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PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- Chris Ash is coming into his first season as Rutgers coach knowing that he sure isnt at Ohio State anymore.The Scarlet Knights depth chart isnt very deep and the talent level isnt anywhere close to what he had as the co-defensive coordinator with the Buckeyes.Coaching Rutgers is going to be a challenge. It is coming off a 4-8 record last season with one win in the Big Ten Conference in eight games.Rutgers recent success is a thing of the past. The Scarlet Knights are rebuilding.Got to get back in to football playing shape, Ash said after training camp opened. Were in great conditioning shape from summer work outs, but just like most teams at this time of year, were not in great football shape and we got to play ourselves back into that, but good start.Ash was not as happy after the first preseason practice, so there has been some improvement in recent months.As we continue to go through training camp well have a better feel of our team, our players and our picture will become clearer, Ash said. Its a lot clearer than when we first started, so making progress, but like I said when we first started, but like Ive been saying all along still a long way.Ash has changed almost everything since replacing Kyle Flood. The coaching staff is new, and so are the offense and defense.Weve made a lot of changes to their bodies, but it took seven months to make a lot of those changes, Ash said. We have to change the type of production we get on the field as football players. That doesnt happen on day one.While there are many on-field questions that need to be answered, Ash is pleased that there are no questions about his teams off-field behavior. During last years training camp, Flood was engulfed in an academic scandal while his players were getting arrested.You look at the behavior and you tell me what you see. I see a bunch of guys that want to be coached, that want to excel, that want to do things right, and they want to be good teammates and they want to represent the athletic department, and this state the right way, Ash said. Now they have to continue that, but I like the trend that were on right now.QB QUESTIONOnce again, Rutgers has a quarterback battle between Chris Laviano and Hayden Rettig. Ash recently threw TCU transfer Zach Allen into the mix and the battle is expected to go throughout much of camp.D-LINE STRENGTHWhile they replace all three linebackers from last season, Rutgers will rely defensively of their defensive line. The deep unit returns All-Big Ten performer Darius Hamilton, Julian Pinnix-Odrick and Sebastian Joseph. Hamilton is coming off a lower body injury and needed a medical redshirt to return this year.KEY GAMESIf Rutgers wants the Penn State rivalry to become a thing, they have to win a game against the Nittany Lions. Rutgers hosts Penn State on Nov. 19.PREDICTIONIf Ash can somehow win six games and get to a bowl in the loaded Big Ten East, that would be chalked up as a very successful first season. The reality is there was very little in the cupboard and this could be a very long year, even longer than last years 4-8 finish.SEASON OPENERSept. 3 at Washington. Cheap Air Max 95 Wholesale Uk . This should be celebrated because it will not always be this way. 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It was a victory that ended a decade of frustration for Parker and a talented French generation, which lost the final against Spain two years ago and took bronze in 2005. Cheap Air Max 97 Wholesale . -- Timbers coach Caleb Porter didnt stray from his business-like approach to the season even after Portland downed the two-time defending league champion Los Angeles Galaxy to gain crucial playoff position. Shop online instead.There is really no reason for a college football fan to stray from a screen after Thanksgiving dinner no matter what those stores touting Black Friday sales say. From College Football Playoff implications to divisional titles to the Heisman Trophy to plain ol bragging rights, there is so much on the line this weekend.A quick rundown of some of the clear-cut items to be decided:- Four Big Ten games have division title implications- Two ACC games can determine the Coastal Division.