SALT LAKE CITY — The official kickoff of the school soccer season final week didn’t disappoint, offering followers with lots of nice video games that got here right down to the wire.
Here’s a preview of this week’s matchups as we head into Week 2.
Iowa (1-0) vs. No. 16 Iowa State (2-0)
Saturday, Sept. 6, 10 a.m. MDT – Jack Trice Stadium (Fox)
Two in-state rivals will conflict for the 72nd time when Iowa travels to Ames to tackle the Cyclones of Iowa State.
Why Iowa will win:
The Hawkeyes are coming off a house loss to Iowa State a yr in the past, and what higher option to avenge that loss than to choose up a resume-building win in your rival’s stadium?
Iowa boasts a potent speeding assault and elite protection yr in and yr out. What may make the distinction this yr is their new quarterback, Mark Gronowski, a two-time FCS nationwide champion with South Dakota State.
Gronowski solely threw for 44 yards towards Albany final week, however he did throw for a landing and added 39 speeding yards and a speeding landing.
Gronowski wasn’t requested to throw a lot as a result of the run sport dominated Albany, totalling 310 yards on the bottom as a crew. Leading the cost was working again Xavier Williams, who ran for 122 yards and a landing on 11 carries.
If the Hawkeyes can put collectively a whole offensive sport, they need to be capable of problem Iowa State on this matchup.
Why Iowa State will win:
With two video games beneath their belt, the Cyclones have confronted extra competitors up to now to assist put together them for this early-season rivalry sport. This will really be Iowa State’s second rivalry sport this season and we’re solely in Week 2.
The Cyclones took on the Kansas State Wildcats in Ireland in Week 0 in an abroad matchup of “Farmageddon.” Playing a crew like Kansas State early ought to put together Iowa State for this bodily matchup.
Quarterback Rocco Becht has been environment friendly for the Cyclones thus far, passing for 461 yards and 5 touchdowns whereas including a rating on the bottom. His expertise beneath middle ought to show to be a distinction maker in what needs to be a good contest.
Line: ISU -3.5
Over/Under: 41.5
Utah State (1-0) vs. No. 19 Texas A&M (1-0)
Saturday, Sept. 6, 10:45 a.m. MDT – Kyle Field (SEC Network)
The Aggies of Utah State will journey to College Station, Texas, to tackle the Aggies of Texas A&M in simply the second assembly between the 2 faculties.
Why Utah State will win:
Utah State is coming off their first win within the Bronco Mendenhall period after defeating UTEP 28-16. The Aggies did not do something particular, however they took care of enterprise and wish to construct off that win.
Texas A&M is clearly the higher crew on paper and Kyle Field is among the hardest locations to play in school soccer, however final week’s video games might have supplied a blueprint.
Texas A&M’s run protection was gashed by UTSA, giving up 201 yards to the Roadrunners, with 177 yards coming from Robert Henry Jr.
Utah State working again Miles Davis was efficient Saturday, speeding for 88 yards and a landing in his crew debut. Utilizing Davis and Bryson Barnes’ dual-threat means will give Utah State an opportunity to take advantage of a weak spot from the Aggies.
Why Texas A&M will win:
Quarterback Marcel Reed confirmed enchancment as a passer in his first sport of the season, finishing 22-of-34 passes for 289 yards and 4 touchdowns. Typically identified for his working means, Reed ought to create issues for Utah State’s protection after taking part in a subpar offense in UTEP.
A&M has excessive expectations within the SEC this season and dominating a sport like this needs to be on the forefront of their minds after remaining aggressive with UTSA for 3 quarters final week.
Line: TA&M -31.5
Over/Under: 54.5
Kansas (2-0) vs. Missouri (1-0)
Saturday, Sept. 6, 1:30 p.m. MDT – Memorial Stadium (ESPN2)
The Jayhawks and Tigers will meet for the primary time since 2011 within the subsequent installment of the “Border War” rivalry.
Why Kansas will win:
Kansas is looking for their first win towards Missouri since Nov. 29, 2008, and finish a three-game dropping streak to the Tigers. After getting off to a gradual begin a yr in the past, earlier than taking part in spoiler to some Big 12 groups late final season, the Jayhawks proceed to play at a excessive degree.
