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Warwickshire 172 and 120 for 4 drew with Middlesex 242 and 267 for 7 dec (Robson 74, Eskinazi 53) ScorecardMiddlesex remain the Division One leaders but by less of a margin than that with which they began after the weather ultimately left them frustrated at it did Yorkshire. Alejandro Villanueva Jersey .As they seek to stay in front and win the County Championship title for the first time since 1993, Middlesex now lead Yorkshire by four points, down from five, this match called off as a draw after bad light forced the players off following just 56 minutes of action, the first two sessions having been lost to rain.The results mean that the likelihood of the final round of the season, in which Yorkshire have to go to Lords, being the deciding round is slightly greater, although if either side is to seize a clear advantage before then it is Yorkshire, with their next two matches at home, who look the more likely.Middlesex are away for their next two, against Nottinghamshire and Lancashire, although their chances there will be boosted by the return to their attack of Steven Finn from injury and fellow seamer Tim Murtagh from international duty. Finn has been out of action since suffering a hamstring injury on the final day of Englands fourth Test defeat to Pakistan three weeks ago.Having Steven back will be a real boost, Middlesex captain James Franklin said. We all know what he can do if he is on song and he is champing at the bit to be back playing cricket and maybe helping us push for the title.Franklin, who will be leader on the field for the remainder of the campaign with Adam Voges unable to return, admitted the possibility of winning the title is adding an extra buzz in the dressing room but stressed that keeping their advantage would be tough.Id be lying if I said there was not talk in the group about the title but we know there are still 72 points available and it is not only about ourselves and Yorkshire, with Somerset still hunting, he said. Twelve days is a lot of cricket to be played and every game in this division is tough whether you are playing teams at the bottom of the table or in contention at the top. We know we are going to have to play very good cricket in those 12 days if we are to come out on top.At Edgbaston, it seemed unlikely any play would be possible as rain teemed down throughout the scheduled morning session, leaving puddles on the outfield. But a dry interlude allowed some intensive mopping up and had the light been good enough the minimum 36 overs left when play began at 3.45pm may well have been bowled, perhaps a few more with spin used at both ends.They had intended to give Warwickshire a burst of Toby Roland-Jones at the start but with the floodlights on they were obliged to bowl off-spinner Ollie Rayner and left-arm spinner Ravi Patel in tandem from the start or risk leaving the field earlier still.In the event, it was debatable whether Middlesex would have been able to claim six more wickets to win the match. Rayner managed to winkle out Chris Wright, the nightwatchman, with the last ball of his fourth over but Ian Bell and Sam Hain used their feet well against the turning ball and had kept their wickets intact for 11.4 overs more when umpires David Millns and Martin Saggers decided the floodlights were providing more illumination than the natural light.Asked whether Middlesex might have given themselves a better chance had they pushed on towards a declaration position more quickly on the third day, captain James Franklin admitted it was a tricky decision.The overhead conditions made it more difficult on Friday and I think Warwickshire bowled pretty well at us, he said. We felt we had to get to a certain point before we could really kick on.Before that, 240, 250, 260 was well within the realms of Warwickshire and had the weather not come it would have left them a lot of time to get that, so it was a balancing act. In the end the weather had the last word anyway.Middlesex are the only side to have beaten Yorkshire in the Championship in the last three seasons but Franklin does not believe that record will have any bearing if the meeting at Lords on September 20 does turn out to be a winner-takes-all showdown.I dont think our record against Yorkshire gives us any kind of advantage, he said. They are such a good team and they have proven that in the last two years. Obviously we would back ourselves to beat them but we cant look too far ahead.Before that we have two games against Nottinghamshire and Lancashire, which will not be easy. We are in with a shout (of the title) but we are going to have to play very well. Mel Blount Jersey . -- Stanford squashed Oregons national championship hopes again, schooling the Ducks in power football. Dan McCullers Jersey . -- Former San Diego Chargers safety Paul Oliver was found dead at his Atlanta-area home Tuesday night, and a medical examiner said Wednesday that the ex-player committed suicide. http://www.cheapsteelersjerseyselite.com/?tag=cheap-william-gay-jersey . It was just business as usual for the Thunder at home. Durant scored 32 points and the