Meister der Farbe » act that he has to fight to be called the

LINCOLN, Neb. -- For all the championships and other high points in Nebraskas proud football history, theres one thing the Cornhuskers ardent fan base desires most of all.They want their team to be relevant.Nebraskas 35-32 win over Oregon on Saturday has put the Huskers back in the national spotlight with a 3-0 record. Theyre in The Associated Press poll, at No. 20, for the first time since December 2014.Theyve won six of their last seven since a 3-6 start in Mike Rileys first season, and they almost certainly will be favored in each of their next four games before visiting Wisconsin on Oct. 29.Riley, whose team plays at Northwestern this week, said the Oregon win was only a starting point.Well have to keep putting an exclamation point on it week after week to make it real, he said.Riley is in charge of one of the most tradition-rich programs. Only five schools have appeared in the AP poll more times since it started in 1936, and the Huskers have won or shared five national titles. The most recent of those came under Tom Osborne in 1997, and Nebraska hasnt won a conference title since Frank Solich brought one home in 1999.So high are the expectations that Bo Pelini, who never won fewer than nine games over his seven seasons, was fired. This is the same school where College Football Hall of Fame coach Bob Devaney once said in 1968, I know the fans are with me, win or tie.Devaney may have been exaggerating a bit. Nebraska fans are known for being able to tolerate some losses as long as the Huskers show up and play with effort. That didnt happen on the biggest stages in recent years.Rileys lack of sustained success at Oregon State made him a surprise hire, and his first season was full of bad luck. The Huskers lost their 2015 opener to BYU on a Hail Mary and four other games by three points or less.We had a lot of close games, and it came down to little details, receiver Jordan Westerkamp said. We said we werent going to be beaten like that anymore. Just the second year with this new staff, we have grown so much closer with them and have been able to take this playbook in so much more.The Huskers ascent started last year after an embarrassing 55-45 loss at Purdue. The following week they knocked off a Michigan State team that made the College Football Playoff to start a stretch of wins in three of their last four games.Nebraska opened this season with wins over Fresno State and Wyoming and then celebrated the 350th consecutive Memorial Stadium sellout with the win over an Oregon team that leads the Pac-12 in wins since 1997 and has played in two of the last six national championship games.I thought it was a really good win for this team as far as confidence and momentum, Riley said. I think a lot of the teams identity will be sort of defined by how we respond, whether its responding to a loss or responding to a win. As the games go on, if you continue to win they get bigger and tougher. This game will be really, really good for our team.One of the most obvious differences between this year and last has been the play of Tommy Armstrong Jr.The fourth-year starter has thrown for seven touchdowns against one interception. Last season he was picked off four times through three games and was on his way to throwing 16 interceptions, second-most among Power Five quarterbacks.Armstrong also has been given more freedom as a runner, and scored the game-winning touchdown against Oregon on a 34-yard quarterback draw.Its a statement game for our season, Armstrong said. Thats our goal, to be 3-0 going into conference play. As far as this game, its one of the biggest games Ive played in. In front of these fans, they did a great job of supporting us throughout the whole game.---Online:AP college football website: http://collegefootball.ap.org 49ers Super Bowl Jerseys . Just not the game. 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Vaives lawyer Trevor Whiffen claims the former 50-goal man wasnt provided with a copy of the claim beforehand and that he would not have agreed to the allegations made against the NHL had he been asked to review its contents.With just one week until Judgement Night, players are battling against elimination when the Premier League heads to Liverpool. Robert Thornton needs a win from one of his two games to keep alive his survival hopes, while Michael Smith and Dave Chisnall are also scrapping for their places this Thursday night, live on Sky Sports.The battle for top spot is also intensifying, with Phil Taylor, Gary Anderson and James Wade