Tarot & Kartenlegen » self-confidence.As for the competition itself, h

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. Air Jordan China . Didier Drogba gave away the penalty that put Senegal one goal away from a major upset, but the veteran striker will get another chance -- probably his last -- at the World Cup after Salomon Kalous injury-time strike sealed the Ivorians place in Brazil next year. Cheap Air Jordan Free Shipping . -- Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Farmar will be out for roughly four weeks after tearing his left hamstring. https://www.jordanchina.us/ . Philadelphia is 2-0 against the Senators this season and scored five goals in each victory. The Flyers recorded a 5-0 win in Ottawa on Nov. 12 and then earned a 5-2 home decision on Nov. 19. The Flyers have claimed three straight and four of the last five encounters with the Sens overall and Philly has won two in a row and three of its past four tests in Canadas capital city. Clearance Air Jordan Store . "No difference at all," chirped U.S. roommate and linemate James van Riemsdyk. "Its still the same cranky Phil. Wholesale Air Jordan . Paul Pierce couldnt believe he missed at the end. Young scored a season-high 26 points to spark a huge effort from the leagues most productive bench, and Los Angeles beat the Brooklyn Nets 99-94 on Wednesday night after blowing a 27-point lead. FRAMINGHAM, Mass. -- Pride in the Rio Olympics is palpable in this Boston suburb, nicknamed Little Brazil for its thriving population of Brazilian immigrants and their shops and bakeries flying the nations green and yellow flag, often alongside the U.S. flag.But here and in other major Brazilian-American enclaves, many expats also are striking a cautionary tone, reflecting concern that the celebration of the Rio games may only serve to mask Brazils deeper political, economic and environmental problems.Estimates of how many people with Brazilian roots live in the U.S. vary widely, as the Census Bureau includes South Americans under the umbrella of those of Latino or Hispanic descent. Framingham, a diverse town of nearly 70,000 total residents, first began attracting large numbers of Brazilian immigrants some three decades ago.At Rosas Beauty Salon near the heart of downtown, owner Rosa Barrosa gushes over Brazils opportunity to host the Olympics.Perfeito, perfeito, perfeito! (perfect, perfect, perfect), said Barrosa, who glides between English and Portuguese while discussing the games. The world is going to be surprised. Its going to be the best Olympic games. I know Rio de Janeiro. Brazil is a perfect country for this.Barrosa, 54, emigrated 20 years ago but keeps close ties with Brazil and believes skeptics are focusing too much on the negatives, rather than positives about a country which she boasted, really knows how to throw a party.Nearby, at the Brazilian-American Center -- which helps immigrants assimilate -- young children in a summer camp program shouted yes in unison when asked if they were proud the Olympics were being held in Brazil. The youngsters displayed a keen knowledge of Olympic happenings, aware for instance that Brazils vaunted mens soccer team was struggling in early matches, and that its first gold medal had come in womens judo (Rafaela Silva).Thulio Felisberto, a staffer supervising the children, sensed mixed feeliings about the Olympics among many adults in the community.ddddddddddddSome people see it as `wow, a really prideful thing to have it in our country, but other people look at it as maybe like a cover-up for these other political things that have happened, especially recently, said Felisberto, a Worcester State University student who came to the U.S. with his parents at age 5 but still has extended family in Brazil.While preparing for the games, Brazil has endured a recession, a political crisis that led to impeachment proceedings against the countrys president, reports of polluted waterways and a health emergency caused by the Zika virus.Right now I think Brazil is not ready for this kind of event, said Gustavo Mota, a manager at Tropical Cafe. Yet while citing similar worries about the nations economy and politics, Mota also saw potential for the games to present a more upbeat image of Brazil to the world and provide a needed boost to its own self-confidence.As for the competition itself, he noted that many Brazilians are largely ambivalent toward most sports -- with one exception, of course. People get crazed about soccer but not the other games, Mota said.Few among the lunchtime diners were paying much heed to rugby or other events being shown on TVs at the restaurants bar. Larger crowds were anticipated for the soccer matches.To many young immigrants like Mota, 27, Brazils future is of far more than passing interest because they havent ruled out returning someday to live in their native country.Otavio Souza, 18, a restaurant worker and Framingham High School student, said he came to the U.S. with his mother two years ago to pursue a better life. His father and brother remain in Brazil. Souza echoes the mix of pride and skepticism about the Olympics.Half the Brazilians they like it, and half dont, he said. ' ' '