Who’s ready for Week Nine? For many teams, the next few weeks will be do or die in order to secure a postseason spot. Here’s what’s going down in Week Nine!

DISCLAIMER: We dissect the numbers, check against other projections, utilize the brain and not the heart. If we pick against any of our beloved 11 programs, take it as a diss if you want, or use it as motivation. We obviously would love to see all 11 programs win every single game, so we’ll celebrate even if we’re wrong if it means our locals walk off the field as winners.

THE LOCALS (Home Games Listed First)

Banks County Leopards vs #1 Rabun County Wildcats

Rabun County has outscored Banks 282-26 in 5 meetings since 2016. That includes a record-setting 71-0 win for the Wildcats a year ago at home.
VERDICT: Rabun County

Commerce Tigers vs Franklin County Lions

Commerce plays host to Franklin County in a rare non-region game in the middle of the region part of the schedule. This is a replacement game for one lost earlier in the season. The Tigers and Lions will duke it out, but there’s room for only one feline to claim the victory.
VERDICT: Commerce

Dawson County Tigers vs West Hall Spartans

Dawson County takes on West Hall in a 7-AAA tilt. The Tigers seem to have found their identity, and Zach Holtzclaw and Bailey Dameron are really heating up at the right time. A win would make Dawson 3-0 in region play.
VERDICT: Dawson County

Lumpkin County Indians @ #7 Cherokee Bluff Bears

Lumpkin takes on former head coach Tommy Jones, who has beaten his old team in the prior 2 meetings. This one is on the road for Lumpkin County, and while they have played with more intensity lately, Cherokee Bluff doesn’t have many holes to exploit.
VERDICT: Cherokee Bluff

Habersham Central Raiders @ Lanier Longhorns

Hab Central plays Lanier on the road. The Raiders are in a MUST win situation for the final 3 games if they want to play past Week 12. Habersham has its back to the wall, and they have a chance to respond here.
VERDICT: Habersham Central

Union County Panthers @ Elbert County Blue Devils

The Panthers travel to the Granite Bowl for a date with Elbert County. Union has improved and is now 2-0 in region play after wins over Riverside and Banks. Elbert is a tough draw, but if Union can protect the football and the defense rises to the occasion, they could steal a win for the long ride home. They’re 21 point underdogs according to Maxwell projections, but we’ll go out on a limb.
VERDICT: Union County

BYE WEEKS

#1 Jefferson, #10 Stephens County, White County, Towns County

THE OTHERS

Predicted winners are in bold

Gainesville vs South Forsyth
#1 Buford vs Shiloh
Flowery Branch vs Cedar Shoals
East Hall vs North Oconee
Johnson @ Apalachee
Chestatee @ Madison County
North Hall @ Gilmer
Lakeview @ Mt. Pisgah

CANCELED: NONE

BYE WEEKS: Denmark, Jackson County, East Jackson, #4 Hart County, Riverside