pursuing leader Michael van Gerwen, but who is Wayne picking as his winners and losers? Price Boost Smith, Anderson & Lewis all to win now 13/2 from 11/2 Michael Smith v Robert Thornton Robert Thornton is still searching for his first win of the campaign Robert Thornton was good last week, he played better. I had the pleasure of spending my whole Sunday with Robert as we were doing an exhibition together in Irvine. He said hes feeling so much better than he has done throughout the whole of the Premier League. Hes using new darts and has a new lease of life.I actually think hell do a job on Michael Smith, who missed last week and is coming back. You kind of feel like youre out of it again. You never have any rhythm when that happens.I just think that Robert right now has got more confidence than hes had since the start. That can only be positive.Prediction: Robert can claim his first win with an improved performance. (Thornton 2/1 with Sky Bet to win)Gary Anderson v Dave Chisnall Gary Anderson picked up two victories on night seven in Glasgow Gary was brilliant last week, I thought he was sensational. Weve alluded to it so often about the pressure that hes under when he plays in Scotland. Weve played in Aberdeen and Glasgow and Anderson has not let them down once. Hes averaged over a ton in every game, won six points out of six in Scotland. Hes looking good and hes only a point off top. I think the way that Gary is carrying on, hell march into the play-offs. Lessons from a champion Gary Anderson has high hopes for protege Michael Smith Chizzy on the other hand, he plays well and gets beat, he plays poor and gets beat. He needs to find a point at least, just to stop the rot. Dave hasnt won since the very first week. Against Gary, hes only going to get a point at best, but Im going for an Anderson win.Prediction: Gary will take victory in a close game. (Anderson 7/1 with Sky Bet to win 7-5)Adrian Lewis v Raymond van Barneveld Adrian Lewis produced lacklustre display in last weeks defeat to Gary Anderson I reckon these two are so unpredictable, that they literally get out of the bed on different sides every morning.dddddddddddd They are lunatics, the pair of them. All joking aside, I do fancy Adrian Lewis for this match. He is really hungry to get in the play-offs, because it has only happened twice in eight attempts, and thats just poor. Hes had four wins so far and there is no reason why he cant have another.Barneys brilliance of last week doesnt mean hes going to be anything like the same this week. Adrian was poor last week. Do I think he will be poor again? No, but he could be! His good performances have come off a bad one and I think this could be the same.Prediction: Lewis will edge Barney in a last-leg thriller. (Lewis 15/2 with Sky Bet to win 7-5)Phil Taylor v Peter Wright Phil Taylor held Michael van Gerwen to a draw Peter Wright is playing great without winning. It doesnt make sense and it wont continue. Maybe this is the week? You cant keep averaging between 103 and 106 and not pick up points. Im bamboozled how its happened. Taylor is coming round to the fact that he has to fight to be called the worlds best player. Wayne Mardle Its going to be a real tight game this one, but I think Phil Taylor has got the bit between his teeth. Taylor is coming round to the fact that he has to fight to be called the worlds best player. I think hes ready for that tussle for the next year to 18 months. I think by just being in the play-offs for the Premier League, hell have a chance to beat Michael, but first off hes got to get into the play-offs. A win against Wright will do him a massive favour later on.Prediction: Taylor will beat Wright 7-5. (Taylor 7/1 with Sky Bet to win 7-5)Michael van Gerwen v Robert Thornton Michael van Gerwen has been performing at a high standard in recent weeks The pressure is on Robert, but after listening to him at the weekend and watching him last week, he will just play. Who expected him to beat Michael in the World Grand Prix final? No one.Look, Michael played below average last week, averaging 107, and had a 170 checkout. If hes a bit below that average of 107, I think he still wins this game quite comfortably. I just expect Michael to have too much for Robert.Prediction: Michael to complete a convincing win over Thornton. SKY BET PRICE BOOST: MVG to win, hit the highest checkout & score most 180s now 1/1 (was 8/11)!Watch all the Premier League action this Thursday night, starting at 7pm on Sky Sports 1. Also See: Sky Live: PL night eight Lessons from a champion Fixtures/Results Prem Table ' ' '