However, Missouri will likely be their greatest take a look at thus far. The Tigers are comparatively unknown, even after dismantling Central Arkansas per week in the past.
Kansas’ offense has been dynamic to start out the yr behind veteran sign caller Jalon Daniels, and they’ll want their star quarterback to be efficient as soon as once more as they give the impression of being to finish their dropping streak to a historic rival.
Why Missouri will win:
Mizzou was primed for an in-season quarterback battle between Sam Horn and Beau Pribula earlier than Horn went down with an damage within the Tigers’ season opener. Penn State switch Beau Pribula seemed sharp towards Central Arkansas, going 23-of-28 with 283 yards and two touchdowns. Pribula additionally scored two speeding touchdowns whereas including 65 yards on the bottom.
With the crew now dedicated to Pribula going ahead, Missouri needs to be targeted on profitable video games and never who’s going to start out going ahead. Playing a rival at residence ought to have Mizzou followers excited for this one, because the Tigers look to make it 4 in a row towards the Jayhawks.
Line: MIZ -6.5
Over/Under: 51.5
Cal Poly (1-0) vs. No. 25 Utah (1-0)
Saturday, Sept. 6, 4 p.m. MDT – Rice-Eccles Stadium (ESPN+)
Devon Dampier will make his residence debut because the Utes kick off their residence opener towards the Cal Poly Mustangs.
Why Cal Poly will win:
Never say by no means, however the Mustangs are going to have an uphill battle on this one. Beating San Diego 41-17 was a pleasant option to begin the season, however Cal Poly must take it up a notch to offer them an opportunity this Saturday.
Quarterback Ty Dieffenbach seemed just like the Mustang’s model of Devon Dampier of their season opener, finishing 18-of-27 passes for 263 and two touchdowns. He rushed for 69 yards and a landing of their blowout win, as effectively. Dieffenbach must be dynamic within the passing sport and on the bottom to drag off the large upset.
Why Utah will win:
Utah seemed like they silenced any doubt from the offseason in an early season drubbing of UCLA. Devon Dampier has immediately upgraded the quarterback play from a season in the past with an electrical debut that included 293 whole yards and three whole touchdowns.
The protection seemed elite, as soon as once more, holding the Bruins to simply 10 factors at residence.
Playing their sort of sport will assist Utah on this one. Facing an FCS crew that went 3-8 in 2024 needs to be a simple take a look at for the resurgent Utes at residence.
Line: N/A
Over/Under: N/A
Stanford (0-1) vs. BYU (1-0)
Saturday, Sept. 6, 8:15 p.m. MDT – LaVell Edwards Stadium (ESPN)
BYU faces Stanford for the fourth time because the Cardinal look to bounce again from a Week 0 loss.
Why Stanford will win:
Despite dropping to the Rainbow Warriors in Week 0, the Cardinal noticed working again Micah Ford snap a scoring drought for the crew to develop into the primary Stanford working again to attain a landing since Sept. 23, 2023. Ford totaled 113 speeding yards, exhibiting promise in an in any other case disappointing sport.
Stanford’s loss to Hawaii was not the beginning normal supervisor Andrew Luck and head coach Frank Reich have been on the lookout for because the Cardinal enter this transition yr. Bringing in a ton of NFL expertise is not all the time a recipe for fulfillment on the collegiate degree, however going through a freshman quarterback in simply their second sport may assist Stanford bounce again.
Why BYU will win:
Only placing up 286 whole yards towards Hawaii of their first sport would not bode effectively for Stanford, particularly after the Rainbow Warriors have been blown out by Arizona 40-6.
They’ll be going through a BYU squad that pummeled Portland State 69-0. Bear Bachmeier wasn’t requested to do a lot in his first begin, however he made the straightforward throws and confirmed off his legs in a five-touchdown efficiency.
The Cougars’ run sport was phenomenal, totalling 468 yards, whereas the protection was suffocating to safe the crew’s first shutout win since they beat Sam Houston 14-0 to open the 2023 season.
BYU should not take this sport flippantly, however primarily based on final week’s efficiency, the Cougars ought to be capable of replicate the same sport plan.
Line: BYU -18.5
Over/Under: 45.5