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Howdy, honchos!
We’ve reached Week 10 — double figures. I can’t fathom how shortly these weeks have passed by. It was 80 levels seven days in the past — actually and figuratively — and now we’re previous trick-or-treaters, observing highschool soccer playoffs, and coping with Tyler from Spartanburg.
We will rely the remaining weeks of this function in 2023 on one hand. Simply please begin along with your thumb or index finger. It is a household present.
Oh hey — squirrel!
Sunday Tales
It’s time for the 4 largest tales from the week prior in school soccer. Settlement just isn’t required, however I’ll offer you a five-star score on Uber, or one thing.
Daft Valley: Clemson followers have now reached the purpose of the season the place they incur the Outdated Testomony — Dabo’s phrases, not mine — for daring to query their crew’s coach. The Tigers fell, 24-17, at NC State, and the Tigers have gone from nationwide title contenders to having a non-zero probability at not even making a bowl. At the very least they nonetheless have DJ Ui–oh.
Cade Klubnik one way or the other pulled the incomprehensible mixture of throwing 50 occasions and by no means having a kind of makes an attempt land in the long run zone. Two of these throws did, nonetheless, land within the palms of Wolfpack defenders, and it’s panic time down by Lake Hartwell. The Tigers do have three of their remaining 4 at residence, beginning with Notre Dame this weekend earlier than Georgia Tech and North Carolina go to. If that journey to Columbia is for bowl eligibility for Clemson — even when South Carolina drops each remaining recreation — goes to be one for the books.
No Quinn, no downside: Texas took on a strong BYU membership in Austin with out quarterback Quinn Ewers, and wanted fewer than three minutes to take a lead the ‘Horns would by no means give up. Xavier Worthy housed a punt for 74 yards, and the 35-6 consequence was on from there. Maalik Murphy had a strong efficiency, connecting on 16-of-25 throws for 170 yards and two TD hookups with Adonai Mitchell.
Texas has not launched a two-deep as of press time, but it surely’s most likely an inexpensive assumption that Murphy ought to play an honest quantity. Now that Oklahoma has tripped over the curb in opposition to Kansas, the door is once more open for the Longhorns, however we’ll should see if Jonathan Brooks and Adonai Mitchell can preserve their respective paces and the protection can proceed getting residence and forcing uncomfortable pockets.
On their Heels: North Carolina sat positioned two weeks in the past to play for an ACC title and make a New 12 months’s Six bowl. Now, following a completely inexplicable loss to Virginia — at residence! — and an nearly equally inexplicable 46-42 loss to Georgia Tech by which Mack Brown’s membership held 4 completely different double-digit leads, Carolina is in a tailspin. The Tar Heels have now dipped under 4-4 Virginia Tech within the league, with the Hokies sporting a 3-1 league ledger.
UNC will get a break this week with Campbell of the CAA in FCS, however goes Duke-at Clemson-at State to shut the season. There’s most likely two wins in there — at the least — however what was a really promising season for Carolina has misplaced a little bit of its luster.
U Mad, bro?: JMU continued its unimaginable run final week, knocking off a resurgent ODU crew, 30-27, in Bridgeforth Stadium. The Dukes are actually within the High 25 — in the intervening time, anyway — and have a enjoyable recreation at Georgia State this week. Extra on that in a bit — maybe, anyway.
Good friend of the positioning Shane Mettlen had a pretty solid read on JMU’s magical season, chronicling the indeniable success, the political absurdity, and every little thing in between. Curt Cignetti has finished a exceptional job in Harrisonburg, and can most likely be a key title in job searches this coming offseason. Don’t search for the Dukes to get numerous sympathy on their present plight from their Commonwealth brethren at Liberty, although. The identical factor occurred in Lynchburg just a few years in the past, and Flames followers aren’t concerned about serving to JMU by way of its state of affairs.
