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Virginia Tech heads to Marshall, looking to avoid 1-3 start, but QB Grant Wells is questionable

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 08:31:10 GMT

Virginia Tech (1-2) at Marshall (2-0), Saturday, noon ET (ESPN2)Line: Marshall by 5 1/2, according to FanDuel SportsBook.Series Record: Virginia Tech leads 11-2.WHAT’S AT STAKE?Virginia Tech hopes to avoid another letdown heading into Atlantic Coast Conference play. The Hokies are off to their worst start since 2010, when they opened 0-2 but rallied to finish 11-3. Virginia Tech has finished with a losing record in three straight seasons and four of the past five. Marshall, one of only three remaining unbeaten teams left in the Sun Belt Conference, opens league play next Saturday and still has a tough nonconference test at North Carolina State in two weeks.KEY MATCHUPMarshall RB Rasheen Ali against Virginia Tech’s defense. The Hokies are giving up 212 rushing yards per game, which is seventh worst among Bowl Subdivision teams. Ali, who ran for 1,400 in 2021 and missed most of last season with a knee injury, has five touchdowns in two games and is 10th in the nation with an ave...

3 South Africa navy personnel die after swept off a submarine deck. 4 soldiers killed in road crash

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 08:31:10 GMT

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Three South African navy personnel died and a senior officer was in critical condition after seven crew members of a submarine were swept off its deck by big waves as a helicopter was attempting to transfer supplies, the Department of Defence said Thursday.Wednesday’s accident happened as an Air Force Lynx helicopter was attempting what’s known as a vertical replenishment of supplies to the SAS Manthatisi submarine on the ocean surface off the coast of Cape Town, the department said.Also on Wednesday, four soldiers died and an additional two were critically injured in a separate road crash near the city of Upington. Those deaths happened when two SAMIL 50 army trucks, one towing the other, rolled because of a burst tire. The soldiers were thrown out and one of the trucks landed on them, the department said in a separate announcement.The two deadly accidents happened approximately three hours apart. It’s rare for there to be multiple deaths in Sou...

Texans and Jaguars searching for higher-scoring offenses in first meeting of the season

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 08:31:10 GMT

HOUSTON (0-2) at JACKSONVILLE (1-1)Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT, FoxOPENING LINE: Jaguars by 8 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.AGAINST THE SPREAD: Houston 0-2; Jacksonville 1-1.SERIES RECORD: Texans lead 28-14.LAST MEETING: Jaguars beat Texans 31-3 on Jan. 1, 2023, in Houston.LAST WEEK: Texans lost to the Colts 31-20; Jaguars lost to the Chiefs 17-9.TEXANS OFFENSE: OVERALL (17), RUSH (29), PASS (5), SCORING (27).TEXANS DEFENSE: OVERALL (11), RUSH (21), PASS (11), SCORING (29).JAGUARS OFFENSE: OVERALL (22), RUSH (24), PASS (14), SCORING (21).JAGUARS DEFENSE: OVERALL (18), RUSH (8), PASS (25), SCORING (10).TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Texans even; Jaguars plus-3.TEXANS PLAYER TO WATCH: QB C.J. Stroud had 384 yards passing with his first two TD passes last Sunday despite being sacked six times. It was the second-most passing yards by a rookie in franchise history. His 58 completions in his first two games rank second in NFL history, trailing Joe Burrow (60 in 2020).JAGUARS PLAYER TO WATCH: Calvin...

2 French journalists expelled from Morocco as tensions revive between Rabat and Paris

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 08:31:10 GMT

PARIS (AP) — Two French journalists have been expelled from Morocco this week in a move denounced by media outlets and press freedom advocates. Staff reporter Quentin Müller and freelancer photojournalist Thérèse Di Campo, who work for the weekly Marianne magazine, said on Wednesday that they were taken by force from their Casablanca hotel room by 10 plainclothes police officers and put on the first flight to Paris. Both Müller and Stéphane Aubouard, an editor at Marianne, said the expulsions were politically motivated in response to critical reporting. Morocco denied the charge and said their removal was about procedure, not politics. However, media activists framed it as the latest action taken by Moroccan authorities against journalists.In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Müller linked their expulsions to broader concerns about retaliation against journalists in Morocco.“We were removed and forcibly expelled from the country without any explanation. This speaks a lot...

Biden says Norfolk Southern must be held accountable for Ohio derailment but won’t declare disaster

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 08:31:10 GMT

President Joe Biden ordered federal agencies to continue holding Norfolk Southern accountable for its February derailment in eastern Ohio and appoint a FEMA official to oversee East Palestine’s recovery, but he still stopped short of declaring a disaster.Biden issued the executive order Wednesday evening. Part of the order essentially directed the environmental, health and transportation officials to continue doing what they are doing to make sure Norfolk Southern fulfills its responsibilities and report on the progress. The Federal Emergency Management Agency will name a recovery coordinator to monitor the situation.The lack of a disaster declaration has been a key concern for many residents of the area where the derailment happened near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border, but officials have said this situation doesn’t easily fit the definition of a disaster because Norfolk Southern is paying to clean up the mess and help the town recover so unpaid bills aren’t piling u...

