I told you in August that Alabama?would repeat as college footballs national champion. I havent changed my mind.I told you Clemson, Michigan?and Oklahoma?would join the Crimson Tide in the College Football Playoff. I still might get three out of four correct.I told you Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson would win the Heisman Trophy. Its likely to end up with another ACC quarterback, Lamar Jackson of Louisville, although Watsons chances arent dead yet.I told you the Pac-12 would be left out of the CFP for the second straight season. Now Im guessing its probably the Big 12.How will the second half of the season shape up? Im standing firm with some of my original predictions and flipping on others. (Im literally flipping a coin as to whether Michigan or Ohio State?is going to win at the Horseshoe on Nov. 26.)Here are 15 predictions for what will happen the rest of the way:1. The Tide will roll -- theres just no stopping this Alabama dynastyNick Sabans 10th Alabama team is beginning to look like his best one yet, even better than the four previous teams that won national titles. This is his fastest and most athletic defense; how else to explain 11 non-offensive touchdowns in seven games? And freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts has transformed the way Alabama plays offensively. The scariest part: I think Alabama is just now starting to heat up.The Crimson Tide will win each of their next five regular-season games by 10 points or more -- sweeping aside several ranked teams along the way -- and will rout Tennessee in the SEC championship game. Then Alabama will win a close game against Clemson in the CFP semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on Dec. 31, before defeating Ohio State in another close game in the College Football Playoff National Championship in Tampa, Florida, on Jan. 9.After guiding Alabama to its fifth national championship, Oct. 31 (Sabans birthday) will be declared a state holiday in Alabama (except at Auburn, of course).2. Once again, Michigan-Ohio State will be the epicenter of college footballThe brewing rivalry between Michigans Jim Harbaugh and Ohio States Urban Meyer is only getting started. It might even be a second edition of the Ten Year War, when legendary coaches Bo Schembechler and Woody Hayes battled each other every season from 1969 to 78.Meyer took Round 1 in resounding fashion last season, as the Buckeyes routed the Wolverines 42-13 at the Big House. This seasons game will be at the Horseshoe in Columbus on Nov. 26. Both teams will be undefeated, and both will be ranked in the top three. The Big Ten East title, a spot in the Big Ten championship game and one of the four berths in the CFP will be on the line.Get used to the high stakes. I have a feeling its going to be like this every season, as long as Harbaugh and Meyer are coaching in the Big Ten.3. Apple Cup win will propel Washington to the playoffIve already given you three of the teams that will make the playoff: Alabama, Clemson and Ohio State. That leaves only one more spot, and it will be decided after what is shaping up to be one of the greatest regular-season weekends in history.On Nov. 25, No. 5 Washington?plays at Washington State?in the Apple Cup. The next day, No. 21 Auburn plays at No. 1 Alabama in the Iron Bowl, and No. 3 Michigan plays at No. 2 Ohio State.Along with the Crimson Tide, the Buckeyes, Huskies and Wolverines will each be undefeated entering their regular-season finales. Alabama will beat Auburn, and Ohio State will defeat Michigan. The Wolverines will finish 11-1 and will be left out of the playoff because Washington will have toppled Washington State in the Apple Cup the day before to finish 12-0. The Huskies will then defeat Utah in the Pac-12 championship game to punch their ticket to the CFP Semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl.It will mark a rapid rebuilding job for Huskies coach Chris Petersen. So far this season, Washington has outscored its opponents by 212 points through six games. That marks the Huskies biggest point differential since 1991, when they won a share of the national championship.4. You can hand out the Heisman Trophy todayJackson will be the winner of the September Heisman -- and October, November and December. Hell join previous Heisman Trophy winners Tim Tebow (Florida, 2007), Cam Newton (Auburn, 2010) and Johnny