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Three weeks in, and we are down to 38 undefeated FBS teams and only eight winless teams. That scale dividing all and nothing at all is never balanced, a tribute to the ability of programs to schedule nonconference opponents that a team should beat. It doesnt always happen that way, which is why Iowa, among many others, is no longer undefeated. But it does make you scratch your head when Oklahoma and Notre Dame have two losses and Army and Wake Forest have none. I know, I know: Strength of schedule isnt reflected in Ws and Ls. We keep hearing that college football is an upscale joint, with velvet ropes separating the wannabes from the already-gots. Its good to know the sport still has room for underdogs to surprise.1. Going for two has been a part of the Oregon swagger, along with the sick unis and the fast-paced offense. Oregon usually tries it on the first score against outclassed early-season opponents, in order to make opponents spend time on it. And they used to work; in Chip Kellys four seasons at Oregon, the Ducks converted 20 of 26 two-point conversions, including twice against Auburn in the 2011 BCS Championship Game. Those points forced the Tigers to kick a field goal as time expired to win. But even before Saturdays 1-for-5 fiasco at Nebraska, the two-point strategy hasnt been as effective under Mark Helfrich. Before Saturday, Oregon had converted only 9 of 23 two-point conversions in Helfrichs four seasons.2. ?Louisville dropped 11 passes at Syracuse on Sept. 9 but didnt have that issue Saturday when the Cardinals embarrassed Florida State 63-20. Louisville head coach Bobby Petrino said his receivers worked hard on words and blanks, a technique to make sure the ball is secure. When you catch the ball, Petrino said, look it all the way to the tuck, and then I can see whether there are any words looking at me or the ball is blank. So its a great way to teach our guys to focus and concentrate.3. No. 1 Alabama is becoming known for nonoffensive touchdowns. The Crimson Tide have five such scores this season, including three that had a decisive impact on emotions and the scoreboard in Saturdays 48-43 comeback victory at No. 23 Ole Miss. That adds up to 15 return touchdowns since the beginning of last season: seven interception returns, five punt returns, one kickoff return, one blocked punt and DaRon Paynes?3-yard fumble return in Oxford. Senior strong safety Eddie Jackson has four of them -- three pick-sixes last season and the 85-yard punt return just before the half Saturday that cut the Rebels lead to a touchdown.4. Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder got his 194th career win Saturday when the Wildcats defeated Florida Atlantic 63-7, their biggest margin of victory under Snyder since a 64-0 defeat of Kansas in 2002. Thats the good news. The not-so-good news? Remember that week four years ago when Kansas State reached No. 1, only to get rocked 52-24 at Baylor? Since that brief ascendancy, Kansas State has lost 14 of 17 games against ranked opponents, including the last eight. Thats something to think about as K-State approaches consecutive games against Oklahoma and Texas next month.5. Why College Football is More Interesting Than the NFL, cont.: Compare the two games played almost simultaneously an hour apart in the Bay Area on Saturday night. Stanford made USC play at its grind-it-out pace. Each team had 10 possessions. They combined for 123 plays. They finished in three hours and three minutes. Meanwhile, Texas and California both spread the field. The Golden Bears had 16 possessions, the Longhorns, 15. They combined for 170 snaps. They finished in three hours and 56 minutes. Old school vs. new school, power vs. quickness. I guess the fan who breaks down his experience by data would vote for seeing 47 more plays for the same buck. Me? Ill take the three-hour game every Saturday.6. And then theres Clemsons 59-0 victory over FCS opponent South Carolina State, a game that cheated everyone. Who benefits when the game is so lopsided that the opposing coaches agree to shorten the second half to 12-minute quarters? Clemson fans wait all year for seven home games, and then one of them gets shortened because the athletic department couldnt find a suitable opponent. Lets hope Clemson athletic director Dan Radakovich is suitably embarrassed by that paycheck game (Clemson paid out $300,000). I understand that FCS athletic programs need funds and that Clemson supported another public institution in the state. Thats probably why the Tigers will play The Citadel, Furman and Wofford, respectively, in the next three seasons. Those games wont be farces. This one was.7. Stanford offensive coordinator Mike Bloomgren was not happy with himself that he waited so late to use the three-tight-end power formation in the opener against Kansas State. The Cardinal lined up in that set late in the fourth quarter of the opener, and Christian McCaffrey busted through the line for a 41-yard touchdown. On Saturday against the Trojans, McCaffrey ran out of that set nine times for 68 yards, including a 33-yard gain to the USC 5 late in the first half to set up the second Cardinal touchdown in the 27-10 victory.NMD XR1 Triple Black Canada .com) - Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Roger Federer were easy first-round winners Tuesday at the Australian Open. Ultra Boost 19 Canada . "Jeff is a hard worker who was an important special-teams contributor for us last season," said Stamps GM John Hufnagel. http://www.nmdshoescanada.com/stan-smith-cheap-canada.html . -- Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Farmar will be out for roughly four weeks after tearing his left hamstring. NMD Cheap Canada . -- The St. Johns IceCaps weathered a wild first period with the help of goaltender Jussi Olkinuora, before finding offensive inroads in the second. Adidas Superstar Womens Canada Sale .B. - Sebastien Auger made 44 saves as the Saint John Sea Dogs edged the visiting Acadie-Bathurst Titan 2-1 on Saturday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action.SAN FRANCISCO -- Having been shut out twice in his bid to make the National League All-Star team, Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Jake Lamb will be seeking some individual glory when he faces Jake Peavy and the San Francisco Giants on Saturday.Lamb was denied a spot among the first 33 players to make the NL squad when the fans voted Kris Bryant of the Chicago Cubs into a starting role, and Nolan Arenado of the Colorado Rockies was picked as the backup.Lamb, who began play Friday third in the NL among third basemen in home runs (20) and RBI (61), was given a second shot at making his first All-Star appearance in the Final Vote, but once again the fans let him down.Lamb finished fourth out of five in the NL balloting that ended before Fridays games, with Giants first baseman Brandon Belt, who took the field Friday with far fewer home runs (10) and RBI (46) than Lamb, getting the nod.Neither Lamb nor Belt had much of an impact on Fridays 6-2 Giants win, each going hitless and combining for six walks, four drawn by Belt.Lamb thus begins the weekend one double shy of becoming just the fourth Diamondback ever to record 20 doubles and 20 home runs before the All-Star break. First baseman Paul Goldschmidt, who has accomplished the feat twice, was the last to do it in 2015.Lamb already has a double against Peavy this season. It came in Arizonas 9-7 win the last time they saw the Giants veteran in San Francisco on April 18.The double was one of seven Lamb has hit against the Giants this season. Despite going 0-2 Friday, hes still hitting .318 (14-for-44) against San Francisco with one triple, three home runs and seven RBI in 12 games to go along with the seven doubles.ddddddddddddLamb and his teammates were reminded Friday night the rest of the season, not just the first half, has been relegated to individual glory with the trade of one of the clubs key contributors, closer Brad Ziegler.The veteran was dealt to the Boston Red Sox for two prospects.Its just something that has to happen, Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale said, noting the clubs last-place standing in the NL West. We should have played better and these things wouldnt be happening.Peavy will be seeking to extend a piece of personal history himself Saturday when he goes after an 18th career win against the Diamondbacks. The 152-game winner has beaten Arizona more than any other team.The Diamondbacks will counter with left-hander Robbie Ray.Ray, who has never lost to the San Francisco in three career starts, will be attempting to prevent the Giants from clinching the NLs best record in the first half.The Giants (55-33) enter the weekend two games ahead of the Chicago Cubs (52-34) in the overall NL standings, which at the end of the season determines the seeding in the playoffs. The Washington Nationals (52-36) are another game farther.Every game is so important for us, Giants manager Bruce Bochy insisted after Fridays win, one that included a hit batter, two purpose pitches and a pair of manager ejections. Were in the business to win games here.The Giants will see the Nationals seven times in the first 21 games after the All-Star break. They dont play the Cubs again until September. ' ' '