Nebraska is adjusting on the fly with quarterback and injury issues entering game against La Tech

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 08:31:10 GMT

Louisiana Tech (2-2) at Nebraska (1-2), Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (Big Ten Network)Line: Nebraska by 20 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.Series record: Nebraska leads 2-0.WHAT’S AT STAKE?As if Nebraska first-year coach Matt Rhule’s job isn’t hard enough, he now has a mini quarterback controversy on his hands and has lost two of his top three running backs to season-ending injuries. Rhule and offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield will use this game to figure out the best path forward with second-ranked Michigan up next. KEY MATCHUPLouisiana Tech WR Smoke Harris vs. Nebraska secondary. Harris is in his sixth season with the Bulldogs and their most versatile player. He has 24 catches for 288 yards and three touchdowns and no drops in 30 targets. He also returns kicks and punts. The Huskers should be prepared. They faced multiple elite receivers two weeks ago against Colorado.PLAYERS TO WATCHLouisiana Tech: QBs Hank Bachmeier or Jack Turner. Bachmeier is the Boise State ...

Forward Andrei Svechnikov is back on the ice for the Carolina Hurricanes at training camp

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 08:31:10 GMT

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Andrei Svechnikov looked comfortable as he skated with the Carolina Hurricanes to open training camp Thursday, sharing smiles and a few jokes — even a playful shoulder shove to Jordan Martinook despite wearing a yellow non-contact jersey.The Hurricanes forward is still working his way back from a serious knee injury that sidelined him late in the regular season and playoffs. He was eager to get back to working with his teammates to start a season of being a Stanley Cup favorite, though he wouldn’t commit just yet to whether he’ll be ready for next month’s opener.“Good chances, but I can’t promise anything to be honest,” Svechnikov said after the morning workout with Carolina’s top-of-roster players. “We’ll see how I’m going to feel in a few weeks.”The status of the No. 2 overall draft pick from 2018 has been one of the key questions hanging over the offeseason for the Hurricanes, who have reached the playoffs for five st...

Uruguay’s Ardao likened to Pocock and Hooper for thieving skills at Rugby World Cup

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 08:31:10 GMT

NICE, France (AP) — Italy captain Michele Lamaro was on his knees, arms wide, as if to say, “What happened?”What happened was he’d just been mugged by Manuel Ardao.Lamaro would end up being man of the match of Italy’s 38-17 comeback win over Uruguay at the Rugby World Cup on Wednesday but his opposite Ardao made the greater impression with one of the tournament’s brilliant solo performances.Ardao pulled off five turnovers in the first 45 minutes, virtually unheard of on rugby’s biggest stage let alone by a tier two player.On the TV commentary he was called Uruguay’s “Michael Hooper.” Italy assistant coach Marius Goosen likened Ardao to another Australia great, David Pocock.“We were playing a little bit too much in our own half, giving their No. 6 (Ardao) opportunities to turn us over, which he did brilliantly,” Goosen said on Thursday. “He’s a master at that.“There’s probably only two or three guys in world rugby at the moment that hav...

Auburn Tigers look to improve to 4-0 for first time since 2019 when they visit Texas A&M

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 08:31:10 GMT

Auburn (3-0) at Texas A&M (2-1), Saturday, noon ET (ESPN)Line: Texas A&M by 7 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.Series record: Texas A&M leads 7-6.WHAT’S AT STAKE?First-year coach Hugh Freeze and the Tigers are looking for their first 4-0 start since opening the 2019 season with five consecutive wins. Their fourth win that season was a 28-20 victory against the Aggies. Texas A&M looks to get off to a good start in conference play after winning just two SEC games last year to add to the criticism of highly-paid coach Jimbo Fisher.KEY MATCHUP Texas A&M QB Conner Weigman vs. Auburn’s pass defense. Weigman ranks 10th in the country with 303 yards passing per game. He threw for 337 yards and a touchdown in less than three quarters against Louisiana-Monroe for his third career 300-yard game. He will face an Auburn defense that ranks 12th nationally by allowing just 155 yards passing a game, but that is dealing with injuries. Freeze said starting cornerback Keionte S...

Deion Sanders and No. 19 Colorado facing their first big test against No. 10 Oregon and Bo Nix

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 08:31:10 GMT

Long before Deion Sanders brought Prime Time to Colorado, Oregon was the Pac-12 team that brought the hype. With the Ducks’ array of uniforms, state-of-the-art facilities thanks to Nike cofounder Phil Knight and a couple of big-name quarterbacks over the past decade, Oregon has often attracted the national spotlight. So it’s no wonder No. 10 Oregon isn’t caught up in the hype surrounding the No. 19 Buffaloes and Saturday’s showdown at Autzen Stadium. “I just focus on what we’ve got to do in this building, and what I’ve got to do in this building,” said receiver Traeshon Holden. “What they do is what they do.”That’s not to say Oregon doesn’t have respect for what Sanders has done in Colorado. With 68 new scholarship players, the upstart Buffs are 3-0 after the team won just one game all last season. The Buffaloes beat TCU and Nebraska before a thrilling come-from behind win over Colorado State last weekend in double overtime. “It’...