Final week, we misplaced our top-rated faculty soccer play based mostly on motivational or situational circumstances when Virginia Tech (-1) misplaced to Vanderbilt at dwelling 44-20. The Hokies got here out with an impressed disposition and constructed a 20-10 halftime lead, solely to see the second half play out like a wholly new recreation.
The Commodores refocused and instantly scored on their first two drives, finally turning a detailed recreation right into a 34-0 shutout within the second half, a lot to the dismay of the passionate Virginia Tech devoted at Lane Stadium. A lot of the hope that was derived from Virginia Tech’s respectable outing in opposition to South Carolina in Week 1 has devolved into a dismal outlook, and we’re assured coach Brent Pry’s days are numbered with the Hokies. This was a serious swing recreation for the trajectory of their season, and so they performed prefer it within the first half, solely to wilt on the first signal of resistance from a well-coached Vanderbilt membership within the third quarter.
We thought the Hokies had been in a terrific spot and had been sadly incorrect, however readability on the highest motivational or letdown spots in faculty turns into simpler to determine because the season wears on. We struggled within the first weeks of final season with this angle earlier than finally ending with a 10-5 document with our top-rated suggestions.
Shifting on to Week 3, we’re that includes one other ACC membership we imagine ought to be in a chief motivational spot. Right here is the play together with evaluation:
Clemson -3 or -150 cash line
Each of those numbers characterize huge reductions on a Clemson membership that, in dwell look-ahead spreads at sportsbooks two weeks in the past, had Clemson as a 9.5-point favourite with a cash line within the -300 vary. The Tigers are on sale based mostly on two subpar performances, however we imagine they’re in a wonderful bounce-back spot. Over on SportsLine, we posted our official choose on the cash line, however you’ll be able to lay the three factors should you do not want to wager the ML worth.
The market is down on Clemson after it squandered a 10-3 halftime lead in opposition to LSU and suffered a 17-10 loss amid a scoreless second half. Final week in opposition to what we imagine will show to be a mediocre Troy staff, the Tigers fell behind 16-0 earlier than rallying for a 27-16 victory. Some stage of letdown wasn’t shocking following the LSU loss, nevertheless it was eye-opening to see a two-TD deficit in opposition to a staff as marginal as Troy.
This precipitated bettors to fireside on Georgia Tech, and there was undoubtedly some worth in grabbing a landing or extra, however we’re biting on this fire-sale worth. First, the Tigers nonetheless have an opportunity to win the ACC amid a positive schedule the remainder of the best way. We count on coach Dabo Swinney to make use of final week’s clunker as a wake-up name and provides a much-improved efficiency.
Furthermore, lots of the Georgia Tech help comes from deserved religion in dual-threat QB Haynes King, whose mixture of expertise and resilience all the time makes the Yellow Jackets a troublesome opponent, particularly at dwelling, the place they’ve gained their final six video games. Nevertheless, King missed final week’s recreation in opposition to Gardner-Webb due to a lower-body damage. He’s anticipated to play Saturday, though he is not 100% wholesome.
In Week 1, the Yellow Jackets barely escaped with a 27-20 street win over a marginal Colorado staff regardless of committing three turnovers and eight penalties. The Yellow Jackets are simply 3-8 of their final 11 dwelling video games in opposition to Clemson, and we’re in search of the Tigers to make it 3-9 behind a robust situational spot favoring the higher staff.
