School soccer Week 7: Picks and preview

The Geese have had a while to recover from that 31-24 loss at Stanford on Oct. 2. Again in motion, they will strive for a seventh straight house victory over Cal, which has dropped 4 consecutive contests on the street. Oregon has dedicated 19 penalties in its final two video games, That lack of self-discipline proved pricey in opposition to Stanford, and if it continues, issues may get bushy for the Geese going ahead.

Prediction: Oregon (-13 1/2)

San Diego State final began 6-0 in 2017. Nevertheless, its seven-game successful streak over San Jose State ended with a 28-17 loss final season. Greg Bell has rushed for 520 yards and 5 touchdowns for the Aztecs this season and ran for 109 with a rating in opposition to the Spartans in 2020. San Jose State’s three defeats have come by a mean of 20.3 factors whereas totaling 24 factors. The Aztecs are giving up 16.6 factors per contest.

Prediction: San Diego State (+ 9 1/2)

After beginning 4-0, the feel-good story of Arkansas’ Razorbacks has hit the snag. They fell 37-0 at new No. 1 Georgia on Oct. 2 and final weekend misplaced a barn-burner 52-51 to then-No. 17 Ole Miss. Issues seemingly do not get any simpler in opposition to Auburn, which is coming off a 34-10 loss to Georgia, however already received at LSU this season and takes a five-game successful streak in opposition to the Hogs into this matchup.

Prediction: Auburn (+3 1/2)

Issues seem like falling into place for Cincinnati  and its probabilities of reaching the School Soccer Playoff. Desmond Ridder (1,304 passing yards, 12 touchdowns, two interceptions) is properly guiding an offense that averages 41.0 factors, whereas the protection is giving up 12.2 factors and compelled 14 turnovers over its final 4 video games. UCF’s standing as American Athletic Convention energy has slipped of late, however the Knights dropped their final two in opposition to the Bearcats by simply three factors every.

Prediction: Cincinnati (-20 1/2)

Kenneth Walker III (903 speeding yards, 9 touchdowns) will get numerous pub, however receivers Jayden Reed and Jalen Nailor (mixed 46 receptions, 982 yards, 11 TDs) and quarterback Payton Thorne (1,576 yards, 14 TDs, two interceptions) are a serious motive Michigan State averages 36.7 factors. Indiana, in the meantime, has yielded a mean of 31.0 factors whereas shedding two of its final three. The  uncertain status of quarterback Michael Penix Jr., additionally does not appear to bode nicely for the Hoosiers, which have dropped 4 of the final 5 to the Spartans at house.

Prediction: Michigan State (-4 1/2)

Florida is likely to be ranked, however its probabilities of successful an SEC division title do not look good. The Gators are a stable favourite this weekend however have dropped two in a row and eight of the final 11 conferences with LSU. The Tigers are banged up and seeking to keep away from a 3rd straight defeat after being routed 42-12 at then-No. 16 Kentucky. The brand-name optics of this rivalry are nonetheless there, however, for the time being, these are two middling applications throughout the present realm of the SEC.

Prediction: Florida (-10 1/2)

After knocking off previously-No. 1-ranked Alabama in dramatic vogue final weekend, are the Aggies strolling right into a lure recreation at Mizzou? Sure, this can be Texas A&M’s first true street recreation of the 2021 marketing campaign, and the squad has been inconsistent on either side of the ball. Nevertheless, Missouri is 0-3 in opposition to Energy 5 colleges this season and allowed a mean of 46.0 factors over its final three video games.

Prediction: Texas A&M (-8 1/2)

The Cowboys have quietly labored their approach to the sting of the highest 10 in The AP rankings. How? With a protection that is giving up 18.6 factors per recreation. Oklahoma State additionally is aware of the right way to win the shut ones, since its 5 video games have been determined by a mixed 34 factors. It is misplaced the final two conferences with Texas by a mixed 13 factors. The Longhorns, although, should discover a approach to rebound from blowing a 21-point result in rival Oklahoma final weekend. Texas’ Casey Thompson won’t be one hundred pc (thumb harm), however ought to be able to construct on his 388-yard, five-touchdown cross recreation in opposition to the Sooners.

Prediction: Texas (-5)

This ought to be a enjoyable non-conference matchup and a severe check for BYU to bounce again from simply its second defeat in 18 video games — versus Boise State. Baylor, in the meantime, is coming off a 25-point house victory over a stable West Virginia workforce. That is the primary time these applications have met since 1984. The Cougars final confronted a Huge 12 opponent in 2016, when it misplaced 35-32 to West Virginia.

Prediction: Baylor (-6 1/2)

The Hawkeyes are ready to win a Huge Ten title and attain the School Soccer Playoff due to a protection that averages 13.0 factors and has pressured 20 turnovers. That would spell doom for Purdue, which has misplaced two of three and scored simply 13 factors in every of these contests. The Boilermakers, who additionally turned the ball over twice in every of these three video games, are 0-27 on the street in opposition to ranked opponents since successful at then-No. 14 Wisconsin on Oct. 18, 2003.

