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Forty names, video games, groups and trivialities making news in faculty soccer (goalposts offered individually in Knoxville, the place the varsity is cheesy sufficient to ask the followers to fork over cash to pay for the replacements and/or SEC wonderful):
MORE DASH: Saturday to Remember
Second Quarter
Playoff Reset
After a wild weekend that thinned the unbeaten herd to 9 and decreased the seemingly College Football Playoff contenders to fewer than 20, it’s time to take a more rigorous have a look at what the pecking order must be as we migrate into the again half of October. The first CFP rankings come out Nov. 1, so we’re not too distant from the milestone.
First Flight: Teams that must be within the high 4 at the moment and will keep there in the event that they preserve profitable.
Tennessee (11): 6–0, 3–0 within the SEC. Good wins: Alabama, LSU on the street. O.Okay. wins: Pittsburgh on the street, Florida. Fluff wins: Ball State, Akron. The Volunteers personal the largest win of anybody to this point after taking down the Crimson Tide. This is your Dash No. 1 seed at this level.
Tennessee leads the nation in yards per sport and is second in scoring, a dramatic two-season transformation beneath coach Josh Heupel. If you’re watching this crew and feeling a 2019 LSU comparability approaching, you’re not alone. It is probably not absolutely shaped, however suppose LSU Lite. Hendon Hooker is Joe Burrow, a switch flourishing in his second season at his new college. Heupel and coordinator Alex Golesh are Joe Brady, the offensive masterminds concocting the scheme to deliver out one of the best within the quarterback. Jalin Hyatt, Bru McCoy and Cedric Tillman are Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson and Terrace Marshall Jr., the wideout trio harmful sufficient to maintain defenses from tilting protection towards any of them individually.
Road forward: UT-Martin Saturday (deft scheduling after the Alabama showdown), Kentucky Oct. 29, at Georgia Nov. 5, Missouri Nov. 12, at South Carolina Nov. 19, at Vanderbilt Nov. 26.
Dash predicted report Nov. 1: 8–0. Dash predicted report on Selection Sunday: 11–1.
Georgia (12): 7–0, 4–0 within the SEC. Good wins: Oregon. O.Okay. wins: South Carolina and Missouri on the street, Auburn and Vanderbilt at dwelling. Fluff wins: Samford, Kent State. The 46-point demolition of the Ducks within the season opener continues to hold loads of credibility. The Bulldogs have had just one uncomfortable Saturday, at Missouri. This is the No. 2 seed for the time being.
Georgia is essentially the most full crew within the nation when it comes to offensive efficiency and defensive dominance. The Bulldogs’ scoring margin of 35.6 towards Power 5 competitors is the very best in FBS, and they’re the one P5 crew with 4 or more video games scoring 40 or more and 4 or more holding opponents to single digits. When the reigning champions have been locked in and avoiding intervals of sloppy play, they’ve been dominant.
Road forward: Open date Oct. 22, vs. Florida in Jacksonville Oct. 29, Tennessee Nov. 5, at Mississippi State Nov. 12, at Kentucky Nov. 19, Georgia Tech Nov. 26.
Dash predicted report Nov. 1: 8–0. Dash predicted report on Selection Sunday: 13–0.
Michigan (13): 7–0, 4–0 within the Big Ten. Good wins: Penn State, Maryland. O.Okay. wins: at Iowa, at Indiana. Fluff wins: Colorado State, Hawaii, Connecticut. The Wolverines established themselves Saturday with their steamrolling of Penn State, including some meat to what had been a bony résumé. Pencil in Michigan because the No. 3 seed for the time being.
The Wolverines aren’t far behind Georgia when it comes to completeness, flexing muscle in a number of areas. This is an imposing crew on the line of scrimmage—as evidenced by what they did to the Nittany Lions. Michigan is able to trampling groups with the bottom sport (ninth nationally in speeding yards per sport and per carry) and terrorizing opposing quarterbacks (fourth in sacks). If that method sounds acquainted, it’s—that’s what carried Michigan to the CFP final 12 months.
