Of the 240 teams that made the playoffs this season, 41 were given less than a 50-percent chance in preseason by the computer Maxwell Ratings. Most surprising? Lithia Springs, given only a 0.6 percent chance (or 1-in-164.5) of qualifying out of Region 6-AAAAA. Lithia Springs qualified as the No. 4 seed on Monday after winning a pair of mini-games and is making its first-ever state-playoff appearance and first postseason game of any kind since 1981. Next most surprising was South Paulding at 1.6 percent. The Spartans were 2-8 last season but 8-2 in 2019 and made the playoffs for the first time since 2015. Below are the percent chances of each of those given less than 50-50 odds in preseason.
Class AAAAAAA
13.3% - Shiloh
33.9% - Cherokee
43.2% - North Forsyth
Class AAAAAA
1.6% - South Paulding
5.1% - North Atlanta
6.0% - Sprayberry
12.5% - Morrow
13.1% - M.L. King
19.6% - Houston County
21.2% - Northview
47.6% - Alexander
Class AAAAA
0.6% - Lithia Springs
5.7% - Ola
17.2% - Hiram
20.5% - Decatur
46.0% - Harris County
49.6% - South Effingham
Class AAAA
8.2% - Denmark
22.0% - Luella
28.7% - Madison County
37.3% - Hardaway
49.5% - Perry
Class AAA
23.6% - Fannin County
31.2% - Haralson County
34.4% - Brantley County
34.5% - Central (Macon)
Class AA
3.0% - Temple
10.7% - Model
12.8% - Putnam County
37.3% - Metter
40.8% - B.E.S.T. Academy
48.7% - Bleckley County
Class A (private)
21.9% - St. Francis
47.5% - First Presbyterian
Class A (public)
7.4% - Warren County
14.4% - Johnson County
15.1% - Bowdon
15.6% - McIntosh Co. Acad.
22.1% - Taylor County
29.8% - Claxton
48.0% - Wilcox County
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