Let’s be trustworthy: It isn’t probably the most tantalizing, blockbuster slate of video games this weekend, with solely two ranked matchups. However there are some rivalries and pairings that ought to assist to outline (or expose?) numerous groups which have been powerful to pin down by way of the primary couple of video games. And as we see nearly each week in faculty soccer, there’s at all times one thing sudden on the menu.
Listed here are the highest 10 video games of Week 3, beginning with a number of honorable mentions and counting down.
Honorable Point out: UNLV at Kansas (Fri.), No. 18 Notre Dame at Purdue, No. 1 Georgia at Kentucky, Colorado at Colorado State, UCF at TCU
(All level spreads come from BetMGM; click on right here for stay odds. All kickoff instances are Jap and on Saturday until in any other case famous.)
10. Washington State (2-0) at Washington (2-0), 3:30 p.m., Peacock
So …. the Pac-12 is again? Form of? Nonetheless, this recreation is a too-soon reminder of these realignment scars. The Apple Cup is meant to be performed after Thanksgiving, with some Pac-12 implications on the road. Saturday gained’t be that, although not less than we’re nonetheless getting the rivalry. Quarterback Will Rogers and working again Jonah Coleman have seemed stable beneath new Washington coach Jedd Fisch, however watch out for a significant upset for Wazzu. Quarterback John Mateer has been a dual-threat dynamo (467 passing yards, 252 dashing yards, 8 whole TDs) and may give the Cougars an opportunity on the highway.
Line: Washington -4.5
9. Tulane (1-1) at No. 15 Oklahoma (2-0), 3:30 p.m., ESPN
The Inexperienced Wave nearly took down Kansas State final weekend in New Orleans, derailed by a controversial offensive cross interference that worn out a late landing. The Sooners labored to a 16-12 win over a Houston squad that misplaced 27-7 at house to UNLV in Week 1. Oklahoma was outgained on offense and wanted a late security to stave off the Coogs, with quarterback Jackson Arnold finishing 19 of 32 passes for simply 174 yards. The Sooners enter the weekend a prime 15 workforce, however begin a stacked SEC schedule subsequent weekend after they host Tennessee and might’t afford a nonconference letdown. Tulane isn’t out of the race for that Group of 5 Playoff spot simply but, however most likely must run the desk.
Line: Oklahoma -13.5
8. No. 16 LSU (1-1) at South Carolina (2-0), midday, ABC
Everybody targeted on the deceptive Alabama–South Florida last rating, but it surely additionally took LSU till halfway by way of the fourth quarter to place away Nicholls. Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier put up robust numbers (302 yards, 6 TDs), however the offense struggled to ascertain the run with John Emery Jr. harm, and the protection gave up back-to-back 13-play landing drives and a 67-yard landing run. The Tigers have to discover a rhythm in opposition to a equally confounding South Carolina. The Gamecocks scraped previous Outdated Dominion in Week 1 then dominated Kentucky on the highway final Saturday, permitting beneath 200 yards. So … good luck predicting this one.
Line: LSU -7
7. Texas A&M (1-1) at Florida (1-1), 3:30 p.m., ABC
Billy Napier’s scorching seat obtained a while off in a 45-7 win over Samford, a recreation that offered Napier’s greatest shot at salvaging issues in Gainesville. True freshman quarterback DJ Lagway set a faculty file with 456 passing yards and three touchdowns, beginning instead of the injured Graham Mertz. The five-star prospect and top-three recruit within the 2024 class has injected a ray of hope right into a season and program that felt derailed by the opening loss to Miami. Napier mentioned this week that each quarterbacks will play (a Florida custom!), so watch how the snaps get distributed in opposition to A&M. As a result of any likelihood of Napier having a future in The Swamp probably relies on Lagway being the actual deal, instantly.
Line: Texas A&M -4.5
6. West Virginia (1-1) at Pitt (2-0), 3:30 p.m., ESPN2
Neither workforce is ranked. Neither is among the many prime contenders of their respective convention. However we love a spicy rivalry, and the Yard Brawl actually qualifies. The groups cut up this matchup the previous two years, and WVU wants a highway win to keep away from a disappointing 1-2 begin. West Virginia ran throughout FCS Albany final week in a 49-14 victory, however the Mountaineers did permit 306 passing yards after struggling to include Drew Allar and Penn State. Pitt threw for 302 yards in a wild 21-point second-half comeback victory at Cincinnati.