Thunder beat the Bulls 107-95 on Thursday night for their eighth straight win. College football is back. This is it. And it starts with an epic, unprecedented Kickoff Week inspired in part by the College Football Playoffs emphasis on strength of schedule. There are four games featuring two ranked teams, and while its far too early to draw any conclusions about what the November picture will look like, these games will continue to resonate with the selection committee all season.Every. Week. Matters.So lets kick it off with the Week 1 games that will have the biggest impact on the selection committee:1. No. 15 Houston vs. No. 3 Oklahoma, NRG Stadium (noon ET, ABC/ESPN3)What it means for the winner: The Cougars would gain instant credibility as a playoff contender with a win, starting the season exactly where they left off -- with a marquee win over a Power 5 heavyweight. Its only the first step, though, in what needs to be an undefeated season. An Oklahoma win would separate the Sooners as long as Houston has success in the American Athletic?Conference.The road back for the loser: A Houston loss would end the Cougars playoff hopes. Coach Tom Herman knows, though, the American champ has a great chance to end the season as the highest-ranked Group of 5 team, which means a spot in a New Years Six bowl. If OU loses, dont count it out (remember that loss to Texas last year?) -- especially if its a close game and Houston wins the American.Under pressure: The entire Group of 5. Houston is the best hope to represent the Group of 5 in the top four, but if the Cougars lose, so do the five FBS leagues with it.2. No. 4 Florida State vs. No. 11 Ole Miss, Camping World Stadium (8 p.m. ET on Monday/ESPN) What it means for the winner: An Ole Miss win would stamp the Rebels as a legitimate playoff contender and set up a monster Week 3 showdown against Alabama. FSU would pad its resume with a win over a ranked SEC West team as it looks toward a showdown with Clemson.The road back for the loser: In addition to Clemson, FSU faces Miami, UNC, Louisville and Florida, and Ole Miss will see Alabama just two weeks later. Neither team wants to start in a hole considering what lies ahead.Under pressure: FSU QB Deondre Francois. The redshirt freshman will take his first collegiate snap because senior Sean Maguire injured his foot early in summer camp.3. No. 5 LSU vs. Wisconsin, Lambeau Field (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN3)What it means for the winner: An LSU win would impress the committee through November and give the Tigers some breathing room for conference play. A Wisconsin win would catapult the Badgers into the national spotlight and likely the first AP top 25 of the regular season.The road back for the loser: LSU would be in a tight squeeze, considering it still has the entire SEC West to get through. And good luck to Wisconsin, which plays Michigan State, Michigan, Ohio State and Iowa consecutively.Under pressure: QB Brandon Harris. LSU is talented enough to finish in the top four this season -- if it gets adequate play from Harris, and this will be his first chance to prove hes capable of leading the Tigers to the top of the SEC West.4. No. 20 USC vs. No. 1 Alabama, AT&T Stadium (8 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN3)What it means for the winner: USC could have the best nonconference win of the season on its resume, and shake up the entire playoff picture. An Alabama win would show that the defending national champs are ready to do it again.The road back for the loser: Its not like Alabama hasnt lost before, as the Tide have overcome losses to Ole Miss in each of the past two seasons and still made the playoff. It hasnt had to play from behind, though, before league play even begins. USC wouldnt be penalized for losing to the No. 1 team in the country, but with a nine-game league schedule looming, its an uphill recovery.Under pressure: New QBs. Both Alabama and USC will have new starting quarterbacks; the Tides Cooper Bateman and Blake Barnett were listed as co-starters on the latest depth chart, and Max Browne was named the starter for USC.5. No. 10 Notre Dame at Texas (7:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, ABC/ESPN3)What it means for the winner: An Irish road win would show they can overcome the off-field headlines and contend for the playoff with two quarterbacks, DeShone Kizer and Malik Zaire. A Texas win would prove this year is different, as the Longhorns could be 2-0 (UTEP in Week 2) heading into the Cal game.The road back for the loser: Notre Dame would likely have to run the table -- a slate that includes Stanford and USC -- because it doesnt have a conference championship game. Texas could rebound but would still have much to prove in the Big 12 hierarchy.Under pressure: Texas coach Charlie Strong. After starting last year with a 38-3 loss to Notre Dame, Texas came unraveled and was 1-4 heading into the Oklahoma game. The Longhorns?need a better showing this time.6. No. 2 Clemson at Auburn (9 p.m. ET, ESPN)What it means for the winner: Clemson would reaffirm its position as a CFP front-runner, butt an Auburn win would throw the playoff picture out of focus. Merril Hoge Jersey. Auburn would likely sneak into the AP top 25 and Clemson would drop out of the top four, but Auburn would have to sustain that success to be taken seriously as a CFP contender.The road back for the loser: Clemson would likely have to win out because Auburn is its toughest nonconference opponent, and Louisville and FSU are the only ranked ACC opponents. Auburn could be 1-4 before October, as the Tigers also have to play Texas A&M and LSU this month.Under pressure: Auburn coach Gus Malzahn. Considering last years 2-6 record in league play, Malzahn needs improvement fast. The first five games are at home, and that home crowd could be his biggest opponent come October.7. No. 16 UCLA at Texas A&M (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS)What it means for the winner: A UCLA win would also be a win for the entire Pac-12, and would give the Bruins a marquee nonconference victory to impress the committee. An A&M win? Been there, seen that -- for the past two years. The key is parlaying it into more.The road back for the loser: A road loss to an SEC West team can be overcome, but the problem for UCLA is the grueling nine-game league schedule that follows. The Aggies need this nonconference win because beating up on Prairie View A&M, New Mexico State and UTSA wont light up their resume -- especially if they lose more than one league game.Under pressure:?A&M coach Kevin Sumlin. He hasnt finished above .500 in the SEC since his first year in College Station, but there have also been off-field issues. He needs a signature win.8. No. 18 Georgia vs. No. 22 North Carolina, Georgia Dome (5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)What it means for the winner:?For Georgia, the coach Kirby Smart era would get off to a great start and the Dawgs would?rise a few pegs in the AP poll. UNC would get a much-needed quality nonconference win that would help offset the two FCS opponents on the schedule.The road back for the loser: Georgia could rebound the following week against Nicholls State, and any team with a shot to win the SEC has a chance at the playoff. Three of the Bulldogs first four league games are on the road, though, including at Ole Miss. If UNC doesnt win this one, its likely out of the CFP conversation because of its weak remaining nonconference schedule.Under pressure: UNCs playoff resume. This is the second season UNC has scheduled two FCS teams, and the Tar Heels have failed to beat a big-time ranked opponent in each of those years.Kickoff Week superlativesGameDay Kickoffs selection committee of one hands out some awards going into Kickoff Week.Player in the spotlight: UCLA QB Josh Rosen He stirred things up this week when he downplayed the intimidating atmosphere at Kyle Field, saying, after about 50,000 people, it all sounds the same. The 12th Man -- and stud pass-rusher Myles Garrett -- will do its best to convince him otherwise, but the talented sophomore has the game to silence the Aggies.Matchup to watch: LSU RB Leonard Fournette vs. Wisconsin front seven The Heisman hopeful was in a walking boot earlier this month after an ankle injury, and now he will face a veteran Wisconsin defense that finished No. 4 in the country in rushing defense and second in total defense last year.Cant-miss tailgate: LSU vs. Wisconsin at Lambeau Field LSU fans are coming to the football shrine in droves, and there should be no shortage of jambalaya, gumbo and brats. Nearby local businesses have reportedly sold out all of their parking spots.Most intriguing mascot battle: Horned Frogs vs. Jackrabbits TCU shouldnt have much of a problem with South Dakota State, but can the frog even catch the rabbit?Welcome back: Pitt RB James Conner Conner is cancer-free and wont have any limitations against Villanova. He scored 26 touchdowns in 2014, went through six months of cancer treatment, and his oncologist and nurses will be in the stands to keep cheering him on.Upset watch: Notre Dame Texas was embarrassed by last years 38-3 loss in South Bend, and Charlie Strong is a winning quarterback away from turning things around. The Irish return just eight starters and cant seem to escape off-field distractions.Under-the-radar game: Bowling Green at Ohio State With only six returning starters, this is the first chance to see the rebuilt Buckeyes. While there shouldnt be an upset, Bowling Green is a respectable program coming off a 10-3 season and three straight MAC East Division titles.Forgotten storyline: Alabama OC Lane Kiffin game-planning against his former team, USC The Kiffin-USC reunion has been overshadowed by the fact that these two tradition-rich programs havent played each other since 1978.Obligatory Jim Harbaugh prediction After beating Hawaii, Harbaugh lines up a 2017 satellite camp in Honolulu before the Rainbow Warriors even reach the plane. Cheap NFL JerseysCheap NFL Jerseys ChinaCheap Jerseys From ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys AuthenticWholesale Jerseys ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys ChinaNFL Cheap Jerseys ' ' '
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