Wales star Jamie Roberts has delivered a damning verdict on his performance against opening autumn opponents Australia and says he fully respected head coach Rob Howleys decision to drop him.Roberts has been restored to the Wales midfield for Saturdays Principality Stadium appointment with Japan, when he will win an 85th cap and extend a 45-Test midfield partnership with fellow British and Irish Lion Jonathan Davies.And the 30-year-old Harlequins centre is determined to bounce back after paying a hefty and unfamiliar price for Wales 32-8, five-try Wallabies defeat earlier this month by losing his place when they took on -- and beat -- Argentina six days ago.I could think of a few four-letter expletives to describe how I played against Australia, Roberts said. The hardest thing was probably trying to find a reason why, but it was nothing more and nothing less than a bad day at the office.I pride myself on consistency of performance, especially defensively, but it was a disappointing day personally and for the side. I certainly didnt deserve to play last weekend.Having spoken to Rob after the Australia game, I fully respected his decision. Its the nature of what we do. Its a competitive squad here, and we know if we dont perform, you dont deserve to keep the jersey.So I did a bit of soul-searching and certainly had a few sleepless nights, but you learn from it and I am ready and raring to go again this weekend.I walked off the pitch against Australia with a big inkling that I was going to be dropped. I made mistakes -- mistakes I dont normally make -- and that was the hardest thing was trying to find the reason why.I have been playing well this season and came into the camp with confidence. I had a poor performance. I am not over-thinking it.The competition in the squad is strong, especially at centre, and if you dont play well you dont deserve to keep the jersey.That is what drives us all forward, and hopefully thats what will drive me forward this week with a point to prove. Thats what Test rugby is about, and we are all in a better place for it.Roberts was an unused replacement last weekend as Wales edged out the Pumas 24-20, but he has dismissed any notion of Japans Cardiff visit providing him with an opportunity for redemption.Its not a shot at redemption -- it would be selfish to say that -- its about Wales winning and playing my part in that, he added. You learn from it. It has given me a new perspective, given me a kick up the backside, which I hope, when I look back on this season, that I needed. That is the way I am treating it.Wales have beaten Japan eight times in nine Tests, and that domination should continue with something to spare on Saturday, building further momentum ahead of next weeks autumn finale against South Africa.And one of the highlights could be an appearance off the bench by 18-year-old uncapped Ospreys wing Keelan Giles, whose devastating finishing ability and blistering pace have already seen him being mentioned in the same breath as Wales record try-scorer Shane Williams.I cant remember a guy as evasive as Keelan since Shane Williams, said Roberts, continuing the theme. We have had a drill in training when were put up one on one with Keelan, and it has been quite embarrassing.He is a frightening prospect, and I hope he gets a chance to come on and show his worth and show his potential. He is a humble lad and he knows this is a big opportunity for him. He has the potential to cause carnage.Benoit Pouliot Jersey . 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First off, the fans ripped the Cubbies introduction of a fuzzy new kid-friendly mascot named "Clark".Thanksgiving weekend is filled with the rivalries and season-ending drama. The first weekend in December will determine just about every conference championship.This weekend in college football looks like it has limited potential to shake up the rankings and College Football Playoff chase. But thats also what last weekend looked like and we all know how that turned out.For once, the Big 12 is in the spotlight. The conferences best hopes for making a late push to the College Football Playoff will meet in Morgantown, West Virginia, when the No. 10 Mountaineers face No. 8 Oklahoma.The Sooners (8-2) have the higher ranking but West Virginia, with its 8-1 record, probably has a better path to the playoff. Both teams will need some help as the College Football Playoff committee has not shown itself to be particularly impressed with the conferences best teams.Another game to watch in the Big 12 this week is in Fort Worth, Texas, when No. 13 Oklahoma State faces TCU. The Cowboys are the longest of playoff long shots, weighed down by a loss to Central Michigan that was aided by a blown call by officials. Oklahoma State has already beaten West Virginia and finishes the season against rival Oklahoma.The picks:THURSDAY NIGHT THROWDOWNSNo. 