Chris ‘The Bear’ Fallica’s School Soccer Research Information: Week 3 Version

The Week 2 slate wasn’t unimaginable, however we realized a ton about some marquee groups.

True freshman QB phenom Bryce Underwood and No. 15 Michigan fell to No. 18 Oklahoma in Norman, No. 3 LSU gritted out a 23-7 win in opposition to unranked Louisiana Tech, No. 4 Georgia struggled in opposition to FCS Austin Peay in a 28-6 victory, Dan Lanning dropped 69 factors and held Mike Gundy to 3 in a Massive 10 vs. Massive 12 matchup, and No. 12 Arizona State misplaced a heart-breaker in Starkville to unranked Mississippi State. 

With weekends like that one, prolonged discussions ensue between myself and the positive individuals at FOX Sports activities each week as we plan our manufacturing for Massive Midday Kickoff. Each Sunday night time, I mirror on what’s to come back, and ship out a prolonged electronic mail to producers, researchers, and my colleagues on air about issues to be careful for. 

I’ve determined to peel again the curtain and share these ideas with you all, as a result of everybody ought to rejoice within the splendor that’s school soccer. Week 3 is now right here, and whereas this week’s slate is not as eye-popping, there are few sneaky ones to debate and spotlight. 

So, with that being stated, let’s dive into my ideas for this weekend.     

Massive matchup in Knoxville 

We now have a large SEC matchup with the No. 15 Vols internet hosting the No. 6 Bulldogs on Saturday. Georgia has had some accidents on the offensive line, with Juan Gaston, Earnest Greene and Malachi Tolliver all on the damage report. They struggled to run the ball and the passing sport hasn’t been very spectacular, with most of Gunner Stockton’s throws coming within the display screen selection. That is going to have to alter in the event that they anticipate to win in Knoxville this week. The sport has all of the makings of what Michigan at Oklahoma was final week—ugly and low scoring.   

How ’bout them Geese?

Oregon has seemed extremely spectacular by two weeks, beating Montana State 59-13 after which taking down Oklahoma State 69-3. Dante Moore has been a giant motive for his or her success, averagin 239.5 go yards per sport with a 6-0 TD-INT ratio in restricted play because of the massive nature of their victories. Individuals neglect he was a five-star recruit within the class of 2023 and the fourth-ranked participant within the class, in line with 247Sports. He spent his freshman season at UCLA the place he threw for 1,610 yards together with 11 TDs and 9 INTs. He sat behind Dillon Gabriel final yr and it appears to have made a big impact on his improvement. I like Oregon to proceed their dominance in opposition to Northwestern on Massive Midday Kickoff this Saturday.       

Yellow Jackets host Tigers

Georgia Tech is rather a lot higher than individuals notice. Haynes King is a professional twin menace quarterback and Brent Key’s protection confirmed up in opposition to Colorado within the opener. The truth is, Key practically beat No. 6 Georgia final season—dropping a 44-42 OT thriller. Earlier than that, they took down a No. 4 Miami group that was led by Cam Ward in a 28-23 victory in addition to No. 10 Florida State within the first sport of the season. Whereas Clemson’s protection is filled with future first spherical picks, the Tigers haven’t impressed to date—scoring 10 factors in opposition to LSU after which squeaking out a 27-16 win in opposition to Troy. The Trojans have been really up 16-0 in that sport. It might be one in Atlanta.     

Essential sport for the Irish

Does Notre Dame should win this sport to make the CFP? A ten-2 Irish squad with losses to Miami and A&M certainly would not have the resume to stack up with others on the finish of the yr, proper? Their finest win would doubtlessly be USC in that situation, probably making this the one probability at a ranked win the remainder of the best way. The sixteenth ranked Aggies have not seemed too robust themselves, giving up 24 factors to UTSA and 22 to Utah State. Nonetheless, Marcel Reed and LeVeon Moss are an electrical QB-RB duo that ought to show to be a giant take a look at for Marcus Freeman’s protection. 

Not so quick

Are Utah or LSU not so good as we thought? The Utes took down UCLA 43-10 of their opener whereas the Tigers took down Clemson in theirs. However the Bruins misplaced to UNLV this week and Dabo Swinney’s bunch have been struggling in opposition to Troy as we talked about above. I am undecided how a lot we find out about both group this week, as Brian Kelly’s squad performs a Florida group that simply misplaced to South Florida and Kyle Whittingham’s takes on Wyoming. I do imagine Devon Dampier is an unimaginable participant, although. He is finishing 79% of his passes and rushed for 112 yards with no turnovers and 6 whole TD’s. 

Cyclones may roll

Talking of groups that I am not sure of, Iowa State is 3-0 however scraped out three-point wins in opposition to Kansas State and Iowa together with a victory over South Dakota. With Arkansas State this week after which a really favorable Massive 12 schedule together with the likes of Arizona, Cincinnati, Colorado, and Oklahoma State— Matt Campbell’s group goes to be favored within the subsequent six video games or so. I believe they will probably drop one someplace alongside the best way given the closeness of the wins they’ve, however it’s price noting nonetheless. 

Powerful instances for Gator nation

Billy Napier actually could not afford to lose to South Florida this week, because the Gators have an absolute gauntlet for the remainder of their schedule. What number of extra video games will they be favored in? Their subsequent 4 video games are No. 3 LSU, No. 5 Miami, No. 7 Texas, and No. 16 A&M. Then they get a house sport in opposition to Mississippi State (which did simply beat No. 12 ASU as I discussed earlier), after which No. 6 Georgia, Kentucky, No. 17 Ole Miss, No. 15 Tennessee and No. 10 Florida State. There is a severe probability Napier is out through the bye week in the event that they lose in a ugly trend at Baton Rouge and Miami. DJ Lagway hasn’t impressed like individuals thought he would both. 

