Week 3’s prime 10 faculty soccer video games: Georgia-Tennessee, Texas A&M-Notre Dame headline slate

Let final week be a reminder of why there aren’t any uninteresting Saturdays in faculty soccer. Not that anybody would levy that accusation about this weekend, with a trio of top-20 matchups, together with a pleasing shock in Florida, in addition to a mixture of convention and non-conference motion and an old-school, couch-burning rivalry.

Here are the highest 10 video games of Week 3, beginning with just a few honorable mentions and counting down.

Honorable Mention: Colorado at Houston (Friday), No. 4 Oregon at Northwestern, USC at Purdue, Ohio at No. 1 Ohio State, ECU at Coastal Carolina, No. 20 Utah at Wyoming, Minnesota at Cal, Texas State at Arizona State.

(All level spreads are courtesy BetMGM. All kickoff occasions are Eastern and on Saturday until in any other case famous.)

10. Duke (1-1) at Tulane (2-0), 8 p.m., ESPN2

It’s the Darian Mensah Bowl, as Duke’s expensive switch quarterback returns to face his former staff. Mensah has performed properly via two video games, and the Blue Devils saved issues shut for a half earlier than falling aside in opposition to Illinois final week, outscored 31-6 within the second half. Tulane (and the remainder of the Group of 6) have been overshadowed by USF within the early going, however the Green Wave have a convincing win over Northwestern and held off a last-minute comeback effort by South Alabama. Tulane is the favourite right here, and a win over Duke would hold it on the heels of USF within the G6 race for a College Football Playoff spot.

Line: Tulane -1.5

9. Arkansas (2-0) at No. 17 Ole Miss (2-0), 7 p.m., ESPN

Ole Miss, already enjoying its second league sport, overcame a gradual begin on the highway at Kentucky in a comeback victory, led by Mizzou working again switch Kewan Lacy (138 rush yards) and quarterback Austin Simmons (235 move yards, 44 rush yards). Simmons has already thrown 4 interceptions, however he has proven flashes of expertise. This week, he goes head-to-head in opposition to one other dynamic dual-threat quarterback in Arkansas’ Taylen Green, who’s seventh within the nation with 753 complete yards and tied for first with 10 passing touchdowns.

Line: Ole Miss -7

8. Vanderbilt (2-0) at No. 11 South Carolina (2-0), 7:45 p.m., SEC Network

This sport may be ranked too low because it has sneaky potential to be probably the greatest matchups of the weekend, with a stellar quarterback battle between South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers and Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia. Also including to the intrigue is that each groups have a typical opponent in Virginia Tech. The Gamecocks are the favourite, however they needed to grind out a 24-11 impartial website win over VT in Week 1, adopted by Vandy shredding the Hokies on the highway in Week 2.

Line: South Carolina -4.5

7. Pitt (2-0) at West Virginia (1-1), 3:30 p.m., ESPN

West Virginia is coming off a highway loss to the mighty Ohio Bobcats, however it gained’t dampen the vibe in Morgantown for the Backyard Brawl. One of school soccer’s drunkest and most underrated rivalries often delivers, due to an extended historical past of animosity between the 2 colleges, separated by simply 75 miles. This one additionally options the return of Rich Rodriguez with the Mountaineers, teaching in his first Brawl because the well-known “13-9” Pitt upset of No. 2 West Virginia in 2007 that knocked WVU out of the title race.

Line: Pitt -7

6. No. 12 Clemson (1-1) at Georgia Tech (2-0), 12 p.m., ESPN

The skeptics are circling Clemson after the opening loss to LSU and an uninspiring win over Troy. In the latter sport, the Tigers fell behind 16-0 and left lots to be desired on offense. Clemson, behind Heisman hopeful quarterback Cade Klubnik, was probably the most hyped groups getting into the season however has to this point didn’t stay as much as the billing, and now has to go on the highway in opposition to a bruising Georgia Tech squad. The Yellow Jackets’ probabilities in all probability depend upon getting quarterback Haynes King again wholesome.

