Dein erstes Forum » Washington was off Thursday after playing 20 conse

Hey Miami: Whatchugot?Dear Washington: Quack.To the SEC: Who wants Bama?With less than a month until the College Football Playoff selection committee releases its first ranking on Nov. 1, there are still plenty of questions looming for the nations top contenders. One week after Clemson and Louisville delivered an Atlantic Division answer with an instant classic, Week 6 features four games between ranked opponents, including one undefeated top-10 showdown in the SEC in No. 9 Tennessee at No. 8 Texas A&M.This sport now embraces the No. 4. Four teams in the playoff. Four big games this week, and four burning questions facing each of them:No. 9 Tennessee at No. 8 Texas A&M (3:30 pm. ET, CBS) Burning question: Who will be Alabamas key challenger?Both are undefeated with a shot to dethrone the Tide. This is Tennessees first game against back-to-back SEC heavyweights, as the Vols will face Alabama next Saturday. ESPNs Football Power Index considers this the toughest stretch of the season for Tennessee, giving it an 11 percent chance to win its next two games. The Vols havent won three straight games against ranked opponents since 1991. A win over the Aggies would prove that Tennessee hasnt just made a statement in the East; its ready to contend with the Best of the West, too. The Vols are on the fast track to win the East division, which means that even if they lose to Alabama during the regular season, they could get another shot at the defending national champs in the SEC title game -- unless, of course, A&M proves worthy of winning the West. Since Texas A&M hired Kevin Sumlin, though, the Aggies are 1-5 at home against ranked opponents.No. 5 Washington at Oregon (7:30 p.m. ET, FOX) Burning question: Can the Huskies handle success and follow a big win by beating their rival?Washington stated its case as a playoff contender last week when it bullied Stanford in all three phases of the game, but that moment will be fleeting if it loses to Oregon -- again. The Ducks 12-game winning streak against the Huskies is the longest by either team in the 108-game history of the series. Its also the longest active win streak by Oregon against any Pac-12 team. Washington has separated itself not just as the team to beat in the North, but as the leagues best hope at a playoff contender. It has to be careful, though, because its nonconference schedule will be called into question by the selection committee. According to ESPNs Stats & Information, the Huskies wins against Rutgers, Idaho and Portland State are good for the 127th nonconference schedule in the country -- ahead of only Baylor. Washington can lose a game and still get to the Pac-12 championship, but its overall resume doesnt have much wiggle room when it comes to the top four. The Huskies have to keep looking like a top four team -- especially against a beleaguered Oregon team thats 0-2 in conference play and riding a three-game losing streak.No. 23 Florida State at No. 10 Miami (8 p.m. ET, ABC) Burning Question: Is Miami for real?The Hurricanes have snuck into the Associated Press top 10 after wins against Florida A&M (1-4), FAU (1-4), Appalachian State (3-2) and Georgia Tech (3-2). Thats one win against a Power 5 opponent with a winning record. Its no wonder theyre one of two FBS teams that havent trailed yet this season, along with Boise State. Miami is playing well under first-year coach Mark Richt, and the Canes look good enough to contend for the ACCs Coastal Division, but this will be their toughest test to date -- and its against a Florida State team thats off to its first 0-2 start in league play since 2011. This is the start of a season-defining stretch for Miami, which then faces No. 17 North Carolina and No. 25 Virginia Tech. Miami can help legitimize its ranking with a home win against rival Florida State, but it will certainly need more to impress the selection committee.No. 1 Alabama at No. 16 Arkansas (7 p.m. ET, ESPN) Burning question: Can the Tide handle its season-defining stretch?Alabama answered one of its biggest questions already when it won at Ole Miss on Sept. 17, knocking off the only SEC team that had been able to beat the Tide in each of the past two seasons. This, though, could get a little tricky -- even for the King. Three of the next four games are on the road against ranked opponents, starting on Saturday in Fayetteville, Arkansas, followed by a trip to Tennessee. Alabama returns home on Oct. 22 against Texas A&M, and then has a bye week before traveling to LSU. If Alabama can survive that stretch, theres no question its one of the four best teams in the country. Arkansas hasnt been a problem in the past, as Alabama has won nine straight in the series. Since joining the SEC in 1992, Arkansas is 1-10 vs. AP No. 1 with its only win in that stretch coming at LSU in 2007.Week 6 superlativesMost intriguing mascot battle: Big Al vs. Big Red. The elephant vs. the hog. Alabama has the size advantage, but the razorback is faster (no really, look it up).Upset watch: Texas vs. Oklahoma. An unranked Texas team has beaten a ranked Oklahoma team in six of the past eight meetings. Texas coach Charlie Strong has made defensive changes after losing two straight, but will it be enough to derail the Sooners?CAN-miss game: No. 4 Michigan at Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights are trying to recover from back-to-back losses, and this will be their second straight game against a top five opponent after losing 58-0 at Ohio State last week.Player in the spotlight: Arkansas QB Austin Allen. Hes had 10 passing touchdowns and no interceptions since the season opener against Louisiana Tech. Limiting the turnovers will be key against an Alabama defense that has an FBS-high five defensive touchdowns this season.Matchup to watch: Texas A&M defensive line vs. Tennessee offensive line. The Vols pass protection has improved in each of the past two games, but they havent faced anyone as good as Myles Garrett and Daeshon Hall yet. Hall had two sacks against South Carolina last week when Garrett was out with an injury.Under the radar: Maryland. The Terps have quietly gotten off to a 4-0 start, but have split the series and played it close against Penn State since joining the Big Ten, as both games have been decided by a point.Must-win game: Houston at Navy. Both teams are undefeated in conference play, and the Midshipmen have won 12 straight home games dating back to 2014. Navy is trying to rebound from a disappointing loss to Air Force, while Houston has no margin for error if it wants a shot at the top four.Dont forget about: No. 25 Virginia Tech at No. 17 North Carolina. The Tar Heels have reeled off four straight wins since losing their season opener to Georgia, and are surging after an upset of Florida State in Tallahassee. This game will help sort out the Coastal Division standings and determine who will be Miamis top challenger. Bob Murray Jersey . U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield in Manhattan agreed that lawyers on both sides could make their formal requests by Nov. 8. A hearing is scheduled for a day earlier. Jordan Siev, a lawyer for Rodriguez, wrote in a joint letter to the judge from lawyers on both sides that MLB lawyers planned to ask that the lawsuit be dismissed. Ted Lindsay Jersey . -- About a third of the way through the regular season, the Washington Wizards are at . https://www.cheapblackhawks.com/1677b-corey-crawford-jersey-blackhawks.html . The 26-year-old Ireland striker, who has four goals this season, has signed a three-and-a-half year contract with his new club. Stan Mikita Jersey .S. -- Nikolaj Ehlers registered a hat trick for the third straight game and Jonathan Drouin had a goal and five assists as the Halifax Mooseheads hammered the host Cape Breton Screaming Eagles 10-1 on Tuesday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Duke Keats Jersey . He said Tuesday thats a big reason why he is now the new coach of the Tennessee Titans. Whisenhunt said he hit it off quickly with Ruston Webster when interviewing for the job Friday night. NEW YORK -- Max Scherzers next start has been pushed back a day by the Washington Nationals to give the ace right-hander extra rest.Scherzer initially was lined up to pitch Sunday night at Citi Field in the finale of a three-game series against the New York Mets. Instead, the National League East leaders plan to recall rookie right-hander Reynaldo Lopez from Triple-A Syracuse to make that start -- weather permitting. Scherzer is scheduled to go Monday at home against last-place Atlanta.Washington had opened a 10?-game cushion over the second-place Mets going into Saturday night.Nationals manager Dusty Baker said the team just wanted to give Scherzer an additional day off at this time of year. Washington was off Thursday after playing 20 consecutive days.If I can give a guy an exttra day, then well give him an extra day, Baker explained.dddddddddddd Youd love for Max to pitch against the Mets, but we felt the extra day is more important than Max pitching here.Last year, Scherzer pitched a no-hitter against the Mets at Citi Field on the final weekend.A contender for the NL Cy Young Award, Scherzer is 15-7 with a 2.89 ERA and a major league-high 238 strikeouts in 28 starts covering 190 innings. He threw 102 pitches over eight innings Tuesday night in a 3-2 victory at Philadelphia, winning his third straight start.The 22-year-old Lopez made his major league debut July 19 and is 2-2 with a 5.33 ERA in five starts for the Nationals. ' ' '