Boomer Sooner

Can Oklahoma actually do that with John Mateer all season? He had a whopping 19 carries for 74 rush yards and two scores final week in opposition to a stable Michigan protection, and has totaled 760 yards of offense in two video games. Aren’t they going to want Jadyn Ott or some else to step up? It will be fascinating to see how lengthy he can shoulder this load in opposition to the defenses arising on the schedule. That is in all probability extra a speaking level for subsequent week although, once they play Auburn. 

The ACC this previous week

The ACC and Massive 12 are attempting to step up as a complete as conferences—and sure, Miami beat Notre Dame in Week 1 whereas Utah and Iowa State acquired some good non-conference wins, however they’re each up to now behind the Massive Ten and SEC as a complete. 

Clemson was in a battle with Troy which additional highlighted their shortcomings—Dabo actually thought he may go together with a transformed large receiver at operating again? Then there’s Duke who dedicated 4 excessive leverage turnovers in an embarrassing loss to Illinois. Louisville slopped previous James Madison in a 28-14 slugfest. Rhett Lashlee’s SMU squad blew a late double-digit lead in a house OT loss to Baylor, and Syracuse wanted a miracle to beat UConn in OT as effectively. Remember about Virginia Tech who misplaced by 22 to Vanderbilt both, after Brent Pry punted and 4th and a foot. 

The Massive 12 this previous week 

The Massive 12 did not fare significantly better. Mike Gundy made a whole lot of feedback earlier than his matchup with Oregon, claiming they need to play groups who’ve paid as a lot cash for gamers as them. That resulted in a 69-3 blowout courtesy of Dan Lanning. The Cowboys have now misplaced 10 straight to FBS groups.

The reigning convention champion Solar Devils misplaced on the highway in opposition to the group picked to complete final within the SEC on a late lengthy TD go after falling behind 17-0. The Jayhawks gave up 42 in a rivalry sport in opposition to Missouri, and West Virginia misplaced to a MAC group in Ohio. And after Kansas State beat North Dakota by three, they misplaced to an Military group that misplaced to Tarleton State the week prior. Really simply disappointing. 

Sneaky matchup in Columbia 

Vanderbilt at South Carolina is a sneaky fascinating sport. The Commodores have been much more spectacular in a win at Virginia Tech than the Gamecocks have been in opposition to the identical group of their season-opening win in Atlanta. Shane Beamer’s bunch seemed sleepy final week in opposition to South Carolina State however nonetheless are ranked eleventh within the AP Ballot. Vandy alternatively? Only one vote. Appears to me like voters are nonetheless holding onto preseason ideas. I believe this can be a detailed one.

Go Gophers, Go!

Minnesota at Cal is one other sneaky sport to be careful for. I am excessive on the Gophers this yr and this week P.J. Fleck has a Pac-12 after darkish matchup in Berkeley. Exterior of Oregon and Ohio State, there is not a sport on Minnesota’s schedule they cannot win. Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele has seemed the half at QB for Cal, throwing for 493 yards in two video games with a 68% completion charge, 3 go TDs and one rush TD. 

Massive Ten non-conference

Exterior of Wisconsin’s go to to Alabama, the non-conference opponents that Massive Ten groups are going through this week is fairly disappointing. The Hoosiers are taking over Indiana State, the Bruins are taking over New Mexico, the Wolverines tackle the Chippewas, the Huskers tackle Houston Christian, the Terps tackle Towson, James Franklin and his bunch tackle Villanova, Greg Schiano’s squad faces Norfolk State, the Spartans tackle Youngstown State, the Illini tackle Western Michigan, and the Hawkeyes takes on UMass. I am a proponent of some form of central scheduling so followers do not get caught with so many lopsided video games. 

Blue Devils go to New Orleans 

Darian Mensah and Duke go to Tulane – Mensah’s old style – Duke paid $4M to get him solely to be a canine right here off an embarrassing TO laden loss to Illinois final week. 

Pleasure of Six

I observed most of the large video games this week have a diffusion of 6 or 6.5— Clemson is -6 at Georgia Tech, Georgia is -6.5 at Tennessee, Notre Dame is -6.5 vs. A&M, and South Carolina is -6 vs. Vandy. Only a enjoyable quirky little nugget! 

Potential flat spots

There’s a number of groups I believe is likely to be waiting for greater matchups subsequent week as they face lesser opponents this Saturday. Auburn hosts South Alabama this week after which visits Norman. The Sooners, alternatively, go to Temple after a giant win vs Michigan. Iowa State acquired a rivalry win in opposition to Iowa final week and visits Arkansas State. The truth is in 2023, the Cyclones misplaced by a landing to the Hawkeyes, they misplaced 10-7 the next week to Ohio. I would not be shocked if any of those favorites seemed flat this week.

One other ranked matchup at Exhausting Rock

Who would’ve thought my fifth-ranked Hurricanes can be taking a No. 18 USF group that has taken down the likes of two ranked opponents in Boise State and Florida to start out the season? This had potential to be a entice sport for the Canes however with USF having such a stellar begin, there isn’t any probability Mario Cristobal’s group can be waiting for the Gators subsequent week.

Chris “The Bear” Fallica has lined sports activities for practically three a long time. Whereas school soccer has been his focus, he additionally enjoys the NFL, Soccer, Golf, Tennis, MLB, NHL and Horse Racing, with an “occasional” wager on such occasions. Chris lately gained the inaugural Circa Soccer Invitational and completed within the High 10 of the Golden Nugget Soccer Contest. He is a multiple-time qualifier for the NHC Handicapping Championship. Bear in mind, “The much less you wager, the extra you lose once you win!” Comply with him on Twitter @chrisfallica.

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