3 Louisville (minus 14) at HoustonLikely the last big-stage game for Lamar Jackson and the Cardinals to show off their stuff to Heisman voters and the selection committee ... HOUSTON 35-28, UPSET SPECIAL.Arkansas State (plus 8+) at No. 25 TroyThe newly ranked Trojans are looking to make it two straight victories in games for first-place in the Sun Belt ... TROY 35-21.FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTSUNLV (plus 28+) at No. 22 Boise StateThe Rebels helped the Broncos a bunch last week by beating Wyoming ... BOISE STATE 45-28.MARQUEE MATCHUPS.No. 8 Oklahoma (minus 2+) at No. 10 West VirginiaThe Mountaineers defense has been solid, but with one major concern: Not much pass rush (17 sacks) ... OKLAHOMA 40-34.No. 20 Washington State (plus 4+) at No. 12 ColoradoMaybe the most unlikely game of the season with playoff implications ... COLORADO 28-27.No. 21 Florida (plus 13+) at No. 16 LSUThe Gators can clinch the SEC East by winning this hurricane-postponed game. The Tigers can give Tennessee the inside track to the division with a win ... LSU 28-12.PLAYOFF IMPLICATIONSNo. 2 Ohio State (minus 22+) at Michigan StateIt has been such a horrible season for the Spartans, but they have Ohio State and Penn State in the next two weeks with a chance to pull a season-salvaging upset. OHIO STATE 35-17.Indiana (plus 23) at No. 4 MichiganThe Wolverines are not built to be quarterback-dependent, which should serve them well against the Hoosiers ... MICHIGAN 42-17.No. 5 Clemson (minus 22+) at Wake ForestThe Demon Deacons defense mucked up both Louisville and Florida State, so the Tigers take Wake seriously ... CLEMSON 28-10.No. 6 Wisconsin (minus 28) at PurdueThe Badgers can win tthe Big Ten West by winning out .dddddddddddd... WISCONSIN 35-13.Arizona State (plus 27) at No. 7 WashingtonThe ideal way for QB Jake Browning and the Huskies to bounce back from their worst game of the season? A home game against the worst pass defense in the Pac-12 ... WASHINGTON 50-21.CONFERENCE CALLSNo. 9 Penn State (minus 28) at RutgersNittany Lions RB Saquon Barkley against the worst rushing defense in the Big Ten ... PENN STATE 45-14.Oregon (plus 14) at No. 11 UtahTwo more games for Mark Helfrich to show he should remain the Ducks coach ... UTAH 46-30.No. 13 Oklahoma State (plus 4) at TCUThe Cowboys have had consecutive great-escape victories to keep their Big 12 title hopes alive ... TCU 35-28.No. 15 Southern California (minus 11) at UCLAThe Trojans are rolling into the rivalry game while the Bruins are just trying to salvage a season ... USC 42-21, BEST BET.No. 17 Florida State (minus 21) at SyracuseIf Clemson and Louisville can make the playoff, Florida State could end up in the Orange Bowl ... FLORIDA STATE 38-24.Maryland (plus 14) at No. 19 NebraskaThe Terps are still looking for win No. 6 for bowl eligibility. Probably not this week, though the Cornhuskers could be without QB Tommy Armstrong ... NEBRASKA 33-17.No. 24 San Diego State (minus 10) at WyomingA victory by Donnel Pumphrey and the Aztecs would help set up a San Diego State-Boise State Mountain West title game, which would help the conferences chances to get a New Years Six bowl bid ... SAN DIEGO STATE 28-17.LATE-SEASON NONCONFERENCEUTSA (plus 27+) at No. 23 Texas A&MThe Aggies look to build a little confidence before a Thanksgiving night game against LSU ... TEXAS A&M 49-21.TWITTER REQUESTSStanford (minus 11) at California -- (at)scurrynChristian McCaffrey against the Bears defense (equals) so many missed tackles ... STANFORD 42-24.Mississippi (minus 10) at Vanderbilt -- (at)jeremiah8712The Rebels can get bowl eligible with a win; the Commodores need to win their last two to get to six victories ... MISSISSIPPI 34-17.Notre Dame (pickem) at Virginia Tech -- (at)hokiesmashThe Hokies have had some perplexing losses, but inconsistency probably should have been expected in their first season with a new coach ... NOTRE DAME 28-27.UConn (plus 7+) at Boston College -- (at)LicatacsThe Eagles can still get bowl-eligible by winning out -- which is remarkable considering how poorly they have played against good competition ... BOSTON COLLEGE 14-10.Harvard (minus 12+) at Yale -- (at)MattSmithCFBThe Crimson need help to win the Ivy League ... HARVARD 34-17.---Record: Last week 14-12 straight; 12-14 vs. points.Season: 163-69; 105-122-3.Upset specials: 3-8.Best bets: 2-9.---Follow Ralph D. Russo at www.Twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '