With so many high-profile video games on the schedule for Week 1, we knew the faculty soccer panorama would look completely different heading into Week 2. However the largest shakeups had been Florida State knocking off then-No. 8 Alabama in a relatively lopsided affair whereas preseason No. 1 Texas had no solutions on offense for Ohio State’s protection within the largest recreation of the day. The Longhorns had been No. 1 in SportsLine faculty soccer skilled Thomas Casale’s energy scores, however the place do they sit after beginning the yr 0-1 and looking out misplaced on offense in opposition to the Buckeyes?
Every week, Casale ranks the highest 20 groups from a betting perspective, assigning every staff into varied tiers. He then shares a hypothetical line ought to a staff from a decrease tier in a matchup in opposition to a Tier 1 squad on a impartial area with a purpose to assess and break down the hole between the 2 groups. Discover Casale within the SportsLine faculty soccer Discord channel or on X at @TheTomCasale to let him know if you happen to agree or disagree with the rankings.
Faculty soccer Week 2 energy scores
Tier 1
1. Ohio State Buckeyes
2. Penn State Nittany Lions
3. Georgia Bulldogs
4. Texas Longhorns
After defeating preseason No. 1 Texas, it isn’t a shock that Ohio State checks in at No. 1 this week, particularly because the Buckeyes are the defending champs. Ohio State was hardly excellent on Saturday, however the Buckeyes had been stellar defensively, shutting down the Longhorns whereas making simply sufficient performs whereas avoiding errors and dear penalties on offense with a purpose to go away with a Week 1 win.
I famous all summer time that I took Texas +3 on this recreation as a result of if you happen to had been going to beat Ohio State, it wanted to be early. The Buckeyes might be even higher in November, and now, they are going to be favored in each recreation for the remainder of the season, together with an enormous Nov. 1 matchup with Penn State, which is in Columbus.
The Nittany Lions will not actually be examined till they host Oregon on Sept. 27. I’ve Penn State and Georgia rated near even. The Bulldogs received their scrimmage over Marshall however I like what I noticed out of the offense. Gunner Stockton’s potential to run provides the offense an added dimension, whereas USC switch Zachariah Department gives a big-play menace at receiver the Bulldogs lacked final season.
Texas misplaced an in depth recreation on the highway to Ohio State partially due to a nasty penalty and a failed fourth down from the one. I would nonetheless make the Longhorns a favourite on a impartial area over virtually each staff within the nation.
Tier 2 (+3 from Tier 1)
5. LSU Tigers
LSU strikes as much as No. 5 after a formidable win at Clemson. I highlighted the Tigers this offseason as a staff I felt had worth on the futures market at +700 to win the SEC and +1700 to win the Nationwide Championship. These odds have shrunk to +600 and +1200, respectively, after beating Clemson.
LSU nonetheless has a troublesome schedule forward although with video games in opposition to Florida, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Texas A&M, Alabama and Oklahoma.
Tier 3 (+5 from Tier 1)
6. Clemson Tigers
7. Oregon Geese
8. Alabama Crimson Tide
I am not going to punish Clemson an excessive amount of for shedding a troublesome recreation to LSU. The Tigers are nonetheless the favorites to win the ACC and might be favored in each recreation the remainder of the best way till presumably the season finale at South Carolina. I might additionally make Clemson -3 over ACC counterpart Miami on a impartial area proper now
Oregon rolled over Montana State and can very doubtless thump three extra overmatched opponents, beginning this week with Oklahoma State, earlier than going to Penn State later this month. The Geese aren’t more likely to transfer up or down a lot within the rankings earlier than then.
Like I discussed above, these are betting energy rankings, so I am unable to ding Alabama for one loss. The Crimson Tide would nonetheless be favored over most groups within the nation on a impartial area. I’ll say they’re the staff I’m most involved about shifting ahead although. Alabama obtained dominated on either side of the ball coming off a 9-4 season. The Crimson Tide are simply 5-5 since beating Georgia final September. Kalen DeBoer must determine issues out in a rush.
Tier 4 (+7 from Tier 1)
9. Miami Hurricanes
10. Texas A&M Aggies
11. Notre Dame Combating Irish
I used to be excessive on Miami heading into the season and the Canes seemed like a official title contender of their win over Notre Dame. The excellent news is Miami does not face Clemson till a possible ACC title recreation matchup. The unhealthy information is the Canes nonetheless host Florida and journey to Florida State and SMU. They noticed their Nationwide Championship odds transfer from +6000 to +2700 after the Notre Dame win.
I mentioned final week if Notre Dame misplaced to Miami I might look to hit the Irish within the futures market. The Irish are actually +1600 to win the Nationwide Championship and face Texas A&M in two weeks. In the event that they beat the Aggies at dwelling and I believe they’ll, the Irish might be favored to run the desk and make the Faculty Soccer Playoff.
Do not learn an excessive amount of into the Miami loss. The Canes are a great staff and CJ Carr was making his first profession begin for Notre Dame. Much like Ohio State, I anticipate the Irish to be significantly better later within the season. Now’s the time to purchase Notre Dame.
Tier 5 (+9 from Tier 1)
12. Ole Miss Rebels
13. Florida Gators
14. Michigan Wolverines
15. Auburn Tigers
16. South Carolina Gamecocks
17. Oklahoma Sooners
These are probably the most fascinating groups within the rankings for me, as I can see one or two of them making an enormous soar if a few issues fall their approach. After all, two of them meet this week with Oklahoma internet hosting Michigan.
The Sooners are -5.5 at dwelling in that matchup. Usually, I might soar on Michigan however I have never but as a result of true freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood is making his first begin on the highway. That is a variable I’ve to think about past simply the quantity. Underwood was spectacular in his debut at dwelling in opposition to New Mexico, throwing for 251 yards and a rating. However Oklahoma is not New Mexico. If I can get Michigan +6, I would chew.
Tier 6 (+13 from Tier 1)
18. Utah Utes
19. Florida State Seminoles
20. SMU Mustangs
I guess Utah to win the Huge 12 this season and I used to be impressed how good the offense seemed early within the yr with new quarterback Devon Dampier. It is clear he’s a significant improve on the place and mixed with the Utes’ protection, I agree with the oddsmakers that they’re the clear favorites within the Huge 12. I truly suppose there’s nonetheless some worth on Utah at +470 odds to win the Huge 12. The Utes had been some of the spectacular groups I noticed in Week 1.
Florida State debuts at No. 19 after its upset over Alabama. The Seminoles had been the most important shock for me not simply because they beat Alabama, however how they received. Florida State dominated the road of scrimmage on either side of the ball. I do not need to overreact to 1 recreation, though it is apparent the Seminoles are miles higher than final yr’s two-win staff.
We are going to discover out extra about SMU on Saturday. I nonetheless consider the Ponies are a significant menace within the ACC, so I am to see how they deal with a great Baylor squad at dwelling. I lean SMU -3 in that matchup.
Subsequent 4: Tennessee Volunteers, USC Trojans, Iowa State Cyclones, Illinois Combating Illini
