Joel clawing
Lead Faculty Soccer Analyst
Week 2 was a press release week for energy conferences. Now, we get our first good style of convention play this season in Week 3.
Each the ACC and Large Ten have their first convention video games of the season this weekend, whereas the Large 12 and SEC ramp up their convention slate on Saturday. I’ll be on the decision for a type of Large Ten matchups, with Northwestern internet hosting Oregon on “Large Midday Saturday” (Saturday, midday ET on FOX and the FOX Sports activities app).
I gained’t have a decide for that sport, however I’ll make alternatives for a pair of noteworthy SEC matchups and an out-of-conference sport that’s a must-win for one of many groups concerned.
I’m very excited to see this Oregon group. I expressed earlier this week simply how bullish I’m in regards to the Geese, as I consider they appear the a part of a group that may win a nationwide championship.
Oregon travels to Evanston to tackle Northwestern
Oregon definitely confirmed that final week. It took down Oklahoma State, 69-3, in Week 2, with quarterback Dante Moore taking part in stellar. The truth is, Moore has helped Oregon rating a landing in 13 of the 15 drives he’s been on the sphere to this point this season. He is been correct with the soccer and has elite arm expertise.
What I could also be extra impressed with Oregon, although, is the way it’s constructed defensively. The Geese’ protection can lead the nation in yards allowed, and that is what you’ll want to win the nationwide championship. The final 4 nationwide champions all ranked within the prime three in yards allowed. Oregon is nice in the midst of its defensive position, has velocity on the skin and a very high quality secondary.
Northwestern was capable of bounce again final week after its season-opening loss to Tulane, defeating Western Illinois, 42-7. It has SMU switch Preston Stone at quarterback, who threw for 4 interceptions within the season-opening loss to Tulane earlier than throwing for 3 scores final week.
With the way in which we’ve seen these groups play over the primary couple of weeks, Tennessee is likely to be higher than we thought and there are quite a lot of questions surrounding Georgia. The way in which Georgia’s offense performed in opposition to Austin Peay was regarding, and there’s been a giant a part of me that’s needed to leap on the Tennessee bandwagon for this matchup.
However let’s break this sport into chunks. Georgia’s offensive line goes to be more healthy and more practical on this sport. It appears to be like prefer it’s going to get its beginning proper sort out, Earnest Greene III, again for this sport. If that corrects itself, that’s an enormous momentum enhance for Georgia.
Trying on the quarterbacks, this can be a new atmosphere for each. That is Georgia quarterback Gunnar Stockton’s first true street begin, however this gained’t be his first large begin. We noticed him play within the SEC Championship Recreation and begin within the Faculty Soccer Playoff, so I’m rather less involved about him than I’m about Tennessee’s Joey Aguilar. Aguilar has by no means performed a sport like this one. I’m glad for him that this sport is at house quite than on the street.
Gunnar Stockton and Georgia’s offense will look to make a press release in Week 3. (Photograph by Todd Kirkland/Getty Photos)
While you have a look at the general matchup, Kirby Good has had Josh Heupel’s quantity. Heupel’s Tennessee groups haven’t had the identical success in opposition to Georgia that they’ve had in opposition to most different SEC groups over the previous couple of years. Within the 4 conferences between Georgia and Tennessee since Heupel grew to become the Volunteers’ head coach in 2021, the Bulldogs have outscored them by 80 factors. Tennessee additionally hasn’t scored greater than 17 factors in opposition to Georgia over these 4 matchups, even with some good offenses and gamers.
So, why is it that Georgia has performed properly in opposition to Tennessee? The apparent reply is that Georgia has higher gamers. We all know that. However why is that particularly powerful for Tennessee, particularly in opposition to Georgia’s protection? Tennessee’s offense might be explosive, typically using alternative routes and the quarterback picks a facet pre-snap and performs that mixture. There’s an amazing quantity of stress and expectation that the quarterback and large receiver are going to be on the identical web page, and when they’re, they’ll exploit defenses. However Georgia’s protection is gifted sufficient to reach man protection and it might play high-low in its protection, too.
I consider that this will probably be a low-scoring affair and I don’t see both facet scoring greater than 21 factors. Trying on the current historical past of this matchup, I’ve to take Georgia to win the sport.
