When Alabama rests and be ready for rematch with Johnny Football and the most anticipated mathch of the season, most of the other highly ranked teams are going to be winding their road through early season tuneups to less-than-daunting opposition on Saturday.
The exceptions are the Crimson Tide's Southeastern Conference rivals, No. 6 South Carolina and No. 11 Georgia, along with No. 14 Notre Dame and No. 17 Michigan.
The Gamecocks visit Athens, Ga., for their annual early season SEC East showdown with the Bulldogs, who are coming off a loss to Clemson in the biggest game of Week 1. You might have heard Notre Dame is making its last scheduled trip to the Big House on Ann Arbor, Mich., and there are a few people who are not happy about that.
Important issues to know heading into Week-2 of the college football season,
South Carolina-Georgia is a really big game, no doubt. The winner gets a head start in the SEC East race. And for the Bulldogs, another loss would essentially take them out of the national championship race — in September. But remember that while South Carolina has won the past three meetings with the Bulldogs, Georgia has won the last two division titles. It'll be tougher for the Bulldogs to go that route this season. The schedule broke in Georgia's favor the past two seasons, when it didn't have to play any of the SEC West's best teams while South Carolina did. This season the Gamecocks get the easier cross-division games. And Florida will still have something to say about who wins the East, too.
FLORIDA DOES NOT LOVE MIAMI. The No. 12 Gators head south to face Miami in a game the folks in Gainesville have made pretty clear they find to be a nuisance. Athletic director Jeremy Foley has said giving up the home game the Gators would usually play, likely against a lesser foe, is costing the program millions of dollars. The Gators and Hurricanes once played a lot, but since 1987 they have met only three times in the regular season. This one represents a chance for a huge statement victory for the rebuilding Hurricanes.
The first night match at Michigan's Big House was 2 seasons ago to Notre Dame and it was bedlam. A record-breaking crowd of 114,804 watched the Fighting Irish and Wolverines play a classic won in the final seconds by Denard Robinson and Michigan. Since it may be a when before the Irish come back, they might as well do it again under the lights. Expect another record-breaking crowd, but probably a little more defense than in that 35-31 thriller in 2011.
STARTING, BUT POSSIBLY NOT COMPLETING. Johnny Manziel is expected to be in the starting lineup for Texas A&M on Saturday when the Aggies host Sam Houston State. The Heisman Trophy winner didn't get into the game until the third quarter last week against Rice because of a 30-minute suspension for breaking NCAA rules. Then Johnny Football got into some trash talking with the Owls that led coach Kevin Sumlin to sit him down in the fourth. In between he threw three TD passes in the victory. Manziel probably won't be needed for a full 60 minutes against the Bearkats, whom the Aggies led 47-0 at one point in last year's game. Then again, FCS teams had a solid showing in the opening weekend of the season and SHSU is one of the better ones in Division I's second-tier.
It doesn't exactly leap off the schedule, but the Hoosiers and Midshipmen have potential to play a very entertaining game again. Last season Navy rallied from ten down in the 4th quarter to beat IU 31-30. Both teams can score. Neither plays more defense.
Saturday, September 7, 2013
Friday, September 6, 2013
World Cup Qualifiers 2014: Ireland vs Sweden
Republic of Ireland vs Sweden takes place that nigh in a 2013 World Cup qualifier.
The game takes place at the Aviva Stadium(Dublin) and is scheduled to start at 19:45 BST.
In the UK, the game airs live on Sky Sports 2/Sky Sports 2 HD
Ireland could hand Richard Dunne his first race begin since Euro 2012, when Mark Wilson (foot) is also in contention.
Anthony Pilkington (knee) has been passed fit and may also feature.
Sweden travel to Dublin with doubts over Celtic defender Mikael Lustig (ankle), while Andreas Granqvist is suspended.
But Fulham winger Alex Kacaniklic (fitness) should be favorable for the Group-C match.