- Both Pac-12 divisions will be decided in two games, including a North championship game.- Both the Mid-American Conference and Mountain West will determine their division winners as the two conferences compete for a New Years Six bowl bid.The College Football Playoff race could be thrown into chaos or fall nicely into place.Put it this way: No. 1 Alabama plays No. 16 Auburn on Saturday and it is not even among the five most important games being played this weekend.Thats a good weekend.The picks:THANKS FOR FOOTBALLNo. 25 LSU (minus 5+) at No. 22 Texas A&MCoach Ed Orgeron gets one more chance to prove he is more than just a caretaker at LSU, though at this point he is probably no more than a fallback option ... LSU 27-20.BLACK FRIDAYNo. 6 Washington (minus 5+) at No. 23 Washington StateRarely have both teams entered the Apple Cup with so much at stake. The winner goes to the Pac-12 championship game ... WASHINGTON STATE 33-28.Toledo (plus 9+) at No. 14 Western MichiganThe Rockets are more than capable of keeping the Broncos from rowing that boat to the Cotton Bowl ... WESTERN MICHIGAN 28-24.No. 17 Nebraska (plus 3) at IowaThe Cornhuskers can still win the Big Ten West with a victory and Wisconsin loss ... NEBRASKA 20-17.No. 18 Houston (off) at MemphisTigers QB Riley Fergusons status is uncertain ... HOUSTON 31-24.No. 20 Boise State (minus 10) at Air ForceThe Broncos need a victory and a Wyoming loss to win the Mountain Division of the Mountain West and keep New Years Six bowl hopes alive ... BOISE STATE 35-28.SUPER SATURDAYNo. 16 Auburn (plus 17+) at No. 1 AlabamaThe Iron Bowl is ALWAYS meaningful ... ALABAMA 28-13.No. 3 Michigan (plus 6+) at No. 2 Ohio StateThe Wolverines win the Big Ten East with a victory. The Buckeyes need a victory and a Penn State loss to reach the conference title game, but just a victory might be good enough to get them in the playoff ...OHIO STATE 21-13.South Carolina (plus 23+) at No. 4 ClemsonAn upset by the Gamecocks could crush their rivals plaayoff hopes .dddddddddddd. CLEMSON 31-17.Minnesota (plus 14+) at No. 5 WisconsinThe Badgers win the Big Ten West with a victory. No help necessary ... WISCONSIN 27-17Michigan State (plus 13) at No. 8 Penn StateThe Nittany Lions need a victory and a Michigan loss to reach the Big Ten title games as East champs. This seems like too much too soon for Penn State ... MICHIGAN STATE 24-21.No. 21 Utah (plus 10+) at No. 9 ColoradoThe Buffaloes win the Pac-12 South with a victory to continue the best turnaround season in college football ... COLORADO 31-19.Kentucky (plus 24) at No. 11 LouisvilleCardinals QB Lamar Jackson could use a big game to firm up that Heisman lead before he cedes the stage to contenders moving on to championship week ... LOUISVILLE 54-37.Notre Dame (plus 16+) at No. 12 Southern CaliforniaThe Trojans have become the ultimate playoff dark horse ... USC 35-14, BEST BET.No. 13 Florida (plus 6) at No. 15 Florida StateThe Seminoles have won three straight and five of six in the series ... FLORIDA STATE 28-24.No. 19 West Virginia (minus 7) at Iowa StateThe Cyclones taking some steps forward in first season under Matt Campbell ... IOWA STATE 33-30, UPSET SPECIAL.No. 24 Tennessee (minus 7+) at VanderbiltIf things fall right with some other SEC teams, the Volunteers could land in the Sugar Bowl. But they have to beat Vandy ... TENNESSEE 35-24.TWITTER REQUESTSOregon (minus 3) at Oregon State -- (at)Schrock-And-AweMark Helfrichs last chance to convince Oregon to keep him; if the decision has not already been made. Ducks have won eight straight Civil War games ... OREGON STATE 35-30.Purdue (plus 20) at Indiana -- (at)nashman92Must take advantage of any chance you get to mention that Indianas Big Ten teams play for the Old Oaken Bucket ... INDIANA 45-21.UCF (plus 9+) at USF -- (at)biblicalexThe Bulls can still win the American Athletic Conference East with a victory in the I-4 rivalry and Temple loss to East Carolina ... USF 42-28.Kansas (plus 27+) at Kansas State -- (at)rdcramerWildcats coach Bill Snyder goes for victory No. 200; Jayhawks go for two consecutive wins for the first time since 2011 ... KANSAS STATE 48-17.----Record: Last week 16-8 straight; 9-15 vs. points.Season: 179-77; 114-137-3.Upset specials: 4-8.Best bets: 3-9.---Follow Ralph D. Russo at www.Twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '