Top-ranked Alabama is in the driver seat to make a return trip to the College Football Playoff, and possibly repeat as national champions.First, the Tide must take care of the rival LSU Tigers at Death Valley on Saturday (8 p.m. ET, CBS).Theyve got a very good team, playing very, very well right now, Alabama coach Nick Saban said. New energy and enthusiasm. There have been a lot of really good games between these two teams through the years. Its kind of developed into a rivalry game of sorts. Weve both been ranked over the last eight or nine years, most of the time in the Top 10.This is a real challenge game for us. Well find out who we are, what were made of and how we can compete in a very difficult circumstance.It is not quite the annual Game of the Century that it was in recent years, but it is still LSU and Alabama, and there still is quite a big at stake.The Tigers (5-2, 3-1 Southeastern Conference) fired head coach Les Miles after a 2-2 start, but they are 3-0 under Ed Orgeron, and they are No. 13 in the first CFP rankings. They can tighten the race in the SEC West if they can upset the top-ranked Crimson Tide (8-0, 5-0).Saban said he considers LSU unbeaten, because the Tigers have not lost on Oregerons watch. He repeated the idea to his team during the two-week buildup to this showdown.A win would greatly bolster Orgerons case to be named the permanent successor to Miles, but with games against Arkansas, Florida and Texas A&M in a 13-day stretch looming, there is still a lot of regular-season work left after Alabama for LSU and Orgeron to get to where they want to be.Both teams are coming off an open date and should be well rested.That should be especially good news for Tigers All-America running back Leonard Fournette, who is the healthiest he has been all season. He had two weeks to heal after a record-setting performance against Ole Miss in the Tigers most recent game.I havent really seen a guy dominate a game like he did that game for a long time, Saban said. We have a tremendous amount of respect for him, and he looks as good as ever and maybe even better.The Crimson Tide stymied Fournette in their 30-16 win last season, holding him to 31 yards on 19 rushes.Were going to do some things with Leonard that hes able to do, Orgeron said. I think that whatever happened last year is the past. We have a great game plan for Leonard.But its going to be very tough moving the football on this defense. Theyre one of the best defenses Ive ever seen.Orgeron said the key to the game will be whether the Tigers can get Fournette the football in some plays that we think he runs very well and protect quarterback Danny Etling.Fournette is coming off the most prolific rushing game in LSU history -- a 284-yard performance in a 38-21 win against Ole Miss. However, it is Fournettes least-productive performance in his three seasons that also is significant entering this game. Alabama smothered Fournette last season and used single coverage outside, blatantly showing the hand of a defensive game plan that invited LSU to throw the ball.Fournette and the offensive line will be committed to improving significantly on that performance, and he will have to be a bigger factor than he was last season if the Tigers are going to pull off the upset.We think we can get some receivers down the field, but we got to be able to protect (Etling) long enough to be able to protect the quarterback to get those plays down the field, Orgeron said. Its going to be protection first. We have to protect our quarterback in order to get the ball down the field. Were going to have to do some things with Leonard that enables him to be in space and run the football.Alabama leads the series 50-25-5 and has won each of the past five meetings. In the past five games at Tiger Stadium, each team scored a total of 103 points, and two of those games went into overtime. The Crimson Tide won three of those five games. Air Force 1 Schwarz Sale .C. -- When North Carolina freshman Ryan Switzer reported to training camp in August he was a little miffed to learn he was third on the depth chart at punt returner. Air Force 1 Damen Sale .ca! Hi Kerry, Heres an interesting one. I know its common knowledge that all players are responsible for their sticks. We witnessed that when Zack Kassian hit Edmontons Sam Gagner in the face after a missed check. http://www.airforce1gunstig.de/air-huarache-deutschland.html . The team says the Spain international has a muscle pull in his right leg. Barcelona hosts third-division side Cartagena in the return leg of their round-of-32 tie after winning their first meeting 4-1. Air Force 1 Günstig Kaufen Deutschland . 