Over-reactions or on-point changes? Early-season outcomes have us in tweak mode
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Changes are a giant a part of soccer.
So with that, let’s tweak our pre-season prognostications on the NCAA pigskin enjoying discipline.
Over-reactions? Maybe.
However nonetheless, these are vital changes with the opening weeks of faculty soccer now within the books and a primary look at groups and gamers serving to to reshape our tackle the marketing campaign.
The large shift from mid-August is the outlook of some ACC adventurists — and that convention, typically.
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The Florida State Seminoles? Oops.
The Miami Hurricanes? Whoa!
And the Clemson Tigers? Hmmmm.
We had the Seminoles — like different pundits — atop the ACC come season’s finish.
However what a stinker it’s been for them via their first two video games of the schedule. Final week’s house loss to the Boston Faculty Eagles adopted the Dublin debacle versus the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
Oof.
After going unbeaten in 2023 — and getting robbed of a final-four spot, bear in mind — the ’Noles are actually 0-2 to begin 2024. The stumble has already punted them from this yr’s Faculty Soccer Playoff, even with the expanded bracket to 12 groups.
We admit we didn’t see that coming from FSU in any respect.
In the meantime, the ACC-rival Hurricanes — the No. 12 crew on the AP Prime 25 ballot — are gathering steam among the many sharps.
That after Week 1 and a stunning — and historic — sinking of the Florida Gators within the Swamp.
Ingesting the Miami Kool-Assist is a harmful sport since they ceaselessly under-achieve regardless of the annual hype. However how are you going to deny the ’Canes after final Saturday’s sensational present of power placed on by quarterback — and Heisman Trophy candidate — Cam Ward?
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They’ve bought us believing in a resurgence … lastly.
And Dabo Swinney’s Tigers? What can we make of the once-powerhouse ACCers?
Certain, it was the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs (1-0) bullying them in Week 1.
However Dabo’s dudes don’t get bullied by anybody. Or at the least, they didn’t used to.
It’s only one sport, however it was ugly. And once you mix it with the final couple of years of mediocrity popping out of Clemson, it’s looks as if the very best years are behind the Tigers.
SECOND DOWN
It doesn’t get any simpler for No. 25 Clemson (0-1) — one way or the other they continue to be ranked — in Week 2, getting always-game App State (1-0) in Loss of life Valley (8 p.m. ET) … BTW: Sudden ACC-darling Georgia Tech (2-0) checks in at No. 23 on the AP Prime 25, breaking a nine-year drought of reaching the rankings after final week’s observe as much as Dublin — a 35-12 domination of Georgia State (0-1). The Ramblin’ Wreck journey to play Syracuse (1-0) in Upstate New York for a abruptly sneaky good ACC tilt Saturday (midday ET) … Don’t over-react and get down on No. 7 Oregon (1-0) — dropped from No. 3 — after a clunker in opposition to visiting Idaho (0-1), an FCS facet. Certain, the Quack Assault solely received 24-14, however QB Dillon Gabriel — the pre-season Heisman front-runner — put up magnificent numbers. Sadly, his 41-of-49, 380-yard effort didn’t translate into numerous endzone efforts. That can change.
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THIRD DOWN
Sherrone Moore zig-zagged in naming Davis Warren his beginning QB for No. 10 Michigan (1-0) forward of final week’s win over visiting Fresno State (0-1). All of the hype was on QB Alex Orji beneath centre — akin to the thrill that surrounded J.J. McCarthy just a few years again — however the brand new sideline boss went with Warren in Week 1, who’s a senior with restricted snaps beneath his belt. That call’s bought loads of pundits pushing Michigan even additional down of their energy rankings …. Moore, Warren and Michigan get an opportunity to vary our minds big-time with No. 3 Texas (1-0) at The Huge Home on Saturday in our Recreation To Watch (midday ET, FOX) … The one different Week 2 match that includes ranked-v-ranked groups sees No. 14 Tennessee (1-0) play No. 24 NC State within the Duke’s Mayo Bowl in Charlotte on Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC/TSN2) … That FSU fan on X.com — @321noles — positive disappeared quick from social media after promising he’d eat dog-poop from a pink solo cup and video mentioned meal if the Seminoles misplaced to Boston Faculty (1-0). Right here’s hoping he didn’t do it.
FOURTH DOWN
Tweak up ACC lesser-light BC (1-0) after operating over FLA ST in Tallahassee, as a result of Invoice O’Brien is the brand new sideline boss there. Us followers of No. 8 Penn State (1-0) want he’d by no means left that program for the NFL. Sorry, James Franklin … Tweak down fellow ACC squad North Carolina (1-0) after shedding QB Max Johnson — son of NFL champ Brad — to a damaged leg suffered in Week 1. The grad scholar has been at three faculties — LSU, Texas A&M and now North Carolina — throughout his 5 years of faculty soccer. Regardless of the foremost participant loss, Mack Brown’s squad did pull out a 19-17 fringe of host Minnesota (0-1), however that’s a giant blow for a faculty at all times counting on a star pivot … Talking of long-tenured NCAA QBs, how about Utah’s Cam Rising, now in his seventh yr. Wow! However that’s nothing in comparison with Miami TE Cam McCormick, who’s in his ninth(!) NCAA yr, having spent seven of them with Oregon. Name the Cams profession college students … Stroll-on linebacker Gage Goldberg, son of former WWE champ Invoice ‘Goldberg’, has earned a spot on Deion Sanders’ crew, Colorado (1-0). The wrestling legend and ‘Coach Prime Time’ had been truly former soccer teammates with the NFL Atlanta Falcons … Extra from the ACC? Greatest title within the biz belongs to RB Daylan ‘Hollywood’ Smothers of No. 24 NC State (1-0). Give us a present, Hollywood!
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AP TOP 25
Rank Group (final week) Report
1. Georgia (1) 1-0
2. Ohio State (2) 1-0
3. Texas (4) 1-0
4. Alabama (5) 1-0
5. Notre Dame (7) 1-0
6. Ole Miss (6) 1-0
7. Oregon (3) 1-0
8. Penn State (8) 1-0
9. Missouri (11) 1-0
10. Michigan (9) 1-0
11. Utah (12) 1-0
12. Miami (19) 1-0
13. USC (23) 1-0
14. Tennessee (15) 1-0
15. Oklahoma (16) 1-0
16. Oklahoma State (17) 1-0
17. Kansas State (18) 0-1
18. LSU (13) 0-1
19. Kansas (22) 1-0
20. Arizona (21) 1-0
21. Iowa (25) 1-0
22. Louisville (NR) 1-0
23. Georgia Tech (NR) 2-0
24. NC State (24) 1-0
25. Clemson (14) 0-1
NR — not ranked
GAME TO WATCH
(-7.5) #3 TEXAS @ #10 MICHIGAN
Saturday, midday ET, in Ann Arbor, FOX
Huge win at The Huge Home for Texas? Perhaps, however not by a lot.
PICK: MICHIGAN
BEST BETS
IOWA STATE @ #21 IOWA (-3)
Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS
Iowa may properly pitch one other shutout in stopping short-manned State.
PICK: IOWA
(-10) #14 TENNESSEE @ #24 NC STATE
Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC
SEC vs. ACC right here, with Tenne-SEC a lot too fast for NC.
PICK: TENNESSEE
BOISE STATE @ #7 OREGON (-19.5)
Saturday, 10 p.m. ET
The Quack Assault beneath QB Dillon Gabriel might be simply high-quality.
PICK: OREGON
LAST WEEK: 2-2
2024 RECORD: 2-2
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