MLB PLAYOFFS-SCHEDULE
Game 2’s on tap
UNDATED (AP) β Two National League division series continue today in Washington and Los Angeles.
In the nation’s capital, the San Francisco Giants aim for their major-league-record 10th straight postseason victory when they play the Washington Nationals following their 3-2 win in yesterday’s opener. Tim Hudson, who owns an 18-5 lifetime record against the Nationals franchise, goes for the Giants against Jordan Zimmermann. The Nationals hurler is coming off a no-hitter in last Sunday’s regular season finale.
At Chavez Ravine, the L.A. Dodgers try to even things up with St. Louis following yesterday’s Game 1 meltdown. The Cardinals erupted with eight runs in the seventh inning in their thrilling come-from-behind 10-9 victory. The Dodgers are giving the ball to 17-game winner Zack Greinke (GREHN’-kee) to try to get even against the Cards’ Lance Lynn, who was 15-10 this season.
It’s a travel day for the four teams in the ALDS. Baltimore heads to Detroit for Game 3 Sunday with a 2-0 series lead. And the L.A. Angels and Kansas City resume in Kauffman Stadium.
T25 FOOTBALL-SCHEDULE
Showdown Saturday in the SEC
UNDATED (AP)β Three games pitting six ranked teams from the Southeastern Conference will result in an early October test for supremacy in the nation’s most lauded college football conference.
Third-ranked Alabama gets its first true SEC test when it hits the road to play at 10th-ranked Ole Miss. Both teams are 4-0. The Crimson Tide has won 10 straight in this series, but Coach Nick Saban’s team will have to be on the lookout for the upset. Ole Miss is hosting arguably its biggest game since the SEC Western Division title was on the line against LSU in 2003. The Rebels are 4-0 for the first time since 1970 and could move to 5-0 for the first time since 1962. Alabama will try to keep its string of dominance going against the Rebels and become one of the clear favorites in the SEC West.
Fifth-ranked Auburn hosts No. 15 LSU tonight. LSU is 4-1 while Auburn is perfect in four starts. This is a potential make-or-break game for LSU in the heavily contested SEC West race with five other teams remaining unbeaten. Auburn still has to play each of the other five contenders and is starting a brutal six-game stretch.
Sixth-ranked Texas A&M travels to 12th-ranked Mississippi State in a noon (Eastern) start. It’s a battle of unbeatens. The first game matching two top 15 teams at Wade Davis Stadium in Starkville since 1986 will help shape the pecking in order in college football’s toughest division, the SEC West. The loser isn’t necessarily eliminated from conference championship β but it does have to go to the back of the line in the SEC West.
In other Top-25 games, 2-3 Wake Forest has its work cut out as it travels to Tallahassee to play top-ranked Florida State, which despite its 4-0 market has some doubters after the top-ranked Seminoles struggled to win against N.C. State last week. The only dominant Florida State victory came against FCS program The Citadel. The Seminoles are losing first-place votes in the poll every week. FSU needs a decisive win to end some of those questions. The Demon Deacons have lost to Louisiana-Monroe, Utah State and Louisville. A win at Florida State would be the highlight of the year.
Fourth-ranked Oklahoma is at 25th-ranked TCU in a battle of unbeatens. Oklahoma has won eight games in a row, the second-longest active FBS streak behind Florida State’s 20. The Sooners are currently the best-positioned Big 12 team for the new four-team College Football Playoff, but need to avoid the upset bug on the road in this one.
Seventh-ranked Baylor takes its 4-0 record against 2-2 Texas. Baylor’s offensive line has not allowed a sack in 162 passing attempts. The front line in the nation’s top offense will get quite a test at Texas, however. The Longhorns have 17 sacks, with a dozen of those coming from tackles or ends.
