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By Dane Miller, SuperWest Sports activities
Welcome to the brand new Huge 12, women and gents.
The eyes of the school soccer world are on No. 7 BYU and No. 8 Texas Tech as the 2 groups battle for a spot within the Playoff.
The competition has huge implications for the Postseason and personifies the standing of the expanded convention.
With the potential for 3 groups to make it to the Promised Land this yr, the winner of the sport might be on the doorstep of locking of their spot.
I preview that showdown right here, together with Colorado and Arizona’s sport. And on the backside, I give a “look in” on the different matchups within the Huge 12 this week.
No. 7 BYU at No. 8 Texas Tech
Saturday, November 8
9:00 a.m. PT, ABC
This matchup in Lubbock, Texas, may be the most important sport within the historical past of BYU soccer.
An invite to the Playoff is inside attain, and it turns into more likely if the Cougars beat Texas Tech on their dwelling subject.
However the Crimson Raiders are a drive. Their defensive position is arguably the perfect within the Huge 12, they usually have weapons on offense. To safe the win, BYU should win the road of scrimmage.
Fortuitously, the Cougars are constructed to win the battle up entrance and have the personnel to do it.
Star working again LJ Martin is anticipated to play, a essential issue after he left the Iowa State sport early with an harm. Main the crew with 789 yards dashing, BYU wants him to alleviate the burden on Bear Bachmeier.
Any turnovers can be laborious to beat, and the atmosphere guarantees to be hostile. However Bachmeier has confirmed himself on the street to date this season.
The sport, then, may come all the way down to the play of BYU’s protection. Behren Morton just isn’t a cell quarterback and may be prone to stress.
Texas Tech’s dashing offense might be its solely comparatively gentle spot, too, doubtlessly making a schematic alternative that defensive coordinator Jay Hill can benefit from.
The one factor that may’t occur, although, is getting crushed excessive. If TTU converts throws downfield with any quantity of consistency or connects on deep passes in essential conditions, it’s going to be powerful to outscore the Crimson Raiders on their dwelling subject.
But, if the pictures downfield are prevented and the BYU entrance will get penetration into the backfield, the Cougars might depart with an upset victory.
Colorado at West Virginia
Saturday, November 8
9:00 a.m. PT, TNT
This West Virginia crew just isn’t the identical Mountaineer squad from earlier within the season.
True freshman quarterback Scotty Fox Jr. has modified the dynamic. He’s the precise prototype of a quarterback that unlocks Wealthy Rodriguez’s offense.
Fox carried the ball 10 occasions for 65 yards dashing and two scores on the bottom in opposition to Houston final week.
With the emergence of a pacesetter on offense, the remainder of the roster has rallied.
The Mountaineers battled TCU shut after which posted the stunning upset win on the street over Houston.
West Virginia may be close to the underside of the Huge 12 standings, nevertheless it’s assured that they’re higher than their file signifies. In different phrases, Colorado is in bother.
Add within the complicating issue of Julian Lewis making his first profession begin, on the street no much less, and you’ve got a recipe for catastrophe.
Nonetheless, Colorado has the receivers to benefit from WVU’s protection. If Lewis, or whichever quarterback performs, is correct together with his throws and makes use of his legs to increase performs, it’s cheap to count on an in depth sport.
However CU has appeared horrible their previous couple of outings and may be embarrassed by a surging West Virginia crew in search of one thing to show.
Kansas at Arizona
Saturday, November 8
12:30 p.m. PT, ESPN2
What occurred final week doesn’t matter.
Arizona crushed a horrible Colorado crew in Boulder. So, what?
The win proved nothing within the grand scheme of issues, aside from additional exposing the incompetence of Deion Sanders’ program.
Beating Kansas to succeed in bowl eligibility can be a distinct story, nevertheless. Particularly if the win is convincing.
Kicking off at 1:30 pm native time within the obvious Tucson solar, the Wildcats ought to thrive. The UV depth is a distinct animal out right here, and Brent Brennan preaches violence.
Search for the UA protection to be very aggressive in getting stress on Jalon Daniels, bringing a number of seems to be, and using pre-snap motion to create confusion.
It’s a sport the place the Arizona defensive backs might have a subject day.
Daniels has achieved a terrific job of caring for the ball this season. However it is a day sport within the desert. It’s not a traditional Saturday the place the standard stuff goes to work.
And on the opposite aspect of the ball, Arizona’s offense is buzzing.
Noah Fifita is enjoying out of his thoughts, the receivers are crushing it, and there’s depth at working again.
As long as the Wildcats stop Daniels from gouging them together with his legs, Arizona ought to defend dwelling subject. And if every little thing goes proper, the sport won’t be significantly shut.
The Remainder of the Huge 12
Houston heads to Orlando for a Friday night time sport in opposition to Central Florida. The Knights are 4-4, and it’s their House Recreation.
UCF hardly ever loses this matchup, plus the Cougars are reeling from a questionable loss. However the slim unfold in favor of Houston feels off, as soon as once more.
Final week, Vegas thought Baylor would wrestle with the Knights, and the Bears ended up destroying them. It seems like the same result’s incoming.
The House Recreation facet of the matchup makes it extra questionable. However Houston ought to win by a minimum of a landing, if no more.
TCU hosts an Iowa State crew that has utterly collapsed. As soon as regarded as the chief of the Huge 12, the Cyclones have misplaced four-straight video games since beating Arizona on September twenty seventh.
Rocco Becht has massively regressed, and the crew is coping with accidents throughout.
On the opposite sideline, TCU is quietly 6-2 and on a two-game win streak. Josh Hoover stays one of many prime quarterbacks within the Convention and the Horned Frogs are undefeated at dwelling.
Maybe ISU turns its season round. Nevertheless it’s extra seemingly that TCU will get the job achieved.
Miller covers Faculty Basketball and Faculty Soccer in addition to Components 1 racing as a Senior Author and Assistant Editor for SuperWest Sports activities.
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