NEU » set of lefty and switch-hitters.Matt G

Well find out a lot more about where things stand in the race for the College Football Playoff when the official rankings come out next week. Leading up to the big reveal, our college football experts narrowed the field to the 10 teams with the best shot at the national title.Heres a look at Nebraskas title chances; to vote for who you think will win it all, go to our poll page or scroll to the bottom of this feature:The case for NebraskaNebraska has started the season with seven straight wins. The last time the Cornhuskers won their first seven games of the season was in 2001, when they went to the BCS Championship Game.-- ESPN Stats & InfoThe case against NebraskaAccording to ESPNs Strength of Record metric, Nebraskas undefeated record is less impressive than the 5-2 starts by Wisconsin, Florida State and Tennessee. Northwestern, at 45th, is currently the highest-ranked team in FPI that the Cornhuskers have played this season.Nebraska is entering its toughest three-game stretch of the season, according to FPI. It faces No. 11 Wisconsin and No. 6 Ohio State the next two weeks, both on the road, before a home game against Minnesota. The Cornhuskers are projected to be the favorites in just one of those games (against Minnesota). FPI projects the Huskers have a 3 percent chance at winning all three games.-- ESPN Stats & InfoTalking pointsVegas odds:?Nebraska has 40-1 odds to win the national title, according to Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook.What FPI says: According to ESPNs Football Power Index, the Cornhuskers have a 0.2 percent chance of winning out through the regular season and a 5.8 percent chance of winning the Big Ten. Their remaining schedule ranks as the 16th most difficult.ESPN staff writer Mackenzie Kraemer:?Nebraska is up to No. 7 in the AP poll with its undefeated record. However, now the Cornhuskers get their two toughest tests in back-to-back weeks -- trips to Wisconsin and Ohio State. Nebraska is a nine-point underdog, the first time it has been an underdog all season.ESPN Insider Brian Fremeau:??The Cornhuskers eventually put away Purdue on Saturday, and are still in a good position to claim a Big Ten West Division title if they can keep it up. Our efficiency ratings suggest that may be too tall an order, however. Up next are a pair of games against Wisconsin and Ohio State in which our model indicates it is much more likely theyll lose both (56 percent) than win both (6 percent). If they do grab wins against the Badgers and Buckeyes, a tough trip to Iowa at the end of the regular season still lies ahead. There is a good chance (44 percent) that theyll lose three of their final five games according to our model.Now that youre stuffed with numbers and analysis, are you convinced the Cornhuskers are going all the way? Cast your vote below. Jerseys For Sale Outlet . -- Jimmy Walkers first PGA Tour trophy came with a special gift tucked inside. Stitched Jerseys For Sale . Louis Rams wide receiver Stedman Bailey last Sunday. The fine is the fourth this season for Goldson. He was fined $30,000 for a hit on the New York Jets Jeff Cumberland in Week 1. https://www.jerseysforsalechina.com/ . "It was nerve-wracking, but we pulled through," said Collaros, who threw four touchdown passes to lead the Toronto Argonauts (8-4) to a 33-27 win over the Calgary Stampeders (9-3) in front of 28,781 fans at McMahon Stadium. Wholesale Jerseys For Sale . LOUIS -- The New Orleans Saints looked like a team playing out the string. Cheap Jerseys For Sale . Perez, 35, posted a 1-2 record with a 3.69 earned-run average in 19 relief appearances last season. His season ended Aug. 9 due to a torn ligament in his left elbow. Perez joins infielder Andy LaRoche and catcher Mike Nickeas with minor-league agreements for 2014 that include invitations to attend spring training. While Friday night is always a big DFS night, head-to-head players will want to take note as the slate of available streaming options is as dense as its been all season. Theres something for everyone, so grab a pencil and take copious notes as we run through the full slate of action.PitchingEliteNumbers can be funny. Last season, Chris Sale boasted a strikeout and walk rate virtually identical to that of Clayton Kershaw but because the Chicago White Sox lefty recorded a meager 13-11 record with a 3.41 ERA, he finished a distant fourth in the American League Cy Young award voting. This season, Sales peripherals, especially strikeouts, are significantly off from 2015 but a 15-6 mark with a 3.15 ERA have him in the throes of the Cy Young debate. Next up for the lanky lefty is a Seattle Mariners held to just one run over the final two games of their early-week series. However, for the past month the Mariners have hit southpaw pitching to the tune of a productive 0.352 weighted on base average (wOBA) so Sale will have to be sharp for Game 2 of a weekend set in U.S. Cellular Field. That said, despite their success against lefties, Sale will hold the platoon edge over the better visitors hitters. Those playing one lineup may want to look elsewhere but if you enter multiple squads, youll want some exposure to Sale.Another lefty facing a tough matchup with strikeout upside is Drew Smyly leading the Tampa Bay Rays into Minute Maid Park. For the past month, the Houston Astros have not had a problem bashing southpaws as evidenced by a 0.376 wOBA in that scenario. One reason for that is fanning at a 20 percent clip as opposed to their seasonal 23 percent mark. Like Sale, theres a lot of risk to pay up and put all your eggs in the Smyly basket, but the pathway is there for a big game.The final hurler landing in the elite tier is Corey Kluber, taking the ball for the Cleveland Indians against the Texas Rangers in Arlington. Despite Klubers penchant for fanning a hitter an inning, this is a risky matchup against a productive lineup but without the punch out upside of the other aces.SolidAs mentioned in the introduction, the streaming tier is heavily populated, leaving a sparse solid group. Felix Hernandez, Justin Verlander and Jeff Samardzija all profile better for cash than GPP action. The King opposes Sale and the White Sox while the Detroit Tigers righty takes on