ACC Week 1: Miami, Pitt, Clemson and NC ST

It’s Monday of Week 1 through the 2022 faculty soccer season. The Miami Hurricanes, Pittsburgh Panthers, Clemson Tigers and North Carolina State Wolfpack are three AP 25 groups to look at heading into their first video games.

Within the order that every group performs, right here’s a take a look at what to look at for with every group, starting with Miami.

Bethune-Cookman @ #16 Miami, Saturday, 12 p.m. EST

It’s the Hurricanes first recreation underneath the watchful eye of head coach Mario Cristobal, coming again to his alma mater after being a participant himself throughout an period that noticed Miami win titles in 1989 and 1991 that he was part of.

Let’s be sincere. Miami goes to roll over Bethune-Cookman. They’re going to be fired as much as kickstart the 2022 season and accomplish that with Heisman Trophy quarterback Tyler Van Dyke behind middle.

He’s a projected NFL first spherical decide by many draft specialists, and he has lots of expertise to distribute the soccer to love operating again Jaylan “Rooster” Knighton and vast receiver Xavier Restrepo, amongst others.

The offensive line ought to be one of many ACC’s finest, led by All-American candidate Zion Nelson at left deal with. There are questions, nevertheless.

How will Miami’s vast receivers carry out? Miami wants extra consistency from the place to maximise the abilities of Van Dyke, and the offense total.

What concerning the protection? The Hurricanes have lots of expertise, however the majority continues to be inexperienced and/or a switch participant getting used to the defensive scheme. Miami gave up 28.4 factors per recreation, the No. 84 group within the nation final season.

Rather more can be anticipated from Miami after final season, and the Canes get a contemporary begin towards a group that it ought to dominate.

West Virginia @ #17 Pittsburgh, Thursday, 7 p.m. EST

The yard brawl is again! Pittsburgh leads the sequence 61-40-3 over West Virginia, with this season’s recreation being extremely anticipated.

It was one among faculty soccer’s finest rivalries. It’s again for the primary time since 2011. As for the groups, the Panthers are favored to knock off the Mountaineers.

Pittsburgh received the ACC final season and the Panthers ought to be good as soon as once more. That said, gone is quarterback Kenny Pickett to the Pittsburgh Steelers through the NFL Draft, in addition to the saga of vast receiver Jordan Addison transferring to Southern California.

Paradoxically, former Trojan quarterback Kedon Slovis is predicted to take over as Pittsburgh’s new beginning quarterback. He’s had his ups and downs, however can undoubtedly throw a soccer and rating factors. He’s going to be part of a extra balanced Panthers’ assault this season, nevertheless.

Search for extra energy soccer by the Panthers now that former offensive coordinator Mark Whipple is at Nebraska. Operating again Israel Abanikanda ought to be the first beneficiary. The 5-foot-11 and 215-pound New Yorker is more likely to see 15, maybe 20 carries towards the Mountaineers.

On protection, Pittsburgh’s Italian transplant, Habakkuk Baldonado, is a big-time defensive finish that’s coming off a season during which he recorded 9 sacks and 12 tackles for loss. If the Mountaineers are to drag the upset, they should sluggish him down.

The identical with fellow Pittsburgh defensive deal with Calijah Kancey, as he dropped quarterbacks seven occasions and added 13 tackles for loss final 12 months.

West Virginia additionally has a former USC quarterback (sure, no joke), as JT Daniels takes over in Morgantown. He’s one of many extra extremely adorned California prep quarterbacks of latest reminiscence, and made an unsuccessful cease at Georgia earlier than heading to West Virginia.

Pittsburgh ought to win the sport, however one by no means actually is aware of when it’s a rivalry between colleges which can be simply 70 miles from each other.

#4 Clemson Tigers @ Georgia Tech, Monday, 8 p.m. EST

Head coach Dabo Swinney misplaced defensive coordinator Brent Venables to being the top coach for Oklahoma, in addition to offensive coordinator Tony Elliot to turn into the top coach of Virginia.

The turnover can be attention-grabbing to see, because it impacts the whole workers and gamers alike. Wes Goodwin strikes as much as offensive coordinator for the Tigers, whereas the brand new defensive coordinator can be an inside rent with Mickey Conn.

Can Clemson nonetheless be the identical cohesive group with out each of them, in addition to defensive position coach Todd Bates (additionally to Oklahoma) amongst different adjustments? There’s additionally an essential returning starter to think about.

Can quarterback DJ Uiagalelei be constant and likewise add fireworks to the passing recreation that was lacking for Clemson final season?

Fast truth: Uiagalelei’s highest passing complete of 2021 was 241, and that was towards a Connecticut group that went 1-11 with a victory over Yale.

If Uiagalelei is lower than the duty, search for freshman quarterback Cade Klubnik to obtain much more of the reps than initially anticipated. He’s slated to play this weekend, however no one really is aware of how a lot Klubnik sees motion towards Georgia Tech till after the beginning of the sport.

The Tigers possess arguably the nation’s finest protection. If the offense may even be high 40, maybe high 35 within the nation, there’s a stable probability to achieve the School Soccer Playoffs this season.

That protection, particularly the vaunted defensive position that would have an unbelievable seven gamers drafted in 2023, ought to smother an anemic Georgia Tech offense.

#13 North Carolina State @ East Carolina, Saturday, 12 p.m. EST

It’s now quarterback Devin Leary’s probability to shine on a shiny stage. He’s not the up-and-coming sign caller, however one which’s completely primed to have a season that a minimum of leads him to be invited to New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony.

Can Leary and the Wolfpack get rolling on the highway towards a stable East Carolina group? To try this, they might want to rating. East Carolina returns high quality gamers like speedy operating again Keaton Mitchell and fifth-year sign caller Holton Ahlers main the best way.

For NC ST, it should additionally proceed a stable defensive development. The Wolfpack allowed simply 19.7 factors per contest final season, rating No. 14. This could possibly be the most effective of the 4 major opening weekend ACC video games. 

That’s very true with the sport in Greenville in entrance of the ECU devoted, a bunch that feels it doesn’t obtain sufficient respect from any of the 4 ACC groups contained in the state of North Carolina.

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