Clear Your Schedule | Week 11, 2023

Greetings, residents!

It’s Week 11, which can be the penultimate week for this right here characteristic in 2023. This yr has flown by, however I wish to take the time to thanks all for studying and contributing this season. It’s been an odd yr, in that that is the primary for this iteration of the characteristic. We’re beginning to hit our stride, simply in time for the season to finish.

Please pat yourselves on the again to your loyalty and help. Simply don’t make it awkward.

Sunday Tales

It’s time for the 4 greatest tales from the week prior in faculty soccer. Settlement shouldn’t be required, however I’ll ship you a penny in Kohl’s Money, or one thing.

So lengthy, Clemsoning; hey…Notre Daming?: I promise there may be nothing to having Clemson within the one spot for consecutive weeks aside from their being the highest story. After Clemson took a bunch of grief all week for its efficiency the week prior, the Tigers constructed a 24-9 lead on the interval and held off a third-quarter cost from the Irish in a 31-23 victory.

Cade Klubnik was…wonderful — 18 completions for 109 yards, a rating, and a choose — however Phil Mafah was the story. Mafah ran 36 occasions for 186 yards and two scores, punishing the Notre Dame protection and guaranteeing Clemson imposed its will.

Now, to induce some anger.

Can Notre Dame win one thing — something? — earlier than we proceed holding them in such excessive regard? They’ve gone 35 years with no nationwide title, they’ve put up two uninspiring appearances within the Playoff, and when a era — or two — has passed by since they final climbed the mountain, it’s time to maneuver on.  I like Marcus Freeman and suppose he’s a star, however I’m simply sick of pretending with this program.

Kat scratch fever: Sam Houston State is lastly within the left column as an FBS membership. The Bearkats took down Kennesaw State, 24-21, Saturday afternoon. Positive, that was a two-win Owl membership — within the FCS — however KSU will quickly be part of SHSU in CUSA. The Bearkats overcame an early 14-0 deficit to take the consequence.

We are actually with no winless staff within the FBS — which is nice for Sam Houston, however for these of us who love chaos, the dream has died.

Adorin’ Doeren:  Following a 20-6 win over Miami, NC State’s Dave Doeren is now the all-time wins chief at NC State, having gained 78 video games in all or a part of 11 seasons on the helm in Raleigh. Doeren overtakes NCSU legend Earle Edwards, who gained 77 video games as NCSU’s coach between 1954 and 1970.

(Editor’s word:  I actually imagined Dick Sheridan would have been extra within the dialog on the prime of the leaderboard, however he gained simply 52 video games in seven seasons.)

Prime numbers:  Colorado performed its first sport since its very public — and sudden — demotion of offensive coordinator Sean Lewis, and the outcomes weren’t nice. Shedeur Sanders threw for 245 yards and two scores, with a lot of it coming in a fourth-quarter flurry by the Buffaloes. Nevertheless, Colorado rushed for (minus)-six yards on 18 carries, which bit CU in a 26-19 loss to Oregon State. Time will inform how the change holds up for Coach Prime, however early returns haven’t been the most effective.

Dangerous Bets

And now for the time that I exhibit 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 exterior 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’ll 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 10

#15 Notre Dame (-3) at Clemson
WHAT HAPPENED:  Clemson 31, Notre Dame 23.

See above.  Notre Dame can benefit from the Pop Tarts Bowl in Orlando, as a result of they’re now formally completed.

Georgia Tech at Virginia (-2)
WHAT HAPPENED:  Georgia Tech 45, Virginia 17.

Virginia led after 1 / 4 — just for the Jackets to toss 21 on the board within the second quarter and boat race the Wahoos. I mentioned over the weekend on considered one of them thar’ social networks — and I’ll say once more right here — that Georgia Tech employed the proper man in Brent Key. He is probably not proper ceaselessly, however for now, Key was the proper man on the proper time.

Virginia, for its half, made a splashier rent. The outcomes converse for themselves.

Military at Air Drive (-18.5)
WHAT HAPPENED:  Military 23, Air Drive 3.

The Falcons turned it over six occasions in a tire-blowing loss. The Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy will now be determined by the Military-Navy sport on the finish of the season, and the Falcons will seemingly find yourself within the Armed Forces Bowl.

Louisiana Tech at Liberty (-16.5)
WHAT HAPPENED:  Liberty 56, Louisiana Tech 30.

