Chris ‘The Bear’ Fallica’s High 10 Faculty Soccer Rankings: Week 7 Version

It was a historic week within the sport, as two top-10 groups — Penn State and Texas — misplaced to unranked groups and each fell out of the rankings fully, after struggling their second losses of the season. 

The lesson must be this: Profitable is difficult.

All of the upheaval from the preseason top-10 means we’re in retailer for a high-stakes, pressure-filled, wildly enjoyable ultimate two months of the season, the place we might see some loopy playoff prospects. 

Onto this week’s rating, which shouldn’t be too controversial. 

This web page might include affiliate hyperlinks to authorized sports activities betting companions. For those who join or place a wager, FOX Sports activities could also be compensated. Learn extra about Sports activities Betting on FOX Sports activities.

1. Ohio State

Ohio State’s protection has been unworldly. The Buckeyes have allowed two touchdowns this season, and one got here in opposition to Ohio U when OSU allowed a season-high 9 factors, so I am not even positive that ought to depend. Ohio State opened it up a little bit extra final week at house in opposition to an overmatched opponent, and now it will get to face an Illinois group that likes to surrender huge performs by the air. As long as the Illini haven’t got their turnover voodoo doll out, this must be pretty easy for the two-plus-TD favorites. 

2. Miami

There’s little question Miami has the perfect résumé of any group within the nation — three wins over ranked groups and a win over Florida which nonetheless energy charges fairly extremely after a win over Texas. The ultimate rating Saturday learn 28-22, however the recreation wasn’t that shut, because the Seminoles made it look respectable with 19 fourth-quarter factors. Carson Beck had his finest recreation of the season, and Rueben Bain and Akeem Mesidor proceed to be a nightmare for opposing offenses. There is not a greater group within the nation on the offensive and defensive traces than Miami. It will get every week off earlier than a Friday go to from Louisville. 

3. Oregon 

The Geese had an ideal break within the schedule this previous week after taking Penn State’s soul in State Faculty two Saturdays in the past. It is a harmful recreation this week with Indiana, which represents the lone remaining ranked group on Oregon’s schedule. Win right here, and 12-0 and a return journey to Indianapolis could be very seemingly. 

4. Texas A&M

After permitting 40 factors at Notre Dame, the Aggies protection has completely shut down Auburn and Mississippi State, permitting a mixed 19 factors. A&M will get a Florida offense this week that seemed utterly totally different in opposition to Texas than it did in opposition to Miami and LSU, because the Gators had a season-high 457 yards. This can be a great check for A&M, which is not going to have one other house recreation till Nov. 15. 

5. Ole Miss

An ideal warmup this week — Washington State — earlier than a large recreation in Athens subsequent week. 

6. Alabama

Vanderbilt is an efficient group and had its means with Bama for lengthy stretches of the sport. Credit score the Tide for taking a bunch of physique blows and remaining standing on the finish of 4 quarters. Alabama’s reward is a visit to CoMo and an offense led by Beau Pribula and Ahmad Hardy off an idle week. However the previous couple of weeks have furthered the thought that the season-opening loss in Tallahassee was a one-off. 

7. Indiana 

An enormous prove-it recreation for the Hoosiers this week. A late win at offensively challenged Iowa is sweet, however these are the video games the place respect is constructed. Final yr, IU went to Ohio State and Notre Dame and was non-competitive, doing nothing offensively. Compete, or upset, the Geese and that may alert the nation that the Hoosiers are about to make a return journey to the CFP. 

8. Oklahoma 

OU goes to be a very fashionable ‘canine this week. This has all of the makings of a low-scoring defensive conflict. Long run, I am curious to see if John Mateer is again subsequent week at South Carolina, or if he’s held out longer so he could be totally prepared for that gauntlet of ranked opponents to finish the season. 

9. Georgia

Was the win over Kentucky a factor of magnificence? No. However a convention win is a convention win. Ask Penn State if it wish to commerce locations with Georgia after shedding as a 24-point favourite on the street. This can be a monster stretch for UGA — at Auburn (and I laid 3.5 on the lookahead line final week), in opposition to Ole Miss (which beat the Bulldogs final yr), and a immediately rejuvenated Florida. If it could possibly make it by unscathed, it should decide if Georgia goes to return to the Playoff or be part of another highly-touted groups within the preseason which can be on the surface trying in. 

10. Texas Tech

The Purple Raiders at the moment are the one group within the nation to not path at any level, have received each recreation by not less than 24 factors, and have outgained every opponent by over 220 yards. We’re not speaking about essentially the most troublesome schedule — FCS group, Kent State, Oregon State and injury-riddled Utah — however the latter two have been on the street and so they received in Salt Lake with Will Hammond. Tech has been dominant. These are a few tough street video games at Arizona State and at Kansas State, however Tech is the clear class of the Huge 12. 

Chris “The Bear” Fallica has coated sports activities for almost three a long time. Whereas faculty 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 received 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 whenever you win!” Comply with him on Twitter @chrisfallica.

Need nice tales delivered proper to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports activities account, and comply with leagues, groups and gamers to obtain a personalised e-newsletter every day!

Get extra from the Faculty Soccer Comply with your favorites to get details about video games, information and extra