Manziel (Texas A&M, 2012) as the only FBS players to score more than 20 rushing and 20 passing touchdowns in a season. ?Watson, Washington quarterback Jake Browning, San Diego State running back Donnel Pumphrey and Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett will be the other finalists invited to New York. But Jackson will win in a landslide.5. Texas will finish 5-7 and coach Charlie Strong will lose his jobAfter losing three games in a row, Texas?righted its ship with a 27-6 victory over Iowa State. The Longhorns are three-point underdogs at Kansas State on Saturday, and they might be favored in only one of their remaining six games (at Kansas?on Nov. 19). For Texas to even finish 6-6, the Longhorns are going to have to win at least one of two road games -- at Kansas State?and Texas Tech?-- or upset No. 9 Baylor, No. 12 West Virginia?or TCU?at home. Its not going to happen.After missing the postseason for the second year in a row, Texas will fire Strong, which might be the best thing for both sides. Strong is a good coach with a good track record and probably deserves more time to turn around UT. But thats not the way college football works anymore. Whoever replaces Strong will reap the benefits of the positive things he did in three seasons, such as playing freshman quarterback Shane Buechele, reloading the roster and instilling discipline.6. The Longhorns win the Tom Herman sweepstakesIts actually not going to be much of a sweepstakes because other attractive jobs such as Auburn, Notre Dame?and USC?arent going to open. The Longhorns will land Herman, the hottest name in the coaching carousel, by luring him to Austin with an annual salary of more than $6 million and a promise that hell have some input in the hiring of Texas new athletic director.After guiding Houston to 23 victories in two seasons, Herman will be the obvious choice to replace Strong, and Herman will prefer Texas over LSU because of its brand and his already-established relationships with Texas high school recruits and coaches. Plus, its a heck of a lot easier to win the Big 12 than the SEC West as long as Saban is still coaching.7. Ed Orgeron will ace his LSU interviewAfter missing out on Herman and Florida States Jimbo Fisher, the Tigers will hire Orgeron. Many LSU?insiders say this is what athletics director Joe Alleva has wanted to do since the day he fired former coach Les Miles.Orgeron wont be judged as much by LSUs final record as its improvement on the field. In only two games, the Tigers have shown dramatic improvement on offense. After setting a school record for total offense in an SEC game with 634 yards in a 42-7 rout of Missouri, the Tigers averaged 10.9 yards per play in a 45-10 win over Southern Miss, their highest in a game since at least 1960. Thats called progress.If the Tigers can keep defensive coordinator Dave Aranda and bring in a high-profile offensive coordinator, Orgeron might be in line to get the job. Hes a Louisiana native and a relentless recruiter who is well-liked by high school coaches in the state. Plus, hed probably come cheap compared to more established coaches, and finances have to be a concern for a cash-strapped university, especially after Miles was paid a buyout of at least $10 million.8. Baylor will finish with one loss -- to Big 12 champion OklahomaGiven everything that has transpired at Baylor?in the wake of the universitys sexual assault scandal, acting coach Jim Grobe and his staff have done a remarkable job guiding the Bears to a 6-0 record. But Baylors fast start might not be as good as it looks on paper. The Bears have beaten only one FBS opponent with a winning record (Oklahoma State), and three of the teams they defeated are a combined 2-17.The Bears will win at Texas on Oct. 29 and will survive a shootout at home against TCU on Nov. 5, but they wont win at No. 16 Oklahoma the next week. The Sooners, who were left for dead after early losses to Houston and Ohio State, are going to finish the regular season with a nine-game winning streak to claim a Big 12 title.9. Art Briles will coach again next season -- in the NFLBriles, who was fired after the scathing findings of the Pepper Hamilton report, might coach in college football again, but it wont be next season. Theres too much left unresolved in what actually transpired during his watch at Baylor, and I dont think theres an athletic director or