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The Southeastern Conference is down to one playoff contender.Defending national champion and top-ranked Alabama is a lock for its third straight berth if the Crimson Tide can beat No. 15 Florida in the SEC championship game Saturday in Atlanta, and may not even need to win.`Bama much prefers the first scenario.Winning the SEC championship is something thats really important to us and we think a very, very significant accomplishment, Alabama coach Nick Saban said Sunday. Thats kind of one of the goals that we have. Whatever comes beyond that, comes beyond that but our focus needs to be on this game.The Gators (8-3) were playoff longshots even before Saturday nights 31-13 loss to rival Florida State but could have made a case with two huge closing wins. They emerged from a topsy-turvy SEC East to earn a title game rematch.I gave them until 3:45 in the morning, which is when we unloaded the bus, to think about it and then erase it and learn from it, said Floridas Jim McElwain, the first coach to lead a team to SEC championship games in each of his first two seasons.He wanted them to start preparation realizing that theres a whole bunch of people that wish they were playing on this championship weekend.Nobodys surprised that the Tide (12-0), the last unbeaten team from a Power 5 conference, is back in the Georgia Dome. `Bama players werent particularly interested in talking about their playoff prospects after Saturdays 30-12 win over rival Auburn.We just worry about the next game, linebacker Ryan Anderson said. Teams that start worrying about the Final Four and all that, they get beat.The SEC championship winner has played for a national title or made the playoffs in eight straight seasons.Here are some story lines to watch in the SEC championship game:FAMILIAR FOES: The winner will take the lead in this frequent SEC championship matchup. Florida and Alabama have split the previous eight meetings dating back to the games debut in 1992. Five times the winner has gone on to win a national title, three for the Tide and two for the Gators.Alabama won 29-15 last season en route to a national title.Its two storied programs and two programs that year in and year out expect to be in Atlanta, McElwain, a former Tide offensive coordinator, said.TOUGH DEFENSES: The two best defenses in the league will take on offenses that have been less consistent. The Tide leads the nation in run defense, scoring defense and total defense The Gators rank third in pass efficiency defense and fifth in both points and yards allowed.The Tide hasnt allowed a touchdown in the last 267 minutes, 54 seconds of game time, dating back to the third quarter of the Texas A&M game on Oct. 22.OFFENSIVE ISSUES: Alabamas offense has been prone to stopping itself at times, including two Jalen Hurts interceptions in the first half against Auburn. The Tide also fumbled four times in the half but recovered all of them. Those kinds of things could come back to haunt them in their bid for titles. Florida has perhaps more serious offensive concerns after gaining just 207 yards against FSU, including 58 on the ground.SHERIT OUT: McElwain said starting defensive end Jordan Sherit wont play in the game. He sustained an apparent right leg injury against FSU.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 Ken Giles Jersey . Louis. To which I would say two things: 1. Where there is smoke, there is or perhaps has been a little fire. Or, in other words, the two teams would appear to have at least spoken. And spoken is defined as one calling the other to inquire, no more, no less. Rowdy Tellez Jersey .com) - Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Roger Federer were easy first-round winners Tuesday at the Australian Open. http://www.bluejaysonline.com/blue-jays-dalton-pompey-jersey/ . The Vikings announced Thursday that Priefer will be one of seven holdovers from the previous staff, along with offensive line coach Jeff Davidson, wide receivers coach George Stewart and others. Norv Turner will mark his 30th year of coaching in the NFL as the offensive co-ordinator, as widely reported for weeks, and George Edwards will be the defensive co-ordinator. Aaron Sanchez Blue Jays Jersey . -- Matt Ryan needed one of the best games of his career to lead the Falcons and their depleted offence out of their three-game losing streak last week. Devon Travis Blue Jays Jersey . Clarke was injured while practicing on the Doha Golf Club range after the pro-am on Tuesday. The Northern Irishman arrived at the course on Wednesday hoping to start, but after hitting a few balls on the practice putting green Clarke advised officials he was not fit to play. CINCINNATI --?Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert returned to practice Wednesday for the first time since injuring his ankle in the Pro Bowl.Wide receiver A.J. Green was not at practice as he is awaiting the birth of his first child with his wife Miranda.Eifert was in pads and on the main practice field for the first time since last season. In the portion of practice open to the media, Eifert ran routes and then worked with the wide receiver group in individual drills.Eifert said he would be limited in his first practice back, meaning that he likely wouldnt engage in contact or 11-or-11 drills.Eifert, who had surgery on the ankle in May, has slowly been working his way back to full speed. He was seen running routes in pregame warmups prior to the Steelers game on Sunday.Althouugh he kept that under wraps until Sunday, it wasnt the first time hed taken that step.dddddddddddd. That began on the rehab field in practice last week.We were running routes a couple of days before. We waited for you guys to leave, he said with a grin.Eifert said he didnt feel any lingering soreness from his increase in workload. It didnt get sore or anything. It felt great, he said.Eifert spoke to reporters in the locker room prior to practice and said hes felt great. His status for Sundays game against the Broncos is still up in the air.Feeling good, Im continuing to progress forward and keep taking steps to get closer to playing, he said. ' ' '