y lock up could essentially erase Miocics cardio advantage. A

This isnt it.This is not the final answer, but Tuesday nights College Football Playoff rankings (7 ET, ESPN) will take us one step closer to the selection committees top four, which will be revealed on Dec. 4 (noon, ESPN). Heres a look at the biggest questions facing the committee heading into its fifth ranking of the season:1. Has Penn State closed the gap on Ohio State? Last week, selection committee chair Kirby Hocutt said the gap between No. 2 Ohio State and No. 7 Penn State was significant. I believe, to answer your question directly, he said, does the selection committee see a small margin of separation this week between No. 2 Ohio State and No. 7 Penn State? We do not. Did the Nittany Lions convincing win over Michigan State to clinch the Big Ten East Division help change that perception at all? Its important because if Penn State wins the Big Ten, the committee will consider putting in one or both. When teams are comparable, the committee will consider Penn States head-to-head win over the Buckeyes and its conference title -- two advantages that will make it hard to leave the two-loss Nittany Lions out if the committee is consistent in its application of the protocol.2. Is Michigan still a factor? Its unwise to write the Wolverines off entirely -- though they should drop out of the top four -- because Michigan beat the two teams playing for the Big Ten championship, Penn State and Wisconsin. What if theres chaos, and Clemson and Washington both lose? That would mean Michigan would also have a win over Pac-12 champ Colorado. How far the Wolverines drop Tuesday night could be a clue as to whether they have any shot at getting back into the conversation with a two-loss résumé and no league title.3. How does Washingtons Apple Cup win impact its chances? Last week, Hocutt said Washingtons strength of schedule made the committee hesitant to move the Huskies up. Their strength of schedule still gives the committee pause at this time from ranking them any higher, he said. Will a win over No. 23 Washington State change the committees mind and boost No. 5 Washington into the top four? Will the Cougars drop out of the Top 25? Washingtons wins against teams currently ranked by the committee include Stanford, Utah and Washington State, but the latter two lost this past week. Will that devalue Washingtons résumé in the eyes of the committee? A win against No. 9 Colorado in the Pac-12 title game would give the Huskies a much-needed boost.?4. Can the winner of Bedlam made a big move in the final rankings? Oklahoma and Oklahoma State were off last week, and seemed to completely fall off the radar, but unlike Ohio State and Michigan, they will be playing Saturday in a de facto conference championship game while the committee is watching. The Big 12 winner needs help, regardless of who it is, as both teams are still staring up at the Big Tens top two-loss teams and Washington. It would seem more than one of those teams need to stumble in order for the Big 12 champ to jump at least four spots. If Colorado wins, the committee would have to compare two-loss champions from the Big 12, Big Ten and Pac-12.5. Who is the next-highest-ranked SEC team? Assuming No. 1 Alabama remains in the top spot -- a safe assumption at this point -- the next-highest-ranked SEC team is heading to the Sugar Bowl against the Big 12 champion (assuming, of course, the Big 12 champ doesnt make the playoff). But theres no great team to choose from. Auburn now has four losses after losing the Iron Bowl, and Florida is a three-loss SEC East champ after losing to rival Florida State.6. Is undefeated Western Michigan a no-brainer choice from the Group of 5? No. 19 Boise State and No. 20 Houston both lost this week, leaving Western Michigan as the most obvious choice to represent the Group of 5 in a New Years Six bowl, but what about Navy? The Midshipmen have two losses, but as the American Athletic Conference West division champs, they still have a chance to win their conference title. Would the committee rank a two-loss Navy team ahead of the undefeated Broncos? Where they are both ranked tonight will help answer that. The committee will be together on Friday, though, to watch the MAC championship game between Western Michigan and Ohio, along with the Pac-12 title game, so the Broncos will have its undivided attention on Friday night.Joe Ledley Wales Jersey . LOUIS -- Mike Smith is used to facing plenty of shots, so this was nothing new. Custom Wales Soccer Jerseys . Artturi Lehkonen, Joni Nikko and Ville Leskinen had the other goals for Finland (1-0) while Juuse Saros stopped 28 shots. 