By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com

          Well, that was a funky opening week of guesses.
          A bad percentage, but maybe a record with so many of the right picks being within seven points.
          So, I was either really accurate or just flat off. Gonna be that way, huh?
          Last year’s final numbers fell a little short, going 314-95, 76.77 percent. The goal is 80 percent.
          Dangit.
          I was within seven points of the spread in 85 games, about 21 percent. The next question is whether it’s worth it to have a goal percentage for being within seven, like 20 percent.
          Feel free to play along and send in predictions or disagreements.

Last week: 17-14, 54.84 pct.
Within 7: 10
Upsets/perfect spread: none picked/0

Games of the week

Northside at Baldwin
          We’ll find out a lot more about both teams. Neither may look all that sharp, but Baldwin will be more competitive with this Houston County foe than with Perry.
TSR pick: Northside by 9
Peach County at Perry
          Perry has never won three straight in this series. Shoot, the Panthers only have 11 wins. Peach County is improved, but Perry sure looks pretty close to last year.
TSR pick: Perry by 20
Dodge County at Bleckley County
          A veteran coach in this burly rivalry faces a newbie coach. Dodge County opens the season with this game, which isn’t an advantage. Probably.
TSR pick: Bleckley County by 13
Mary Persons at Jackson
          Another rivalry opener for a team, Mary Persons. The Bulldogs are 10-2 against the Red Devils in August. It won’t be all that smooth for a half or so, but flip that 10 to 11.
TSR pick: Mary Persons by 25
Upson-Lee at Manchester
          Manchester is an above-average Class A program that competes well with bigger-class schools, so the Knights can’t overlook the Blue Devils.
TSR pick: Upson-Lee by 10
Southwest at Northeast (Thompson)
          We don’t necessarily know much about either team and its personnel just yet. Both took some positives out of last week’s losses, but how much? And Northeast’s health status is iffy. We know this city game has a little more importance in such a cramped region filled with playoff-caliber teams. This is a closer game than it was a few weeks ago.
TSR pick: Northeast by 14
Marion County at First Presbyterian
          A nice GHSA/GIAA matchup. FPD sure has some momentum and confidence after a road shutout.
TSR pick: FPD by 19
St. Anne-Pacelli at Tattnall Square
          Both are a little grumpy after opening games that left something to be desired with double-digit home losses. That should lead to some slobberknocker football.
TSR pick: Tattnall by 12

This week
* Scouting Reports: This week’s GHSA and GIAA games
* Maxwell Predictions
* Central Georgia state rankings
* Who’s going to win this week’s games
Preseason and first-week coverage

Last week
* Friday’s roundup; Saturday’s roundup
* Scouting Reports: This week’s GHSA and GIAA games; Saturday’s games
* Maxwell Predictions
* Central Georgia state rankings
* Who’s going to win this week’s games
* Central Georgia polls

The Schedule
Bowdon at Macon County
TSR pick: Bowdon by 12
Central at ACE Charter
TSR pick: ACE by 22
East Laurens at Dublin
TSR pick: Dublin by 30
Effingham County at Houston County
TSR pick: Houston County by 26
Fayette County at Warner Robins
TSR pick: Warner Robins by 30
GMC Prep at Crawford County
TSR pick: Crawford County by 14
Hancock Central at Jasper County
TSR pick: Jasper County by 13
Greene County at Twiggs County
TSR pick: Green County by 33
Groves at West Laurens
TSR pick: West Laurens by 28
Hawkinsville at Schley County
TSR pick: Schley County by 23
Jeff Davis at Rutland
TSR pick: Jeff Davis by 17
Morgan County at Putnam County
TSR pick: Morgan County by 3
Treutlen at Wilkinson County
TSR pick: Wilkinson County by 2
Veterans at Statesboro
TSR pick: Statesboro by 7
Washington County at Jefferson County
TSR pick: Washington County by 16
Westside at First Baptist Christian, Fla.
TSR pick: Westside by 25
Wheeler County at Taylor County
TSR pick: Taylor County by 6
Woodland at Jones County
TSR pick: Jones County by 31

GIAA
John Milledge at Augusta Christian
TSR pick: John Milledge by 27
Briarwood at Central Fellowship Christian
TSR pick: CFCA by 6
Calvary Christian at Stratford
TSR pick: Stratford by 20
Mount de Sales at Deerfield-Windsor
TSR pick: Deerfield-Windsor by 8
Pinewood Christian at Brentwood
TSR pick: Brentwood by 1
Westfield at Southland
TSR pick: Westfield by 9
Trinity Christian at Gatewood
TSR pick: Gatewood by 19
Windsor at Thomas Jefferson
TSR pick: Thomas Jefferson by 21