BOSTON -- There were times in 2015 when it seemed like the end of the season couldnt arrive fast enough for Georgia Tech and Boston College.The Yellow Jackets stumbled to a 3-9 finish just a season removed from an ACC title and Orange Bowl victory. The Eagles matched that 3-9 record last year, while going winless in conference play.So it makes sense that the 2016 campaign for both teams will begin far away from those memories.Saturdays matchup in Dublin, Ireland, will be the Eagles third time playing abroad. They beat Army 38-24 at the old Lansdowne Road stadium in 1988 during the first American football game played in Europe. They also left the country in 1978 to play Temple in the Mirage Bowl in Tokyo.Georgia Tech is playing its first game off of American soil as it enters the programs 124th season.It will be the first step in what coach Paul Johnson hopes will steady a program that may have gotten overconfident after the 2014 run.To finish 3-9 last year surprised me but I wasnt surprised at all that we werent as good as everybody thought; I knew that in practice, I said it all along, Johnson said. I think this year is better but weve got to go play.This offseason has been a mix of healing and adjustments for the Eagles.They have five new assistants, including two new coordinators. Scot Loeffler replaces Todd Fitch as offensive coordinator, and on defense Jim Reid takes over for Don Brown, who left for Michigan.BC also brought in graduate transfer quarterback Patrick Towles to compete with sophomore Darius Wade. Wade returns after breaking his left ankle in the third game last season.Coach Steve Addazio has remained coy this week about who will be the starter, but did say he didnt anticipate having a two-quarterback system. Towles has impressed this preseason and would seem to have an advantage is a more pass active offense.Hes fit in great, Addazio said of Towles. You feel like hes been here his whole career.Here are some more things to watch for on Saturday:RISE AND SHINEAlong with the travel logistics of playing on foreign soil, both teams will be adjusting to a much earlier start time. The game is scheduled to kickoff at 7:30 a.m. EDT. Neither team has a kickoff before noon the remainder of the season. Johnson said his team has dealt with the different variables as best it could by having a strict itinerary. Youd hope that theyre going to be mature enough and experienced enough to understand the importance of the game, Johnson said. Weve talked a great deal about it but until you get over there and play, you just dont know.GROUND GAMEThe Eagles will likely throw the ball more in Loefflers offense, but they still have lots of options to run as well. Most notably, running back Jon Hilliman returns from a broken foot to help a unit that rushed for just 164.4 yards per game last year. If the Eagles offensive line can fix its issues, the sophomore could have a big season.IF IT AINT BROKEDespite BCs struggles, one unit that didnt last season was its defense. BC returns eight starters from a unit that allowed the fewest yards per game in the FBS (254.3). There doesnt appear to be many tweaks on the horizon after the arrival of Reid and new defensive line coach Paul Pasqualoni. We havent changed anything, Addazio said.FRESH LEGSA total of 16 Yellow Jackets players combined to miss more than 80 games with injuries last season. A healthier roster should help out a team whose nine defeats came by eight points or less.HISTORICAL ADVANTAGESGeorgia Tech is 86-33-4 all-time in season openers, including a 7-1 record in openers under Johnson. The Yellow Jackets also hold a 6-2 edge in head-to-head meetings with the Eagles.---AP college football website: collegefootball.ap.org---Follow Kyle Hightower on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/khightowerLeon Draisaitl Oilers Jersey . Pettersen, winner of last years Evian Championships, had nine birdies and three bogeys, holding off a series of challengers led by Marion Ricordeau of France. The second-ranked Norwegian made her season debut after missing the LPGA Tours opening event last month in the Bahamas because of a shoulder injury. Milan Lucic Jersey . Batiste, who briefly signed with the Eskimos in 2006, has spent time with several NFL teams including the Pittsburgh Steelers and Washington Redskins. http://www.hockeyoilersshop.com/mark-messier-jersey/ . Giroud, who wasnt in the starting lineup for two matches after allegations about his private life and a decline in form, scored twice in the first half. Tomas Rosickys chip made it 3-0 before half time at Emirates Stadium, while defender Laurent Koscielny scored an unmarked header in the second half. Bill Ranford Oilers Jersey .4 million title. Ryan Riess emerged with the title after a session in which he started behind, but used expert skill to gather the chips to his side amid the unpredictability of no-limit Texas Hold em. Riess put his final opponent Jay Farber all-in with an Ace-King. Grant Fuhr Oilers Jersey . Klitschkos management company says the bout will be the Ukrainian fighters 25th world championship fight. The 1.83-meter (6-foot) Leapai defeated the previously unbeaten Denis Boytsov in November to become the WBOs mandatory challenger.Horse racings summer season kicks off in a big way this weekend at two of the sports most treasured racetracks, Del Mar and Saratoga.And what a daily double it should be -- Dubai World Cup winner California Chrome taking on six rivals in Saturdays $200,000 San Diego Handicap and undefeated filly Songbird starring in Sundays $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks.While the Del Mar meet began last week, Saratoga opens its 148th season on Friday and runs through Sept. 5.Stakes races on opening day at the Spa are the Schuylerville for 2-year-old fillies and the Lake George for 3-year-old turf fillies. On Saturday, its the Sanford for 2-year-olds.California Chrome, the 2014 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, comes into the 1 1/16-mile San Diego with a 3-0 record this year. The 5-year-old Chrome won the $10 million World Cup in March in his last start.The field also includes 2015 Santa Anita Derby winner Dortmund, Hard Aces, Soi Phet, Crittenden, Follow Me Crev and Win the Space.Chrome leaves from the No. 6 gate, and will have regular rider Victor Espinoza aboard. The race is a prep for the $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 20.Outside is good for me, Chromes trainer Art Sherman said. (Espinoza) will be able to break and see whats happening to his inside and go from there.Songbird arrived at Saratoga from California on Wednesday. A comfortable winner in all eight of her races, the 3-year-old filly will be ridden by Hall of Famer Mike Smith in her New York debut.dddddddddddd The filly owned by Rick Porter went for jog around the track Thursday morning.She ate up (Thursday) morning and she was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, Porter said. She went with the pony and jogged for a mile and an eighth. She wasnt too happy to go back to the barn, she probably wanted to do a little more. Shes doing fantastic considering all the travel shes had.In her last start, Songbird won the Summertime Oaks by 6 1/2 lengths.Taking on the 2-year-old champion filly trained by Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer is Carina Mia, Weep No More, Flora Dora and Mo dAmour.A week later, 3-year-olds are center stage after a Triple Crown break when Derby winner Nyquist returns for the $1 million Haskell Invitational on July 31 at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, New Jersey. A day earlier, its Preakness winner Exaggerator and Belmont Stakes winner Creator hooking up in the $600,000 Jim Dandy at Saratoga.Others in the Haskell include Gun Runner (third in Derby), Blue Grass winner Brodys Cause (seventh in Derby, sixth in Belmont) and Iowa Derby winner American Freedom, trained by eight-time Haskell winner Bob Baffert.Last year, more than 60,000 fans showed up at Monmouth to watch Triple Crown champion American Pharoah blow away the field in his first race since sweeping the Derby, Preakness and Belmont. ' ' '