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But underneath the professional exterior he was, and is, compellingly human.After 52 years of championship drought, the city of Cleveland has claimed the UFC heavyweight championship and the NBA Finals in 2016.Born and raised Ohioan Stipe Miocic will look to give the region another championship moment on Saturday, when he defends his title against Alistair Overeem at UFC 203 inside Clevelands Quicken Loans Arena.In addition to the main event, a second high-profile heavyweight matchup between former champion Fabricio Werdum and Travis Browne will take place, as well as the long-awaited MMA debut of former professional wrestling star Phil CM Punk Brooks.Lets take a closer look at this welterweight rematch. Dont agree with the pick? Let me know on Twitter: @bokamotoESPN.Main eventStipe Miocic (15-2) vs. Alistair Overeem (41-14) Heavyweight championship Odds: Miocic -145; Overeem +125Time flies, doesnt it? We are now five years and 10 fights into Overeems career in the UFC, and the truth is: He has thoroughly dominated his opposition. But in the rare moments things have gone bad for Overeem, they have gone spectacularly bad.Theres a good chance that trend continues in Cleveland. Generally speaking, this isnt a bad matchup for Overeem. Miocic is a capable boxer with a power right hand, is an above-average wrestler and a mentally composed champ -- but its hard to find an area where he holds a sizable technical advantage. If were looking at straight-up skill in hand-to-hand combat, Overeem gets the nod. Hes the far more experienced of the two and just brings a much more versatile playbook into the Octagon than Miocic.But similar observations could have been made before every one of the three UFC fights Overeem lost. In a 25-minute fight, Overeem is always at risk for one of those aforementioned bad moments. And those have typically occurred after he has gassed himself out.Miocic is a definite threat in terms of simply outlasting Overeem. Hes extremely durable, which he needs to be, as theres a good amount of risk in his pressure-oriented style. He prefers to be the one in charge, pressing forward behind the jab and the left hook, maintaining that boxing range and creating windows to throw the hammer -- his right hand. He has the wrestling shot at his disposal, but in the past and particularly in this matchup, the threat of that shot might be more effective than the shot itself. In other words, its unlikely Miocic will wrestle his way to his first title defense, but the constant threat of him getting a takedown adds a layer to this standup fight.When Overeem fought another boxer-based striker in former champ Junior dos Santos, he all but shut down the Brazilians forward movement with circular movement and constant, constant feints. Overeems feints were so intelligent and effective in that matchup that dos Santos pace slowed to a boo-inducing crawl; he was eventually reacting so much to every movement that it was almost easy for Overeem, who is terrific at misdirection, to set up whatever shots he wanted.dddddddddddd Miocic cant fall victim to similar tactics, and based on his skill set, his best counter is likely to not react to the feints at all. Bell to bell, bully through them and get to that preferred boxing range.As notoriously dangerous as Overeems clinch striking is, its an area Miocic probably cant shy away from. There arent many tools in MMA as intimidating as Overeem knees, but in order for Miocic to cut off the cage and consistently get in Overeems face like he needs to, he has to be prepared for the clinch. The good news is that as the fight progresses, that clinch should favor him more and more based on his cardio. Given Overeems history in the UFC, even if Miocic loses rounds early, hell still be in a strong position to finish later on provided he is surviving and forcing Overeem to work.?One thing to really watch is how Overeem attacks the lower body. Those side kicks to the lead leg, a staple of Jackson-Wink MMA, could be very effective in breaking the pace Miocic wants to set. Front kicks to the body and, of course, the knees any time they lock up could essentially erase Miocics cardio advantage. And if it all adds up to Miocic being unable (or unwilling) to keep up his aggression, Overeem will have stacked the deck in his favor.Prediction: To be clear, there is a darn good chance Miocic sets Cleveland on fire with a one-punch, right-hand KO ... but my pick is the other way. Overeem via TKO, third round.Featured undercard boutsFabricio Werdum (20-6-1) vs. Travis Browne (18-4-1), heavyweightRepeat of a fight from 2? years back, a decision loss that remains Brownes worst night ever in the Octagon. Redemption? Crazy things happen at heavyweight, but odds are against it.Prediction: Werdum, 30-27 decision.CM Punk (0-0) vs. Mickey Gall (2-0), welterweightNot a whole lot of information to base this prediction on. Punk is brand-new, as is Gall. At the very least, Gall looks the part of a young prospect with natural skill. Punk is 37 and coming off back surgery.Prediction: Gall via rear-naked choke, first round. And bonus prediction: Punk does fight again.Urijah Faber (33-9) vs. Jimmie Rivera (19-1), bantamweightHow many times has Faber been in this spot? Coming off a title loss, accepting a lesser known opponent in a potential hangover situation ... fourth time in four years weve been here! Faber has never suffered back-to-back losses, does it happen here?Prediction: Rivera by decision. ' ' '