Line: Clemson -3.5

Badgers quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. was injured throughout Wisconsin’s Week 1 sport in opposition to Miami (Ohio). (Mark Hoffman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA Today Network through Imagn Images)

5. Wisconsin (2-0) at No. 19 Alabama (1-1), 12 p.m., ABC

Ignore the purpose unfold — this can be a huge sport for each applications, notably the top coaches. Alabama bounced again with a cathartic 73-0 win over Louisiana Monroe, however the Week 1 loss to Florida State stays contemporary for a fan base that’s nonetheless side-eyeing Kalen DeBoer. Wisconsin has logged a pair of wins over inferior opponents, however Luke Fickell has but to quiet the doubters in Year 3 with the Badgers, who could must face Bama with out beginning quarterback Billy Edwards Jr., who exited with an harm in Week 1. A win right here would raise both staff — Wisconsin greater than Alabama — however a defeat will direct some critical hearth towards the shedding head coach.

Line: Alabama -20.5

4. Florida (1-1) at No. 3 LSU (2-0), 7:30 p.m., ABC

This stays a big-time matchup regardless of Florida’s “Bull spit” meltdown in opposition to USF final weekend. Coach Billy Napier is true again on the recent seat, and video games in opposition to Miami, Texas and Texas A&M are up subsequent. The schedule is brutal for the Gators, which is why a house loss to USF instantly put their backs in opposition to the wall. LSU and coach Brian Kelly lastly bought that season-opening win in opposition to Clemson, which, together with an improved protection, has them within the early championship dialog. The Tigers will look to avenge final yr’s late-season highway loss to Florida, a staff which will have a touch of desperation about it.

Line: LSU -7.5

3. No. 18 USF (2-0) at No. 5 Miami (2-0), 4:30 p.m., The CW

Here come the Bulls! USF is the most popular G6 staff within the nation, and arguably in all of school soccer, after ranked wins over Boise State and in-state Florida to open the season. The Gators did their half to assist that effort, however credit score coach Alex Golesh and quarterback Byrum Brown for placing this staff in an early pole place for the G6 Playoff spot. They gained’t sneak up on Miami, which had a formidable win of its personal in opposition to Notre Dame and might instantly give its resume an surprising non-conference increase with a win. But if USF pulls one other upset — and bear in mind, it was an 18.5-point underdog in opposition to Florida — prepare for Cinderella overload in Tampa.

Line: Miami -17.5

2. No. 16 Texas A&M (2-0) at No. 8 Notre Dame (0-1), 7:30 p.m., NBC/Peacock

This is a rematch of final yr’s season-opening win for Notre Dame, which hasn’t performed since its Week 1 loss to Miami. The Aggies have seemed nice in opposition to inferior competitors via two video games, and coach Mike Elko mentioned quarterback Marcel Reed will probably be good to go after an harm final week. The query is how Reed, with seven passing touchdowns and nil interceptions, handles a touted Irish secondary. A rested Notre Dame offense must get working again Jeremiyah Love going after simply 33 speeding yards in opposition to the Hurricanes, and keep away from the depths of an 0-2 gap to start out the season.

Line: Notre Dame -6.5

1. No. 6 Georgia (2-0) at No. 15 Tennessee (2-0), 3:30 p.m., ABC

This needs to be a revealing matchup for each groups. Early returns recommend that Tennessee gained its offseason QB commerce with UCLA, however how will Joey Aguilar look in opposition to a Georgia protection that has had Josh Heupel’s quantity lately? Similarly, the Dawgs and QB Gunner Stockton have to get issues cooking on offense to be thought-about a real title contender. The Vols have extra to show on this one, contemplating they’ve comfortably misplaced eight straight to Georgia, together with 4 consecutive blowouts at Neyland Stadium. But from a season outlook, a win may be extra necessary for a Georgia staff with a harder schedule.

Line: Georgia -3.5

(Top photograph of Joey Aguilar: Caitie McMekin / News Sentinel / USA Today Network through Imagn Images)