SALT LAKE CITY — Week 3 of the faculty soccer season brings a slate loaded with rivalry video games, ranked showdowns, and alternatives for contenders to separate themselves from the pack.
Here’s a preview of this week’s matchups as we enter week three.
No. 6 Georgia (2-0) vs. No. 15 Tennessee (2-0)
Saturday, Sept. 13, 1:30 p.m. MDT – Neyland Stadium (ABC)
Two SEC powerhouses meet up for an early-season top-15 matchup because the Georgia Bulldogs journey to Knoxville to tackle the Tennessee Volunteers.
Why Georgia will win:
The Bulldogs look to contend for a nationwide championship as soon as once more underneath head coach Kirby Smart in 2025. Georgia reloaded this offseason after falling brief to Notre Dame within the playoffs a season in the past.
Quarterback Gunner Stockton is now the starter, with Carson Beck in Miami, whereas USC transfers and brothers, Zion and Zachariah Branch, convey elite athleticism to the group.
Zachariah Branch leads the Bulldogs in receiving yards by means of the primary two video games with 112 yards and can look to proceed to be a dependable choice for Stockton after the Georgia receiving corps struggled with drops a season in the past.
Even on the street, protection travels and Smart has been the most effective defensive minds within the sport since working as an assistant underneath Nick Saban. Smart additionally leads all of school soccer in ranked wins since 2016 with 37, 9 greater than Dabo Swinney’s 28 with Clemson.
Now arguably one of the best coach within the SEC, Kirby Smart will look to enhance to 8-0 in opposition to Tennessee this Saturday.
Why Tennessee will win:
The Vols have regarded nice to start the 2025 season however they face their largest problem but on Saturday. With two blowout wins in opposition to Syracuse and East Tennessee State, Tennessee has taken care of enterprise whereas doing it in dominating trend.
The similar cannot be mentioned about their foe on Saturday. Georgia defeated FCS Austin Peay 28-6 in what ought to have been a extra lopsided victory for the Bulldogs. Maybe Georgia did not wish to present a lot of their playbook heading into this week’s matchup however the Volunteers obliterated ETSU 72-17.
New Tennessee beginning quarterback Joey Aguilar has regarded like the right slot in head coach Josh Heupel’s offense, offering a possible improve to a group that reached the College Football Playoff a yr in the past.
Heupel has received 4 top-25 matchups at house in opposition to SEC opponents with two of these wins being in opposition to prime 10 groups. Heupel is 0-4 in opposition to Georgia in his profession but when there’s a time to snap that streak it could be this week with the Bulldog’s offense nonetheless making an attempt to determine issues out.
Line: UGA -3.5
Over/Under: 49.5
Pittsburgh (2-0) vs. West Virginia (1-1)
Saturday, Sept. 13, 1:30 p.m. MDT – Milan Puskar Stadium (ESPN)
Saturday marks the 108th assembly of Pitt and West Virginia within the Backyard Brawl with the Mountaineers trying to avenge final yr’s loss.
Why Pittsburgh will win:
The Panthers have regarded good by means of two video games this season, whereas West Virginia suffered a depressing street loss to Ohio on Saturday.
Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi is a good defensive coach and his protection has already accounted for eight sacks to start the season.
With Mountaineer operating again Jahiem White anticipated to overlook the remainder of the season, extra strain falls on quarterback Nicco Marchiol, who struggled to get the offense going in opposition to the Bobcats final season.
Pittsburgh Quarterback Eli Holstein is 9-3 as a starter at Pitt and has already accounted for 519 passing yards and eight touchdowns. The West Virginia protection has regarded good up to now, but when Holstein can outduel his counterpart, the Panthers must be their second straight Backyard Brawl win.
Why West Virginia will win:
This is not the beginning head coach Rich Rodriguez envisioned for his group after a disappointing loss to Ohio final week; nonetheless, the Mountaineers can get again on observe with an enormous rivalry win on the street.
Rodriguez is aware of all about this rivalry from his first stint as West Virginia head coach when he received 4 video games in opposition to Pitt and introduced the Mountaineers to nationwide relevance. He’ll have the prospect to avenge West Virginia’s 2007 loss to the Panthers that derailed a possible nationwide championship season when he faces them for the primary time since that sport.
Marchiol must be higher this week at commanding the offense if the Mountaineers have an opportunity on the upset at house.
Line: PITT -6.5
Over/Under: 58.5
No. 16 Texas A&M (2-0) vs. No. 6 Notre Dame (0-1)
Saturday, Sept. 13, 5:30 p.m. MDT – Notre Dame Stadium (NBC)
The Aggies journey to South Bend to face the Fighting Irish in a rematch of final yr’s season opener as each groups look to spice up their resume with an early-season ranked matchup.
