A handful of Week 1 outcomes set the stage for what needs to be an epic season of school soccer. A number of different applications leaned on FCS opponents to hit the turbo button on hype and expectations.
Week 2 provides the possibility for groups to both change or fortify these narratives in opposition to stiffer competitors, that includes in-state battles, rekindled rivalries, upset specials and a top-10 tilt in The Huge Home.
Honorable Point out: BYU at SMU (Friday), No. 23 Georgia Tech at Syracuse, Baylor at No. 11 Utah, South Carolina at Kentucky, Michigan State at Maryland, No. 19 Kansas at Illinois, Oregon State at San Diego State.
(All level spreads come from BetMGM; click on right here for dwell odds. All kickoff occasions are Jap and on Saturday except in any other case famous.)
10. USF (1-0) at No. 4 Alabama (1-0), 7 p.m., ESPN
Earlier than somebody jumps within the feedback complaining concerning the huge level unfold, keep in mind that this identical matchup final season — when the Tide limped to a 17-3 win in Tampa and the sky was falling for Bama followers — was a 34.5-point unfold. I’m not suggesting there can be a repeat of that in Tuscaloosa, however this sport will be considered via the lens of all that has modified for the Tide for the reason that earlier assembly, when quarterback Jalen Milroe acquired benched and other people overtly puzzled whether or not Nick Saban was washed.
Now Milroe is a Heisman contender and Saban (very a lot NOT washed) is sitting subsequent to Pat McAfee on Saturday mornings. Credit score to USF as effectively. This system has made vital strides below second-year coach coach Alex Golesh and has a dynamic quarterback of its personal in Byrum Brown. I’ll be tuning in to see how Milroe and the Kalen DeBoer-led Crimson Tide fare in opposition to the Bulls a yr later.
Line: Alabama -30.5
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9. UTSA (1-0) at Texas State (1-0), 4 p.m., ESPNU
It’s the I-35 Rivalry between two of the highest Group of 5 contenders. Each are coming off underwhelming Week 1 victories however have been picked second of their respective preseason convention polls, with an opportunity to nab that G5 Faculty Soccer Playoff spot if the remainder of the season goes their means. Texas State, led by coach GJ Kinne and quarterback Jordan McCloud, was my preseason Playoff sleeper select of the Solar Belt, however the Bobcats will want a win over Jeff Traylor and the Roadrunners, who’ve ambitions of their very own within the AAC and have received 5 straight within the rivalry. If these stakes aren’t sufficient, Kinne performed quarterback for Traylor as a high-school senior — and their bond runs even deeper than that.
Line: Texas State -1.5
8. No. 17 Kansas State (1-0) at Tulane (1-0), Midday, ESPN
Ok-State made straightforward work of an FCS opponent final week whereas flashing its run-game efficiency, racking up 283 yards at 9.1 yards a pop. And after a few ACC favorites face-planted out of the beginning blocks, the trail to 2 Huge 12 applications making the 12-team Playoff area appears a lot wider, which completely advantages the Wildcats. However occurring the street to face Tulane is a more durable activity after the Inexperienced Wave dominated its personal FCS opponent with a powerful debut by redshirt freshman quarterback Darian Mensah. Reminder: Tulane upset Ok-State in Manhattan two years in the past, a Wildcat staff that went on to win the Huge 12.
Line: Kansas State -9.5
7. Appalachian State (1-0) at No. 25 Clemson (0-1), 8 p.m., ACC Community
Are the Tigers on upset alert? I’m not able to predict this one both, however App State does have a historical past of taking down the large boys, most not too long ago sixth-ranked Texas A&M on the street in 2022. The Mountaineers have been preseason favorites within the Solar Belt and regarded stable of their Week 1 win, with QB Joey Aguilar throwing for 326 yards and two touchdowns. In the meantime, Clemson’s tough exhibiting in opposition to Georgia — and the next anti-Dabo discourse — makes the Tigers a must-watch in opposition to any opponent with a pulse. App State actually qualifies.
Line: Clemson -17.5
The Pokes took care of enterprise in opposition to an admirable South Dakota State aspect — as a top-20 staff ought to — and working again Ollie Gordon II picked up the place he left off in 2023 with 126 speeding yards and three touchdowns. Can Oklahoma State present the identical promise in opposition to an SEC opponent? Any discuss of Sam Pittman’s sizzling seat acquired back-burnered after Arkansas’ 70-0 shutout in Week 1, and Boise State switch QB Taylen Inexperienced regarded good in his Razorbacks debut. However this showdown in Stillwater — reviving a regional rivalry that’s been dormant since 1980 — ought to provide a clearer sense of what to anticipate from each groups.
