NEW ORLEANS -- The New Orleans Pelicans are rife with uncertainty as they prepare to open training camp this weekend.Anthony Davis and Co. believe they are poised to improve substantially over last seasons injury-riddled, 30-52 campaign, but a lot of variables have to work in their favor.Its unclear when several members of Davis supporting cast will return from various injuries -- or in guard Jrue Holidays case, a serious family matter requiring leave.Meanwhile, the club is eager to see how several key offseason acquisitions will fit in, as well as a few players added more for their potential upside than anything theyve achieved lately.Well have a different look. We lost some guys that weve had for a few years, general manager Dell Demps said Friday afternoon, referring primarily to guard Eric Gordon and forward Ryan Anderson. But I like the group that we have right now. I like the approach that we have. Weve got a lot of guys that made it the hard way, that had to grind their way to have success.The Pelicans top free-agent pickups included Solomon Hill from Indiana, guard ETwaun Moore from Chicago and point guard Langston Galloway from New York. They signed Terrence Jones, who won a national title with Davis at Kentucky, and Lance Stephenson to low-risk deals. They also drafted Oklahoma sharp-shooter Buddy Hield and Kansas forward Cheick Diallo.Some of those players will be relied upon heavily early on, in part because Holiday is on indefinite leave to tend to his wife Lauren, a former international soccer star who was recently diagnosed with a brain tumor while pregnant. Meanwhile, it remains unclear when guard Tyreke Evans and small forward Quincy Pondexter will return from prolonged rehabilitation from knee injuries.Dell said all three could be back within the first two months of the season, but stressed that Holiday has been told to focus on his family and has no concrete timeline to return.Coach Alvin Gentry did not specify how the rotation at guard will work out in Holidays absence.That will kind of take care of itself, Gentry said. Well do a lot of switching lineups and putting guys in different positions. ... Youll see a lot of versatility in the way we play because we have those kinds of players.Evans and Pondexter both have had post-surgery complications, making it tougher to predict when their recovery will be complete.Evans said he developed a blood clot in his calf.I had to take a step back, but I kept working hard in my rehab, said Evans, who is also in the final year of his contract. I feel good, but doctors said, `Dont rush it.Evans said hes not aware of any concerns doctors have that clotting will recur.Pondexter said his leg still has to get a lot stronger, after two major surgeries.But when asked whether doubt has set in regarding whether hell return at all, Pondexter retorted, Hell, no.Davis said he is healthy after missing the end of last season with shoulder and knee injuries, then skipping the Rio Olympics. He said he wants these Pelicans to attack the season with a blue-collar mentality.We want to be kind of like Boston was last year, not having a lot of talent but guys play hard, Davis said. The guys that we brought in want to be a part of this and its always good to have guys who are on the same page.Added Demps, When we put this group together, we think it does complement Anthony and obviously everything starts with him.The additions of Jones and Stephenson appear to have considerable upside. Jones averaged better than 11 points in two of the previous three seasons, while Stephenson averaged 14.2 points in his final 25 games last season, after being traded to Memphis.Nothing was promised to those guys. Its going to be how they fit in, Demps said, adding that both players have attended Pelicans voluntary offseason workouts. They actually both looked good in the workouts and I think were hoping to get the best version of themselves. Air Max 90 Italia .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach. Scarpe Outlet Italia . You can watch the game live on TSN at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. The Flyers had won seven of eight before dropping their last two outings on consecutive days over the weekend. Philadelphia was handed a 6-3 loss by the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday afternoon before dropping a 4-1 decision to the Rangers the following night in New York City. https://www.scontatescarpeoutlet.it/scontate-nike-scarpe-outlet-saldi-c1966.html . -- The Portland Timbers and Real Salt Lake played to a 0-0 tie Saturday night that left the top of the Western Conference standings unchanged. Air Max 720 Outlet Italia . This should be celebrated because it will not always be this way. With the amount of money given to players by their clubs these days, it is a wonder that so many of those teams allow the sport to continue to take away many of their assets so they can play for a different team in the middle of their season. Air Max 90 False . Patrice Bergeron and Daniel Paille scored 20 seconds apart a few minutes after Stamkos was taken off the ice on a stretcher with a broken right leg, and the Bruins beat the Lightning 3-0 on Monday afternoon. Tuesday was only the first of six release days for the College Football Playoff rankings. There is still plenty of time for teams to make or break their playoff hopes.LSU is not done yet.Nebraska? Going after the seemingly vulnerable Buckeyes.Week 10 features just two games between ranked teams, but they will have major playoff implications in the SEC and Big Ten. Heres a look at whats at stake for all four teams in the games with the biggest impact:Alabama at LSUIf Alabama wins: Alabama can knock LSU out of the conversation for good and further assert itself as the best team in the SEC and the country with another road win against a ranked division opponent. ESPNs Football Power Index projects that if the Tide win on Saturday, their chances of winning the SEC increase to 74 percent. The FPI favors Alabama to win each of its four remaining games but shows this one will be the most difficult, with a 65.5 percent chance to win.?If LSU wins: Hello, chaos. LSU