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. Nike Air Presto Schwarz Günstig . Mitch Holmberg added a goal and three assists. Connor Chartier also scored for the Chiefs (3-0-0). Luke Harrison spoiled Garrett Hughsons shutout bid with a power-play goal at 13:17 of the third period. The Spokane goaltender finished with 28 saves, including a Brandon Fushimi penalty shot in the second period that would have tied the game 1-1. OMAHA, Neb. -- If Justin Pattons growth continues like it has been, hes going to be a big problem for the Big East once conference play begins.The 7-foot, 230-pound redshirt freshman made all eight of his shots and scored 14 of his 17 points in the second half, leading No. 12 Creighton in an 82-52 victory over Loyola (Md.) on Saturday.I dont know that you ever expect a freshman to have the impact that hes having, Bluejays coach Greg McDermott said. Its hard for freshmen in college basketball. He jokes about the redshirt year, and it ended up being a great thing for him.Patton grew an inch and gained 25 pounds while sitting out last season. Hes scored 10 or more points in each of Creightons six games, showing off a nifty spin move, jump hook shot and monster dunk.He certainly is not there yet 100 percent, McDermott said. Hes made tremendous strides, and his growth is really happening day by day right in front of our eyes. The guys trust him, especially offensively when he dives at the rim. You throw it up there and he goes to get it.The Bluejays (6-0) couldnt shake the Greyhounds (2-4) in the first half, shooting 36.7 percent while getting out to a 30-25 lead. They opened the second half with a 36-15 run to create a 66-40 bulge, and they shot 74 percent after half.Creightons superior size and athleticism became apparent as the Greyhounds wore down. Patton dunked three times and Marcus Foster, who had 16 points, dunked once during the decisive run.Patton picked up two quick fouls and was limited to 8 minutes in the first half. He didnt stew on the bench. He said he was happy to play cheerleader.I already have got a chip on my shoulder, Patton said. I sat out a whole year. Im used to it.Loyola had no answer for Patton, with anyone who tried to guard him giving up at least 4 inches. Greyhounds coach G.G. Smith said he considered double-teaming Patton but didnt do it in the first half because Loyola was keeping the game close. In the second half, Pattoon surprised Smith with shot-making ability.ddddddddddddWe did a very poor job of making him score over us. We gave him way too many looks at the basket, Smith said. He has pretty nice post moves. Hes a freshman, right? Hes pretty good for a freshman. He has a bright future. Hes a tough matchup for us.Jarred Jones led Loyola with 13 points and Andre Walker added 12 points and five assists.Creighton scored 28 points off the Greyhounds 18 turnovers and outscored them 50-26 in the paint.Tale of two halves, Smith said. Our guys competed in the first half, and we were down five against one of the nations most efficient offensive teams. Theyre so hard to stop for two halves.BIG PICTURELoyola (Md.): The Greyhounds didnt seem intimidated playing in an arena eight times the size of their 2,100-seat gym. They didnt have the manpower to keep up with up-tempo Creighton for 40 minutes.Creighton: It took a while for the Bluejays to get going, but once they did in the second half they looked every bit as good as they did in winning the Paradise Jam.MEAN MARTINMartin Krampelj (pronounced Mar-TEEN CROM-pul) gave the Bluejays what they needed off the bench with center Zach Hanson being out three months with an ankle injury. The 6-9 redshirt freshman from Slovenia was 5 for 7 for 10 points in 16 minutes. He had four points, four rebounds, a block and an assist in 7 minutes off the bench in the first half.POLL IMPLICATIONSCreighton took care of business, remains unbeaten and should stay right where it is in the Top 25 , if not move up a spot or two on the strength of its Paradise Jam championship.UP NEXTLoyola (Md.) heads to Long Island to face Stony Brook on Wednesday.Creighton hosts Buffalo, which will be three days removed from playing in the Great Alaska Shootout, on Tuesday.---More AP college basketball: http://collegebasketball.ap.org ' ' '