Time for those who bet on high school football to get ready to win.

          “How can you encourage gambling on high school football?”

Michael A. Lough

centralgasports@gmail.com

          Not encouraging, just acknowledging. Shoot, back in the day, I had a couple folks who sought scouting reports on – hold on – Little League Southeast Regional teams playing in Warner Robins.

          Not encouraging, just acknowledging. Shoot, back in the day, I had a couple folks who sought scouting reports on – hold on – Little League Southeast Regional teams playing in Warner Robins.

          Yeah, a scouting freakin’ report on an 11 year old.

          Of course, the predictions are for accuracy and analysis and knowledge. That’s completely different than gambling. See, to me, 14 points in a football agme, sometimes even 17 or 21 points, is a competitive game. But betting-wise, eight points is almost a  blowout.

          So, use a scale if you want to bet. If you want a guess based on objectivity, fairness, reading, listening, logic, and context.

          As a one-man show performing in what takes about six or so people, time slips by and providing Central Georgia best, most consistent and most relevant coverage backs up. Last year’s prediction record is coming next week, and this weekend will be full of coverage.

For now, we’ll just do this week’s predictions.

Games of the Week

Houston County vs. Alpharetta
          The Bears are replenishing a quality receiving corps, key linemen, and playmakers on defense. The consistency of the past few years and key returnees makes a difference early, but they won’t look too smooth for awhile. They’re not good enough to survive dumb mistakes just yet.
TSR pick: Houston County by 18

Warner Robins at Lee County
          Good scheduling move by Warner Robins, huh? On the road, playing up a class, and in a quarterback transition. The teams know each other some, but right now, Lee County is ahead. It might not be all that pretty by the end.
TSR pick: Lee County by 22

Veterans at Jones County
          Veterans needs a win against a playoff team, no matter the classification. It’s been awhile. Jones County would be a hefty scalp, but at home and with a solid QB and defense, the Warhawks will need to execute like they haven’t too much lately.
TSR pick: Jones County by 20

Baldwin vs. Perry
          There’s some new blood, really new blood, on the Baldwin sideline, which might inspire some Braves faithful to actually travel. That, and a shot at a former region rival and defending 4A state champ. Perry should have one of the two decent-to-good crowds at the two-day event at Fort Valley State. This should be pretty interesting heading into the fourth quarter.
TSR pick: Perry by 24

Peach County vs. Northeast
          A full Northeast team – at RB and WR – would make this a mighty good game, at least for awhile. But the Raiders are currently full of questions, and the Trojans – who need to have a big crowd just down the road – have a lot more answers than a year ago, and yes, that can be something of a statement win.
TSR pick: Peach County by 16

Bleckley County vs. Rutland
          Rutland has been a little squirrelly, despite a turnstile with the coaching staff. The Royals are the better program, no doubt, and should have some fans on hand. But they’d better not let Rutland hang around too long before taking some level of control.
TSR pick: Bleckley County by 25

Howard vs. Westside
          The record is one-sided, Westside up 10-2 and on a four-game streak. But the Huskies have been competitive, with the Seminoles and in general. It won’t be a pretty game, but it’ll be surprising if it doesn’t go down to the wire.
TSR pick: Howard by 3

Dublin at Swainsboro
          Talk about a slobber-knocker game between rivals and regular state championship contenders, this is it. Unless there’s OT or a lot of injuries, this one won’t take but about two hours and 15 minutes. But they’ll be a physical and action-packed two hours and 15 minutes.
TSR pick: Swainsboro by 13

Brookstone at Tattnall Square
          The 2023 GIAA 4A runner-up visits a team that’sjust missed getting over the semifinal hump the past few years. The Trojans are breaking out a more open offense, and they should be hungry to make an early statement.
TSR pick: Tattnall by 10

Stratford at St. Anne-Pacelli
          The Eagles are under the newest blood Peake Road has hosted in a long time, and this is a good opener, against the 2022 state champ, and on the road. Let’s see what they’re bringing.
TSR pick: St. Anne-Pacelli by 4

The Schedule

Eagle's Landing at Northside
TSR pick: Northside by 21
Upson-Lee at Union Grove
TSR pick: Upson-Lee by 13
Dougherty vs. Central
TSR pick: Dougherty by 22
Glenn Hills at Hancock Central
TSR pick: Hanock Central by 11
GMC Prep at Atkinson County
TSR pick: Atkinson County by  16
Hawkinsville at Marion County
TSR pick: Hawkinsville by 9
Jasper County at Taylor County
TSR pick: Jasper County by 13
Jeff Davis at Washington County
TSR pick: Washington County by 5
Johnson County at East Laurens
TSR pick: Johnson County by 20
Lamar County at Telfair County
TSR pick: Lamar County by 13
Pike County at Crawford County
TSR pick: Crawford County by 3
Putnam County at Greene County
TSR pick:  Putnam County by 10
Southwest vs. Macon County
TSR pick: Macon County by 20
Twiggs County at Treutlen
TSR pick: Treutlen by 30
Wilkinson County at Wheeler County
TSR pick: Wheeler County by 19

GIAA
Bethlehem Christian at John Milledge
TSR pick: John Milledge by 31
Brentwood at Trinity Christian
TSR pick: Brentwood by 20
Brookwood at Westfield
TSR pick: Westfield by 5
First Presbyterian at Eagle’s Landing Christian
TSR pick:  ELCA by 4
Gatewood at Flint River
TSR pick: Gatewood by 10
Loganville Christian at Mount de Sales
TSR pick: Mount de Sales by 20
Pataula Charter at Windsor
TSR pick: Pataula Charter by 13
Thomas Jefferson at Piedmont
TSR pick: Thomas Jefferson by 8
Tiftarea at Central Fellowship
TSR pick: CFCA by 4