Line: Oklahoma State -7.5
5. Colorado (1-0) at Nebraska (1-0), 7:30 p.m., NBC
One other renewed rivalry, this one from the outdated Huge 12 (and Huge Eight) days, now that includes a Huge 12 staff as soon as once more. Travis Hunter caught three touchdowns, Shedeur Sanders threw for 445 yards and Coach Prime made his common postgame headlines after Colorado pulled out a win over North Dakota State final week. However essentially the most anticipated facet of this sport is likely to be Nebraska true freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola. The five-star recruit fueled the hype by going 19-for-27 for 238 yards and two touchdowns within the Cornhuskers’ 40-7 win over UTEP. Now he faces a Buffs’ protection that gave up 449 yards to NDSU, and is on the helm of a Nebraska staff that can be trying to avenge final yr’s 36-14 loss in Boulder.
Line: Nebraska -7.5
4. Boise State (1-0) at No. 7 Oregon (1-0), 10 p.m., Peacock
The jury remains to be out on the Geese, who dropped from No. 3 to No. 7 within the AP Ballot after an uninspiring 24-14 win over FCS Idaho final weekend, a sport by which Oregon was favored by 49.5 factors. The Geese utterly dominated the field rating, together with 380 passing yards from quarterback Dillon Gabriel on 41 of 49 completions. However a missed area purpose, fumble and a few failed fourth-down makes an attempt saved the sport shut and dolloped some skepticism onto Oregon. Boise State received a 56-45 shootout with Georgia Southern that featured 1,112 yards of mixed offense, together with 267 speeding yards and 6 touchdowns for Broncos stud working again Ashton Jeanty (who yours really simply occurred to pick out in The Athletic’s Heisman draft). If the Geese get their act collectively, I’d wager the over (61.5 factors) on this one.
Line: Oregon -19.5
3. No. 14 Tennessee (1-0) vs. No. 24 NC State (1-0), 7:30 p.m., ABC
For these tuning into the Duke’s Mayo Traditional, add Vols quarterback Nico Iamaleava to the listing of much-hyped gamers who backed it up in Week 1. The redshirt freshman went 22-of-28 passing for 314 yards and three touchdowns in a blowout win over Chattanooga, gassing up the Knoxville devoted. Tennessee completed with 718 yards of complete offense. Coastal Carolina switch QB Grayson McCall regarded fairly good in his NC State debut as effectively, however the Wolfpack struggled with Western Carolina and have been trailing coming into the fourth quarter earlier than scoring 21 unanswered. NC State received’t have that very same luxurious in opposition to what has the early makings of one other high-octane Tennessee offense.
Line: Tennessee -7.5
2. Iowa State (1-0) at No. 21 Iowa (1-0), 3:30 p.m., CBS
The Cy-Hawk sequence hasn’t been high-scoring these days, and that can in all probability be the case once more, regardless of the Hawkeyes placing up 40 within the first sport below new offensive coordinator Tim Lester. The over/below is 35.5, and the final Cy-Hawk matchup to surpass 45 mixed factors was Iowa’s 44-41 time beyond regulation win in 2017. Nevertheless it needs to be one other high-stakes slugfest between intrastate rivals with dark-horse Playoff hopes. The Cyclones had a workmanlike win over North Dakota however will have to be higher working the ball in opposition to an Iowa protection that allowed solely 189 complete yards to Illinois State. Hawkeyes coach Kirk Ferentz is again on the sideline after a one-game suspension. Iowa has received seven of the previous eight over Iowa State.
Line: Iowa -3
1. No. 3 Texas (1-0) at No. 10 Michigan (1-0), Midday, Fox
“Huge Midday Kickoff” heads to Ann Arbor for a blue-blooded heavyweight conflict. Michigan let Fresno State crawl inside six factors within the fourth quarter earlier than slamming the door shut, but it surely might want to get far more from a new-look offense that did not high 300 yards and scored solely two of the staff’s three touchdowns. Beginning quarterback Davis Warren struggled, and working again Donovan Edwards by no means acquired revved up. The Wolverines should determine issues out in opposition to a Texas squad that blanked Colorado State 52-0, together with 260 yards and three touchdowns from Fansville’s personal Deputy Quinn Ewers. The Longhorns went on the street for a large Week 2 win over Alabama final yr on their strategy to the Playoff. Michigan will get an opportunity to show simply how stout its nationwide title protection will be.
Line: Texas -7.5
(Photograph of Donovan Edwards: Gregory Shamus / Getty Photos)