university president who would be willing to take a chance in hiring him after this season.Briles is currently working as a guest coach for the Cleveland Browns, and Im betting an NFL team is probably willing to hire him in some capacity for the 2017 season.10. Brian Kelly will get a chance to redeem himself after this seasonNotre Dame, which was considered a potential dark horse to make the CFP in some preseason predictions, has lost four of its past five games to drop to 2-5. There arent many winnable games left on the schedule, but Im guessing the Fighting Irish will find a way to win at least two more to finish 4-8. That would be Notre Dames second-worst finish since 1963; it went 3-9 under Charlie Weis in 2007.Since Notre Dame only recently finished making the payments on Weis $18.9 million buyout, Im pretty sure it wont have a quick trigger in ending Kellys tenure. Kelly signed a six-year contract extension in January through the 2021 season, but he needs to hire a quality defensive coordinator after firing Brian VanGorder four games into the season.Kelly might want to consider polishing up his demeanor on the sideline and his interaction with his players. A little more personal accountability wouldnt hurt, either.11. Western Michigan will row its boats to the Cotton BowlNo. 11 Houston?is the highest-rated team from a Group of 5 conference, but the Cougars might not be the best bet to be invited to a New Years Six bowl. Unless Navy?loses two of its remaining AAC games, the Midshipmen will win the AAC West because of their 46-40 upset of Houston. The automatic invite to a New Years Six bowl goes to the highest-rated champion from a Group of 5 league, and Houston might not even get an opportunity to play in the AAC championship game.That puts No. 14 Boise State?in the best position, but it has a pretty difficult stretch left to play. The Broncos host BYU on Thursday night and play road games at Wyoming?on Oct. 29 and at Air Force on Nov. 25. Plus, the Broncos might have to face San Diego State in the MWC championship game.ESPNs Football Power Index gives No. 20 Western Michigan?the best chance among FBS teams to enter the bowl games undefeated. The Broncos most difficult remaining games -- against Eastern Michigan?(yeah, you read that correctly) and Toledo?-- will be played at home. WMU will probably play Akron?or Ohio?in the MAC championship game. Im betting the Broncos will finish undefeated and finish as the highest-rated Group of 5 champion after Houston finishes second behind Navy in the AAC East and Boise State loses at least once.12. Clay Helton wont have the hottest seat in Los AngelesAfter a horrific start, which included a 46-point loss to Alabama?in the opener, it seemed as if Helton might not make it through his first full season as USCs?coach. Since switching to freshman quarterback?Sam Darnold, the Trojans have won three of four games and are?suddenly the hottest team in the Pac-12 South.While USC seems to be getting better every week, crosstown rival UCLA?seems to be getting worse. The Bruins have dropped three of their past four games, and the bleeding probably wont stop unless quarterback Josh Rosen returns from injury soon. Even with Rosen, UCLAs offense hasnt been nearly as potent without former coordinator Noel Mazzone, who left for Texas A&M after the 2015 season. If UCLA doesnt turn things around, coach Jim Mora might be under a lot of pressure to win in 2017.13. All three Michigan directional schools will go bowling (and Michigan State wont)Western Michigan wont be the only directional school from the Great Lakes State to play in the postseason. Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan are both 5-2 and seemingly on the way to the postseason. Like the Broncos, the Chippewas would be playing in their third consecutive bowl game. But the Eagles only previous postseason appearance was in 1987. The three Directional U programs have never played in a bowl game in the same season.Western Michigans P.J. Fleck, who seems to be in line for the Purdue job or another Power 5 opening, isnt the only rising star in the MAC. At 53, Central Michigans John Bonamego probably wont be leaving his alma mater anytime soon. But Eastern Michigans Chris Creighton, who built winners at Wabash College in Indiana and Drake University in Iowa, might be a coach to keep an eye on.14. Lane Kiffin will get a head-coaching