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No. 12 Houston | No. 14 Washington | Top 25No. 13: Michigan StateLast Season: 12-2? (7-1 Big Ten East)The Spartans are back to where they do their best work: disrespected and outside of the top 10, with a chip on their shoulder. Last year they entered as the APs fifth-ranked team and rose to as high as No. 2, but they were mostly unimpressive, playing best when facing a lower-ranked team or an underdog, and then got shellacked by Alabama in the Cotton Bowl. Sparty has just 10 returning starters, but Mark Dantonio has suggested that the defense could be his best yet. Running back LJ Scott could lead the Big Ten in rushing (699 yards last year as a true freshman). New QB Tyler OConnor could put up similar numbers to Connor Cooks 2015 season (3,131 yards, 24 TDs, 7 INTs), especially if true freshman receiver Donnie Corley makes an impact. I have Michigan State as a 6-point underdog to Notre Dame and a toss-up vs. Michigan and Ohio State. Those two big home games against Michigan and OSU could make the Spartans the surprise team of the Big Ten.Michigan States chances to win each game 09.02 vs. Furman: 99.0% 09.17 @ Notre Dame: 33.0% 09.24 vs. Wisconsin: 57.4% 10.01 @ Indiana: 66.5% 10.08 vs. BYU: 71.7% 10.15 vs. Northwestern: 69.5% 10.22 @ Maryland: 71.0% 10.29 vs. Michigan: 33.4% 11.05 @ Indiana: 73.7% 11.12 vs. Rutgers: 81.5% 11.19 vs. Ohio State:?39.8% 11.26 @ Penn State: 42.1%Somehow underrated yet again, Mark Dantonios team has question marks on offense but enough defensive force to go 9-3 and push for another double-digit season in a big bowl game. -- Brian BennettDantonio has made a habit of exceeding preseason expectations, but it wont be easy this year with QB Connor Cook now in the NFL. A 9-3 finish in the regular season seems about right for this squad. -- Josh MoyerDantonios program isnt going anywhere. The Spartans will remain a force to be reckoned with in the Big Ten, but playing 11 straight weeks after an early September bye is a grind for any team. Expect a 9-3 year for the green and white. -- Dan MurphyThe Spartans have to replace key pieces at quarterback, offensive line and defensive line, and they may fall back to the pack in the rugged Big Ten East. Dantonio has won double-digit games in five of the last six seasons. To get there, Michigan State will have to win its bowl game after finishing the regular season 9-3. -- Jesse TempleThe stability of Dantonios program simply shouldnt be questioned anymore, so even with so many key starters to replace, the Spartans are more than capable of cranking out another 10-2 season and contending in the brutal Big Ten East Division. -- Austin WardNo. 12 Houston | No. 14 Washington | Top 25Henry Ellenson Jersey .7 million, one-year contract, a raise of $2.2 million. Wieters had asked for $8.75 million and the Orioles had offered $6. 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Gonzalez has a six-week window before position players have their first workout at spring training in Arizona.ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Despite a productive training camp and lots of positive feedback, Oakland Raiders running back Jalen Richard spent cut-down day nervously looking at the time as he hoped to avoid a bad news phone call from general manager Reggie McKenzie or coach Jack Del Rio.I was looking at the clock like, `Man, its not 1 oclock yet and Jack and Reggie havent told me, Richard said Tuesday I was like, `No, no, no. I still got to get to 1 oclock. I was still nervous.The deadline passed Saturday and Richard received the good news. Despite being overlooked in the draft back in the spring when 253 other players were drafted, Richard overcame the odds and made the NFL as an undrafted free agent.He had some company on the Raiders, who kept four undrafted rookies in all on their 53-man roster with receiver Johnny Holton, cornerback Antonio Hamilton and defensive lineman Darius Latham also making the team. Oakland has 13 players in all on its 53-man roster who werent drafted by any team.I called mom and teared up, mom and dad, Richard said. I had to call them. Everybody has a story. I come from Alexandria, (Louisiana), small town, not a lot of people make it out of the city.Making it even sweeter is that Richards first game as a pro will come in his home state of Louisiana when the Raiders visit the New Orleans Saints. Richard said he has been overwhelmed already by ticket requests and will plan to get as many as he can for his closest family members.This will mark the first time Richard has been in the Superdome or at a regular-season NFL game.While Richard had a good inkling he would make the team after performing well in the final two preseason games and drawing frequent praise from coaches for his pracctice play, the news came as a bit of a shock to Hamilton.ddddddddddddHe was hoping just to make the practice squad when director of player development Lamonte Winston delivered the good news after the deadline passed Saturday.I was overwhelmed, he said. I just broke down in tears. Me coming from the place I came from, South Carolina State, small school. ... A lot of us we dont come in and actually make the 53 right away. Im very humble, very grateful to have made it.Holton also overcame long odds to make the roster. Holton got his chance to play in junior college after being spotted by a coach playing flag football in a park.After two seasons at College of DuPage in Illinois, Holton played his final two years of college at Cincinnati. When he had a couple of options on where to sign as an undrafted free agent, Holton picked the Raiders because he grew up as friends with star Oakland receiver Amari Cooper.Its not where you start, its how you finish, Holton said. Im thankful for all of that and ready to move forward.Latham, a defensive tackle out of Indiana, made an immediate impression on the Raiders and is expected to be part of the rotation at a defensive line position that is missing injured starter Mario Edwards Jr. for at least the first half of the season.Game notesQB Derek Carr, C Rodney Hudson, LB Khalil Mack and S Reggie Nelson were named captains for the team. ... S Nate Allen is listed as the starter at safety ahead of first-round pick Karl Joseph on the teams depth chart.---Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '