sweiler said. We know the challenge we have going on the road.The Vikings will face one on Sunday as well. Even without superstar defensive end J.J. Watt, the Texans ha

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- In his first public appearance as Syracuses new football coach, Dino Babers didnt make any bold proclamations. Just a plea for fan support.Were not going to make promises, but if you have faith and fill this place ... youre going to see something youve never seen before, Babers said in January to a Carrier Dome basketball crowd of nearly 27,000. We will win!To be certain, the 54-year-old Babers, the fourth coach in seven years at Syracuse, faces a tall task.Syracuse won just seven games the past two seasons under Scott Shafer and is looking for a way to compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference with the likes of Florida State and national runner-up Clemson. The Orange was 4-8 in Shafers third and final season.Since the turn of this century, bright spots have been fleeting for the Orange. The program hasnt been nationally ranked since 2001 under Paul Pasqualoni and still is struggling to emerge from a low point reached under Greg Robinson -- his 10-37 record from 2005-08 represents the worst four-year stretch in school history.The Syracuse program has regularly has had its ups and downs. The trick is to start trending upward in the ACCs Atlantic Division.We just want to try and make sure we get better every day, Babers said after spring ball. And hopefully by getting better somewhere, when the season ends were good enough.Syracuse opens the season against longtime upstate New York foe Colgate, which won the Patriot League last season, made the FCS playoffs, and figures to offer a stiff first test. The Orange has sometimes struggled in the past against FCS teams. A fortunate one-point win over Villanova two years ago serves as a reference.Other things to know about the Syracuse Orange:HURRY UPBabers spent 25 years as an assistant coach, including four seasons at Baylor under Art Briles, and is incorporating Baylors up-tempo spread with pro-style principles. As head coach at Bowling Green prior to coming to Syracuse, his team ranked fourth in the nation in total offense, averaging 561 yards. Anything approaching that would be a triumph. Syracuse was outgained 5,262-3,839 last season and averaged 5.1 yards per play while allowing 6.2.HEALTHY QBBabers has instituted a whole new way of life for the Orange players -- from diets to hydration to conditioning -- to help them adjust to the speedy tempo of play his teams are known for. What he cant completely control is the health of his quarterbacks, though he can try to alter their risk taking. Eric Dungey (1,298 yards passing and 351 rushing) emerged as a solid leader as a freshman after replacing senior starter Terrel Hunt, whose career ended with an injury in last seasons opener.Dungey was at the top of the depth chart in preseason ball, but in his rearview mirror is at least one concussion suffered early in his first season and several other hard hits to the head that forced him to miss four games. Walk-on Zack Mahoney was the main man in relief, redshirt junior Austin Wilson has limited experience and newcomer Rex Culpepper missed his senior season in high school because of a knee injury suffered a year ago.SOLID BACKFIELDSyracuse has three solid returning players in Jordan Fredericks, George Morris, and Dontae Strickland, along with a newcomer with real promise in Moe Neal. Fredericks led the Orange with 607 yards rushing, Morris chipped in 326, and Neal shined in the spring scrimmage and has continued to surge in preseason practice. Dontae Strickland is a dual-threat guy who also displayed promise as a freshman.WIDEOUT PROMISEThe Orange has talent at wideout. Steve Ishmael led the way last year (39 catches for 570 yards and seven TDs), followed by Brisly Estime (293 yards on 17 catches with two TDs), and Ervin Philips (29 catches for 286 and five TDs). The versatile Philips also rushed for 234 yards and three scores.PREDICTIONSyracuse has a challenging schedule, but at least three of the games are at home: Louisville, Florida State and Pittsburgh. The Orange plays Notre Dame at Metlife Stadium in New Jersey and also travels to Clemson. The Orange finished 2-6 in the division last season, ahead of Boston College (0-8) and Wake Forest (1-7). Look for the Orange to win six games and move up a rung in the division.---Online: Associated Press College Football Website: www.collegefootball.ap.org---Follow Kekis on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Greek1947 Air Max 270 Australia . Speaking Thursday on TSN 1050 Thursday, the Leafs GM also touched on the questions surrounding the teams leadership and the struggles of his big-name free-agent signing. “Its not from lack of effort from the coaching staff. Air Max 270 Australia Sale . Hargreaves began his career in 2008 with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and has played with the Edmonton Eskimos and last season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. http://www.wholesaleairmax270australia.com/ . Catch all the action on TSN2 at 11pm et/8pm pt. The nine-time Big 12 champion Jayhawks are positioning themselves for another title, as they have run out to a