Road forward: Open date Oct. 22, Michigan State Oct. 29, at Rutgers Nov. 5, Nebraska Nov. 12, Illinois Nov. 19, at Ohio State Nov. 26. Even with a rivalry sport towards the Spartans, this seems like fairly easy crusing till Illinois.
Dash predicted report Nov. 1: 8–0. Dash predicted report on Selection Sunday: 11–1.
Ohio State (14): 6–0, 3–0 within the Big Ten. Good wins: None, actually. O.Okay. wins: Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Rutgers, at Michigan State. Fluff wins: Arkansas State, Toledo. The Buckeyes have been fairly spectacular, however the résumé has gotten weaker as a substitute of stronger. The Fighting Irish win continues to lose foreign money; the mixed data of their Big Ten opponents to this point is 9–11, and they’ve performed just one street sport. This crew is all eye check—and there may be loads of eye sweet to love—and thus must be the No. 4 seed at current.
The Buckeyes are a blinding offensive machine, main the nation in scoring and go effectivity, regardless of star receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba being a nonfactor within the first half of the season. There are so many different weapons that it merely hasn’t mattered. Ohio State is tied with Tennessee nationally for many performs from scrimmage of 30 yards or longer (24). But don’t disregard a protection that has additionally made a lot of the hoped-for enhancements beneath first-year coordinator Jim Knowles.
Road forward: Iowa Oct. 22, at Penn State Oct. 29, at Northwestern Nov. 5, Indiana Nov. 12, at Maryland Nov. 19, Michigan Nov. 26.
Dash predicted report Nov. 1: 8–0. Dash predicted report on Selection Sunday: 13–0.
Second flight: Teams that may win their method into the sector, however wouldn’t be in it at the moment.
Clemson (15): 7–0, 4–0 within the ACC. Good wins: at Wake Forest, North Carolina State, at Florida State. O.Okay. wins: Georgia Tech, at Boston College. Fluff wins: Furman, Louisiana Tech. You could make a case for placing the Tigers forward of both Big Ten crew above—it’s a detailed name. Beating Wake and NC State on successive weeks carries weight, although the victory over FSU might not age terribly nicely.
The Tigers have been much less dominant than both Michigan or Ohio State, however give Dabo Swinney and his gamers credit score. They have come by way of two coordinator adjustments as a greater crew this 12 months than final 12 months—not again to the Peak Clemson Era from 2015 to ’20, however improved from ’21. There nonetheless isn’t loads of punch within the passing sport (apart from towards Wake Forest), however the Tigers don’t should depend on their protection to avoid wasting them each Saturday.
Road forward: Syracuse Oct. 22, open date Oct. 29, at Notre Dame Nov. 5, Louisville Nov. 12, Miami Nov. 19, South Carolina Nov. 26.
Dash predicted report Nov. 1: 8–0. Dash predicted report on Selection Sunday: 13–0.
Alabama (16): 6–1, 3–1 within the SEC. Good wins: at Texas. O.Okay. wins: Texas A&M, at Arkansas, Vanderbilt. Fluff wins: Utah State, Louisiana-Monroe. Loss: at Tennessee. You might argue that the Crimson Tide are a play away from being undefeated with an enormous victory on the street over the Volunteers. You might additionally argue that the Crimson Tide are two performs away from being 3–3 with losses to the Longhorns and Aggies to associate with that defeat in Knoxville.
Bottom line, this has not been a dominant Bama crew and definitely has not performed as much as preseason expectations because the prohibitive No. 1 crew. Alabama is penalty-ridden (final within the SEC), unable to drive turnovers (simply 5 in seven video games) and missing a transcendent receiving menace. But none of that can matter if the Tide win out.
Road forward: Mississippi State Oct. 22, open date Oct. 29, at LSU Nov. 5, at Mississippi Nov. 12, Austin Peay Nov. 19, Auburn Nov. 26.