Choose: Georgia 21, Tennessee 17 (Georgia -3.5)
It is a nice non-conference sport, and a large one for Notre Dame. After all, Notre Dame misplaced to Miami (Fla.) to open the season, and and not using a ton of marquee matchups on its schedule, this can be a must-win. I do know it’s early within the season, but when Notre Dame finishes 10-2 with losses to Miami and Texas A&M, I don’t see what else is on its schedule that helps it win arguments to be included within the Faculty Soccer Playoff.
What’s the adjustment Notre Dame could make on this sport? It ought to be to get working again Jeremiyah Love to the touch the ball far more than he did in Week 1. I do not assume he was utilized in that Miami sport to the required quantity for Notre Dame to win the sport. I consider Notre Dame will appropriate that and pressure Texas A&M to remove Love earlier than counting on the passing sport. So, I feel Love has a giant sport.
Notre Dame might want to make the most of Jeremiyah Love extra in opposition to Texas A&M. (Photograph by Chris Arjoon/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photos)
I don’t have a very good learn on Texas A&M’s protection but. It ought to be a very good unit, nevertheless it in all probability isn’t as nice as Miami’s due to the pass-rushing expertise the Canes have.
Nonetheless, I like Texas A&M this yr. Quarterback Marcel Reed is dynamic, however he’s going to must throw the ball properly like Carson Beck did in opposition to Notre Dame in Week 1. He does have a pair of high quality large receivers in Mario Craver and KC Concepcion.
I additionally preferred what I noticed out of Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr in opposition to Miami, and I feel the Preventing Irish will assist make clear a few of these appears to be like he’ll throw into.
Choose: Notre Dame 31, Texas A&M 24 (Notre Dame -6.5)
Can South Florida do it three weeks in a row? The Bulls must defeat a Miami group that’s constructed very well alongside the road of scrimmage, which is what I like in regards to the Canes. This group is bodily and might personal the road of scrimmage, which it did in opposition to Notre Dame. So, Mario Cristobal has constructed a correct group that may play on the excessive finish.
USF is a very good group. It did an unimaginable job within the secondary final week, taking away large performs from Florida quarterback DJ Lagway with out producing quite a lot of stress. Nevertheless, I belief Miami quarterback Carson Beck to make large performs on the skin if USF can’t get to him.
Carson Beck has been spectacular in his first two video games with Miami. (Photograph by Leonardo Fernandez/Getty Photos)
I’m a fan of USF quarterback Byrum Brown as properly. He’s large (6-foot-3, 232 kilos), carrying it 15 occasions per sport. That’ll be troublesome for Miami, however I additionally belief its protection. The Canes’ defensive position will probably be an enormous drawback for opposing quarterbacks all season lengthy.
So, I like Miami and it takes care of enterprise.
Choose: Miami 31, USF 14 (USF +17.5)
Florida vs. LSU (Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET)
You need to assume, “OK, is Florida going to play the way in which it did in opposition to USF and lose at house after which beat LSU in Dying Valley the very subsequent week?”
The reply is not any.
You might say Florida was trying forward, and it clearly isn’t inconceivable for the Gators to win on Saturday. However I simply don’t see it. Brian Kelly has been capable of lean on his group this week, much like the way in which Kirby Good did with Georgia following an underwhelming Week 2 displaying. The teaching employees needs to be licking their chops to educate this group actually laborious this week.
Like I discussed earlier, USF wasn’t bringing quite a lot of stress on Lagway and Florida nonetheless couldn’t get a lot going. LSU’s protection is best than USF’s and it’ll put stress on Lagway. I’ve liked what I’ve seen from LSU’s protection, and there aren’t many which can be blitzing greater than LSU. The Tigers are doing it with unimaginable gamers too, with Harold Perkins trying good.
I don’t assume Florida is ready the place I might take it to cowl the unfold on this sport — and that’s earlier than moving into how a lot I like LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier and working again Caden Durham.
Choose: LSU 31, Florida 21 (LSU -7.5)
Joel Klatt is FOX Sports activities’ lead faculty soccer sport analyst and the host of the podcast “The Joel Klatt Present.” Observe him at @joelklatt and subscribe to the “Joel Klatt Present” on YouTube.
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