Women's Weekend Preview: 5 Games to Watch

by Tom Hindle

October 13, 2022

At this point, most teams in the nation have taken their shape, and have amassed enough games to know where they truly stand. All there is to do, at this point, is to pick up points where possible. That’s certainly the case for teams jostling for the top spots in key conferences. And it just so happens that five of them play this week — in one of the most exciting periods of the season so far. Here are five massive matchups, where current no. 1s can either cement their conference claim or see their supremacy slip.

Thursday, October 13

Texas at West Virginia, 5 p.m. (ESPN+)

Texas has flirted with the top spot in the Big 12 for most of the season, wrestling for first with a tough TCU side. This matchup could be a crucial one in its pursuit for a regular season title. The Mountaineers have been inconsistent but still pose a threat — especially at home. Texas will look to Trinity Byars to take advantage of a West Virginia defense that has been rather leaky this year. The striker has 20 goal involvements so far. If she can be among the goals on Thursday, the Longhorns might snag three big points.

Duke at Florida State, 6 p.m. (ACC Network)

Another week, another massive ACC matchup. Such is the quality of the conference that top teams face off regularly. And this might be the biggest fixture yet. Florida State and Duke are tied atop the conference with 15 points apiece, both boasting wins against conference competitors. This may be a bigger game for Florida State than Duke. The Blue Devils have already played out some of their tougher matchups — squaring off both Virginia and Pitt(w) within the last 10 days. For Florida State, though, things only get tougher from here. The Seminoles play Duke, North Carolina and Pitt in a grim 10 day stretch. Every game feels like a must win atop the ACC. But for the Seminoles — coming off their first loss of the season — a strong start to a tricky slate is vital.

Friday, October 14

UCLA at Stanford, 9 p.m. (Pac 12 Network)

It’s reasonable to wonder, at this point, if anyone can actually beat UCLA. Arizona came close, as did Duke and North Carolina. But the Bruins have survived every test so far, and boast a perfect record through 13 games. Stanford is the next obstacle — and might be their trickiest matchup yet. The Cardinal are relatively young, but boast a wealth of talent, and have won four in a row. That they’re on home soil will also help. UCLA is incredibly difficult to play against, but Stanford might fancy its chances Friday night.

Saturday, October 15

Portland at BYU, 9 p.m. (WCC Network)

Before the season, BYU perhaps didn’t expect to be coming into this matchup needing a win. The Cougars were likely to have a tougher go of things this year after losing some of their top players. But defensive lapses have seen BYU rack up five draws to far, dragging it well down in the RPI. Portland, meanwhile, is flying. The Pilots are a fixture in the top 25 this year and are coming off a big win over Pepperdine. A win here would establish them as WCC favorites — while also damaging the regular season hopes of one of their biggest league rivals.

Sunday, October 16

Arkansas at Alabama, 12 p.m. (SEC Network)

It’s natural to expect Alabama to slip at some point. The Crimson Tide have won nine in a row, with victories over Tennessee, South Carolina and LSU marking an impressive stretch. Arkansas projects to be a trickier matchup. The Razorbacks are enjoying a winning streak of their own, riding an imperious defense to a 4-1 conference record. They keep the ball out of the net better than anyone in the SEC — with only two goals conceded so far. If they can snag an early goal, this game might get very interesting.

Related Topics: Atlantic Coast, Big 12, Pacific 12, SEC, West Coast