Entice video games are tough to undertaking — they require particular circumstances — however pretty simple to outline.
This clarification comes courtesy of Soccer Outsiders: “Staff X has a ‘lure recreation’ when it performs workforce Y but it surely’s wanting ahead to enjoying workforce Z the next week. If workforce X falls into the lure, they underperform in opposition to workforce Y, presumably dropping a recreation that they'd be anticipated to win simply.”
We examined the 2022 Pac-12 schedule and pegged the next 10 video games as doubtless cases of underperformance by the favored workforce based mostly on what lies forward, behind or each.
Admittedly, the dynamics will shift because the season progresses, eliminating some traps and creating new ones.
Listed in chronological order. Entice victims in italics.
North Dakota State at Arizona (Sept. 17): A straightforward name on condition that the Wildcats open with San Diego State on the street and Mississippi State at dwelling, then should get revved as much as face NDSU in Week Three. The Bison are an elite FCS program that has produced two present NFL quarterbacks (Trey Lance and Carson Wentz) and poses a steep problem beneath any circumstances.
Fresno State at USC (Sept. 17): For those who watched the Bulldogs take down UCLA final September, this stands as a lure recreation of the very best order for the Trojans, who can be between convention street video games in opposition to groups that slapped them round final 12 months (Stanford and Oregon State).
Cal at Washington State (Oct. 1): Straight out of the Entice Video games 101 handbook. We anticipate the Cougars to have their minds on the current previous (a house date with hated Oregon), their eyes on the quick future (a go to to USC) and their deal with all the pieces however the job at hand in opposition to an opponent they dispatched handily final season.
Oregon at Arizona (Oct. 8): Longtime Oregon followers are properly conscious of this system’s historical past within the desert, and somebody will undoubtedly temporary Dan Lanning. However will gamers who had been in kindergarten when Dennis Dixon’s knee buckled take severely this seemingly innocuous Week Six job, which instantly follows a house recreation in opposition to the Geese’ chief nemesis (Stanford) and precedes a wanted bye week? We’re skeptical.
Washington State at USC (Oct. 8): Mix a simple win final 12 months in Pullman with the season-defining problem awaiting USC one week later — a visit to Utah — and we've the final word Trojans lure. If nothing else, it ought to supply a peek inside Lincoln Riley’s ongoing try to vary the tradition and create accountability.
Cal at Colorado (Oct. 15): Mediocre groups can encounter lure video games, too — and that’s exactly the expectation right here. The Bears blitzed CU final season in Berkeley, can be recent off a bye and casting an eye fixed forward to their triple-whammy stretch in opposition to Washington, Oregon and USC.
Stanford at UCLA (Oct. 29): The Bruins will both be flying excessive or fully deflated per week after dealing with Oregon in Eugene in what may very well be a matchup of ranked groups. Alongside comes Stanford, prepared for its thirteenth victory over UCLA up to now 15 years.
Oregon State at Washington (Nov. 4): This shouldn’t remotely resemble a lure for Washington after its loss in Corvallis final season. (For that matter, no recreation ought to be a lure for UW.) And but, we suspect that’s precisely the way it will play out because the Huskies emerge from a bye and have their sights set on Oregon the next week.
Stanford at Utah (Nov. 12): On the quick listing of easily-identified lure conditions. We anticipate the Utes to be within the playoff race at this level, with next-level buzz about their upcoming journey to Oregon. After they performed name-our-score in opposition to the Cardinal final season, urgency can be sorely missing.
Arizona at UCLA (Nov. 12): The ultimate lure of the convention season is ready within the Rose Bowl, with the Bruins gearing up for USC the next week and the Wildcats staggering into city with a sub-.500 file. However Arizona has been recognized to conjure a next-level efficiency in Southern California. This seems like the proper spot.
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