Dash predicted report Nov. 1: 7–1. Dash predicted report on Selection Sunday: 11–2.
Mississippi (17): 7–0, 3–0 within the SEC. Good wins: Kentucky. O.Okay. wins: at Georgia Tech, at Vanderbilt, Auburn. Fluff wins: Troy, Central Arkansas, Tulsa. The Rebels have executed an important factor to date—profitable all their video games. But the competitors has been mild apart from the Wildcats. Still, they’ve a transparent Playoff path if they’ll stand up towards a difficult last 5 slate.
Ole Miss is essentially the most dedicated operating crew within the SEC and probably the most dedicated within the nation. The query is how the Rebels would fare if compelled right into a scenario of throwing it 35–40 occasions a sport towards a great opponent. The protection has been uncovered a bit in SEC play as nicely.
Road forward: At LSU Oct. 22, at Texas A&M Oct. 29, open date Nov. 5, Alabama Nov. 12, at Arkansas Nov. 19, Mississippi State Nov. 24.
Dash predicted report Nov. 1: 8–1. Dash predicted report on Selection Sunday: 11–2.
TCU (18): 6–0, 3–0 within the Big 12. Good wins: at Kansas, Oklahoma State. O.Okay. wins: Oklahoma, at SMU. Fluff wins: at Colorado, Tarleton State. The Horned Frogs have prevailed in thrilling consecutive showdowns towards undefeated opponents, beating Kansas and Oklahoma State by a mixed 10 factors. The Big 12 is balanced and aggressive, however there may be some query whether or not that is because of a collective excessive flooring and low ceiling.
Under first-year coach Sonny Dykes, the Frogs have flourished offensively. Quentin Johnston seems like an All-American receiver, and Max Duggan is a fringe Heisman Trophy candidate. There have been good gamers on the roster Dykes inherited, however this system wanted a jolt of recent vitality, and he’s supplied it. We’ll see whether or not the protection is nice sufficient down the stretch.
Road forward: Kansas State Oct. 22, at West Virginia Oct. 29, Texas Tech Nov. 5, at Texas Nov. 12, at Baylor Nov. 19, Iowa State Nov. 26.
Dash predicted report on Nov. 1: 7–1. Dash predicted report on Selection Sunday: 10–2.
Third flight: If they win out, they might get there—however may need assistance when it comes to groups forward of them shedding.
UCLA (19): 6–0, 3–0 within the Pac-12. Good wins: Utah, Washington. O.Okay. wins: South Alabama. Fluff wins: Bowling Green, Alabama State, at Colorado. The Bruins had a particularly delicate nonconference schedule, and their solely street sport was at Colorado, so it’s about to get actual. The back-to-back wins over the Huskies and Utes have been good, and proof of the progress in Year 5 beneath Chip Kelly.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Kelly have been joined on the hip for 5 seasons, and the mutual progress has been a fairly cool factor to observe. DTR presently is fifth nationally in go effectivity and seventh nationally in whole offense yards per play at 8.49. Transfer additions Zach Charbonnet at operating again and Jake Bobo at receiver have rounded out an explosive offense.
Road forward: At Oregon Oct. 22, Stanford Oct. 29, at Arizona State Nov. 5, Arizona Nov. 12, USc Nov. 19, at California Nov. 25.
Dash predicted report on Nov. 1: 7–1. Dash predicted report on Selection Sunday: 10–2.
Syracuse (20): 6–0, 3–0 within the ACC. Good wins: Purdue, North Carolina State. O.Okay. wins: Louisville, Virginia. Fluff wins: at Connecticut, Wagner. Hey, the Orange are an awesome story—however each their massive wins got here with asterisks hooked up. The Wolfpack have been with out preseason ACC Player of the Year Devin Leary, and the Purdue sport was the results of a last-minute penalty blizzard the likes of which have by no means been seen. This nice story comes with an expiration date.
