TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Nick Saban doesnt want to leave Alabamas fate in the hands of a committee.The top-ranked Crimson Tide certainly is the closest team to a lock at making the College Football Playoffs if it wins out, but the precarious nature of that race was driven home when the rest of the top four teams fell last weekend.Alabama would make the playoffs for a third straight season with wins over FCS team Chattanooga, No. 18 Auburn and in the Southeastern Conference championship game. The Chattanooga game on Saturday seems to offer little risk of an upset, but Saban can use the losses by Michigan, Clemson and Washington to illustrate the added comfort of making the playoff selection committees choice a no-brainer.The message is when you win, you control your own destiny, he said Monday. When you dont, you allow someone else to determine what your fates going to be. We have all these teams that lost one game now. Somebody has to decide who gets to do what.If you put yourself in that situation, you let somebody else decide what your fate is. If you take care of your business and do things the way you need to do it, then maybe you can control your own destiny in the way you play.Alabama, which sports a 22-game winning streak, has already clinched the SEC West title and hasnt shown any signs that a slipup is likely. The Tide has allowed just three points in the last two games, beating No. 16 LSU 10-0 and Mississippi State 51-3 while easily dispatching four ranked opponents in the last five games.An early kickoff for a 51-3 win over Mississippi State gave Tide players a chance to watch other games around the country, including those upsets.Its kind of an eye-opener, center Bradley Bozeman said.Alabama had locked up the West outright by early evening, when Georgia upset No. 18 Auburn.Saban gave the Tide Monday off from practice to recuperate from that SEC stretch before the Iron Bowl. That doesnt mean hes any easier on his players just because the opponent is an FCS team.Hes going to be the same regardless of who were playing, wide receiver ArDarius Stewart said. Thats what makes our team so great. We play to a standard, and he keeps it that way.TIDE NOTE: Quarterback Jalen Hurts is SEC co-offensive player of the week along with LSU tailback Derrius Guice. ... Tailback Bo Scarbrough missed the Mississippi State game with a sprained knee, but Saban said hes OK medically to play once he gets his confidence back up. ... Right guard Alphonse Taylor hasnt played in the last four games after starting four straight, and may not return this season. The senior sustained a concussion in the Arkansas game. I think thats a medical decision, Saban said. I am not assuming that hes going to come back. It would be a bonus if he did. I dont think he will, based on the amount of time that weve had, so its something that were still evaluating but its something that were not counting on.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 Ron Kittle Jersey . The 18th player to shoot 60 on the tour, Jamieson settled for par on the final hole when his 15-foot birdie chip grazed the edge of the hole and stayed out. After opening with rounds of 66 and 73 to make the cut by a stroke, he had 11 birdies in the bogey-free round. Kodi Medeiros Jersey . Didier Drogba gave away the penalty that put Senegal one goal away from a major upset, but the veteran striker will get another chance -- probably his last -- at the World Cup after Salomon Kalous injury-time strike sealed the Ivorians place in Brazil next year. https://www.cheapwhitesox.com/774e-ian-hamilton-jersey-white-sox.html . Vokoun departed practice on Saturday morning after discovering swelling in his thigh. He was taken to a local hospital where the clot was revealed. The club announced the surgery following a 5-3 exhibition loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. John Danks White Sox Jersey .S District Court against Major League Baseball, the Office of the Commissioner and his own union, the MLBPA. Chicago White Sox Pro Shop . Emery skated the length of the ice and fought an unwilling Holtby during the third period of the Flyers 7-0 loss Friday night in Philadelphia. He was given 29 penalty minutes, including a game misconduct. But Emery did not face even a disciplinary hearing with NHL senior vice president of player safety Brendan Shanahan because rules 46. DETROIT -- Erick Aybar heated up with the bat in recent weeks. The Detroit Tigers hope their newest acquisition can keep that going throughout their playoff push.The veteran infielder was acquired from the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday and inserted into the lineup on Wednesday. He went 0-for-3 but reached base on a walk and an error as the Tigers lost 4-1 to the Kansas City Royals.Aybar batted second and played shortstop, and he could play there regularly until Jose Iglesias recovers from an hamstring injury that landed him on the 15-day disabled list last week. Aybar also could get starts at third base with Nick Castellanos on the DL due to a broken hand.He was hitting .242 with the Braves but posted a .313 average since the All-Star break before joining Detroit.The main reason for this move is to upgrade our utility position, Tigers general manager Al Avila said when the deal was made. We feel Aybar could give us a little more offense.There is a good chance Aybar will be in the lineup once again when the Tigers open a pivotal four-game series with the red-hot Boston Red Sox on Thursday. The longtime Los Angeles Angels shortstop is glad to be back in a pennant race.Atlanta was a different mindset because of the (rebuilding) phase up there, he said through an interpreter. Coming here, its a totally different mindset. Youre trying to win.Detroit is desperate for a victory after getting swept by the Royals in a three-game series. Meanwhile, Boston extended its winning streak to six games with an 8-1, rain-shortened win at Baltimore on Wednesday.Left-hander Matt Boyd, who has been on an impressive run since the All-Star break, will start Thursdays matinee. Boyd (4-2) iis 4-0 with a 2.dddddddddddd22 ERA in his past six starts.He had an outing he would like to forget in his only previous start against the Red Sox. While still a member of the Toronto Blue Jays last year, Boyd didnt record an out while allowing seven runs on six hits and a walk.Boyd will be opposed by right-hander Clay Buchholz, who is temporarily back in the Boston rotation with All-Star Steven Wright on the DL due to a shoulder injury. Buchholz, who had been banished to a long relief role, started against Arizona on Saturday and lasted 4 1/3 innings while giving three runs.Buchholz (4-9) made some mechanical adjustments that have improved his outlook. He is 2-1 with a 3.54 ERA in 10 career outings against Detroit, including eight starts.I think Ive found some stuff that I needed to work out, Buchholz told the Boston Herald. Release point and just arm strength overall. I think its gotten a little better as the weeks have gone on as I was moved out there (to the bullpen).Right fielder Mookie Betts kept his hot streak going Wednesday with three runs and two hits from the cleanup spot. Betts has at least one hit in all but one start since July 30, and he has hit five home runs over the past four games.He doesnt take on any added significance to the role or the spot in the lineup, Boston manager John Farrell said. Hes in some kind of spot right now the way hes seeing the baseball, the way hes making such hard contact.Boston will be seeking some revenge after getting swept by the Tigers in a three-game series at Fenway Park in late July. ' ' '
