By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com

          That’s much better, passing the 80-percent mark. The goal, of course, is t be at 80 percent or better by the end of the year.

Picking high school games. Yeah, feel free to join in. This week should help the percentage, because there aren’t a whole lot of coin flips.

 Last week: 26-6, 81.25 percent
The season: 43-14, 68.3 pct.
Within 7: 7, 10 for season
Upsets/perfect spread: Perfect spread-West Laurens by 28
Maximum spread prediction of 39 points

Games of the week

Warner Robins at Northside
          On paper the past few years, it seems like Warner Robins should roll. What happens after the game, seems like Warner Robins should have rolled. But the last two games were 4- and 7-point games, down to the wire. So now, does it say on paper that this should be a one-possession game? Well, not the paper sitting on this particular desk.

TSR pick: Warner Robins by 18

This week
* Maxwell Predictions
* Central Georgia state composite rankings
* Who’s going to win this week’s games?
* Central Georgia rankings
* Monday Morning Quarterback: Notes, reviews, Loughdmouthings
* Macon Touchdown Club players of the week

Last week
* Roundup: Rivalry night for Dodge County-Bleckley County; Perry-Peach County slug it out; Pointsapaloozas for Dublin, Westfield, Stratford, FPD; 67-48 & 6-0 games? Northside sweats out Baldwin
* 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

Houston County at Perry
          This has become the marquee game in Central Georgia the last few years, from the 57-56 Houston County win in 2022 to its 42-35 win last year. For all of the offense – and these teams have firepower, even with departures – somebody making a defensive play or stand will win this game. In high-scoring close games, it comes down to a stop. Whose secondary will step up?         

TSR pick: Perry by 4

FPD at St. Anne-Pacelli
          St. Anne-Pacelli is off to a rough start, 0-2 for the first time since former Jones County head coach Dwight Jones took over in 2017. The Vikings from Columbus are pretty one-dimensional, which is trouble against the Vikings from Macon, who have some balance, and a good defense.

TSR pick: FPD by 15

The Schedule
Class AAAAA
Veterans at Starr's Mill
TSR pick: Starr’s Mill by 19

Class AAAA
Hampton at Jones County
TSR pick: Jones County by 31

Class AAA
Berkmar at Peach County
TSR pick: Peach County by 30

New Westminster, British Columbia, at Mary Persons
TSR pick: Mary Persons by 32

North Clayton at West Laurens
TSR pick: West Laurens by 13

Class AA
Westover at Westside (Ed DeFore)
TSR pick: Westside by 3

Howard at Rutland (Ed DeFore, Thur.)
TSR pick: Howard by 19

Class A
ACE Charter at Jefferson County
TSR pick: ACE by 16

Bleckley County at East Laurens
TSR pick: Bleckley County by 23

Many thanks last week to ACE, FPD, Jasper County, Jones County, Northside, Stratford, and Tattnall - and John Milledge on Thursday - for sending in postgame information and/or stats.

🏈 Teams: Please email game information – stats (offense and defense), names, big plays, etc. – to centralgasports@gmail.com by 10:30 a.m. Saturday for addition to Central Georgia’s only roundup.

Brentwood at GMC Prep
TSR pick: Brentwood by 20

Central at Dodge County
TSR pick: Dodge County by 27

Crawford County at Kendrick
TSR pick: Crawford County by 6

Dublin at Southwest (Thompson)
TSR pick: Dublin by 39

Hancock Central at Lake Oconee
TSR pick: Lake Oconee by 10

Jackson at Lamar County
TSR pick: Lamar County by 22

Lanier County at Hawkinsville
TSR pick: Hawkinsville by 3

Macon County at Lakeside-Atlanta
TSR pick: Macon County by 24

Northeast at Washington County, Thur.
TSR pick: Northeast by 9

Portal at Twiggs County
TSR pick: Portal by 24

Putnam County at Laney
TSR pick: Laney by 2

Wilkinson County at Jasper County
TSR pick: Jasper County by 6

GIAA
Baconton Charter at Piedmont
TSR pick: Piedmont by 20

Mount de Sales at Calvary Christian
TSR pick: Mount de Sales by 12

John Milledge at Tiftarea Academy
TSR pick: John Milledge by 28

Pinewood Christian at Stratford
TSR pick: Stratford by 20

Tattnall at George Walton
TSR pick: Tattnall by 19

Westfield at Deerfield-Windsor
TSR pick: Westfield by 2

Edmund Burke at Trinity Christian
TSR pick: Edmund Burke by  16

Loganville Christian at Gatewood
TSR pick: Gatewood by 16

St. Andrew’s at Central Fellowship
TSR pick: CFCA by 9

Windsor at Augusta Prep
TSR pick: Windsor by 3