Why Texas A&M will win:
Texas A&M’s offense has been dynamic to start the season regardless of head coach Mike Elko coming from a defensive background. The Aggies have scored 40 or extra factors in consecutive video games and present no indicators of slowing down underneath offensive coordinator Collin Klein.
Quarterback Marcel Reed has gathered 614 whole yards and eight whole touchdowns by means of the group’s first two video games, whereas the group’s run sport has been efficient with a number of operating backs sharing the load.
If A&M can put strain on Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr simply as Miami did, the Aggies might power the inexperienced quarterback into errors. The group must account for Jeremiyah Love, who’s due for a bounce-back efficiency after simply dashing for 33 yards in opposition to the Hurricanes.
Why Notre Dame will win:
The Irish have had two weeks to organize for this sport and repair the problems that plagued them of their season opener in opposition to Miami.
Notre Dame went on a 10-game successful streak a yr in the past after an early-season loss to Northern Illinois and head coach Marcus Freeman must have the Irish prepared Saturday as they prepare to copy that success.
Jeremiyah Love totalled simply 10 carries within the loss to Miami, whereas Carr had 11. Notre Dame must get again to their identification and provides their gifted again extra carries and assault a run protection that has allowed 281 yards on the bottom by means of two video games.
If the Irish can bottle up Texas A&M’s Marcel Reed and power him to make huge throws persistently, Notre Dame ought to have an amazing likelihood to get their first win of the season Saturday.
Line: ND -6.5
Over/Under: 49.5
No. 20 Utah (2-0) vs. Wyoming (2-0)
Saturday, Sept. 13, 6 p.m. MDT – War Memorial Stadium (CBSSN)
The Utes face the Cowboys for the primary time since October 10, 2010, after they defeated Wyoming 30-6 in Laramie.
Why Utah will win:
Utah has been dominant to begin the season, scoring 40 or extra factors of their first two video games, together with 63 final week in opposition to Cal Poly. The Utes have additionally allowed 10 or much less in each video games. Wyoming struggled to place up factors in opposition to Akron in Week 1, however scored 31 final week in opposition to FCS Northern Iowa.
The Wyoming protection seems to be to be one of the best protection that Utah has confronted this season, permitting simply 7 factors by means of their first two video games. The Utes’ offense, led by Devon Dampier, will likely be a a lot larger take a look at for the Cowboys and will put up some factors Saturday.
If Utah can play their model of sport, they need to face little risk from this Wyoming group regardless of enjoying on the street.
Why Wyoming will win:
The Cowboys have began the 2025 season 2-0 after beginning final season 0-2. That is the kind of enchancment followers want to see in Year 2 of head coach Jay Sawvel’s tenure; nonetheless, Sawvel and his group face their largest problem but, and possibly one of the best group Wyoming will face all season.
It goes to take an all-out effort from the Cowboys to drag off their first upset since October 7, 2023, after they beat No. 24 Fresno State. If their protection can rise to the event and cease Utah’s run sport whereas their offense takes benefit of turnovers, Wyoming might have a shot on the upset.
Line: Utah -23.5
Over/Under: 48.5
Air Force (1-0) vs. Utah State (1-1)
Saturday, Sept. 13, 7:45 p.m. MDT – Maverik Stadium (FS1)
Utah State hosts Air Force in a Mountain West showdown in Logan because the Aggies look to bounce again from final week’s loss.
Why Air Force will win:
The Falcons dominated Bucknell in Week 1 of the faculty soccer season earlier than having an early bye week final week. Air Force put up 49 factors in opposition to the Bison, totalling 426 yards of offense. Typically identified for being a group that solely runs the triple choice, the Falcons have been capable of throw for 159 yards between two quarterbacks.
If Air Force beginning quarterback Josh Johnson may be as efficient throwing the ball in addition to main a balanced dashing assault, the Faclons might create related matchup issues as to what Texas A&M did final week in opposition to Utah State.
Why Utah State will win:
The Aggies are headed again house trying to get again on observe after struggling a loss in College Station final week. Utah State confirmed struggle within the loss, and in the event that they clear up some issues and play extra like they did in Week 1, they need to have an opportunity at their first convention win of the season.
The Aggies have already punted it 16 instances this season. Bryson Barnes must lead the offense on extra scoring drives and put factors on the board in opposition to the group that may maintain onto possession for a very long time. More consistency by the offense is a should if Utah State can pull off the house upset.
Line: AFA -3.5
Over/Under: 50.5
The Key Takeaways for this text have been generated with the help of giant language fashions and reviewed by our editorial group. The article, itself, is solely human-written.