Prediction: Iowa (-11 1/2)

For the primary time since November 2007, Alabama should bounce again from shedding to an unranked opponent. The Tide, particularly defensively, seemed shell-shocked at occasions throughout final weekend’s 41-38 loss at Texas A&M. This week will inform a lot about Alabama’s mettle, because it hits the street once more in opposition to Mississippi State, which is again in motion after successful 26-22 at Texas A&M on Oct. 2. In fact, Alabama has received 13 straight on this collection.

Prediction: Alabama (-17 1/2)

Driving a three-game successful streak, N.C. State is taking part in its first ACC recreation since upsetting then-No. 9 Clemson on Sept. 25. That is additionally the Wolfpack’s first league recreation on the street, the place their lone 2021 defeat got here at Mississippi State. Quarterback Devin Leary has thrown 9 of his 12 touchdowns during the last three video games — with out an interception. B.C. can also be returning to the sector for the primary time since Oct. 2, when it misplaced by six to then-No. 25 Clemson.

Prediction: Boston School (+3)

Sure, the Sooners are ready to earn a spot within the School Soccer Playoff for the time being after that outstanding comeback in opposition to Texas final weekend. Nevertheless, the speak for the time being is about Oklahoma’s quarterback scenario. Crimson River Rivalry hero Caleb Williams (15-of-24, 211 yards, two TDs versus Texas final weekend) is reportedly taking snaps with the first team , whereas former Heisman Trophy favourite Spencer Rattler and his future with the college seems to be in limbo. All that stated, the Sooners nonetheless appear in good condition to document an eighth straight win over TCU.

Prediction: Oklahoma (-13 1/2)

Former Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin brings an Ole Miss squad into Knoxville that averages 46.2 factors. Nevertheless, the Rebels have given up 93 factors of their final two video games. The latter could possibly be a problem in opposition to the Volunteers, who’ve totaled 107 factors whereas beating Missouri and South Carolina of their final two video games. Mississippi may also be making an attempt to halt a seven-game street slide versus Tennessee, the place it hasn’t performed since 2010.

Prediction: Tennessee (+3)

Arizona State received at then-No. 20 UCLA and topped a pesky Stanford squad at house throughout its present three-game successful streak. Nevertheless, issues ought to solely get more durable at Utah, the place the Solar Devils have misplaced two of their final three visits. Arizona State boasts 4 gamers averaging at the very least 5.5 speeding yards per carry (on at the very least 31 makes an attempt) and totaling three or extra touchdowns. Utah, in the meantime, held Washington State and USC to 162 complete speeding yards in successful its final two contests.

Prediction: Utah (+1)

For the primary time since November 2014, Clemson will take the sector not ranked in The AP’s High 25. For some Tigers, that’s tough to take. Nevertheless, the main target for banged-up Clemson is recording a fourth consecutive victory over Syracuse. Clemson’s largest problem remains to be an offense that is been held to fewer than 20 factors 3 times already this season. The Tigers, although, have yielded simply 61 factors and their two defeats — versus Georgia and North Carolina State — got here by a mixed 13 factors.

Prediction: Syracuse (+14)

Nebraska’s 4 losses this season have come by a mixed 21 factors. Following a last-second house defeat to Michigan, the Cornhuskers attempt to keep away from going 0-4 on the street this season. They’ve dropped two straight at Minnesota, which has misplaced its top-two operating backs Mohamed Ibrahim and Trey Potts to season-ending accidents. The excellent news for the Gophers, although, is that they’ve allowed 27 factors over their final three contests.

Prediction: Minnesota (+3 1/5)

The case can actually be made that these are the 2 largest disappointments within the ACC — if not the nation — this season. With quarterback D’Eriq King done for the season with a shoulder injury , Miami faces the problem of its first true 2021 street recreation. North Carolina, in the meantime, is coming off a 10-point house loss to lowly Florida State and continues to battle with inconsistency throughout the board. Getting into the week, no quarterback has been sacked greater than the Tar Heels’ Sam Howell (23).

Prediction: North Carolina (-7)

This can be a matchup of the highest two groups within the ACC Coastal Division, at the very least when it comes to the present standings. Pitt’s solely loss got here at house to Western Michigan by three, and it is already received at Tennessee and Georgia Tech. The Panthers, although, have misplaced their final two journeys to Virginia Tech, which is coming off a tough 32-29 house defeat to then-No. 14 Notre Dame. The Hokies, nevertheless, have received seven of their final 9 ACC house video games,

Prediction: Virginia Tech (+5)

With every workforce coming off an open week, each ought to be well-rested and ready for this league contest. Breece Hall is beginning to discover his type for the Cyclones, speeding for 413 yards and 6 touchdowns within the final three video games after gaining 138 with two scores in his first two 2021 contests. He ran for 135 and two touchdowns throughout Iowa State’s 45-0 house rout of Ok-State final season. The Wildcats need to keep away from a 3rd straight defeat, however have received seven in a row 14 of 15 over Iowa State at house.

Prediction: Iowa State (-6 1/2)

The story right here is Washington’s present standing. A season-opening house loss to Montana of the FCS, 21-point rout by the hands of Michigan, and 27-24 defeat at Oregon State. The Huskies, who additionally struggled to beat Cal, now face a UCLA squad that is seeking to open 3-0 on the street within the Pac-12. The Bruins have dropped the final two conferences on this collection, however the applications haven’t met since 2018.

Prediction: UCLA (+1 1/2)