What they've said ahead of kick-off:
Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni:
"Sweden aren't powerless, but the centre-backs are slow. They are tall and fine. However we are maybe a bit fast for them.
"They're not weak. However no team is unbeatable."
Sweden coach Erik Hamren:
"It will be a tough match. They are hard to beat. Kazakhstan will also be a tough match. They would have beaten Ireland but for two late goals, and Austria drew 0-0 there."
The game takes place at the Aviva Stadium(Dublin) and is scheduled to start at 19:45 BST.
In the UK, the game airs live on Sky Sports 2/Sky Sports 2 HD
Ireland could hand Richard Dunne his first race begin since Euro 2012, when Mark Wilson (foot) is also in contention.
Anthony Pilkington (knee) has been passed fit and may also feature.
Sweden travel to Dublin with doubts over Celtic defender Mikael Lustig (ankle), while Andreas Granqvist is suspended.
But Fulham winger Alex Kacaniklic (fitness) should be favorable for the Group-C match.
What they've said ahead of kick-off:
Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni:
"Sweden aren't powerless, but the centre-backs are slow. They are tall and fine. However we are maybe a bit fast for them.
"They're not weak. However no team is unbeatable."
Sweden coach Erik Hamren:
"It will be a tough match. They are hard to beat. Kazakhstan will also be a tough match. They would have beaten Ireland but for two late goals, and Austria drew 0-0 there."
World Cup Qualifiers 2013: Malta vs Denmark
Denmark is going to look to get back in the flowing for the World Cup 2013 while it takes on Malta in tonight's qualifiers.
The 1st row team gets an automatic place in the 2014 World Cup but the second place team must locate for a 2-stage playoff.
Denmark recently sits in 5th out of 6 teams in Group-B with 6 points. However they are though in the running. Second place Bulgaria only has 10 points while third place Czech Republic has nine. Bulgaria will be taking on first place Italy on Friday while the Czechs will host Armenia (six points). A draw in the latter game coupled with an Italian win and a Danish victory could put Denmark right back in the race for second place.
Denmark begin tourney with a tie(1-1) to Bulgaria and a draw to the Czech Republic. A loss to Italy made feel at difficulties to come but a win(3-0) over Czech Republic on the way evidenced to be very satisfying. A draw (1-1) to Bulgaria at indoor didn't harm the team. However a loss(4-0) againist Armenia at indoor has evidenced to be the variation among a tie for 3rd row and 5th row in the group.
By the way Malta places in past with 3 points and is actually a loss and an Italian winning far away being fully annihilated from an opportunity at 1st row.
Start: September 06, 2013, Friday - 2PM (ET)
The 1st row team gets an automatic place in the 2014 World Cup but the second place team must locate for a 2-stage playoff.
Denmark recently sits in 5th out of 6 teams in Group-B with 6 points. However they are though in the running. Second place Bulgaria only has 10 points while third place Czech Republic has nine. Bulgaria will be taking on first place Italy on Friday while the Czechs will host Armenia (six points). A draw in the latter game coupled with an Italian win and a Danish victory could put Denmark right back in the race for second place.
Denmark begin tourney with a tie(1-1) to Bulgaria and a draw to the Czech Republic. A loss to Italy made feel at difficulties to come but a win(3-0) over Czech Republic on the way evidenced to be very satisfying. A draw (1-1) to Bulgaria at indoor didn't harm the team. However a loss(4-0) againist Armenia at indoor has evidenced to be the variation among a tie for 3rd row and 5th row in the group.
By the way Malta places in past with 3 points and is actually a loss and an Italian winning far away being fully annihilated from an opportunity at 1st row.
Start: September 06, 2013, Friday - 2PM (ET)
Wolrd Cup Qualifiers 2014: Russia vs Luxembourg
Russia will be householder Luxembourg at Stadium Centralniy in World Cup qualifying 2014 play on Saturday, September 06, 2013.
Russia -The world number 16- has been 4-2 in 6 World Cup qualifying games so far, declaring 12 points. The Russians have beat Azerbaijan and Israel when going 1-1 to Northern Ireland and Portugal.
