Sports We’re down to the last 12 groups in college soccer.
The Faculty Football Playoff bracket used to be published on Dec. 9, and the newly-formatted occasion to discover the next champion in college soccer is determined to originate.
First up, the first spherical.
Four video games will like end place of dwelling, with berths in the quarterfinals on the toll road. Let’s test out the odds for every sport at DraftKings Sportsbook as of Dec. 18, as well as what to grasp about every sport through our FOX Sports activities college soccer experts.
No. 10 INDIANA (+225) @ No. 7 NOTRE DAME (-7, -278)
Friday, 8 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN
O/U: 52.5
What to grasp: “Indiana has shown it’ll’t be the explosive, high-scoring crew that beat 10 out of 12 opponents by double-digits if QB Kurtis Rourke is hurried or sacked. Against Michigan and Ohio Issue — their most contested fetch and their most productive loss, respectively — Rourke used to be sacked 9 cases. Against OSU, he threw for appropriate 68 yards. The form of defense he’s doubtless to stare from Notre Dame is equally stingy and stifling. Notre Dame boasts a high-10 defense and a high-10 speeding assault that seems constructed to play in the roughly depressing cool that marks South Bend, Indiana, in December. With a QB in Riley Leonard who can flee away from rigidity and comprise a play when the pocket collapses, ND has an even bigger margin for mistakes than IU.” — RJ Young
No. 12 CLEMSON (+360) @ No. 5 TEXAS (-12, -470)
Saturday, 4 p.m. ET, TNT/MAX
O/U: 51.5
What to grasp: “One of many finest differences between final year’s Texas crew and this year’s crew is the lots of enchancment of the Longhorns ‘ defense under fourth-year coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski. In 2023, Texas ranked thirty fifth in total defense (336.7 yards per sport) and 15th in scoring defense (18.9 points per sport) sooner than getting gashed by Washington in a high-scoring semifinal. … This year, then all as soon as more, Texas ranks third nationally in total defense (249.5 yards per sport) and 2d in scoring (12.5 points per sport), offering a ramification of ballast for an offense that used to be held to 25 points or fewer in four video games towards convention opponents, collectively with every losses to Georgia. … The Longhorns are additionally tied with Notre Dame for the most takeaways in college soccer with 28 (9 fumbles won, 19 INTs), this procedure’s highest fee since 2009. The enchancment of Kwiatkowski’s defense is why the Longhorns are appropriate ample to fetch the nationwide title.” — Michael Cohen
Must the Longhorns play Arch Manning in the CFP? No. 11 SMU (+260) @ No. 6 PENN STATE (-9, -325)
Saturday, midday ET, TNT/MAX
O/U: 54
What to grasp: “The Nittany Lions merely believe an even bigger defense and too harmful of a running sport no longer to fetch this sport. Not to express, a dwelling ambiance that is historically one amongst the most intimidating in college soccer. This is no longer to totally lop ticket SMU. Quarterback Kevin Jennings no doubt has Penn Issue’s attention. The twin-possibility QB led a miraculous comeback in the ACC Championship Recreation and the Mustangs virtually knocked off Clemson. He hasn’t consistently confronted a defense love Penn Issue’s though. Defensive cease Abdul Carter is one amongst the particular players in the sport, and leads Penn Issue with 10 sacks, which is additionally tied for 12th most nationally. Not to express, the Nittany Lions had been in a spot of dwelling to push Oregon around in the Big Ten title sport, which is nothing to sneeze at. Sooner or later, Penn Issue, which has struggled in decisive moments such as these in the previous, will get an foremost fetch when it wants it most.” — Laken Litman
No. 9 TENNESSEE (+235) @ No. 8 OHIO STATE (-7.5, -290)
Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN
O/U: 46.5
What to grasp: “In spite of every little thing the backlash and 2d-guessing thrown in the direction of Ohio Issue head coach Ryan Day and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, who co-authored a peculiar sport concept of their crew’s shapely loss to Michigan final month, it seems no longer going the Buckeyes’ braintrust will all as soon as more fall victim to such nearsightedness. … Both males readily admitted they had planned and coached poorly all the method in which thru the Buckeyes’ most intriguing sport of the year, failing to capitalize on a clear skills advantage at large receiver and draining any semblance of diversity from Ohio Issue’s speeding assault. Absolutely Day and Kelly will answer with something higher when coping with a Tennessee defense equally revered for its potent entrance seven. The Volunteers unsuitable ninth nationally in tackles for loss with 93 and are tied for 11th in fewest rushes of 20-plus yards allowed with eight. This should always quiet be the week that Ohio Issue encourages quarterback Will Howard to lean on his fantastic trio of receivers.” — Michael Cohen
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