Dangerous Bets
And now for the time that I showcase my full lack of handicapping abilities. I make no claims on the contrary. With that, right here’s what you’ll learn each week:
I’ll choose 4 video games every week, with many not within the big P5 home windows, as a result of I have a tendency to paint outdoors these strains a bit. I’ll simply choose straight strains as they’re listed on the day I choose them — no cash strains, no teasing, nothing else. I’ll preserve monitor of my document because the season goes alongside, and you may trash me within the feedback every week for my lack of prediction prowess.
NOTE: Not one of the textual content inside is supposed to function playing recommendation. That is largely meant for parody and light-hearted evaluation. At no level ought to any of the picks on this article be construed as playing recommendation supplied by FBSchedules.com or me.
Week 9
Miami (OH) at Ohio (-7.5)
WHAT HAPPENED: Miami (OH) 30, Ohio 16.
What’s that you simply say? I obtained a canopy and a two-touchdown win? The Bobcats jumped out to a 9-0 lead, however managed only one extra landing the remainder of the best way. The Redhawks received going away, regardless of Aveon Smith making an attempt simply 11 passes — finishing seven — and throwing for 103 yards and a rating. Rashad Amos logged 21 totes and 163 yards with a rating of his personal. The Redhawks now maintain the within monitor on a MAC East crown.
Marshall (-3.5) at Coastal Carolina
WHAT HAPPENED: Coastal 34, Marshall 6.
I assumed Grayson McCall lacking the sport can be an issue for the Chants. Seems that throwing 4 rips between two quarterbacks was a much bigger downside for the Herd. Jarrett Visitor throwing for 289 and three scores additionally form of proved problematic for the guests.
Troy (-6.5) at Texas State
WHAT HAPPENED: Troy 31, Texas State 13.
Win with Troy one week, lose with them the subsequent. The Trojans are in nice form within the Solar Belt West following this resolution. The Trojans trailed, 10-7, on the interval, then proceeded to tear off a 24-3 second-half burst that earned them the victory. Gunnar Watson threw for simply shy of 400 yards and three touchdowns, whereas the Trojans picked off T.J. Finley twice in turning away the Bobcats.
UNLV at Fresno State (-8.5)
WHAT HAPPENED: Fresno 31, UNLV 24.
The Rebels had been a play away from additional time or an outright win. Ultimately, although, the 24-point third from the Bulldogs did within the guests from Vegas. The tide has clearly turned for UNLV, although; the Rebels are bowl-eligible and nonetheless maintain a potential inside straight to a Mountain West title. They might want to win in Colorado Springs and get some assist from a Fresno opponent — Boise? San Diego State? — to tug off that feat, nonetheless.
Week 10 (2-2 in Week 9, 13-13-2 this season)
#15 Notre Dame (-3) at Clemson (midday, ABC)
Georgia Tech at Virginia (-2) (2pm, CW)
Military at Air Pressure (-18.5) (2:30pm, CBSSN)
Louisiana Tech at Liberty (-16.5) (6pm, CBSSN)
I believe I really feel worse about this slate than I did final week’s. Contemplating I’m at .500 after 28 video games, I believe I’ll simply take my “win” and attempt to kneel it out from right here.
And at last, listed here are the 4 “under-the-radar” video games I’ll be watching this week and the way to watch them. I’ll additionally embrace strains if there are any — for informational functions solely, naturally, as outlined within the above disclaimer. I don’t but have a reputation for this part. All occasions are Jap.
#2 Furman (7-1, 5-0 SoCon) at #14 Chattanooga (7-2, 6-1) (1:30pm, ESPN+): This recreation decides the SoCon championship, and Finley Stadium will likely be wild. The Mocs final took down a top-five opponent 30 years in the past — when present coach Rusty Wright was a Chattanooga receiver. That recreation was a 33-31 resolution over Marshall.
The Mocs have been with out star working again Ailym Ford after he suffered a season-ending damage, however Gino Appleberry and Reggie Davis have crammed in properly in Ford’s stead. Chattanooga averages almost 6.2 yards per play, and they’ll want each inch of that in opposition to the strong Paladins.
