College soccer season kicks off at this time and already folks wish to the longer term, making predictions for convention championships and nationwide titles. Some of these takes are scalding sizzling.
Earlier at this time, Lee Corso advised College GameDay viewers that he didn’t imagine an SEC staff would win the SEC Championship! That’s fairly daring, however by some means it’s not the most well liked take of the day. That belongs to 1991 Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard.
That’s proper. Howard picked Pitt to go to the Final Four. In reality, just one of these groups, Michigan, has ever made it to the school soccer playoff. This could be a program-first for Pitt, Baylor and Texas A&M.
Now, don’t get me flawed, I don’t assume all of Howard’s picks are dangerous. Michigan continues to be a well-coached staff (sure, I like Jim Harbaugh) contemporary off an incredible season and returns a couple of offensive line starters — and gained Olusegun Oluwatimi at heart from Virginia — returns their beginning quarterback, and returns most of their weapons from final season as properly, which may very well be even higher contemplating that receiver Ronnie Bell missed most of final yr with a knee damage. The losses of Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo are massive, however given Howard’s affiliation with Michigan (as in he’s an alum), I’ll let that decide slide as a slight bias. It’s not unimaginable, even perhaps seemingly, however on condition that the participant with essentially the most sacks final yr returning in 2022 is Taylor Upshaw (2.5 sacks), I’d say that it’s a bit of a attain.
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I really like the Texas A&M decide for the playoff. Picking them to win the natty? Now, you’ve misplaced me a bit. Sure, the Aggies misplaced Isaiah Spiller and Jalen Wydermyer, however Evan Stewart, Ainias Smith, and Devone Achane have appeared greater than succesful of filling these voids and then some. My largest downside with this choice is that Alabama and Georgia are two of the favorites for the nationwide championship, not to mention the playoffs. They’re nearly assured to succeed in the CFP. You would possibly as properly pencil them into the bracket at the beginning of each season. Their repute as packages makes voters much less more likely to drop them too far, and until the Aggies can beat Alabama on the highway on October 8, I don’t see the Aggies making it out of the SEC and into the playoff. If the sport towards Bama had been at house, I’d really feel a little bit extra assured. As it stands proper now, that choice continues to be a little bit shaky.
By choosing Pitt and Baylor, Howard mainly simply threw his final two picks in a dumpster. According to OddsChecker US, whereas each Michigan and Texas A&M each have good title odds, at +5000 (Eighth-best odds) and +2500 (Fifth-best odds) respectively, Baylor (+15000, Twentieth-best odds, 0.7 p.c likelihood) and Pitt (+25000, Thirty first-best odds, 0.4 p.c likelihood) are so out of left subject, you may’t assist however assume Howard is trolling. In the historical past of the school soccer playoff, just one staff has ever reached the CFP after preseason title odds of +15000 or worse: 2021 Cincinnati (+15000), and I’d argue they solely made the playoff as a result of so many faculty soccer followers had been clamoring for the CFP committee to let a non-Power 5 faculty in. The subsequent closest? 2021 Michigan at +10000. After that? 2014 Ohio State at +4000. While I don’t assume Baylor is a foul staff by any means, the percentages are most actually not in its favor.
Most of Baylor’s prime weapons from final season are gone, both by way of switch or the NFL draft. Tinheritor offensive line, howeveer, continues to be very strong, and maybe it can carry the Bears to a strong season. On protection, the Baylor’s secondary took an enormous hit, shedding safeties Jalen Pitre and J.T. Woods in addition to cornerback Raleigh Texada. They are very well-coached and deep so maybe these losses will likely be mitigated. Still, with a troublesome schedule forward, Baylor’s playoff hopes appear dim at greatest.
Picking Baylor was undoubtedly puzzling, however it’s nothing compared to Howard choosing Pitt as his fourth and closing CFP staff. You’re telling me that the staff that simply misplaced QB Kenny Pickett and receiver Jordan Addison goes to boast an offense adequate to be one of the top-four groups in faculty soccer?
No.
I do know the saying is “that’s why they play the games,” and whereas there’s a lot to be optimistic about when you’re a Pitt fan, that staff couldn’t even crack the top-10 within the AP ballot with a Heisman finalist quarterback and Biletnikoff Award-winning receiver. Will they end the season ranked? Probably. Will they win a Bowl recreation? Wouldn’t shock me. Will they win their convention? I imply Clemson, N.C. State, and Miami are all actually powerful, however I may see a scenario the place that occurs. Will they make the CFP? Boy oh boy, that’d be as loopy as Deshaun Watson getting a sponsor deal from Nickelodeon this yr.
Howard, we liked you in 1991, and I’m all for making outlandish predictions at the beginning of the season, however the secret’s that it’s a must to make them barely plausible. Frankly, this simply ain’t it.
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