For the reason that announcement of the 12-team Faculty Soccer Playoff, there have been loads of questions and hype. Lastly, it is right here. Faculty soccer will showcase a few of its greatest stadiums and largest manufacturers within the first spherical of the expanded playoff.
Forward of the video games, listed here are keys to every matchup and predictions.
No. 10 Indiana (11-1) at No. 7 Notre Dame (11-1) | Friday | 8 p.m. ET | ABC
There’s loads of intrigue on this one as in-state rivals conflict for the primary time since 1991. Snow is predicted and temperatures shall be nicely beneath freezing.
Indiana has a lot to show. The Hoosiers dominated practically everybody they performed, however misplaced 38-15 to then-No. 2 Ohio State on Nov. 23. Is IU actually one of many upper-tier groups? We’ll discover out.
Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard is the participant to observe. The twin-threat QB will hold a troublesome Hoosiers protection on its toes within the components.
“We’ll be higher in a hostile atmosphere than we had been that individual day [against Ohio State],” Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti mentioned in a Monday news conference. “On the finish of the day, it is simply soccer. The sport goes to be gained or misplaced between the white traces. I would like them to go on the market, fly round, have a bit swag, and play the best way we will play.”
Prediction: Notre Dame, 31-17.
No. 11 SMU (11-2) at No. 6 Penn State (11-2) | Saturday | midday ET | TNT
SMU narrowly made it into the sector. How will the Mustangs carry out in Pleased Valley? Penn State’s protection needs to be the difference-maker.
The Nittany Lions rank sixth within the nation at simply 282.1 yards allowed per recreation. The unit struggled to maintain No. 1 Oregon in test through the Large Ten Championship, however hadn’t allowed greater than 300 yards of offense in three of its final 4 common season video games. SMU has solely had two video games all season below 400 yards offensively.
Nevertheless, the perfect protection SMU confronted all season was BYU (twentieth within the nation) and the Mustangs misplaced, 18-15. After that? Cal’s forty first ranked protection was the following greatest. Penn State will current issues SMU hasn’t seen this season.
Prediction: Penn State, 31-21.
No. 12 Clemson (10-3) at No. 5 Texas (11-2) | Saturday | 4 p.m. ET | TNT
Is an upset brewing in Austin? Clemson fought to get into the playoff and has considered one of solely two coaches within the 12-team subject with a nationwide title to his identify (Dabo Swinney, Georgia’s Kirby Good). Do not wager on it although.
Texas has skilled some lulls on offense, comparable to 31 yards dashing on 28 carries within the SEC Championship recreation loss to No. 2 Georgia. Nevertheless, the Longhorns are too good defensively for it to matter in opposition to Clemson. Texas has solely allowed 300 yards of offense as soon as this season. That is a recipe for shifting on.
Prediction: Texas, 28-14.
No. 9 Tennessee (10-2) at No. 8 Ohio State (10-2) | Saturday | 8 p.m. ET | ABC
Tennessee quietly moved via its season, flying below the radar en path to the playoff. Ohio State however, enters Saturday’s matchup nonetheless licking its wounds from a troublesome loss to rival Michigan Nov. 30.
“For 3 or 4 days you sit on it, you stew on it, you attempt to determine what went improper and then you definately transfer ahead,” OSU head coach Ryan Day mentioned on the CFP Selection Show.
The matchup to observe is Tennessee’s line of defense versus Ohio State’s offensive line. The Buckeyes have handled accidents to their o-line, inflicting the unit to attempt totally different mixtures. The Vols had been within the prime half of the SEC with 29 sacks and rank eighth nationally permitting simply 99.6 dashing yards per recreation. That might be problematic for a banged-up Ohio State squad.
Prediction: Ohio State, 27-24.