Utah takes a 3-1 into Pasadena to play No. 8 UCLA, which is 4-0 entering tonight’s game. UCLA returns to the Rose Bowl after a four-week absence. UCLA is looking to remain perfect heading into its showdown with Oregon next week. But the Bruins can’t overlook the always-competitive Utes, who will be smarting after blowing a 21-point lead at home to Washington State last week.
No. 19 Nebraska takes its 5-0 record on the road at No. 10 Michigan State, which is 3-1. Nebraska can start a season with six straight wins for the first time since 2001, establish itself as a Big Ten title contender and become part of the College Football Playoff conversation with a victory at East Lansing. Defending Big Ten champion Michigan State can reassert itself as a playoff contender after its 19-point loss at Oregon a month ago.
Vanderbilt travels to 13th-ranked Georgia to play the 3-1 Bulldogs. Following a shaky 35-32 win over Tennessee, Georgia is looking to remain in the hunt in the SEC East. Vanderbilt will try for its second straight win over the Dawgs, following a 31-27 victory in Nashville last season.
The 14th-ranked Stanford Cardinal travel to South Bend to play ninth-ranked and undefeated Notre Dame in what is becoming a top intersectional rivalry for the Irish. Stanford is one of three schools, along with Navy and archrival Southern California, the Irish have committed to playing every season while dropping annual games with Pittsburgh, Purdue, Michigan State and Michigan. The Cardinal have won four of the past five games against the Irish.
The 16th-ranked Southern California Trojans take a 3-1 mark into their game against Arizona State, also 3-1. Arizona State is led by running back D.J. Foster and receiver Jaelen Strong, represents more of a test coming into the L.A. Coliseum. The Sun Devils rank ninth in the FBS in total offense (560.8 yards per game) and are tied for 16th in scoring offense (42 points per game).
Northwestern hosts 17th-ranked Wisconsin in a Big Ten tussle. Wisconsin has won three straight by at least 17 points since a season-opening loss to LSU. But in all three of those games, Wisconsin did not pull away until the second half.
Maryland plays its first home game against Big Ten competition today at Byrd Stadium in a noon (Eastern) start. The 4-1 Terrapins, coming off a big road win at Indiana, have their work cut out. Led by freshman quarterback J.T. Barrett and tailback Ezekiel Elliott, the 20th-ranked Buckeyes have scored 116 points and totaled 78 first downs and 1,338 yards the past two weeks in victories over defense-challenged Kent State and Cincinnati. The Buckeyes seek their 17th straight Big Ten victory in their league opener.
Iowa State is at 21st-ranked Oklahoma State. The 3-1 Cowboys are climbing in the AP poll and establishing themselves as a contender in the Big 12. The Cowboys can’t afford to get derailed in the final game of a four-game homestand. Though Iowa State is coming off a 49-28 loss to Baylor, the Cyclones battled before losing 32-28 at home against Kansas State on Sept. 6 and beat Iowa the next week.
No. 22 East Carolina, coming off an emotional victory over North Carolina, should have a fairly easy time of it against winless SMU, which already has fired coach June Jones after a disappointing start. The Pirates are whopping 42-point favorites.
No. 23 Kansas State hosts 2-2 Texas Tech. Kansas State will be trying to stay atop the Big 12 while Texas Tech will be trying to even its conference record. The Wildcats have won the last three meetings in the series.
LPGA
Lewis, Hedwall share lead
BEIJING (AP) β Stacy Lewis recovered from a slow start with four birdies on the back nine Saturday to take a share of the lead with Sweden’s Caroline Hedwall heading into the final round of the LPGA Reignwood Classic.
The top-ranked Lewis started the day with a two-stroke lead over fellow American Brittany Lang, but fell back with three bogeys through the 11th hole. She then made three straight birdies from No. 13 before closing with a birdie on the 18th to regain a share of the lead with a 72.
Hedwall made five birdies on the back nine to shoot a 5-under 68. She will be aiming for her first career LPGA title on Sunday, while Lewis will be trying to win her fourth this year.
