TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Malik Rose Jersey . -- Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher has been happy with his defenses progress over the past month, but a true indication of how much improvement the unit has made could come Saturday at Syracuse.The 17th-ranked Seminoles (7-3, 4-3 ACC) have struggled against teams that run up-tempo offenses. The Orange (4-6, 1-5) come until the game averaging 79.3 offensive plays per game under first-year coach Dino Babers, which is an average of 16 more plays per game than last year. They also average one snap every 21.4 seconds on offense.FSU has already faced three teams -- Ole Miss (16.3 seconds). South Florida (21.1 seconds) and North Carolina (21.5 seconds) -- that averaged a snap in under 22 seconds. The Seminoles are 2-1 in those games but fell behind in all three. Miami also went up tempo at times as it built a double-digit lead only to see FSU rally to win in the fourth quarter. In all four games, communication problems and missed assignments were common.Even with quarterback Eric Dungey out in last weeks loss to North Carolina State, the Orange still averaged one snap every 21.2 seconds. Dungey (shoulder/head) is doubtful for Saturdays game which means Zach Mahoney could get the start again.They still threw it for a bunch of yards and moved it up and down the field. Theyre still going to do what they do, Fisher said. Theyve got skilled receivers and backs and big guys. They do a good job.Linebacker Matthew Thomas, who is second on the team in tackles with 50, said that getting the call in from the sideline quickly to line up will be a big key this week. Starting with the Oct. 1 game against North Carolina, the Seminoles have used play cards on the sideline when facing up-tempo teams.Thomas added that everybody has to be on the same page and communicate...so we dont give up any busted plays, stuff like that.With the defensive line mostly healthy, Florida State is hoping to generate consistent pressure. It comes into the game second in the Atlantic Coast Conference in sacks with 33 while Syracuse has allowed the fourth most in the conference (27).Besides tempo, the challenge for the Seminoles secondary will be containing chunk plays. They have allowed 42 pass plays of 20 yards or more, which is tied for fifth most among Power 5 teams.They also cant focus in on just one receiver. The Orange are one of six Football Bowl Subdivision teams to have three receivers with 40 catches or more.Senior Amba Etta-Tawo is fourth nationally in receiving yards per game (124.6) and junior Ervin Phillips has two games of 10 receptions or more. Junior Steve Ishmael did not play last week due to injury but could return this week.Syracuse has 40 pass plays of 20 yards or more with Etta-Tawo accounting for 19.They like to get the ball out quick and take shots when they can. They do a good job of playing with their personnel, cornerback Marquez White said.White is likely to be matched up against Etta-Tawo, who he compared to North Carolinas Bug Howard because he is more of a possession receiver.I think the main thing for us this week is to take away that space, he said. You see a lot of teams like to play him off and give him soft throws. Thats not what I plan on doing this week.--More AP college football at www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25---Follow Joe Reedy on Twitter at www.twitter.com/joereedy Bryn Forbes Jersey . On Tuesday, Ottawa placed forward Cory Conacher and defenceman Joe Corvo on waivers as trade rumours swirl around the Senators. Lonnie Walker Jersey .C. - The Carolina Hurricanes have placed backup goalie Anton Khudobin on injured reserve with an unspecified lower-body injury. https://www.cheapspurs.com/1016j-lamarcu...rsey-spurs.html . PETERSBURG, Fla. The race is on to catch Sydney FC at the top of the A-League table, but the biggest battle in domestic football this season isnt to win the league - its to join it.FFAs decision to begin a formal process early in the new year for teams to enter the A-League has set the pulses racing.As many as a dozen expansion markets exist around Australia and New Zealand, contending for what are likely to be two vacancies.Brisbane, southern Sydney, Tasmania, Auckland, South Melbourne, Canberra and Wollongong are all candidates, among others.And why wouldnt they be interested?Crowds are up, broadcast audiences are up and playing standards are up.Since the admission of the Western Sydney Wanderers in 2012, football dreamers have looked forward to the next entry to boost the 10-team competition.FFA bosses have opted for consolidation over the past five years, only toying with the idea of changing the line-up at crisis moments with existing teams; most notably in October last year at Wellingtons expense.But with the Phoenixs investors backing the New Zealand side for at least another three seasons after this one, the focus now is on expansion and not replacement.A-League chief Greg ORourke gave a timetable for possibly two new teams in the 2018/19 competition in a statement last week.A framework for expansion will be completed early next year which will allow (interested consortia) to submit expressions of interest in a framework which focuses on the viability of the the proposed franchise and its ability to provide benefits to the A-League and the game, it read.In other words, its game on.As it stands right now, the A-League aspirants are at varying states of preparedness.A well-financed Tasmanian bid, which has already met with FFA, believe it just needs the tick-off from head office to start investing and hit the ground running.National Soccer League powerhouses South Melbourne have a champion second-tier team, a boutique stadium and a burning desire to be back among the big boys.In Queensland, former Gold Coast United coach Miron Bleiberg believes fellow NSL winners Brisbbane Strikers could be a viable force in the A-League, and is working with investors to plot a pathway into the top tier. 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Further afield, Oceania powerhouses Auckland City are beginning an exploratory process that could lead to a bid.Chairman Ivan Vuksich told AAP the club was in the very early days of looking at raising the capital.Wed obviously like to be involved, he said.Weve made some tentative enquiries but its very preliminary.Had the Phoenix not continued in the competition, FFA was ready to introduce a third Sydney team encompassing the Sutherland, St George and Illawarra regions.Despite Sydney FCs opposition, it remains a favoured option for the governing body - but its unlikely FFA will drive the concept this time around, meaning external investors will be required.All three associations are still keen to come together and former A-League chief Lyall Gorman, now the chairman on NRL club Cronulla, is eager to accommodate a team at Southern Cross Group Stadium.Its expected any southern Sydney franchise would also play games at WIN Stadium but the Wollongong Wolves, back-to-back NSL champions in 2000 and 2001, believe the South Coast should have its own team and will consider putting forward a bid once FFA releases its criteria.If guidelines come out in January or February, of course were going to look at those guidelines very, very closely, new Wolves CEO Chris Papakosmas told AAP.We have some very, very significant contacts and connections within corporate Australia, right across the country, and we intend to leverage those when its most appropriate and suits everyone involved.The choices for FFA extend further afield, with Geelong presenting a regional alternative for another Victorian franchise, while second teams in Adelaide or Perth are long-shot contenders.No bids are expected from the Gold Coast or North Queensland, two regions burned badly by the A-Leagues disastrous first attempt at expansion in 2009. 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