This was a good sufficient sport for many of it; nevertheless, the Flames hung over 600 yards of offense on the visiting Bulldogs and pulled away late. Not that it might have made any distinction, however the Bulldogs inexplicably went for 2 on three separate events — changing one — within the second half. Liberty is now 9-0 and can host the CUSA title sport.

Week 11 (1-3 in Week 10, 14-16-2 this season)

Maryland (-2.5) at Nebraska (midday, Peacock)
Appalachian State at Georgia State (-2.5) (2pm, ESPN+)
Florida Worldwide at Center Tennessee (-10.5) (3:30pm, ESPN+)
Arkansas State at South Alabama (-11.5) (5:00pm, ESPN+)

I really feel as if I’ve a reasonably first rate learn — once more, not providing playing recommendation in any way — on this group of video games, in order that clearly means I’m going 0-4 and I’ll don’t have any shot of ending .500 for the yr. Drat.

And eventually, listed here are the 4 “under-the-radar” video games I’ll be watching this week and 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.

Georgia Tech (5-4, 4-2 ACC) at Clemson (5-4, 2-4) (midday, ABC):  We’ve already talked about each of those groups at first rate size on this house.

As an alternative, let’s deal with this date:  Oct. 18, 2008.

That was the final time Georgia Tech gained by the shores of Lake Hartwell. Josh Nesbitt was 5-for-12 for 41 yards that day. A type of throws, nevertheless, discovered Demaryius Thomas. 24 yards later, the Ramblin’ Wreck had a game-winning landing.

Even with this being a “down” yr for the Tigers, a win in Demise Valley could be seismic for the Jackets.

LINE:  Clemson -14.5.

Miami-FL at #4 Florida State (9-0) (3:30pm, ABC):  This sport ought to have much more buzz to it, however given the time dealing with points by the ‘Canes — and the unhealthy efficiency final week at State — issues look quite dismal for Miami. FSU is 9-0 and ought to take a look at Miami because the pace bump on the way in which to Charlotte that they’re.

Come for the remembrance of the nice rivalry this as soon as was, and keep to see whether or not FSU can preserve their foot on the fuel all through this one.

LINE:  Florida State -14.5.

New Mexico State (7-3, 5-1 CUSA) at Western Kentucky (5-4, 3-2) (3:30, ESPN+):  So hey, everybody had the battle at Houchens-Smith Stadium being a 5-4 New Mexico State towards a 7-3 Western Kentucky with the Hilltoppers headed for a CUSA title tilt in Lynchburg, proper? Proper?

As an alternative, Jerry Kill’s Aggies are poised to play for some {hardware}. Let’s offer you, although, a purpose Western could derail New Mexico State. Take it away, WKU Sports activities Info!

WKU has seen super late-season success underneath Tyson Helton, who
boasts a 13-3 total document within the month of November and a 12-2 document in
November in Convention USA video games. WKU has gained 10 consecutive CUSA
video games in November, and the one two convention losses within the month underneath
Helton have been each to FAU, who’s now not within the league.

LINE:  Western Kentucky -4.5.

Texas State (6-3, 3-2 Solar Belt) at Coastal Carolina (6-3, 4-2) (3:30pm, ESPN+): It’s the battle of the second-place groups from either side of the Solar Belt on the eye-gouging Surf Turf in Myrtle Seaside-adjacent, and there are a number of attention-grabbing storylines at play right here. G.J. Kinne has completed an important job in his first season in San Marcos, taking the Bobcats to bowl eligibility in his first season since coming over from Incarnate Phrase.

On the opposite aspect, Coastal quarterback Grayson McCall nonetheless can’t play, because the Chants’ medical workers has not but cleared the veteran standout. McCall is, unusually, on the two-deep this week. If McCall can’t go, senior Jarrett Visitor or freshman Ethan Vasko will get the nod. Vasko went 17-for-31 for 180 yards with a landing and a choose in final week’s win towards Outdated Dominion, whereas Visitor was 14-for-20 for 289 yards with three scores and a choose two weeks in the past towards Marshall.

LINE:  Texas State -2.5.

These are festive days for many people, however they’re fairly unhappy for a lot of. As I usually say, although we’re not referred to as to like everybody, we’re referred to as to love them. Remember to let others know they matter throughout this season.

I admire y’all.

On to the subsequent — subsequent week, that’s, the place we’ll wind down an thrilling first season of the revamped characteristic! Get pleasure from your weekend, youngsters!