jobIn three seasons as Alabamas offensive coordinator, Kiffin has transformed himself from being college footballs biggest villain to one of its greatest offensive minds. He might be doing his best work this season with Hurts starting at quarterback. The Crimson Tide are averaging 504.7 yards, 7 yards per play and 45.4 points per game. Hurts has eclipsed 100 yards rushing twice this season, which is something no Alabama quarterback under Saban had ever done.Kiffin went 7-6 in his only season as Tennessees coach in 2009 and 28-15 in three-plus seasons at USC. His record as a head coach wasnt spectacular, but he wasnt exactly a failure, either. He has spent the past three seasons largely in the background, running the offense and learning how to operate a program under Saban. Kiffin might not be at the top of the list for Power 5 jobs such as Baylor or LSU, but he might be in play at Group of 5 programs such as Houston (if Herman leaves) or USF (if Willie Taggart lands another job).Kiffin cant be choosy. He has done an admirable job rehabilitating his image, and he might have to be willing to take a springboard job to a bigger program to prove how much he has?matured.15. Whats happening at Oregon? Your guess is as good as mine.It was only two years ago that Mark Helfrich guided Oregon?to the College Football Playoff; the Ducks crushed Florida State?59-20 in a semifinal at the Rose Bowl and lost to Ohio State?42-20 in the CFP National Championship. Oregon went 9-4 last season, but what is mostly remembered is its second-half collapse in the Alamo Bowl, in which the Ducks blew a 31-point lead in a 47-41 loss to TCU in three overtimes.This season, the Ducks are 2-4 and have lost four straight games going into Friday nights trip to California. Theyve been historically bad on defense, allowing 121 points in their past two losses against Washington State?and Washington. Theres no easy fix and theres no guarantee Oregon will win again this season.Helfrich is an Oregon native who is largely well-liked. He was Chip Kellys offensive coordinator and seemed like a logical replacement when Kelly left for the NFL. But many Ducks fans are beginning to wonder whether Helfrich is their version of Frank Solich, the former Nebraska?assistant who was promoted to head coach after legendary Cornhuskers coach Tom Osborne retired following the 1997 season. For many Nebraska fans, Solich was regarded as a great assistant and mediocre head coach.As Oregons brass ponders what to do with Helfrich, Solich should serve as a cautionary tale. He guided the Cornhuskers to three seasons with double-digit wins and won nine games in two other seasons from 1998 to 2003. After Solich was fired, Nebraska didnt win 10 games again until 2009. nba jerseys sale cheap . The Dutchmans tenure got off to a poor start when referee Guido Winkmann awarded a penalty within two minutes for Niklas Starks clumsy challenge on Alexandru Maxim. cheap nfl jerseys authentic . Thats about all he can do right now, so hes trying not to think about when he might be able to play again for the Los Angeles Lakers. http://www.cheapnbajerseyssale.com/ .ca! Hi Kerry, Its another day and here we are looking at another dubious hit to the head. In this case Blue Jackets forward Brandon Dubinsky elbowed Saku Koivu in the head about a second after he dished off the puck to a teammate, knocking him unconscious. cheap jerseys from china . LOUIS -- Lance Lynn was one of the more enthusiastic participants as the St. cheap nba jerseys authentic . A knee to the thigh might have stung him the most, but his sixth straight double-double made up for the brief burst of pain. NEW YORK -- The Latest on the U.S. Open (all times local):11 p.m.Novak Djokovic was bothered by his right arm during a first-round victory at the U.S. Open, getting treatment from a trainer, hitting slow serves and grimacing after some shots.Still, the defending champion got through the match Monday night, beating Jerzy Janowicz of Poland 6-3, 5-7, 6-2, 6-1.This was the No. 1-ranked Djokovics first Grand Slam match since losing to Sam Querrey in the third round of Wimbledon.Djokovic spoke before the U.S. Open about dealing with a left wrist injury that flared up in the days before the Rio Olympics this month. But it was his right arm that was problematic against Janowicz, a former top-20 player who reached the semifinals at Wimbledon in 2013 and is now ranked 247th after his own series of injury issues.