The Russians started tourney with a 2-0 destroy to Northern Ireland and win Israel 4-0 in 2nd game of qualifiers. The winning maintained while Russia overthrowed Azerbaijan and Portugal in 2 1-0 results but the team was weak to install on that achievement as it lost 1-0 to Portugal in 5th qualifier. In 6th match to Northern Ireland, Russia had a main opportunity to rush Portugal with 2 matches in hand. However, flopped poorly in a 1-0 loss to Northern Ireland. When this match is unseemly to do much for Northern Ireland, it could hurt Russia's opportunities at winning the group.
Russia is 2 points down Group-F head Portugal.
Luxembourg has yet to gain a game in World Cup qualifying, drawing with Northern Ireland and Azerbaijan and deceiving to Portugal and Israel. The flank is on the underside of the Group-F table with 3 points.
Start: Sep. 6, 2013 - 10:30 AM(ET)
Live Stream: ESPN3
Location: Centralniy Stadium (Kazan, Russia)
Russia -The world number 16- has been 4-2 in 6 World Cup qualifying games so far, declaring 12 points. The Russians have beat Azerbaijan and Israel when going 1-1 to Northern Ireland and Portugal.
The Russians started tourney with a 2-0 destroy to Northern Ireland and win Israel 4-0 in 2nd game of qualifiers. The winning maintained while Russia overthrowed Azerbaijan and Portugal in 2 1-0 results but the team was weak to install on that achievement as it lost 1-0 to Portugal in 5th qualifier. In 6th match to Northern Ireland, Russia had a main opportunity to rush Portugal with 2 matches in hand. However, flopped poorly in a 1-0 loss to Northern Ireland. When this match is unseemly to do much for Northern Ireland, it could hurt Russia's opportunities at winning the group.
Russia is 2 points down Group-F head Portugal.
Luxembourg has yet to gain a game in World Cup qualifying, drawing with Northern Ireland and Azerbaijan and deceiving to Portugal and Israel. The flank is on the underside of the Group-F table with 3 points.
Start: Sep. 6, 2013 - 10:30 AM(ET)
Live Stream: ESPN3
Location: Centralniy Stadium (Kazan, Russia)
Saturday, August 31, 2013
UFC 164 - Head Match: Henderson vs Pettis
UFC 164 happens that night live on FOX Sports 1 and PPV from the Bradley Center in Milwaukee. The fight is titled by a lightweight head contest among champion Henderson and Pettis, in a rematch that has been years in the making.
Co-titling the card is the heavyweight contest which fans have been willing to watch since Frank Mir explosion on to the scene, while he is matched up with Josh Barnett. The contest places 2 of the superior claim artists in the heavyweight split and 2 old champions in the same circle. It is going to be a pleasure to watch.
How can you catch the highly expected rematch and the exciting UFC 164 card? There is every information that you will require to tune in:
Start: PPV, 10 PM ET, FOX Sports 1, 8 PM ET, Facebook, 6:30 PM ET
Date: August 31, 2013, Saturday
Location: Bradley Center, Milwaukee
Live Stream on: UFC.tv,YouTube and USTREAM
TV: PPV, Facebook, FOX Sports 1
Co-titling the card is the heavyweight contest which fans have been willing to watch since Frank Mir explosion on to the scene, while he is matched up with Josh Barnett. The contest places 2 of the superior claim artists in the heavyweight split and 2 old champions in the same circle. It is going to be a pleasure to watch.
How can you catch the highly expected rematch and the exciting UFC 164 card? There is every information that you will require to tune in:
Start: PPV, 10 PM ET, FOX Sports 1, 8 PM ET, Facebook, 6:30 PM ET
Date: August 31, 2013, Saturday
Location: Bradley Center, Milwaukee
Live Stream on: UFC.tv,YouTube and USTREAM
TV: PPV, Facebook, FOX Sports 1
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