Dein erstes Forum » dividends for both sides.Cole

Every now and then, the regular season presents us with one game that looms larger than the rest.Here it is, in Week 8: No. 6 Texas A&M at No. 1 Alabama, the One Game that dwarfs all others.Both teams are unbeaten. Theyre elbowing each other for the lead in the SEC West. And its the only matchup of top-10 teams this week. There are only two other games featuring two Top 25 teams: No. 23 Ole Miss at No. 25 LSU and No. 17 Arkansas at No. 21 Auburn.There will be plenty at stake in games all across the country, but the playoff perspective begins with ...No. 6 Texas A&M at No. 1 Alabama (3:30 p.m. ET)The loser of this game is in a serious bind but not necessarily eliminated. The 12 members of the selection committee do not have to take four conference champions. Their task is to pick the four best teams, period. Head-to-head results, conference championships and strength of schedule are used as tiebreakers when ranking comparable teams, but its a subjective process that opens the door to the loser of this game still finishing in the top four.Heres a closer look:If Alabama loses: The Tide would then need to win out and hope the Aggies lose two of their five remaining games to win the West. With the exception of Saturdays game, ESPNs Football Power Index favors Texas A&M in every remaining game on its schedule. Alabama would be in a significant hole, but if its a close game, and the Tide finish the season in dominant fashion, they could sneak into the top four without playing in the SEC title game.At 11-1, the defending national champs would have wins over USC, Ole Miss, Arkansas, Tennessee, LSU and Auburn -- and five of those six wins would have come on the road or at a neutral site. The question would be: How many of those opponents are ranked by the committee heading into Dec. 4? If the committee regards the SEC as highly as the AP voters do, it would be a tough résumé to beat -- even for a few Power 5 conference champs.If Texas A&M loses: The Aggies would be in a similar hole, needing to win out AND have Alabama lose twice in its final four games -- an even slimmer possibility, as the Tide have at least a 66 percent chance to win each of their remaining games, according to the FPI. If the Aggies run the table -- with their lone loss a nail-biter on the road against the No. 1 team in the country -- the selection committee would consider an 11-1 SEC West runner-up. Much like Alabama, the Aggies would have a win over a Pac-12 team in UCLA, and they also would have beaten Tennessee. That would look even better if the Vols go on to win the East and play for the title.Heres what else you need to know for Week 8:Undefeated updateWashington: The Huskies have a 98 percent chance to beat Oregon State at home, and they need to -- especially with Washington State still undefeated in league play. If Wazzu heads into the Apple Cup with one loss or undefeated and pulls off the upset, it will win the North.Nebraska: The Huskers shouldnt have any problem against a Purdue team that just fired its coach. They cant get caught looking ahead, though, to back-to-back road games against Wisconsin and Ohio State. That stretch will define their season.Ohio State: The Buckeyes are playing their second straight road game, and Penn State is fresh off a bye week, but the Buckeyes are simply more talented and have the edge on the sideline.Michigan: The Wolverines defense, Jim Harbaugh coming off a bye and home-field advantage? Good luck, Illinois. ESPNs FPI has the Wolverines win probability at 98.6 percent. Its just another lily pad to step on en route to The Game.West Virginia: This will be a tricky home game against TCU, and the Mountaineers need to go undefeated to leave no doubt in the committees mind theyre a top-four team. The good news is theyre playing defense -- unlike the rest of the Big 12.Baylor: The Bears have a week off to prepare for a trip to Texas, the start of a stretch that will finally reveal just how good Baylor is this year. The best thing for the Big 12 would be to have Baylor and WVU still undefeated when those teams meet in Morgantown on Dec. 3.Bubble watchLouisville (5-1): Not only do the Cardinals have to win every game, they cant afford to win ugly, either -- especially at home against an unranked opponent. NC State is coming off an emotional overtime loss at Clemson and now has to travel to