swainsboro
TSR pick: Swainsboro by 24
Wilcox County at No. 6/I Bleckley County
TSR pick: Bleckley County by 11

GIAA
Class AAA
Brentwood at Mount de Sales
TSR pick: Brentwood by 4
Canton (Miss.) at John Milledge, Saturday, 6 p.m.
TSR pick: John Milledge by 20
Parklane (Miss.) at FPD, Saturday, 7 p.m.
TSR pick: FPD by 2

Class AA
Gatewood at Trinity Christian
TSR pick: Gatewood by 3
Terrell at Piedmont
TSR pick: Piedmont by 14