Clear Your Schedule | Week 5, 2023

Greetings, earthlings. We’re into Week 5 — already — of the faculty soccer season and issues are nonetheless taking form.  It’s a little bit of a Separation Saturday within the SEC, with video games in Lexington and on the Plains drawing consideration. Gameday goes to Durham for a matchup that misplaced a tiny little bit of its juice virtually instantly after they introduced it — extra on that in a bit — and there are another fascinating storylines into which we’ll delve right here.

Let’s go.

Sunday Tales

It’s time for the 4 greatest tales from the week prior in school soccer. Settlement will not be required, however I at all times respect it.

Demise Valley: For all these instances you’ve sat on the sofa watching school soccer and a #CollegeKickers moments occurs, main you to suppose, “I might get on the market and hit that kick”…no, you’ll be able to’t. Clemson introduced again one among their former kickers — off the sofa, as was publicized all week — just for him to promptly miss a kick that might have gained Clemson the sport. To his credit score, Jonathan Weitz confirmed unbelievable accountability after the sport — particularly for somebody who was taking on-line courses every week prior.

In tandem with that story, although, is what Florida State achieved Saturday. Whether or not down or not, it’s nonetheless a major win for the Seminoles to enter Clemson and are available out with a victory. Mike Norvell’s Seminoles have arrived, they usually have a really, very stable take a look at Charlotte with that win. They may very effectively head there in Clemson’s regular function of attending to the playoff with a win. Go forward — check out that remaining slate and inform me who beats them. (Trace:  If anyone does, it’s going to be a workforce whose quarterback’s mom tells him he sucks.)

Monarchy (almost) overthrown:  We very almost had one of many extra earth-shaking upsets of the season in Norfolk final Saturday, as provisional FCS Texas A&M-Commerce was one two-point play away from taking down Previous Dominion in an ugly sport within the Tidewater. The Lions usually are not precisely a fly-by-night faculty — they gained the 2017 Division 2 title — however nobody outdoors of Commerce might have anticipated them to win in jap Virginia.

ODU now heads to Huntington and Hattiesburg in a troublesome Solar Belt street combo and hosts App earlier than heading to Bridgeforth Stadium in Harrisonburg (numerous “H” street journeys for ODU this season, apropos of nothing) for a battle with a very powerful JMU squad. If that’s not sufficient, they host Coastal and head to Lynchburg to sq. off with 4-0 Liberty earlier than touring to Georgia Southern and internet hosting Georgia State. We’ll see who the true Monarchs are — are they the membership who beat Louisiana and barely misplaced to Wake, or are they the membership that bought boat raced by pedestrian Virginia Tech and had this blown tire this previous Saturday?

Center of nowhere?:  100 Miles of Hate affords a renewal of pleasantries this weekend within the shadow of the Corvette Museum, and the Blue Raiders head up I-65 with extra questions than solutions. MTSU has one win this 12 months in 4 tries — towards FCS Murray State — and after being stage with Colorado State with 1 / 4 to play final week in Murfreesboro, they allowed the Rams to attain twice within the remaining quarter and depart the Floyd Stadium turf with a measure of revenge for a 2022 loss to Center. Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi related on 30-of-43 tries final week for 321 yards and two scores, whereas the Rams didn’t log 20 speeding makes an attempt. This isn’t the best bit of reports for the Raiders, who get the highest passing offense — by far — in Convention USA within the Hilltoppers (283.3 ypg).

Rick Stockstill’s not going anyplace — he’s been within the ‘Boro almost 20 years and has a sweetheart deal by means of the tip of the last decade that robotically rolls over by a 12 months each time the membership wins six video games or meets different measures — however a 1-4 begin with a loss to the Raiders’ most hated rival will create some howling on the banks of the Stones River.

Imperfect 10:  Notre Dame appeared poised to select up one of many greatest wins in South Bend in a very long time, earlier than Ohio State drove the sphere and broke their spirit with a successful drive that wrapped on the penultimate play of the sport. The telecast regularly questioned how Notre Dame had an alignment with solely two defenders on the aspect of the sphere the place the Buckeyes scored, and we came upon later that evening why — the Irish only had 10 men on the field. This wasn’t the primary time this season that’s occurred, both.

Notre Dame’s good — actually good — however stuff like that may’t occur. Interval.

Unhealthy 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 outdoors these traces a bit. I’ll simply choose straight traces as they’re listed on the day I choose them — no cash traces, no teasing, nothing else.  I’ll maintain monitor of my report 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 assessment. At no level ought to any of the picks on this article be construed as playing recommendation supplied by FBSchedules.com or me.

Week 4

Virginia Tech at Marshall (-4.5)
WHAT HAPPENED:  Marshall 24, Virginia Tech 17. Kyron Drones supplied Tech a stable dual-threat look underneath middle in Huntington, however the Herd’s 17 unanswered factors after trailing, 10-7, despatched the Hokies reeling additional. Tech has a possible get-right sport with Pitt Saturday evening in Blacksburg, however issues get tough afterwards because the Hokies head to Doak Campbell. There’s nonetheless a path to 6 wins and a bowl after three straight losses — particularly with sadly hapless Virginia within the Commonwealth Cup looming to probably be that sixth win — however the window is rapidly closing on Tech.