Line: West Virginia -2
5. No. 24 Boston Faculty (2-0) at No. 6 Missouri (2-0), 12:45 p.m., SEC Community
An sudden ranked showdown, on the SEC Community’s quirky kickoff time. Credit score to new BC head coach Invoice O’Brien, who adopted the upset of Florida State with a 56-0 shutout of Duquesne and has breathed new life into the Eagles. It’s a coach-program pairing that makes all types of sense. However the headliner is a Mizzou squad that has climbed to No. 6 after outscoring its opponents 89-0 throughout two video games. The Tigers’ schedule is manageable by SEC requirements — no Georgia, Ole Miss, Tennessee or LSU — however they now have a shock likelihood at a High-25 win earlier than coming into league play. It’s additionally an opportunity to get large receiver Luther Burden III going after seven catches for 64 yards by way of two blowout wins.
Line: Missouri -17
4. No. 9 Oregon (2-0) at Oregon State (2-0), 3:30 p.m., Fox
A extra attention-grabbing rivalry matchup than we anticipated a few weeks in the past. The Beavers and new head coach Trent Bray are coming off a 21-0 win over San Diego State, and Idaho switch QB Gevani McCoy has proven promise. The Geese, after slogging by way of a 10-point win over Idaho, McCoy’s former workforce, wanted a fourth-quarter comeback and last-second area aim to beat Boise State and Ashton Jeanty at house. Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel has been very environment friendly — he’s accomplished 84.3 p.c of his passes by way of two video games — however permitting 221 dashing yards to Jeanty and the Broncos might have uncovered some defensive points that might hinder the Geese as soon as Huge Ten play ratchets up.
Line: Oregon -16.5
3. Memphis (2-0) at Florida State (0-2), midday, ESPN
This was imagined to be a tilt between one of many prime Group of 5 groups and an ACC contender. Memphis has held up its finish of the discount, however FSU desperately wants a win to carry the sky in place. Sadly for the Tigers, a win or shut loss now not burnishes that G5 Playoff resume in any vital means. The Seminoles are coming off an idle week and nonetheless have loads of time to show the vibes round, however little or no concerning the performances in opposition to Georgia Tech and BC counsel they are going to have their means with Memphis and QB Seth Henigan. The Tigers can both make a press release with a powerful win or bruise these Playoff hopes with a loss.
Line: Florida State -6.5
2. No. 4 Alabama (2-0) at Wisconsin (2-0), midday, Fox
Bama, a 30.5-point favourite over USF final week, did find yourself profitable by 26. However the 42-16 last rating was a misleading margin of victory for what was a 14-13 recreation coming into the fourth quarter. The Tide have some issues to scrub up, however so does Wisconsin, which hasn’t precisely impressed in wins over Western Michigan and South Dakota. The Badgers are nonetheless discovering their means in 12 months two beneath Luke Fickell, and the way they fare on Saturday, win or lose, may reveal quite a bit concerning the vibes in Madison. Quarterback Tyler Van Dyke (60.3 p.c completion, 6.4 yards per try, 1 passing TD) and the Wisconsin offense have to be much more explosive for what our Wisconsin author Jesse Temple writes might be “probably the most vital nonconference house conflict in program historical past.” Jesse has you coated on the 1928 matchup, too.
Line: Alabama -16.5
1. No. 20 Arizona (2-0) at No. 14 Kansas State (2-0), Friday, 8 p.m., Fox
We’ve obtained Wildcats in opposition to Wildcats beneath the Friday evening lights. And regardless that that is the primary leg of a nonconference sequence that was scheduled previous to realignment, it ought to assist set the tone for Huge 12 play. After hanging 61 factors on New Mexico whereas Tetairoa McMillan hauled in 304 receiving yards, Zona then had some hassle in a 22-10 win over Northern Arizona, together with simply two catches for 11 yards for TMac. Regardless, the particular connection between him and quarterback Noah Fifita ought to maintain Arizona within the Huge 12 title race. Kansas State is in that blend too, although the shut name in opposition to Tulane highlighted a bunch that hasn’t completely discovered its groove. Twin-threat quarterback Avery Johnson seemed extra snug throwing the ball final Saturday, however the primary concern is a protection that gave up 342 passing yards to the Inexperienced Wave and now has to defend probably the greatest receivers in faculty soccer.
Line: Kansas St. -7.5
(Picture of Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson: Peter Aiken / Getty Photos)
