2024 School Soccer picks Week 7: Guess Penn State, Iowa to cowl

School soccer Week 7 is already right here, and like I say yearly, time flies if you’re having soccer.

However what makes this time particularly enjoyable is watching a couple of undergo the ring with some profitable wagers.

I am able to attempt my hand once more this week. Fortunate No. 7, proper? Let’s dive into it.

(All occasions ET)

SATURDAY, OCT. 12

Washington @Iowa (midday, FOX and FOX Sports activities app)

I’m simply wagering on a state of affairs, and that’s Iowa profitable after a loss, paired with Washington on the highway after an enormous emotional win.Â

Iowa received dominated by Ohio State after enjoying the Buckeyes shut within the first half. No shock there. However I don’t suppose that end result adjustments a lot of how we should always view this sport.Â

Washington is just not Iowa. Iowa’s offense has the identical points as typical. The Hawkeyes can not cross the ball with any consistency. They’re, nevertheless, a lot better than final season — which isn’t saying a lot.

Washington’s dashing protection has been good this season, nevertheless it’s price noting that this Iowa workforce might be the most effective offenses it has confronted all season. The yards per play of the Washington opponents rank 113th, seventeenth (misplaced to Washington State), seventieth (misplaced to Rutgers), 106th and one hundred and twentieth.Â

Iowa is 78th, and that’s with three groups the Hawkeyes have confronted having top-18 defenses.

I believe Iowa’s offense has a bounce-back efficiency this week towards Washington’s protection.

On the opposite aspect, there’s an Iowa protection that tends to play properly towards everybody that isn’t Ohio State. The Hawkeyes are sixteenth in factors per drive and are in keeping with three of the Huskies’ earlier opponents, the place Washington is averaging 23.3 factors in convention play.Â

Washington has had one highway sport and all of the workforce’s penalty and play-calling points confirmed up.Â

I believe Iowa bounces again this weekend.Â

PICK: Iowa (-2.5) to win by greater than 2.5 factors

California @ No. 22Pittsburgh (3:30 p.m., ESPN)

Once more — I’m simply wagering on a state of affairs right here.Â

Cal was up 35-10 and 38-18 to Miami final Saturday evening at dwelling and ended up shedding 39-38.Â

The Bears had been mainly outscored 29-3 within the closing quarter. Now, Cal should journey throughout the nation for the third time in simply six video games (Auburn and Florida State), whereas attempting to mentally rebound from that loss.Â

Pittsburgh is 5-0 and enjoying good ball. The Panthers are an offensive-minded workforce, rating seventh in factors per drive and solely seventy fifth on the opposite aspect.Â

Pitt has generated probably the most performs of 20 or extra yards within the nation on offense. Cal’s offense is the other, coming in a hundred and first in factors per drive.Â

Whereas Cal’s protection is at all times good below Wilcox, it’s onerous to again a workforce that may’t rating on the highway after an enormous emotional loss. I like Pittsburgh to win and canopy.

PICK: Pittsburgh (-3.5) to win by greater than 3.5 factors

No. 4Penn State @USC (3:30 p.m., CBS)

Lincoln Riley joined USC within the winter months of 2021.Â

In his first season, his Trojans went 11-3, with quarterback Caleb Williams profitable the Heisman. Final season, Riley’s squad began the season 6-0 towards a delicate schedule, solely going through one opponent with a profitable file. As soon as the Trojans received into the meat of the schedule, they faltered, shedding video games to Notre Dame, Utah, Oregon, Washington and UCLA.Â

The theme of those losses was all the identical: The opponent they had been going through was extra bodily on the level of assault, each on the offensive and defensive traces. USC did not cowl in 4 of these 5 losses, with the one cowl coming at Oregon with a late landing.Â

Quick-forward to 2024, and USC has confronted two groups able to enjoying competent ball on either side, in Michigan and in Minnesota. USC misplaced to each and did not cowl in each video games.Â

SC followers may level to the LSU win as proof that USC shedding to “higher” groups isn’t a pattern anymore, however LSU’s protection is just not good. The Tigers can not cease anybody. They aren’t the identical as the opposite groups talked about.

Penn State involves the Coliseum on Saturday as a workforce that may do each.Â

The Nittany Lions can win on the offensive and defensive traces. Their protection ranks ninth in factors per drive, sixth in DL havoc fee and eighth in strain fee. SC’s offensive line is poor. It must be the worst group of offensive linemen on a Lincoln Riley workforce. The Trojans OL ranks 129th in strain fee. Quarterback Miller Moss is at all times operating for his life.Â

Briefly, I don’t see how USC is ready to transfer the ball persistently towards Penn State.

The Trojans’ defensive coordinator change heading into this season has paid off. They’re a greater group this season. They deal with higher and are in the best spot most of the time. However they can’t maintain up for a whole sport with out the offense giving them some assist.Â

I do fear about Penn State’s offense leaving you wanting extra at occasions, however I believe the Nittany Lions protection will give them quick fields and a few turnovers that may assist get Penn State into the top zone. I like Penn State to cowl.

PICK: Penn State (-4.5) to win by greater than 4.5 factors

Geoff Schwartz is an NFL analyst for FOX Sports activities. He performed eight seasons within the NFL for 5 completely different groups. He began at proper deal with for the College of Oregon for 3 seasons and was a second-team All-Pac-12 choice his senior yr. Comply with him on Twitter @GeoffSchwartz.

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