---9:40 p.m.Jack Sock withstood Taylor Fritzs repeated comebacks to win the second five-set match between American men Monday at the U.S. Open.The 26th-seeded Sock took the first two sets, dropped the next two, then went up two breaks in the fifth only for the 18-year-old Fritz to erase both of those. But Sock broke Fritzs serve again to clinch a 7-6 (3), 7-5, 3-6, 1-6, 6-4 win in 3 hours, 21 minutes.Sock overcame 17 double-faults and 73 unforced errors to beat Fritz in five sets in the first round at a major for the second time this year -- they also met at the Australian Open in Fritzs Grand Slam debut. The players combined for 99 winners Monday.Fritz, last years U.S. Open boys singles champ, is ranked a career-best 53rd.Earlier Monday, 20th-seeded John Isner beat another 18-year-old, Frances Tiafoe, in five sets in an all-U.S. matchup.---9:10 p.m.Fifth-seeded Milos Raonic advanced to the second round at the U.S. Open with a straight-set win.The Wimbledon runner-up beat 86th-ranked Dustin Brown 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 on Monday. Raonic had 41 winners.The U.S. Open is the only major at which the Canadian has yet to make at least the quarterfinals.Brown upset Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon in the second round last year.---7:55 p.m.Arthur Ashe Stadiums new roof has made its world premiere.As Phil Collins sang the first notes of In the Air Tonight during the U.S. Opens opening ceremony Monday night, the two retractable panels began to slide apart. Less than five minutes later, just after the song had ended, they had fully opened to reveal a hazy sky.Many fans eyes and smartphones pointed upward instead of at the on-court stage as Collins performed. He was later joined by Hamilton original cast member Leslie Odom Jr.There was no rain Monday to formally test the $150 million roof, but it still got a workout as part of the opening festivities. Officials closed it after the day session.---6:50 p.m.Olympic gold medalist Monica Puig has lost in the first round of the U.S. Open.The 32nd-seeded Puig was upset by 61st-ranked Zheng Saisai 6-4, 6-2 on Monday. Puig had insisted Saturday that she was mentally ready for the years final major after the whirlwind of the past couple of weeks, when she stunningly beat three Grand Slam champions to become Puerto Ricos first gold medalist and was feted at a parade on the island.Still, she recognized it was quite possible her U.S. Open trip wouldnt go well, reminding herself that shes just 22 years old. Shes now 1/3 at Flushing Meadows.Zheng, also 22, upset Agnieszka Radwanska at the Olympics. Shell be seeking to make it to the third round at a major for the first time.---6:20 p.m.French Open champ Garbine Muguruza says she thinks the heat caused her to have trouble breathing early in her U.S Open first-round match.The third-seeded Spaniard had to call for the trainer after dropping the first set to Belgian qualifier Elise Mertens with temperatures in the low 90s. Muguruza said after Mondays three-set victory that she had forgotten there were towels with ice available to cool off during changeovers. She also was able to relax more, which helped.Muguruza says she had some trouble breathing in practice a couple of days earlier as well, but she felt fine during her warmup Monday. The conditions reminded her of the Australian Open, though she never remembered it being this uncomfortable in New York.Then again, the 22-year-old has never stuck around past the second round in singles at the U.S. Open.---5:35 p.m.French tennis star Gael Monfils often brings down the house with his wild shots.In the first round of the U.S. Open on Monday, his play took down a panel along the back of Court 17. Trying to chase an overhead, Monfils went leaping into the wall to attempt to reach the ball.His right foot kicked a clock apparatus, and a moment later as he was reaching down to pick up his racket, the whole panel tumbled forward, spilling out wires from behind and clipping the back of his heels.Monfils was feeling fortunate afterward that he hadnt been seriously injured. The digital panel was in worse shape from the collision, with the pieces all askew.Asked if he had realized how hard he hit the wall, Monfils said: When you are in the moment you dont feel really anything. Just jump.The 10th-seeded Frenchman went on to beat Gilles Muller 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 (5).