29 carries in the No. 19 Utes 52-45 win at UCLA. It wa

OUCH!Pretty much across the board, NFL teams are feeling the pain from key players getting hurt. Pro Picks was damaged by some of those injuries in Week 2, as well.On Thursday night, a team likely down to its third-string quarterback, a rookie no less, takes on a club that in the offseason signed its new QB to a sweet $72 million, four-year contract.Yep, the Patriots figure to have third-round selection Jacoby Brissett behind center with Jimmy Garoppolo mending his injured right shoulder and Tom Brady suspended for two more weeks. Houston counters with Brock Osweiler, who has looked pretty good in his first two outings as a Texan.Yet New England (tied for first in AP Pro32 with Pittsburgh) is a mere 1-point underdog to Houston (No. 7, AP Pro32). Thats a testament to how tough the Patriots are at Foxborough.Maybe Texans coach Bill OBriens familiarity with the Patriots system after having coached there for five seasons, two of which ended in Super Bowl defeats, will help. After all, this is a guy who slept at Gillette Stadium during his time working there.No question when I was quality control coach, I definitely had a couple nights there, OBrien says. (Josh) McDaniels had me breaking down all kinds of film. (Bill) Belichick had me breaking down all kinds of film. I had to get the job done.The oddsmakers figure his team will get it done this week with no Tom Terrific, no Jimmy G and maybe no Gronk -- All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski has yet to play this season because of a hamstring issue. Sure seems like a good spot to pick the visitors.Nope.PATRIOTS, 21-20KNOCKOUT LEAGUE TIPThe Panthers kept us breathing, and now we look to the DOLPHINS to do the same.No. 31 Chicago (plus 7 1-2) at No. 17 DallasDa Bears look like Da Worst in NFC.BEST BET: COWBOYS, 24-10No. 11 Baltimore (minus 1) at No. 29 JacksonvilleJust a feeling the Jaguars will bounce back from San Diego debacle.UPSET SPECIAL: JAGUARS, 26-20No. 3 Denver (plus 4) at No. 10 CincinnatiDenver defense was dynamic at home. Why not on the road, too?BRONCOS: 17-13No. 19 Atlanta (plus 3) at No. 26 New Orleans, MondayTen years ago in Week 3 was the Saints emotional return to Superdome. Falcons are better team, but the juice is with the ...SAINTS, 28-27No. 5 Minnesota (plus 7) at No. 4 CarolinaEven with Adrian Peterson, wed like the Panthers. Without him ...PANTHERS, 22-13No. 1 (tie) Pittsburgh (minus 3 1-2) at No. 15 PhiladelphiaAfter Browns and Bears, Eagles get a taste of a real opponent.STEELERS, 26-20No. 20 San Diego (plus 3) at No. 27 (tie) IndianapolisTime for Colts to finish off a close game.COLTS, 30-24No. 32 Cleveland (plus 10) at No. 23 MiamiWhos next at QB for Browns, Bernie Kosar? Brian Sipe?DOLPHINS, 20-3No. 24 San Francisco (plus 9) at No. 12 SeattleSomething is very wrong with Seattles offense. Seahawks will escape anyway.SEAHAWKS, 13-10No. 16 Oakland (plus 1 1-2) at No. 22 TennesseeSomething is very wrong with Oaklands defense. They wont escape.TITANS, 29-23No. 25 Los Angeles (plus 5 1-2) at No. 18 Tampa BayWhich Rams team will show up? Which Bucs team?BUCCANEERS, 23-13No. 6 Arizona (minus 4) at No. 30 BuffaloWonder who Rex will fire if Bills lose this one.CARDINALS, 27-16No. 14 New York Jets (plus 3) at No. 13 Kansas CityChiefs have been a huge disappointment so far.JETS, 24-20No. 27 (tie) Washington (plus 4 1-2) at No. 8 New York GiantsRedskins have been an even bigger disappointment.GIANTS, 21-19No. 21 Detroit (plus 7) at No. 9 Green BayBack at Lambeau, well see the real Packers. We think.PACKERS, 30-20---This Week: Against spread (7-9). Straight up:(9-7)Season Totals: Against spread (15-16-1). Straight up: (22-10)Best Bet: 0-2 against spread, 1-1 straight up.Upset special: 1-1 against spread, 1-1 straight up.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Cheap Boston Red Sox Jerseys China . -- Bryant McKinnie came out of his stance and lowered his shoulder into a practice squad player, causing a crisp thud to reverberate in the Miami Dolphins practice bubble. Cheap Minnesota Twins Jerseys China . The team also announced Tuesday that the Braves will wear a commemorative patch on the right sleeve during the season. The patch, shaped like home plate, carries the number 715, Aarons autograph and a "40th Anniversary" banner. http://www.cheapbaseballchina.com/cheap-st-louis-cardinals-jerseys-china_643l.html . Hargreaves began his career in 2008 with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and has played with the Edmonton Eskimos and last season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Cheap New York Yankees Jerseys China . First off, the fans ripped the Cubbies introduction of a fuzzy new kid-friendly mascot named "Clark". Cheap San Francisco Giants Jerseys China . -- Bobby Ryan helped the U. Penn States White Out turned into No. 2 Ohio States wipeout.The Buckeyes, who at times this season have looked like defending national champion Alabamas biggest threat in the College Football Playoff race, were