Colorado (+20.5) at Oregon
WHAT HAPPENED:  Oregon 42, Colorado 6. Yikes. Had been I being goal — and lifelike — earlier than this sport, I might need taken Oregon minus no matter factors have been on the board. Colorado had simply appeared to discover a means so far this season. Oregon discovered its solution to Colorado’s backfield early and infrequently, and Bo Nix appeared like Peyton Manning.

I assume we all know now that I don’t put up for clicks.

Georgia Tech at Wake Forest (-3.5)
WHAT HAPPENED:  Georgia Tech 30, Wake Forest 16. I believed this may be a detailed sport — perhaps a late landing or one thing — however Haynes King had different concepts. The Jackets leapt out to a 20-3 benefit earlier than weathering a late storm from the Deacs and taking the win dwelling from Winston. King completed the day 16-for-27 for 222 yards and two scores. Georgia Tech has taken strides underneath Brent Key, and will — might — be on monitor for its first bowl look because the 2018 Fast Lane Bowl.

Let’s transfer on in order that I don’t upset sure different voices on this website…

Appalachian State (+3) at Wyoming
WHAT HAPPENED:  Wyoming 22, Appalachian State 19. My first push of the season! App acquitted itself effectively — there was clearly not going to be a difficulty with taking part in at altitude for the Mountaineers — however the Cowboys gained the sport on a blocked area objective return and two-point conversion with 2:02 to play. Wyoming will trigger some issues for everyone this 12 months. So will App, if we’re being sincere.

Week 5 (1-2-1 final week, 5-10-1 this season)

#22 Florida at Kentucky (-1) (midday, ESPN)
South Alabama at JMU (-3) (midday, ESPNU)
Virginia at Boston Faculty (-3) (2pm, CW)
Pitt at Virginia Tech (+2.5) (8pm, ACCN)

And at last, listed here are the 4 “under-the-radar” video games I’ll be watching this week and the best way to watch them. I’ll additionally embody traces 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 instances are Jap.

Louisiana (3-1) at Minnesota (2-2) (midday, BTN):  I don’t actually know why this sport jumps out at me, however I’ll say — once more, not providing playing recommendation — that I’m confused by the road. The Ragin’ Cajuns broke the toepiece on their proverbial skates in a 38-31 loss to ODU, however have rebounded properly with a win at UAB and one other at dwelling towards Buffalo.

Minnesota, then again, has misplaced two straight, together with a horrendous loss in additional time to Northwestern final week. The Gophers have Michigan coming to name subsequent week earlier than heading to Iowa following a bye. This sport has a bizarre really feel to it.

LINE:  Minnesota -11.

#24 Kansas (4-0) at #24 Texas (4-0) (3:30pm, ABC): This sport is clearly not underneath any radar anyplace, however I’m legitimately interested by what’s going to break the “LOL KANSAS OWNZ TEXAS” storyline. What number of landing passes does Quinn Ewers want? How badly do the Longhorns need to beat the Jayhawks? Truly, can that storyline go away? I report, you resolve!
LINE:  Texas -16.5.

Charlotte (1-3) at SMU (2-2) (7:30pm, ESPNU):  Charlotte began the season so stuffed with hope. Biff Poggi took over the 49ers, rocked the sleeveless shirts, and bought everybody fired up. They scored a landing final week at Florida and matched the Gators; nonetheless, 5 Florida area objectives put away Charlotte, 22-7. A 1-4 begin for Charlotte would make the already irritated contingent in College Metropolis borderline indignant. Probably winnable video games towards Navy, at East Carolina, and Florida Atlantic at dwelling loom to probably get the 49ers stage in the event that they lose right here, however…yeah.

LINE:  SMU -23.5.

West Virginia (3-1) at TCU (3-1) (8:00, ESPN2):  Bear in mind when TCU misplaced the season-opener to Colorado and everybody left them for lifeless? Bear in mind when folks inquired as as to if Neal Brown could be fired? Nicely, right here we’re with a reasonably fiery Massive 12 showdown in Fort Value in prime time. TCU beat Nicholls, then gained at Houston and clipped SMU within the battle of the Metroplex. West Virginia’s wins are much less spectacular, with choices over Duquesne, Pitt, and Texas Tech. Whether or not or not you could have a canine within the proverbial hunt right here, that is most likely the sport to observe — sure, much more so than Notre Dame/Duke — Saturday evening.

LINE:  TCU -14.

Subsequent week is a bye week on your humble correspondent. I’m positive it will trigger tears and chaos all over the place, so please attempt to management your rage and disappointment.

Thanks a lot for studying each week, and on your suggestions. I respect you all. Get pleasure from your school soccer weekend(s), and we’ll tee it up once more in two weeks!