Quarterback Garrett Shrader and operating again Sean Tucker have keyed the offense, however the largest issue within the Syracuse season has been its dramatic enchancment on protection beneath second-year coordinator Tony White. Cuse leads the ACC in factors and yards allowed after being an abysmal defensive program for many of Dino Babers’s tenure.
Road forward: At Clemson Oct. 22, Notre Dame Oct. 29, at Pittsburgh Nov. 5, Florida State Nov. 12, at Wake Forest Nov. 19, at Boston College Nov. 26.
Dash predicted report on Nov. 1: 7–1. Dash predicted report on Selection Sunday: 8–4.
Fourth flight: They’ve received an opportunity however most probably would want vital assist.
Wake Forest: 5–1, 1–1 within the ACC. Road forward: Boston College Oct. 22, at Louisville Oct. 29, at NC State Nov. 5, North Carolina Nov. 12, Syracuse Nov. 19, at Duke Nov. 26.
Dash predicted report on Nov. 1: 7–1. Dash predicted report on Selection Sunday: 10–2.
Oregon: 5–1, 3–0 within the Pac-12. Road forward: UCLA Oct. 22, at California Oct. 29, at Colorado Nov. 5, Washington Nov. 12, Utah Nov. 19, at Oregon State Nov. 25.
Dash predicted report on Nov. 1: 7–1. Dash predicted report on Selection Sunday: 11–2.
Oklahoma State: 5–1, 2–1 within the Big 12. Road forward: Texas Oct. 22, at Kansas State Oct. 29, at Kansas Nov. 5, Iowa State Nov. 12, at Oklahoma Nov. 19, West Virginia Nov. 26.
Dash predicted report on Nov. 1: 6–2. Dash predicted report on Selection Sunday: 11–2.
USC: 6–1, 4–0 within the Pac-12. Road forward: Open date Oct. 22, at Arizona Oct. 29, California Nov. 5, Colorado Nov. 11, at UCLA Nov. 19, Notre Dame Nov. 26.
Dash predicted report on Nov. 1: 7–1. Dash predicted report on Selection Sunday: 11–2.
Penn State: 5–1, 2–1 within the Big Ten. Road forward: Minnesota Oct. 22, Ohio State Oct. 29, at Indiana Nov. 5, Maryland Nov. 12, at Rutgers Nov. 19, Michigan State Nov. 26.
Dash predicted report on Nov. 1: 6–2. Dash predicted report on Selection Sunday: 9–3.
Kansas State: 5–1, 3–0 within the Big 12. Road forward: At TCU Oct. 22, Oklahoma State Oct. 29, Texas Nov. 5, at Baylor Nov. 12, at West Virginia Nov. 19, Kansas Nov. 26.
Dash predicted report on Nov. 1: 5–3. Dash predicted report on Selection Sunday: 8–4.
Illinois: 6–1, 3–1 within the Big Ten. Road forward: Open date Oct. 22, at Nebraskas Oct. 29, Michigan State Nov. 5, Purdue Nov. 12, at Michigan Nov. 19, at Northwestern Nov. 26.
Dash predicted report on Nov. 1: 7–1. Dash predicted report on Selection Sunday: 9–3.
North Carolina: 6–1, 3–0 within the ACC. Road forward: Open date Oct. 22, Pittsburgh Oct. 29, at Virginia Nov. 5, at Wake Forest Nov. 12, Georgia Tech Nov. 19, NC State Nov. 25.
Dash predicted report on Nov. 1: 7–1. Dash predicted report on Selection Sunday: 10–3.
Texas: 5–2, 3–1 within the Big 12. (To be clear, the one cause the two-loss Longhorns are on right here is for the potential of a Quinn Ewers damage mulligan.) Road forward: At Oklahoma State Oct. 22, open date Oct. 29, at Kansas State Nov. 5, TCU Nov. 12, at Kansas Nov. 19, Baylor Nov. 26.
Dash predicted report on Nov. 1: 5–3. Dash predicted report on Selection Sunday: 8–4.
MORE DASH: Saturday to Remember
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