Predictions: Expect Colquitt County to find a way to win (again)

Twelve of the 28 teams in this weekend’s state football semifinals also made it to the final four last season. Three of them – Buford, Aquinas and Marion County – went on to win state championships, but the other nine were just 2-7 in the semis. Two of the teams that lost in the semifinals last year will play each other on Friday when top-ranked Colquitt County hosts preseason No. 1 McEachern in Class AAAAAA. The computer Maxwell Ratings project Colquitt County as a 19-point favorite, but expect a closer game than that. In fact, a McEachern victory won’t be a shocker. But Colquitt County keeps finding ways to win, and look for the Packers to do it again.

THE WEEKEND PREDICTIONS

Last week: 26-2 (.929); Playoffs: 134-30 (.817); Overall: 1,761-455 (.795)

CLASS AAAAAA

Winner##Loser

Archer##Etowah

Colquitt County##McEachern

CLASS AAAAA

Allatoona##Northside-Warner Robins

Stockbridge##Mays

CLASS AAAA

Buford##Cartersville

Woodward Academy##St. Pius

CLASS AAA

Calhoun##Westminster

Washington County##Blessed Trinity

CLASS AA

Benedictine##Brooks County

Greater Atlanta Christian##Fitzgerald

CLASS A (Public)

Irwin County##Commerce

Marion County##Hawkinsville