flawless 6-0 mark in conference play thus far. Air Max 270 Cheap Authentic . Listen to the game live on TSN Radio 1050 at 7pm et. The Raptors traded Rudy Gay, Quincy Acy and Aaron Gray to the Sacramento Kings on Monday, in exchange for Greivis Vasquez, John Salmons, Patrick Patterson and Chuck Hayes. Cheap Air Max 270 Free Shipping .C. Lions has come to an end. Banks told TSN on Jan 2 that he had no interest in playing out the option year of his contract with the Lions in 2014, and he again made that clear in a conversation with Lions GM Wally Buono last week. MINNEAPOLIS -- Yes, Brock Osweiler has a contract befitting a franchise player, but he joined the Houston Texans this year with only seven career starts.Sam Bradford was once the first overall pick in the draft, but if the Minnesota Vikings finish with a winning record this season this will be the first time hes experienced that in his professional career.Quality quarterback performance has never been more important in the present-day NFL, but what has also become clear is that success is possible without one of the leagues established elite taking the snaps.Dominant defense, with reigning Super Bowl champion Denver as the prime exhibit, is a must have.Thats primarily why the Texans (3-1) and Vikings (4-0) are winning, and theyre not alone.Philadelphia (rookie Carson Wentz), New England (suspended Tom Brady), Denver (first-time starter Trevor Siemian), St. Louis (career fill-in Case Keenum) and Dallas (rookie Dak Prescott) also have aided less-than-ideal blueprints at quarterback this season with defenses that rank in the top 10 in points allowed.When you look at the Vikings defense, youre looking at a terrific defense, Osweiler said. We know the challenge we have going on the road.The Vikings will face one on Sunday as well. Even without superstar defensive end J.J. Watt, the Texans have been difficult to move the ball against.Theyre very sound. Very rarely does it look like guys are out of place, Bradford said. Theyre just playing really good football on that side right now.Here are some key angles to follow for the game:THE BLAIR WALSH PROJECT: Vikings kicker Blair Walsh ranks 28th in the NFL with a 72.7 percent field goal rate that wouldnt be as concerning if he hadnt had some struggles the past few years and the infamous miss of a 27-yard try at the end of the one-point loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the playoffs last season. Coach Mike Zimmer ominously replied not yet when asked this week whether the team would bring in any free agents to compete for the job.In addition to three failed field goals, Walsh has missed two extra points.That may cost us someday, special teams coordinator Mike Priefer said. So were hoping to rectify that situation and help him go out and make all his kicks.BROWNS BACK: The Texans should get a boost by the expected return of veteran left tackle Duane Brown. He missed the first four games this season while recovering from Januarry surgery to repair a torn quadriceps muscle.dddddddddddd Theres nobody more eager to have Brown back than Osweiler, who will work with Brown in a game for the first time on Sunday.I dont really foresee any challenges between Duane and myself, Osweiler said. Just all smiles there. Any time you get a player back like Duane, at quarterback theres nothing you can do but smile with that one.CLOWNEYS PROGRESS: Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney is finally healthy and contributing for the Texans after failing to make an impact over his first two injury-filled seasons in the league. The first overall pick in the 2014 draft will start his fifth straight game on Sunday, which will be the first time in any of his NFL seasons that hes played that many in a row. Clowneys emergence has been well-timed with the loss of Watt, who had season-ending back surgery last week. Clowney had a sack and two hits on Tennessee quarterback Marcus Mariota in the previous game, and he has five sacks in his past eight regular-season games.VIKINGS VULNERABILITY: Clowney has played both end spots in Houstons 3-4 scheme since Watt has been out, so both Vikings tackles will need to be prepared to block the 6-foot-5, 270-pound product of South Carolina. T.J. Clemmings has taken over on Bradfords blind side on the left, with Matt Kalil likely out for the season following hip surgery. On the right side, Andre Smith left the previous game with an injury to his right arm. Jeremiah Sirles stepped in and will play again if Smith doesnt.Minnesotas offensive line has had its trouble, with only center Joe Berger the only starter in the same place as last season and the running game lagging at the bottom of the league with only 64.3 yards per game, but Bradfords quick release has helped with the pass protection. He wasnt sacked in the previous game.RARE VISIT: The Vikings have won all three matchups with the Texans, who entered the NFL in 2002 and have made only one prior regular-season visit to Minnesota. The Vikings beat Houston 28-21 at the Metrodome in 2008, behind three touchdown passes by Gus Frerotte and an end zone interception of Texans quarterback Sage Rosenfels.---Online:AP NFL website: http://www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL coverage on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '