AUSTIN, Texas -- For acting head coach Jim Grobe, to some extent the real season for No. 8 Baylor is about to begin.The Bears are 6-0 for the fourth consecutive year and have played exactly one team -- Oklahoma State -- with a winning record. From here, their path to a coveted playoff spot includes a finishing stretch with games at No. 16 Oklahoma and No. 10 West Virginia. But first comes Saturdays visit to Texas.I think we have a fresh, healthy team, Grobe said. Were getting ready to go through the gauntlet.Texas (3-4, 1/3 Big 12) has lost four of its last five games, prompting speculation about third-year coach Charlie Strongs future with the Longhorns. Strong, asked whether he has received support from his bosses, said: We do have support within this program. We have to play better. Its all about us doing a better job of coaching. Its about our players playing a lot better.Texas is particularly inept on defense. The Longhorns rank 94th in yards allowed and 126th in passing efficiency defense. They further hurt themselves with lapses on special teams and by scoring just three points off nine turnovers by opponents. Texas failed to score after an interception and fumble recovery in the fourth quarter during a 24-21 loss at Kansas State last week.They tried to give us the game, Strong said.Some things to look for when the Bears and Longhorns kickoff on Saturday:BUDDING RIVALRY?Texas won 12 straight against Baylor from 1998-2009. Baylor has won four of the last six but lost 23-17 in Waco last season while using its fourth-string quarterback -- a converted wide receiver -- for the final three quarters because of injuries. Texas competed without several injured players as well. A melee broke out during the first quarter among two teams that have a developing rivalry. Texas added four freshman recruits who were released by Baylor after the schools sexual assault scandal.Honestly, Ill say its been building, Texas offensive lineman Kent Perkins said.Baylor quarterback Seth Russell does not expect a warm reception in Austin.Every away game is going to be a hostile environment just because you have fans who dont want you to win, Russell said. Weve got to block that out, and weve done a good job of that so far. With it being the Texas game, being a rivalry game, were expecting it to be a little more intense than the other games.YOUNG STAROne of the four freshmen who bolted Baylor for Texas, wide receiver Devin Duvernay, has caught touchdowns covering 63, 75 and 80 yards in the last three games.PERFECT DOWN STRETCHBaylor is the only FBS team that has not allowed a point in the fourth quarter this season. Overall, the Bears rank 11th in scoring defense, allowing 17.2 points a game.STENGTH OF SCHEDULE?Strong is 14-18 during his three seasons at Texas, including 10-12 in Big 12 games. The Longhorns three victories this season were against opponents -- Notre Dame, UTEP and Iowa State -- with a combined 5-16 record. Baylors six opponents have a combined 12-30 record and four of them have won only once this season.A BRIGHT SPOTTexas junior running back DOnta Foreman ranks third nationally with 142.5 rushing yards per game. Foreman has reached 100 yards in eight straight games, a streak that ranks second in Longhorn history to Earl Campbells 11 in a row.---AP College Football website: www.collegefootball.ap.orgAustin Voth Jersey . Brett Kulak and Jackson Houck of the Vancouver Giants were each charged with assault causing bodily harm on Aug. 18, according to the B.C. court services. Austin Voth Nationals Jersey . The showiest items on Calgarys lot were forwards Mike Cammalleri and Lee Stempniak. Both will be unrestricted free agents this summer. https://www.cheapnationals.com/1647r-max-scherzer-jersey-nationals.html . Aside from the trilogy main event title fight, there are a number of intriguing matchups in the heavyweight, welterweight and lightweight divisions. Raudy Read Jersey . Wilson hit Schenn from behind during Tuesday nights game in Philadelphia, earning a five-minute major for charging and a game misconduct. He has a phone hearing with the department of player safety, which limits any potential suspension to five or fewer games. Erick Fedde Jersey . The Canadian squad, skipped by Jennifer Jones of Winnipeg, got on the board first with two in the second end, and followed that with two more apiece in the fourth and sixth ends.ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Texas Rangers tinkered with their rotation this week to get things set up for a possible postseason run.Now all the Rangers have to do is get there, which seems like a certainty for a club with an 8 1/2-game lead in the American League West.However, just getting to the postseason isnt enough for the Rangers or left-hander Cole Hamels (14-5, 3.24 ERA), who gets the start for Texas on Friday in the series opener against Oakland. Right-hander Kendall Graveman (10-10, 4.13 ERA) will start for the As.After two rocky starts, Hamels was better Saturday against the Los Angeles Angels, as he allowed two runs in six innings. It marked the first time in three starts that he went more than 4 1/3 innings. Hamels is 0-1 in those three outings with an 11.25 ERA.Those arent exactly the kind of numbers he expects out of himself as hes lined up to be the Game 1 starter in the American League Division Series if the club makes it to the postseason.I wasnt happy I walked four guys (against the Angels), Hamels said. Thats kind of been my downfall this year. To me, thats unacceptable. To me, thats something Ive got to correct. When you get to the postseason, walks hurt you. You cant give away freebies. Thats the focus -- getting back to establishing strikes in the strike zone and being aggressive, not putting myself behind.The 72 walks Hamels has allowed are a career high and the most in the American League. While that number isnt good, he knows he has time to get things going.My main focus is being ready for the postseason, Hamels said. Maintaining health, thats what you want and be sure that everythings in sync and take the understanding of what it takes to get iinto the postseason and succeed in the postseason.dddddddddddd Were getting ready every day to put ourselves in the best possible position to be prepared.Before the Rangers can get to the postseason, they have to figure out a way to beat the red-hot As, who have been tough on the Rangers despite their standing in the West.Oakland is coming off a four-game sweep of Kansas City in which it outscored the Royals by 31 runs, the largest margin of victory for Oakland in a four-game set in club history.The As have made like tough for the Rangers, too. The As are 6-7 against Texas, despite getting swept in their last series in Arlington.Oakland has found a spark with young players such as third baseman Ryon Healy, who homered and drove in three in a 14-5 win at Kansas City on Thursday.Veteran guys look at this and say, you know what, Ive got to up my game a little, Oakland manager Bob Melvin told MLB.com of his teams surge.Graveman is the leading winner for Oakland, and he allowed three runs or fewer in four of his past five starts. His last outing was a dud, though, as he gave up eight runs and 12 hits in five-plus innings Saturday against the Seattle Mariners.Despite being Oaklands leader in starts and innings pitched, he hasnt faced the Rangers yet this season. In his two career starts vs. Texas, he has struggled to a 7.84 ERA, but he does have a win against the Rangers.Hamels got a no-decision against the As on May 17 in Oakland, allowing four runs (three earned) in 6 2/3 innings. In three career starts vs. the As, he is 1-1 with a 2.18 ERA. ' ' '
