After an offseason of discuss playoff enlargement, convention realignment and the rebirth of a fan-favorite online game, it’s lastly time to really play some soccer. School soccer returns Saturday to kickoff an intriguing season as extra groups will vie for postseason play and new convention matchups will probably be established thanks to a different wave of realignment.
Week 0 is the appetizer to Aug. 31’s primary dish, however soccer is soccer. In whole, 4 video games involving no less than one FBS crew will probably be performed. Listed below are the highest three to observe, together with the place to observe, predictions, begin time and extra. All instances Jap.
No. 10 Florida State at Georgia Tech | 12 p.m. | ESPN
The Seminoles are nonetheless feeling the sting of being not noted of the School Soccer Playoff final season. That should not be the case this 12 months if Mike Norvell’s group takes care of enterprise.Â
It begins throughout the pond in Dublin, Eire, in opposition to ACC foe Georgia Tech. New FSU quarterback DJ Uiagalelei will carry a heavy load for the ‘Noles after a lot of final season’s roster moved on by way of commencement or the switch portal. Georgia Tech is picked to complete within the center of the convention by the media.
Prediction: Florida State wins simply. This crew will not be as dominant as final 12 months, however it’s nonetheless going to be head and shoulders above a lot of the groups it performs. That may present within the season opener in opposition to Georgia Tech.
SMU at Nevada | 8 p.m. | CBS Sports activities Community
The one primetime sport of the day options new ACC member SMU. The Mustangs are picked to end seventh within the ACC after an 11-win season final 12 months within the American Athletic Convention. Nevada, after four-straight successful seasons from 2018-21, has stumbled to a pair of 2-10 finishes every of the previous two seasons. Nevada is picked twelfth within the Mountain West this 12 months.
Prediction: SMU wins large. How does final 12 months’s 11-win season translate to the ACC? We cannot essentially discover out on this sport, but it surely’s an opportunity for SMU to indicate the nation what sort of crew it may be.
Montana State at New Mexico | 4 p.m. | FS1
Montana State is an FCS crew, however do not let that be a deterrent from watching this sport. There have been loads of FCS wins over FBS groups, together with 4 final 12 months.Â
New Mexico, picked eleventh within the Mountain West, is in hassle in opposition to one of many stronger packages within the FCS. Montana State misplaced a heartbreaker, 35-34 in extra time, in final 12 months’s second spherical of the playoffs to North Dakota State. The Bobcats are anticipated to be higher this season. In the meantime, Bronco Mendenhall has a big rebuilding mission in entrance of him with New Mexico.
Prediction: Montana State ought to and can win this one. The Bobcats will get the primary win of the season for the FCS over an FBS crew.Â