---5:15 p.m.In a matchup of American tennis present and future, 31-year-old John Isner rallied from down two sets to edge 18-year-old Frances Tiafoe in the first round of the U.S. Open.The 125th-ranked Tiafoe had a chance to serve out the match in the fifth set Monday, but Isner broke back then pulled away in the final tiebreaker to win 3-6, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2, 7-6 (3) in 3 hours, 27 minutes.It was just the second career comeback from two sets down for Isner. Tiafoe had never before played a five-set match.The 20th-seeded Isner has finished each of the last four years as the top-ranked U.S. man and has now won 11 straight Grand Slam first-round matches. Hes 5-0 against fellow Americans at majors.Tiafoe, who got in with a wild card, has just two career tour-level wins. He had played in two previous Grand Slam tournaments, losing in the first round both times.---4:50 p.m.French Open champ Garbine Muguruza lost the first set, called for the trainer and complained about trouble breathing. She won the second set without dropping a game, then pulled out a tough third set to move on at the U.S. Open.The third-seeded Spaniard beat Belgian qualifier Elise Mertens 2-6, 6-0, 6-3 in the first round. She had to save a break point at 3-3 in the third.The 22-year-old Muguruza went just 3-3 in her next six matches after winning her first major title at Roland Garros, before making a semifinal run at Cincinnati.With temperatures in the low 90s, the heat rule went into effect before the third set, giving the players a 10-minute break.The 137th-ranked Mertens is 20 years old and was making her Grand Slam debut. This was the first time she faced a top-20 opponent.Muguruza has never gone past the second round at the U.S. Open.---4:45 p.m.Playying with his left wrist heavily bandaged, Rafael Nadal won his first Grand Slam match in more than three months, easily beating Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 at the U.ddddddddddddS. Open.Nadals first-round victory in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Monday was straightforward. He produced 14 of his 21 winners via his forehand, which showed little sign of being troubled by a wrist he says is still not completely healed.Nadal hadnt played at a major since winning his second-round match at the French Open on May 26. He then withdrew from Roland Garros before the third round and sat out Wimbledon because of the problematic wrist.---4:30 p.m.John Isner has made a match of it against 18-year-old Frances Tiafoe in an all-American matchup at the U.S. Open.The 20th-seeded Isner dropped the first two sets of their first-round match. But he then won the next two, and they are on serve early in the fifth set.---3:20 p.m.American teen CiCi Bellis is now 2 for 2 in the first round of the U.S. Open.The darling of the 2014 tournament after she stunned Australian Open runner-up Dominika Cibulkova as a 15-year-old, Bellis is back in the main draw this year and beat 65th-ranked Viktorija Golubic 6-2, 6-3 on Monday.Bellis, now 17, is ranked 158th and advanced through qualifying to make the field. She next faces another American, Shelby Rogers, who upset 27th-seeded Sara Errani.---2:55 p.m.U.S. teenager Frances Tiafoe is one set away from upsetting the top-ranked American man, John Isner.The 18-year-old Tiafoe won the first two sets 6-3, 6-4 in the first round at the U.S. Open on Monday, breaking the big-serving Isner three times. Tiafoe, whos ranked 125th and got in with a wild card, is 0-2 at majors in his career.Isner is seeded 20th and has won 10 straight Grand Slam first-round matches.---2:45 p.m.Polona Hercog says she had been sick for several days before her first-round U.S. Open match, in which she retired after suffering from dizziness and cramping.The 120th-ranked Slovenian was trailing 6-0, 1-0 to second-seeded Angelique Kerber on Monday. Hercog says she felt dizzy after long rallies, and her legs started cramping in the fourth or fifth game. The 90-degree heat didnt help.Had Hercog withdrawn before the match, a lucky loser who fell in qualifying could have replaced her. Told that Croatian player Donna Vekic had sarcastically tweeted classy about the match, Hercog said: Its not my fault she lost in the last round of qualies.Hercog says she felt OK during warmups and wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to face the Australian Open champ on Arthur Ashe Stadium.