Some intriguing convention video games, some thrilling quarterback matchups, and a historic rivalry add as much as a really stable slate of faculty soccer video games this weekend. Given the matchups we’ll see some groups fall from the ranks of the unbeaten, in addition to some convention title races come into focus.
We can also see a nationwide title contender endure some heartbreak of their very own.
Listed below are the 5 finest faculty soccer video games of the upcoming weekend.
5. Washington State (13) at UCLA
It’s past time to speak about Cameron Ward.
The Cougars started the 12 months unranked, however are as much as No. 13 within the newest AP Prime 25, and their quarterback is a large purpose why. Ward has performed elite soccer this season, placing himself in each the Heisman dialogue, in addition to the controversy over who is likely to be QB3 within the upcoming draft behind Caleb Williams and Drake Maye.
Washington State additionally has two spectacular wins on their resume already, over Oregon State and Wisconsin. They’ve some enormous contests developing, as they play each Oregon and Washington within the Apple Cup, however they can not look previous a visit to Los Angeles to tackle the Bruins.
4. Maryland at Ohio State (4)
One in all these groups enters Saturday’s Large Ten tilt with an unblemished file, an ideal mark within the convention, and having received each sport in blowout trend.
The opposite is Ohio State.
Sure, the Terrapins are 5-0 for the primary time since 2001 and they’re one in all simply two groups with a 5-0 file, having received every sport by 18 or extra factors. Michigan joins them on that small checklist. In fact the Buckeyes are favored, and ESPN’s “Matchup Predictor” provides Ohio State a 90.6% likelihood to win this sport. However don’t sleep on Maryland. Behind Taulia Tagovailoa the Terrapins have an explosive passing sport, and if they will pressure a turnover or two, they might simply pull this off.
3. Kentucky (20) at Georgia (1)
The Bulldogs eked previous Auburn final week, by a ultimate rating of 27-20. Whereas the sport reminded many who Brock Bowers would possibly simply be one of the best participant in all of faculty soccer, you could possibly view the one-score affair in one in all two methods.
Choice A? It was the wake-up name Georgia wanted and they’ll steamroll by the remainder of their schedule en route to a different SEC Championship Sport look.
Choice B? They’re susceptible, and crew can beat them.
Is Kentucky that crew? The Wildcats have an ideal 5-0 file as properly, and are coming off a 33-14 throttling of Florida. Switch operating again Ray Davis is properly on his technique to a 1,000-yard season and had the sport of his life in opposition to the Gators, speeding for 280 yards and three touchdowns.
Coming into the Auburn sport, the Bulldogs had been one of many stingiest run defenses in faculty soccer. The Tigers, nevertheless, discovered some success operating the ball, however that got here largely through the QB run sport. If Kentucky can discover a technique to get Davis going, that might make for one more uncomfortable Saturday for Georgia followers.
2. Notre Dame (10) at Louisville (25)
There is no such thing as a relaxation for weary in case you are Notre Dame.
After two hard-fought video games, each of which got here all the way down to the ultimate snap, Notre Dame now faces a troublesome check on the street in opposition to Louisville. The Cardinals enter Saturday night time’s matchup with an unbeaten file, coming off their very own hard-fought street win over N.C. State final weekend.
Louisville quarterback Jack Plummer, who adopted Jeff Brohm from Purdue to Louisville, has bolstered this passing sport, throwing for 1,406 yards and 11 touchdowns to date this season. The Cardinals even have a much-improved speeding assault, as Jawhar Jordan leads the ACC with 510 yards and 6 touchdowns.
After the final two weeks, Notre Dame followers is likely to be hoping for a extra comfy win. Nonetheless, which may not occur given this 12 months’s Louisville crew.
1. Oklahoma (12) vs. Texas (3)
Dare I say it, however this is likely to be the primary really aggressive Pink River Rivalry sport shortly. Everyone knows how good Texas is at this level: the offense is bodily up entrance, and when QB Quinn Ewers is on, there may not be a extra spectacular crew within the nation. They’re simply as huge and bodily on the defensive aspect, and now have the dudes on that aspect of the ball to make opposing offenses’ days simply completely depressing.
Nonetheless, it’s been quite quiet however Oklahoma has been one of many higher groups within the nation. Their protection has gone by an entire 180 this 12 months, putting tenth in complete EPA per play allowed by this primary portion of the season. Head coach Brent Venables has stopped toggling with three and 4 man fronts and now has began to get the gamers to win video games for him on that aspect of the ball, and it permits him to get very artistic on that aspect of the ball.
This sport will likely be received on the arm of Dillon Gabriel. If Gabriel could make the throws to maintain up with the Texas offense with out making boneheaded errors, we may have an upset on our arms. Both means, that is the sport of the week, and one which’ll maintain main CFP implications.