stunned 24-21 at Penn State on Saturday night.The Nittany Lions blocked a field goal and returned it for the winning touchdown with 4:27 left, handing Ohio State its first road defeat in Urban Meyers tenure, ending a streak of 20 games.Penn States stunning win is the signature victory of coach James Franklins three-year tenure.Im just happy for our kids, I really am, Franklin said. Our kids, the former players, the lettermen, this town have been through a lot. This is the start of our healing process tonight. I couldnt be prouder.Penn States victory will undoubtedly shake up the top four teams in the polls before the CFP selection committee releases its first rankings of the season on Nov. 1.Heres a look at whats left for Ohio State and some other burning questions in college football after Week 8:Did Ohio States playoff hopes go bust in Happy Valley?The surprising loss to Penn State will not only knock the Buckeyes out of the top four spots in the polls; it also drops them one game behind No. 3 Michigan in the Big Ten East standings.But Ohio State isnt entirely out of the playoff race. As long as the Buckeyes dont drop one of their next four games -- home contests against Northwestern and No. 8 Nebraska, followed by road trips to Maryland and Michigan State -- theyll still have a chance to win the Big Ten East and be a CFP participant.The Buckeyes will still have to beat No. 3 Michigan at the Horseshoe in their regular-season finale on Nov. 26, which is still likely to be a make-or-break game for both teams. Obviously, their playoff chances will be enhanced if at least two of the top contenders -- Alabama, Michigan, Clemson, Washington and Louisville -- lose at least one of their remaining games.But the Buckeyes are going to have to get better in a hurry. They passed for only 93 yards in a 38-17 win over Indiana two weeks ago and then needed overtime to beat Wisconsin 30-23 on the road last week.Every goal is still alive, Meyer said. Were not a great team right now. Weve got to regroup, get guys healthy and come back and keep swinging.Remember that each of Meyers previous three national-championship-winning teams (Florida in 2006 and 08 and Ohio State in 14) won titles after losing once in the regular season.Is there a worthy adversary for Alabama?I cant picture the Crimson Tide losing, at least not during the regular season.The Crimson Tide actually trailed in the second half against Texas A&M. Quarterback Jalen Hurts was turning the ball over, Alabamas kicking game was shaky, and its red zone offense was sputtering. But after falling behind 14-13 with 12:54 left in the third quarter, the Tides defense scored six points and had four sacks while holding the Aggies scoreless the rest of the game.The game-changing play came when linebacker Ryan Anderson forced Aggies tailback Keith Ford to fumble, and star defensive end Jonathan Allen scooped up the ball and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown, helping the Crimson Tide pull away for a 33-14 victory, their 20th consecutive win.It was Alabamas 12th nonoffensive touchdown of the season and the 10th game in a row in which it scored on either defense or special teams.I think that was the real turning point in the game, because it changed the momentum of the game, Tide coach Nick Saban said. Those plays are always huge in games, but that one was especially huge.Thats why its going to be so difficult to knock off the defending national champion. Alabamas defense and special teams mask its offenses mistakes. Whenever Hurts looks like a freshman only months removed from high school, the Crimson Tide do something on defense or special teams to make up for it.Alabama had five sacks and 11 tackles for loss against Texas A&M. Opponents cant run between the tackles against college footballs most formidable front, and there arent many who can throw over the top of the Crimson Tide defense, either.But Alabama might not roll over resurgent LSU and Auburn like we once thought it would. No. 25 LSU improved to 3-0 under interim coach Ed Orgeron with a 38-21 win over Ole Miss, and No. 21 Auburn crushed No. 17 Arkansas 56-3 for its fifth straight victory by running for 543 yards, a school record in SEC games.Will Lamar Jackson have any company in New York City at the Heisman ceremony?It sure looks like Jackson has the Heisman wrapped up as long as he stays healthy and doesnt lay an egg in any of Louisvilles remaining five regular-season games.Jackson added four more touchdowns (three passing, one rushing) in the No. 7 Cardinals 54-13 rout of NC State, giving him 34 total touchdowns this season, which tops the FBS and sets a Louisville single-season record. It was his 10th straight game with a touchdown rushing and passing, which is the longest active streak among FBS players.The Cardinals will be heavy favorites in their last five games, including a Nov. 17 trip to No. 11 Houston, which was stunned 38-16 at SMU.What does Leonard Fournette have in store the rest of the way?Its probably too late for Fournette to make a serious Heisman run, but its hard to argue that hes not the best player in the country when hes healthy (and LSU is throwing the ball somewhat adequately).After missing three weeks with a sprained ankle, Fournette made quite a return in the Tigers 17-point win over Ole Miss. He ran for a career-high 284 yards on only 16 carries and scored three touchdowns. It was the highest single-game rushing total by an LSU player, breaking the previous record of 250 yards set by Alley Broussard against Ole Miss in 2004. It was the fifth 200-yard performance of Fournettes career, which also broke another LSU record.Fournette ran for touchdowns of 78, 76 and 59 yards, but his most impressive run might have been when he lowered his shoulder and plowed over Rebels defensive back Deontay Anderson in the second quarter.Its either he hits me, or I hit him, Fournette said. I dont like to be hit.Will Mark Helfrich and Charlie Strong make it to the end of the season?Neither embattled coach probably helped his chances of keeping his job beyond this season.The Ducks lost 52-49 in two overtimes at California on Friday night in a game that included a combined 203 plays and more than 1,000 yards of offense. It was Oregons fifth straight defeat, its longest losing streak since 1996, and it dropped the Ducks record to 2-5 (0-4 Pac-12).The Ducks have allowed an average of 49.8 points during their losing streak.I feel awful that we couldnt get it done for them, of how theyve stuck together and weathered through a lot. Theyve had a lot of opportunities to splinter, and they havent, Helfrich said.Meanwhile, Texas fell to 3-4 (1-3 Big 12) after losing 24-21 at Kansas State. It was the Longhorns fourth loss in the past five games, and they made many of the same mistakes theyve made in their previous defeats. A bobbled snap cost UT a red zone opportunity late in the game, and then it missed a 35-yard field goal with 4:03 left.The Longhorns are trying to avoid their third consecutive losing season under Strong, whose record fell to 14-18 at UT. The Longhorns probably need to win their last five games for Strong to keep his job, and they still have to play No. 9 Baylor at home next week and No. 12 West Virginia on Nov. 12.You have to move on, Strong said. You have to think about next week at home, and we just have to get ourselves back together.The Longhorns are running out of time to do it.Playoff teams afteer Week 81.dddddddddddd Alabama: The Crimson Tide trailed in the third quarter but surged back for a 33-14 win over No. 6 Texas A&M at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Theyll get a much-needed bye week before playing at No. 25 LSU on Nov. 5. The Tide lost starting safety Eddie Jackson for the rest of the season after he broke his leg against the Aggies.2. Michigan: The Wolverines improved to 7-0 for the first time since 2006 with a 41-8 victory over Illinois at the Big House. It was the 10th time in coach Jim Harbaughs tenure that the Wolverines held an opponent to 10 points or fewer, the highest total in the FBS since the start of the 2015 season.3. Clemson: After last weeks closer-than-expected 24-17 win over NC State in overtime, the Tigers had the weekend off in preparation for next weeks showdown at No. 13 Florida State. The Seminoles have won three of four games against the Tigers, but lost 23-13 at Clemson last season. The Tigers havent won at Doak Campbell Stadium since a 27-20 victory in 2006.4. Washington: The Huskies easily defeated Oregon State 41-17 at home, and they get a major test at No. 19 Utah next week. The Huskies won their 10th consecutive game, which is their longest winning streak since winning 12 in a row during the 2000 and 01 seasons.Next four in contention1. Louisville: A week after struggling at home against Duke, the Cardinals didnt waste any time in dismantling NC State in a 54-13 blowout. The Cardinals led 17-0 after the first quarter and outgained the Wolfpack 244 yards to minus-1 yard of total offense in the first 15 minutes. Louisville probably wont be tested in its next two road games at Virginia and Boston College.2. Baylor: The Bears, who are 6-0 under acting coach Jim Grobe, had the weekend off before next weeks trip to reeling Texas. The Longhorns beat the Bears 23-17 in their regular-season finale last season, which cost Baylor a trip to the Sugar Bowl. The game was marred by an ugly first-quarter melee.3. West Virginia: Skyler Howard threw four touchdown passes and the Mountaineers vastly improved defense shut out TCU in the second half of a 34-10 victory. West Virginia is 6-0 (3-0 Big 12), its best start since winning its first seven games in 2006. The Mountaineers play at Oklahoma State next week.4. Nebraska: The Cornhuskers had to come from behind in the second half to beat Big Ten cellar dweller Purdue 27-14 at home. Theyre 7-0 for the first time since 2001, but will have to play a lot better in next weeks trip to No. 10 Wisconsin. Quarterback?Tommy Armstrong Jr.?set a school record with his 13th career game with 300 yards or more of total offense.Heisman candidates1. Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville: Jackson accounted for four more touchdowns (three passing and one rushing) in the Cardinals 54-13 rout of NC State, which gives him 34 this season, setting a new Louisville single-season record with five regular-season games to play. Jackson passed for 355 yards with no interceptions and ran 17 times for 76 yards.2. Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson: Watson didnt play this weekend, but hell have a chance to impress Heisman voters again when the Tigers play at Florida State next Saturday. His most impressive outing to date was a five-touchdown performance in Clemsons 42-36 win over Louisville on Oct. 1. Hes completing 63.6 percent of his passes for 1,950 yards with 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions.3. Jake Browning, QB, Washington: Browning threw for 291 yards with three touchdowns and ran for a fourth score in the Huskies 41-17 win over Oregon State. He has 26 touchdown passes and only two interceptions this season. Hell have a big opportunity to impress voters in next weeks trip to Utah.4. Donnel Pumphrey, RB, San Diego State: Pumphrey ran for 135 yards with two touchdowns in the Aztecs 42-3 win over San Jose State on Friday night. Hes the leading rusher in the FBS with 1,246 yards in seven games, and his 58 career rushing touchdowns and 63 overall TDs broke Marshall Faulks school records.Best momentsTweets of the nightBest playsWorst plays1. How does Missouri lose to Middle Tennessee? By fumbling into the end zone for a touchback after a 40-yard gain on a bizarre play.2. Eastern Michigans Kwanii Figueroa had a chance for a scoop-and-score against No. 20 Western Michigan, but the turf monster tripped up the big man.3. Things got a little testy between Boston College and Syracuse. A hard tackle on an interception return resulted in a near-brawl and three personal fouls.4. A team never wants to be accused of, ahem, quitting, but it sure looked like Arkansas defense stopped playing with much effort or emotion in an ugly 56-3 loss at Auburn. The Tigers ran for 543 yards, the most ever allowed by the Hogs, including Stanton Truitts 31-yard touchdown run?right up the middle.Quotes of the night1. This style in particular is a tip of the cap, a nod to Woody Hayes, to Michael Douglas in the movie Falling Down and also a tip of the cap to Malcolm X. In honor of those three men. -- Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, on the stylish eye glasses he wore during the Wolverines game against Illinois.2. I didnt have anybody tell me that they thought it had been a waste of time. They thought they were treated respectfully, and that was certainly my aspiration. I wanted to keep them informed. I wanted to feel like they had the opportunity to put their best foot forward. I guess you wouldnt call them joyous conversations, but everyone was complimentary in the manner in which they were treated. -- Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby, on his conversations with potential expansion candidates after the league announced it was staying put at 10 schools.3. Im almost in tears and got chills all over me. -- Purdue interim coach Gerad Parker during his on-field interview after the Boilermakers took a 14-10 lead into halftime over No. 8 Nebraska. The Cornhuskers came back to win 27-14.4. We have one goal, and thats Pac-12 champions. Winning six games, thats cool, its cute. But we have to continue to move on. We have bigger things to worry about. -- Colorado running back Phillip Lindsay, after the Buffaloes beat Stanford 10-5 to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2007.Stats that matter1. 332: Utah running back Joe Williams, who quit the team two games into the season and then came back three weeks later, set a school record with 332 rushing yards on 29 carries in the No. 19 Utes 52-45 win at UCLA. It was the highest rushing total by an FBS player since Oklahomas Samaje Perine set an FBS record with 427 yards against Kansas on Nov. 22, 2014.2. 82-1: Alabamas record under coach Nick Saban when it holds opponents to 14 points or fewer. The only loss was a 9-6 defeat against LSU in 2011. The next closest Power 5 team in holding opponents to two touchdowns or fewer is Ohio State, which has done it in 56 games.3. 1: Stanford has scored one offensive touchdown in its last 13 quarters after a 10-5 loss to Colorado. The Cardinals lone offensive touchdown during that span came on the final play of a 42-16 loss to Washington State on Oct. 8. Stanford hasnt scored a first-half offensive touchdown in five straight games.4. 819: You can take your pick of offensive records set during Oklahomas 66-59 win over Texas Tech, but the standout is Red Raiders QB?Patrick Mahomes II?setting an FBS record with 819 yards of total offense. He attempted 88 passes for 734 yards and five touchdowns and rushed for 85 yards and two touchdowns on 12 attempts. Only 12 FBS teams have run more than 100 plays in a game all season.? ' ' '