Twin-threat quarterback Tyler Huff poses an equally massive downside on the opposing sideline. The purple-clad sophomore has rushed 83 occasions for 487 yards and 5 scores, whereas throwing for 1,452 yards and 9 TDs in opposition to 4 choose and almost 67 p.c completion share.
A win will get the Mocs into the postseason for the primary time for the reason that 2016 marketing campaign, the third of a trio of journeys.
LINE: None at press time.
#12 Missouri (7-1, 3-1 SEC) at #2 Georgia (8-0, 5-0) (3:30pm, CBS): We’re to the purpose within the season the place it’s laborious to tread untrodden trails — particularly with groups like this — however I’ll provide the massive cause to look at. The times of SEC soccer on CBS are dwindling. It is a fairly compelling matchup — although it’s laborious to discover a path for the Tigers to win — so I’ll offer you a pair notes.
Eli Drinkwitz has already secured his highest wins whole in Columbia. Missouri hasn’t received eight video games in a marketing campaign since 2018, when the Tigers went to the Liberty Bowl. Mizzou hasn’t had a one-loss season within the SEC since Gary Pinkel did it in back-to-back seasons in 2013 and 2014.
Once more, not saying the Tigers have a lot of a shot between the hedges, however we should always spotlight what they’ve finished to this point this season.
LINE: Georgia -15.5.
#11 North Dakota State (6-2, 3-2 MVFC) at #3 South Dakota State (8-0, 5-0) (3:00, ESPN+): The battle for the Dakota Marker makes its solution to Brookings this weekend, and as one may count on, there’s not a seat available in Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium. It needs to be heat — for the Dakotas, anyway — Saturday, with 55-degree temperatures and sunshine anticipated.
The Bison maintain the slimmest of margins within the Dakota Marker race since each moved to the FCS in 2004, having claimed 10 of the 19 contests. Quantity 11 would assist NDSU keep alive within the journey by way of the dryer that’s the MVFC, whereas the Jackrabbits would solely acquire the slightest of floor on South Dakota and Northern Iowa, who each lurk at 4-1 within the league.
I’ll let the South Dakota State sports activities info division let you know in regards to the Dakota Marker, as a result of that is one in a collection of superior rivalry trophies.
Crimson quartzite monuments that outline the border between South Dakota and North Dakota signify a soccer rivalry between the 2 states.
The Dakota Marker, a reproduction of the 7-foot by 10-inch sq. stone monuments planted within the early Nineties, is the title of a touring trophy that SDSU and North Dakota State started competing for in 2004.
The unique concept for the trophy got here from the Blue Key Honor Society at NDSU. The scholar associations at each colleges share twin possession of the trophy.
Creation of the trophy coincided with SDSU’s and NDSU’s entry into NCAA Division I-AA soccer (at the moment Soccer Championship Subdivision). And it signaled a revised rivalry between two colleges that first performed a soccer recreation in opposition to one another in 1903.
The Dakota Marker stands about three ft tall with the letters “SD” on one facet and “ND” on the opposite facet, similar to its 720 namesakes that dot the 366-mile border. The trophy stands about three ft excessive and weighs 78 kilos. The black granite base used to show the trophy weighs one other 181 kilos.
LINE: None at press time.
#23 JMU (8-0, 5-0 Solar Belt) at Georgia State (6-2, 3-2) (3:30pm, ESPN2): We’ve lined each these groups on this house — even on this particular column — however that is most likely the sport I’ll most carefully watch this week.
GSU has received seven video games in a season twice. They’ve received eight video games in a season as soon as. Granted, the pattern dimension is a bit small, however this could possibly be an all-time season for Shawn Elliott’s group.
That is additionally an ideal probability for us to shout out associates of the positioning Ben Moore and the THERSday Night Podcast, since we’ve already proven some like to our associates up on the DNR in Harrisonburg.
LINE: JMU -5.5.
Welcome to November. A frantic soccer month awaits, as do treasured holidays. Basketball can be proper across the season, so it is going to be robust for many people — your humble correspondent included — to pay attention.
Make it an ideal month, associates. Till subsequent time.
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