would own a head-to-head tiebreaker over the defending national champs but would still have to win out and need Auburn to lose again. Winning out will be tough, with a road trip to Texas A&M on Thanksgiving -- just five days after playing the rescheduled Florida game -- but its possible Auburn could lose to Alabama in the Iron Bowl. ESPNs FPI gives Auburn a 23.3 percent chance to beat the Tide. The more likely scenario is Alabama wins out and LSU loses again, leaving the Tide right where they started -- at the top of the SEC. Another possibility is Alabama loses a second time and Texas A&M wins out -- leaving the Aggies atop the West. See? Chaos.Nebraska at Ohio State (8 p.m. ET, ABC)If Nebraska wins: The two-loss Buckeyes likely would be doomed in the playoff picture, while the Huskers stock -- and their chances of winning the West division -- would both increase. According to the FPI, Nebraska has a 25 percent chance to win the West, but if it can beat Ohio State, that will rise to 56 percent. This is the second of back-to-back road games against ranked opponents for Nebraska, after losing last week to Wisconsin. This is the kind of statement win that would catch the committees attention, and Nebraska needs it. So far its only road wins have come against unranked Northwestern and Indiana.If Ohio State wins: The Buckeyes will keep their playoff hopes alive and continue staring down what should be a season-defining home game on Nov. 26 against Michigan to determine the East winner. Nebraska will drop into a two-loss tie with Wisconsin in the West, and the Badgers will hold the tiebreaker by virtue of their victory Saturday over the Huskers. Nebraskas only hope if it loses would be for Wisconsin to lose again, but the Badgers are favored by the FPI to win each of their four remaining games against unranked opponents. With four Power 5 undefeated teams remaining and a strong collection of one-loss teams for the committee to choose from, Ohio State cant afford to slip up at home on Saturday. One more scenario to consider: Penn State still can win the East if it wins out and Michigan loses twice.Playoff pictureTexas A&M at Mississippi State: The Aggies are on the bubble, and they are favored by the FPI to win each of their remaining games. This is their last road test of the season, and if they can win out, they will stay in the debate.Vanderbilt at Auburn: The Tigers have won five straight and played their way back into the conference title conversation. They have to win out, and hope Texas A&M stumbles again.Louisville at Boston College: After close wins against Duke and Virginia, Louisville cant afforrd another nail-biter against an unranked 4-4 team.dddddddddddd Its time for the Cards to earn some style points.Wisconsin at Northwestern: The Badgers are in must-win mode from here on out. Last weeks important win over Nebraska wont amount to anything if Wisconsin loses a third league game.Maryland at Michigan: Hey look, another home game! This will be the Wolverines seventh game in Ann Arbor, and another one against an unranked opponent likely wont move the committee much.Syracuse at Clemson: Clemson is coming off a critical, emotional win at Florida State, and this could be closer than some might expect. Syracuse is coming off back-to-back wins and had a bye week to prepare.Florida at Arkansas: The Gators have a clear path to winning the SEC East, especially now that Tennessee has collapsed with three losses, but this is a must-win. The only team the Gators have beaten on the road is Vandy, and they still have to play at LSU on Nov. 19. If Florida loses at Arkansas and at LSU, Kentucky or a three-loss Tennessee will win the East. Thats cringe-worthy.Washington at Cal: The Huskies have played the easiest nonconference schedule in the FBS, which is why road wins are critical to impress the committee. They got a big one last week against Utah, but they cant afford to slip up against a team that is 2-3 in league play.SuperlativesPlayer in the spotlight: LSU running back Leonard Fournette. Fournette has come back from an ankle injury this season and is coming off a school-record 284 rushing yards against Ole Miss. Last year, though, Alabama held Fournette to a season-low 31 yards on 19 carries, and he was hit at or behind the line of scrimmage 11 times. He -- and his offensive line -- will be challenged again, as Alabamas run defense is No. 1 in yards per rush and rushing touchdowns allowed.Matchup to watch: Nebraska quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. versus Ohio States secondary. Armstrong has thrown 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions this season. The Buckeyes are fourth in turnover margin (plus-1.25 per game), third in pass efficiency defense (93.5) and ninth in passing yards allowed (171.1). Sophomore safety Malik Hooker is tied for 11th nationally with four interceptions.Upset watch: Florida at Arkansas. Arkansas quarterback Austin Allen is expected to return from a knee injury, and he needs to be healthy in order for a chance at the upset. The Razorbacks had a bye week to recover from their embarrassing 56-3 loss to Auburn, and they now have back-to-back home games to reset.Can-miss game: Tennessee Tech at Tennessee. Its not even that Tennessee Tech is a 3-5 FCS team -- its that the Vols have lost three straight, star running back Jalen Hurd has decided to transfer and Rocky Flop is the trendy nickname.Dont forget about: Kentucky. If the Wildcats win out -- and Florida loses twice (think at Arkansas and at LSU) -- then Kentucky wins the East. Repeat: Kentucky can win the East. The Wildcats host Georgia on Saturday and then finish their SEC schedule on Nov. 12 at Tennessee.Under-the-radar game: Air Force at Army. With a win, Air Force clinches the Commander-in-Chiefs Trophy for the fourth time in the past seven seasons. If Army wins, the Black Knights would have a chance to clinch the trophy against Navy on Dec. 10. Army hasnt won the trophy since 1996.Hold that thought: Dont hand Clemson the Atlantic Division title just yet. Clemson can clinch it on Saturday if it beats Syracuse and both Louisville and Wake Forest lose. ' ' '