NEWS » a game-time decision whether hell play S

EVANSTON, Ill. -- It looked like an intriguing matchup between dangerous ACC and Big Ten teams trying to show that they can compete with the best in their conferences.Instead, Duke and Northwestern come into Saturdays game trying to shake off losses and get headed back in the right direction.The challenge for us ... first road game, playing a Power Five team, understanding the focus, effort that its going to take, Duke coach David Cutcliffe said. Thats kind of going to be interesting. This is where you really start tagging a team as to who they are and how theyre going to respond. Its never a must-win -- you just dont have that until you get toward the end of your season -- but these are times where you must answer the bell.Duke (1-1) has made some big strides in recent years with three straight winning seasons and a division championship. The Blue Devils have made four consecutive bowls and finally won one last year. But after opening with an easy victory over crosstown opponent North Carolina Central, they took one on the chin last week with a 24-14 loss to Wake Forest.At least Duke has a victory this season.Northwestern is searching for its first win after opening with a one-point loss to MAC favorite Western Michigan and falling 9-7 at home to FCS power Illinois State on a field goal as time expired. It is certainly not what the Wildcats envisioned after going 10-3 in a rebound season that seemed to quiet concerns about the program after going 5-7 in back-to-back years.The slow start has raised concerns that Northwestern is too predictable on offense and that last season -- not the previous two -- was an exception.I think you have to have an identity, coach Pat Fitzgerald said. You have to get the guys to execute cleanly. If youd like me to tell you what Iowas going to do, I can tell you exactly what theyre going to do. Most teams have an identity. Youre able to stick to your identity and then build complements off of it. ... Whoevers opinion that is, I respect it. But I dont think it matters what you run; if you dont run it efficiently, youre not going to be very good.Here are some things to look for as Duke tries to shake off a loss and Northwestern seeks its first win:TOUGH FRESHMANKeep an eye on active Duke LB Joe Giles-Harris, who leads Atlantic Coast Conference freshmen with 21 tackles. He was all over the field last week against Wake Forest, finishing with 15 stops, recovering a fumble and intercepting a pass.BANGED UPFitzgerald expects star running back Justin Jackson to play after exiting in the fourth quarter last week with a leg injury. Jackson, however, was less certain.Ill be doing everything I can to play on Saturday, he said.Jackson, the Big Tens second-leading rusher a year ago, ran for 42 yards last week after going for 124 in the opener.GOOD ON THE ROADThis is Dukes road opener, and the Blue Devils have won 13 of their last 16 road games since 2013 -- the most among ACC programs in that time span, and trailing only Ohio State (15) among teams from the five power conferences.DUKES STARTA win for the Blue Devils would give them at least a 2-1 start in each of the last five years. Thats something Duke hasnt done since 1960-66.ON LINEFitzgerald hinted at possible changes on the offensive line after a rough showing against Illinois State . Northwestern got outgained 372 yards to 277, managed just 16 first downs to Illinois States 25 and converted 5 of 18 third downs. Clayton Thorson also got sacked three times and completed 17 of 41 passes for 191 yards. Cheap Pistons Jerseys Authentic . It might not have mattered. While the Dodgers are preparing for the playoffs, the Padres showed their future has promise behind two rookies. Cheap Detroit Pistons Jerseys . -- Quarterback Will Finch threw for 252 yards and three touchdowns, and Yannick Harou rushed in two scores as the No. http://www.cheappistonsjerseys.com/ . The Vikings announced Thursday that Priefer will be one of seven holdovers from the previous staff, along with offensive line coach Jeff Davidson, wide receivers coach George Stewart and others. Norv Turner will mark his 30th year of coaching in the NFL as the offensive co-ordinator, as widely reported for weeks, and George Edwards will be the defensive co-ordinator. Khyri Thomas Jersey . In the response filed Wednesday to the complaint by 30-year-old Alexander Bradley, attorneys say the former University of Florida player is invoking his Fifth Amendment right that protects people from incriminating themselves. Cheap Pistons Jerseys China . -- Jacksonville wide receiver Cecil Shorts will likely be a game-time decision whether hell play Sunday in the Jaguars home game against the San Diego Chargers. LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Marion Marauder will try to complete the Trotting Triple Crown from post No. 11 when he faces 11 rivals Sunday in the $431,000 Kentucky Futurity for 3-year-old trotters at the Red Mile.The Kentucky Futurity is the final jewel in the Trotting Triple Crown, following the Hambletonian and Yonkers Trot. Marauder, the 5-2 morning-line favorite, is attempting to become the ninth trotter to win the Triple Crown and first since Glidemaster in 2006.Marion Marauder has won nine of 12 races this year and earned $1.25 million. Hes trained by the wife-and-husband team of Paula Wellwood and Mike Keeling. The colt is co-owned by son Devin Keeling and Wellwoods mother, Jean..ddddddddddddcott Zeron will drive Marion Marauder. The 27-year-old would become the youngest driver to win a Triple Crown, either trotting or pacing, in harness racing history.Im grateful to just have a horse like him to take me on this kind of trip, Zeron said.The Kentucky Futurity field includes Southwind Frank (No., 5, 3-1 odds), second by a nose to Marion Marauder in the Hambletonian, and Bar Hopping (No. 12, 4-1 odds), who has won three consecutive races including the Canadian Trotting Classic by 3 1/2 lengths over Marion Marauder on Sept. 17. ' ' '