---2:05 p.m.Two-time U.S. Open runner-up Caroline Wozniacki rallied from a set down for her first Grand Slam match win of 2016.Wozniacki beat American qualifier Taylor Townsend 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Monday in the first-ever match at the new 8,000-seat Grandstand. She lost in the first round at this years Australian Open and Wimbledon and skipped the French Open because of a right ankle injury that forced her to miss 2+ months. The former No. 1 players ranking has slipped to 74th, and shes unseeded at Flushing Meadows for the first time since her debut in 2007.The 20-year-old Townsend, ranked 146th, was playing her second U.S. Open.---1:50 p.m.Australian Open champ Angelique Kerber advanced to the second round at the U.S. Open when her opponent retired early in the second set without winning a game.The second-seeded Kerber led 6-0, 1-0 after 33 minutes when Polona Hercog stopped. The 120th-ranked Slovenian won just nine points in seven games.After the first set on a 90-degree day, Hercog took a medical timeout. Trainers checked her blood pressure and rubbed ice bags on her legs.Hercog, whos never been past the third round at a major, came in 2-1 against Kerber in tour-level matches, though they hadnt met since 2011.Kerber, who lost to Serena Williams in the Wimbledon final, has a chance to overtake her for the No. 1 ranking depending on their results at Flushing Meadows.---1:30 p.m.Richard Gasquet, the first seeded player to lose at the U.S. Open, summed up his quick exit this way: Not sure I could do worse.The 13th-seeded Gasquet, a semifinalist at Flushing Meadows in 2013, hadnt lost in the first round at a Grand Slam tournament since the French Open 6+ years ago.His 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 loss Monday was the first career victory over a player ranked in the top 15 for No. 84 Kyle Edmund of Britain.---1:25 p.m.Marin Cilic, the 2014 U.S. Open champ, is through to the second round with a straight-set win.The seventh-seeded Cilic beat 108th-ranked Rogerio Dutra Silva 6-4, 7-5, 6-1 on Monday despite posting more unforced errors than winners (24-23). Cilic is coming off his first Masters title, beating Andy Murray in the final at Cincinnati.Dutra Silva is now 0-3 against top-10 players. He came in 3-3 in his career at the U.S. Open and 0-5 in the other majors.---1:05 p.m.In his U.S. Open debut, Kyle Edmund has upset 13th-seeded Richard Gasquet.The 21-year-old Brit won 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 on Monday against the 2013 U.S. Open semifinalist. Edmund, ranked 84th, had 40 winners, 21 on his forehand. He has twice made it to the second round at the French Open.Gasquet hadnt lost in the first round at a major since 2010 at Roland Garros.---12:45 p.m.The woman who stunned Serena Williams at last years U.S. Open en route to the final, Roberta Vinci of Italy, won the first match in the tournaments refurbished Arthur Ashe Stadium.Vinci, who is seeded No. 7, overcame some second-set jitters to beat 46th-ranked Anna-Lena Friedsam of Germany 6-2, 6-4 on Monday.In the 2015 semifinals at Flushing Meadows, Vinci -- unseeded and ranked 43rd at the time -- upset Williams, ending the Americans bid for tennis first calendar-year Grand Slam in 27 years. That put Vinci into her first major final, where she lost to another Italian, childhood friend Flavia Pennetta.The temperature hit 90 degrees Monday, but the new retractable roof atop Ashe provided some shade for spectators -- and, on one side of the court, players.---11:20 a.m.Play has started at the 2016 U.S. Open under sunny skies with no rain in the forecast for days, which could delay the first official use of the new retractable roof on Arthur Ashe Stadium.The $150 million roof, which can close in about seven minutes, is to be used, according to tournament officials, only in the event of inclement weather or the strong possibility of inclement weather.Neither is expected in the next few days, with forecasts calling for clear skies and highs in the 80s.The roof is still set to make its debut, of sorts, at Monday nights opening ceremony. The U.S. Tennis Association plans to shut the roof after the day session and open it for effect while Phil Collins performs In the Air Tonight. ' ' '