Louisville, which has the Heisman front-runner in quarterback Lamar Jackson.Utah (6-1): If the Utes can survive the next two games -- at UCLA on Saturday and home against Washington on Oct. 29 -- they will legitimize their chances of playing for a Pac-12 title. The nonconference strength of schedule and loss at Cal, though, will haunt them in their playoff pursuit, regardless.Wisconsin (4-2): The Badgers have now lost back-to-back games, albeit against two top-five teams, and their chances of winning the West will disappear with a loss at Iowa on Saturday.Oklahoma (4-2): The Sooners cant lose again, period. After nonconference losses to Houston and Ohio State, OU needs to avoid an upset at Texas Tech this weekend and run the table. The Sooners will also need other Power 5 champs to trip up.Colorado (5-2): The Buffs are the FPIs favorite to win the Pac-12 South, with a 60 percent chance, but with losses to Michigan and USC, theyre probably relegated to the role of spoiler in the CFP picture. The more they win, though, the better Michigans résumé looks. Theyve got a tough trip to Stanford this weekend.Group of 5 watchBoise State: The Broncos are the only undefeated team left in the Mountain West and kick off at 10:15 p.m. ET against BYU. With wins over Washington State and Oregon State, they are in the hunt for a New Years Six Bowl as the highest-ranked Group of 5 champion.Western Michigan: These Broncos are the only undefeated team remaining in the MAC and should stay that way after playing Eastern Michigan this weekend. Road wins at Northwestern and Illinois will help separate them in the eyes of the committee.Houston: The Cougars have lost their shot at the top four, but if the New Years Six Bowls were slotted today, based on the current Associated Press Top 25 poll, theyd still be in the Cotton Bowl against Boise State. The Broncos would be there because theyd earn the bid as the highest-ranked Group of 5 champion, and then Houston would go because it would be the highest-ranked available team after the Rose, Sugar and Orange bowls were filled.South Florida: With a win at Syracuse, and their only loss to Florida State, dont discount the Bulls. Theyre leading the AAC East, and if they run the table could earn that New Years Six bid.SuperlativesMost intriguing mascot battle: Lets give a little love to the FCS this week, where Campbell hosts Stetson, because its hard to beat a hat vs. a camel. OK, more precisely, Campbells Gaylord the Camel vs. the John B. Stetson mascot (yes, after the guy who actually made the Stetson hat). Dont worry, his boots are alligator skin -- not camel hair.Upset watch: North Carolina at Virginia. The Tar Heels have been living on the edge in the ACC race, beating Florida State, Pitt and Miami by a combined 10 points. Now they have to travel to Virginia for a second straight road game. If the Cavaliers dont turn the ball over, this could be close.Player in the spotlight: Oklahoma receiver Dede Westbrook. Hell be integral in helping the Sooners keep pace with Texas Tech. Westbrook has 26 catches for 574 yards and eight touchdowns in his past three games. QB Baker Mayfield is completing 89.3 percent of his attempts (25-of-28) when targeting Westbrook during that span.Matchup to watch: Alabamas defensive line vs. Texas A&Ms offensive line. A&M is giving up only one sack per game; Alabama is averaging four sacks. The Aggies are averaging 532.8 yards per game, and the Tide are holding opponents to an average of 274.Under-the-radar game: Memphis at Navy. Memphis is also undefeated in the AAC West, and Houston is on the edge of its seat waiting for the Midshipmen to trip up. Navy has to lose twice for Houston to win the division, and this could be a tricky one for the Middies.Must-win game: Wisconsin at Iowa. As the only undefeated team left in the West, Nebraska is the front-runner to win the division, but the winner of this game still has a shot. The Badgers enter the game with a 29 percent chance to win the division, and the Hawkeyes are at 14 percent, according to the FPI.Dont forget about: Utah at UCLA. Dont snooze on the Utes. Theyre the only one-loss team remaining in the Pac-12 South, and theyre heading to the Rose Bowl for what should be a defensive clinic. Miles Sanders Eagles Jersey .S. Open champion Justin Rose birdied the first hole with a blind shot he hit to a foot of the pin, and he stayed in front