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By Geoff Schwartz
FOX Sports activities NFL Analyst
Right here we go. The day we followers and bettors have been ready for has lastly come. The beginning of school soccer is right here!
This primary weekend of faculty ball is Week 0, however do not let the zero trick you into considering these video games shall be losers. These matchups won’t solely be entertaining, however I am even choosing considered one of them to go over the 50-point-total mark.
Will this be the yr Nebraska lastly lives as much as the hype from previous years? Can Vanderbilt begin the season with an enormous win over Hawaii’s Rainbow Warriors and show they’re worthy of being part of the SEC?
Let’s dive into my greatest bets for Week 0 of the 2022 school soccer season, with all odds through FOX Guess.
Northwestern @ Nebraska (12:30 p.m. ET Saturday, FOX)
The primary sport of the faculty soccer season is a Massive Ten matchup in Dublin, Eire! This one is between the Northwestern Wildcats and the Nebraska Cornhuskers, and on this matchup, I’m rolling with the Cornhuskers.
Nebraska ought to have a breakout season in Scott Frost’s fourth yr as head coach. The staff went 3-9 final season, however all these losses have been by single digits. In considered one of their losses, that they had a 94% win expectancy. However their win expectancy was between 47-49% within the different three losses. Basically, they have been a significantly better soccer staff than their file indicated.
Nebraska introduced in new offensive coordinator Mark Whipple, who led the College of Pittsburgh to new offensive heights in three seasons with the Panthers. Texas switch Casey Thompson leads Nebraska’s offense at quarterback, however they’ve a shaky offensive line that lacks expertise. That inexperience could possibly be a detriment to an offense that does have expertise at ability positions.
On this Week 0 matchup, nevertheless, Nebraska’s offense is dealing with a dreadful Northwestern protection. Northwestern allowed greater than 30 factors a sport final season, and I’m undecided why this season could be any totally different.
When Northwestern has the ball, don’t count on any fireworks. With three totally different quarterbacks getting the majority of the throws, the Wildcats’ offense ranked one hundred and twentieth in yards per drive and 102 in explosive play charge final season. The presumed 2022 starter, Ryan Hillinski, threw for just below 1,000 yards, finishing 54% of his passes and had adjusted air yards per try at simply above 4. Yikes.
Final season, this Nebraska protection was wonderful at stopping explosive performs and preserving groups from scoring. I do not see Northwestern scoring many factors on this one.
I’ll take Nebraska and lay the factors.
PICK: Nebraska (-11 at FOX Guess) to win by greater than 11 factors
Vanderbilt @ Hawaii (10:30 p.m. ET Saturday, CBSSN)
I used to be tempted to take the Rainbow Warriors with the factors as Vanderbilt laying eight on the street is preposterous. However I’ll take the over and count on fireworks on offense as an alternative.
Hawaii went by means of an low season upheaval. The Rainbow Warriors had a coach get fired and a number of gamers with expertise bolt. However now it looks like they’re hitting the reset button. Hawaii legend Tommy Chang returns to the island as the top coach, and I count on the uptempo, run-and-shoot offense to maneuver the ball properly towards this Vandy protection.
Final season, Hawaii’s protection allowed a ton of yards and factors. They misplaced 10 gamers off that unit, which, contemplating how dangerous they have been, could be factor. Nonetheless, Hawaii continues to be a younger staff dealing with an SEC opponent with big our bodies upfront.
The Commodores of Vanderbilt ought to be capable to run the ball till their coronary heart’s content material. I predict a back-and-forth sport with tons of factors!
PICK: Over 53.5 factors scored by each groups mixed at FOX Guess
Wyoming @ Illinois (4 p.m. ET Saturday, Massive Ten Community)
Wyoming was crushed within the switch portal, shedding their greatest gamers on each side of the ball. This isn’t nice for a staff that received simply 4 video games in 2021 and had bother executing the fundamentals.
On the opposite aspect is Illinois. The Preventing Illini didn’t have an efficient offense final yr. They have been close to the underside of the game in scoring and passing yards. Nonetheless, they can run the ball, and I’d count on extra of that with new offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. who was with Bret Bielema in Arkansas.
The Cowboys of Wyoming do not have the horses they should compete for 60 minutes on this sport, as Illinois will cease them from scoring (twenty fifth in defensive factors per drive final season). Search for the Preventing Illini put on down the Cowboys’ protection within the second half.
PICK: Illinois (-11 at FOX Guess) to win by greater than 11 factors
Geoff Schwartz performed eight seasons within the NFL for 5 totally different groups. He began at proper deal with for the College of Oregon for 3 seasons and was a second-team All-Pac-12 choice his senior yr. He’s an NFL analyst for FOX Sports activities. Observe him on Twitter @GeoffSchwartz
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