the Los Angeles in Comerica Park. Samardzija and the San Francisco Giants host an Atlanta Braves club thats actually hitting well, averaging 4.4 runs a game after the break as opposed to just 3.7 previous to the All-Star hiatus.Assuming no setbacks, Steven Wright finally makes his return from the disabled list for a home affair against the Kansas City Royals. This is an intriguing matchup as the Royals like to swing the bat but arent replete with power hitters. This could go either way which makes the Boston Red Sox knuckleball artist a boom-or-bust GPP play.David Phelps sets up as one of the top GPP plays on the board as the Miami Marlins host the San Diego Padres in Marlins Park. Since entering the rotation, the righty has spun a 9.7 K/9 in four starts, including fanning 17 in his last two outings, spanning 11 1/3 innings. After working six frames last time out, Phelps should be stretched out to toss at least as many, if not more facing a weak Friars lineup that whiffs 25 percent of the time against right-handers.StreamersA whopping 19 of the 30 probable starters fall in the streaming range as dictated by their projected Game Score landing between 46 and 52. As usual, the focus will be on those available in more than half of ESPN leagues, and theres a ton to choose from with 16 qualifying. However, if someone of interest is skipped, thats what the comments section is for, along with hitting up @ToddZola on Twitter.Were at the time of the season where some teams have opted to punt ratios in an effort to pump up whiffs and wins. If this is your plan, Francisco Liriano is your man. The Toronto Blue Jays host the Minnesota Twins and their 23 percent whiff rate versus left-handers. The visitors counter with their own southpaw, Pat Dean, meaning run support shouldnt be an issue.Mike Fiers is also in play if youre looking for some extra punch outs with the Rays visiting the Astros. With Smyly on the hill for the guests, Fiers road to victory isnt as clear as that of Liriano.Luke Weeaver is looking for his first career win, recording a no decision and loss in his first two major league efforts.dddddddddddd With the St. Louis Cardinals welcoming Ross Detwiler and the Oakland Athletics into Busch Stadium, the 23-year old rookie righty should have some runs to work with.Mike Montgomery grabs another spot-start with John Lackey on the disabled list. The leftys first start came on Coors Field, lasting only 4/13 frames. The Chicago Cubs are likely to turn to their bullpen early, but if Montgomery can scratch through five innings, his offense is certainly productive enough so be could leave with a lead.Bartolo Colon usually doesnt ring up too many hitters but with the Philadelphia Phillies heading to Citi Field, theres little risk he blows up so for those looking for innings and ratio support, the New York Mets veteran is in play.Were heading toward the lower limit of the rankings, increasing the risk which necessitates some deep diving into the statistical pool. Braden Shipleys had a big problem keeping the ball in the yard. But with the power-deficient Cincinnati Reds visiting the desert, the Arizona Diamondbacks rookie righty has a fighting chance against a club in the bottom third in home run percent versus right-handers.Well wrap up the lengthy streaming section with veteran Ryan Vogelsong taking the ball for the Pittsburgh Pirates in Miller Park. The Bucs veteran has pitched into the sixth for three straight games, completing it thrice. A repeat against the Milwaukee Brewers and Matt Garza should leave Vogelsong in good shape for a rare win.AvoidWeve got a trio of hurlers in the automatic avoid range, namely Matt Garza, Ross Detwiler and Dean. As poor as the New York Mets have played lately, its still tough to endorse using Adam Morgan against them, so he should be avoided. The other arm that poses too much risk unless extremely desperate is A.J. Griffin matching up with the left-handed heavy Cleveland Indians in Arlington.HittingDean has surrendered seven homers, all to right-handed batters, in only 46 innings. Thats music to the ears of the powerful Toronto Blue Jays, one of the top teams in terms of home run against southpaws. Jose Bautista is back in the leadoff spot followed by Josh Donaldson, Edwin Encarnacion and Russell Martin, who remains as the clean-up hitter. This order could change if Devon Travis is ready to return, or the second baseman could be slotted at the bottom. Other options include Troy Tulowitzki and Kevin Pillar.The Cleveland Indians sticks have hit a dry spell but are a threat to break out at any time. The lefty-heavy lineup is in a good spot facing A.J. Griffin in Globe Life Park. Carlos Santana, Jason Kipnis, Francisco Lindor, Jose Ramirez, Lonnie Chisenhall and Tyler Naquin comprise a formidable set of lefty and switch-hitters.Matt Garza isnt giving up many homers, but hes also not missing many bats which is resulting in a bunch of hits allowed. Thats exactly the sort of hurler on which the Pittsburgh Pirates can feast. Josh Harrison leads things off with Gregory Polanco cleaning thngs up. Starling Marte and Andrew McCutchen will mistakenly be low-owned as they lack the platoon bump. Similarly, David Freese and Josh Bell are in play as contrarian options.The right-handed contingent of the St. Louis Cardinals are in line for a productive evening with journeyman southpaw Ross Detwiler on the Busch Field bump. Tommy Pham and Stephen Piscotty get it started. Both Matt Carpenter and Brandon Moss have success left-on-left so dont sleep on them. Jhonny Peralta, Randal Grichuk and Jedd Gyorko round out the righty Redbirds.The better New York Mets hitters hit from the left side, so a full-on stack against southpaw Adam Morgan isnt recommended. However, pairing Yoenis Cespedes and Wilmer has the potential to pay off in a big way.Most likely to go yard: Edwin EncarnacionEncarnacion is the MLB home run leader over the past calendar year. Hes in a great spot to start the next 365 days off in a like manner, facing Griffin in homer-friendly Rogers Centre.Most likely to swipe a bag: Jonathan VillarLooks like its a chalk day but you cant go wrong pegging a prolific pilferer like Villar to run on the Pittsburgh Pirates poor battery. Try to say that 10 times fast. ' ' '