Tuesday until he completed a 4-under 67 for a two-shot lead over Jason Dufner in PGA Grand Slam of Golf. Mike Quick Youth Jersey .ca look back at each of the Top 10 stories of 2013. Today, we look back at Boston Strong - a citys recovery from tragedy. http://www.theeaglesshoponline.com/Youth-Brian-Dawkins-Eagles-Jersey/ . Hamelin, who triumphed in the 500 on Saturday, edged out Victor An of Russia by 0.021 seconds to maintain his lead in the World Cup standings. Russias Vladimir Grigorev was third. In the relay, Canada took control six laps from the finish line to beat Russia and the Netherlands. Tommy McDonald Eagles Jersey . Oaklands loss to Seattle clinched the ALs best record for the Red Sox with one day to spare in the regular season. "I think everybody was kind of watching," catcher David Ross said. "Demp (Ryan Dempster) came out before he went to the bullpen and was just yelling that they lost. Carson Wentz Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Vikings coach Mike Zimmer isnt too proud to say he made a mistake when he cut safety Kurt Coleman.Its nice to hear that, said Coleman, now the Panthers starting safety.Coleman said he doesnt have any hard feelings toward Zimmer or the Vikings, who made him among their final round of cuts in 2014. Coleman lives by the notion that everything happens for a reason and things have worked out just fine for him in Carolina.Maybe even more than fine.Coleman was a major cog on a team that went 17-2 last season and won the NFC championship before losing to the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl.On Sunday Coleman and the Panthers will host Zimmers Vikings.Hey, if I had done well enough in Minnesota I wouldnt have wound up in Carolina, Coleman said.The 26-year-old Coleman had a career season in 2015 and the Panthers rewarded him with a three-year, $17 million contract extension this offseason. Hes considered the leader of a secondary that is made up mainly of first- and second-year players.While he holds no grudges, Coleman hasnt forgotten what it felt like to be unwanted.After what he felt was a strong performance in training camp Coleman was informed by Zimmer he didnt make the 53-man roster. Coleman, who had started 29 games in his first four seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, was simply stunned.The following day Coleman and his wife attended church services in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Thats where they heard a sermon that brought both of them to tears.Coleman remembers being walking out of the church knowing that he would be just fine and feeling like God had a plan for him.That plan unfolded quickly.Less than an hour after leaving the church, Coleman received a phone call from his agent telling him the Kansas City Chiefs wantted him.ddddddddddddColeman agreed to the contract and packed up his belongings into a car and made the six-hour trek to Kansas City.There, Coleman made the Chiefs roster and played in 15 games, starting three. He had a modest 37 tackles and three interceptions, but had shown enough to attract the attention of Panthers defensive coordinator Sean McDermott, who was Colemans first defensive coordinator in Philadelphia.The Panthers were in need of a safety, and McDermott thought Coleman would be a great fit because of his familiarity with his system.Carolina brought Coleman in in 2015 on a cheap prove-it two-year contract. The decision paid huge dividends for both sides.Coleman had a career-high 90 tackles and seven interceptions last season for the Panthers.Minnesotas loss has been Carolinas gain.Yeah, you know thats probably one of the mistakes that we made, that I made, Zimmer said. It was my first year here. He was hurt for a while and it never really jumped out at you. But obviously he had an unbelievable year. Hes a great kid. He worked real hard when he was here. You know, we probably made a mistake but Im glad hes doing well.Coleman has put the disappointment of being cut in his past.And he insists that revenge on Sunday against Zimmer and the Vikings is the last thing on his mind.I think he felt like he made the best decision for the team at that time, Coleman said. There was no animosity, there are no hard feelings. I was a business decision and when you are around this league long enough you understand that. You cant take things personally.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '