TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Fresh from one major upset, Mississippi State is gunning for an even bigger target: No. 1 Alabama.The Bulldogs win over No. 10 Texas A&M makes the Crimson Tides break Saturday from a four-game parade of ranked opponents look more treacherous, even if the oddsmakers dont think so.The Bulldogs (4-5, 2/3 Southeastern Conference) remain four-touchdown underdogs despite that performance against the Aggies, who had been fourth in the College Football Playoff rankings. Alabama (9-0, 6-0, No. 1 CFP) hasnt appeared nearly so vulnerable but must recover from the physical and mental toll of a 10-0 slugfest against No. 19 LSU.I think the biggest thing is we cant have any kind of relief syndrome after a big, emotional game, Alabama coach Nick Saban said.The Tide has won the last eight meetings with the team from a mere 90 minutes away. Survive this game, and the Tide can win the SEC West outright with an Iron Bowl victory over No. 8 Auburn.Saban said Mississippi State is playing the best it has all season. The Bulldogs challenge is to see if they can keep it up after that 35-28 win over the Aggies.For us, we have a very young team and I want to see how they react, said coach Dan Mullen, who is 0-7 against the Tide but has produced four wins over Top 10 teams.In some ways, it is not a bad situation to be in. Nobody expects us to win, so we just have to go find a way to win the game without the pressure on us.Alabama cornerback Marlon Humphrey thinks it might be a boon to the Tide, just in case there was any temptation to look past this game. The Bulldogs racked up 574 yards of total offense against the Aggies.I know Mississippi States had a lot of close games that theyve lost, Humphrey said. To beat Texas A&M must mean theyre doing something right. That actually might help our mind-set. Theyre a pretty good team. Theyve got as many scholarship players as we do. Theyve got good players, too. You just cant take anybody lightly.Mississippi State must win two of its final three games to become bowl eligible, finishing against Arkansas and at Mississippi.---Some other things to know about this game:RUNNING QBS: The game features the SECs top two rushing quarterbacks. Mississippi States Nick Fitzgerald, the co-SEC offensive player of the week, is fifth overall in the SEC with 839 yards and eight touchdowns. He faces the nations top run defense. Hurts has run for 635 yards and 10 touchdowns.MILESTONES: Saban just picked up his 200th win as a college head coach. Now, hes got a chance to equal the record of 40 wins as the No. 1 team currently shared by Ohio States Woody Hayes and Florida States Bobby Bowden. This is also Mullens 100th game as a head coach.STANDOUT RECEIVERS: Neither team has put up huge passing numbers but both have standout wide receivers. Alabamas Calvin Ridley and ArDarius Stewart are both significant threats. Mississippi States Fred Ross leads the SEC with nine receiving touchdowns and his 54 catches ranks second.PASSING OPPORTUNITY? Alabama hasnt produced a 200-yard passing day in its past three games. The Bulldogs, though, rank last in the SEC in pass defense, giving up 21 passing touchdowns and 264 yards per game.PROTECTING FITZGERALD: The Bulldogs have allowed 20 sacks this season despite Fitzgeralds mobility. Alabamas defense leads the nation with 37 sacks, led by Jonathan Allen and Tim Williams, making good pass protection paramount.---More AP college football at http://collegefootball.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-Top25 Custom Allan Houston Jersey . Coach Mike Munchak says Fokou stretched ligaments in his left knee Oct. 13 against Seattle, which could keep out up to five weeks even though the linebacker didnt need surgery. Knicks Jerseys China .S. 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CLEVELAND -- Thrust into an awkward situation in January, Tyronn Lue finished on top in June.On Tuesday, the affable coach was rewarded for the greatest run by a Cleveland team in more than a half-century.Lue was given a multiyear contract extension with the Cavaliers, who promoted him halfway through a season that ended with a historic comeback and NBA championship.A former assistant, Lue took over when David Blatt was fired in January and led the Cavs to an unexpected title, the citys first pro sports team to win it all since the Browns in 1964.Terms of Lues extension were not immediately disclosed. The AP and other media outlets reported an agreement on the extension Monday.Cavs general manager David Griffin, who approached Lue about the job after dismissing Blatt on Jan. 22, credited the coachs steadiness in helping the team win.Ty took over our team under very trying circumstances and his calm, confident approach was invaluable as we found our way to success, Griffin said. His vision, leadership and tactical acumen were fundamental to us reaching our goals.After replacing Blatt, who was canned despite taking the team to the finals in 2015 and getting them off to a 30-11 start, Lue immediately changed the teams offense. He felt the Cavs were best when they pushed the ball up the floor, and Lue was able to better incorporate star forward Kevin Love, who was a forgotten man in Blatts system.ddddddddddddAs a former player, Lue knew when to be tough and when to ease up on his players.The opportunity to continue coaching the Cavaliers and this very special group of players is tremendous, said Lue. I am extremely appreciative of the effort and commitment that (owners) Dan Gilbert, Jeff Cohen, Nate Forbes, and David Griffin showed in extending my contract.During the playoffs, Lue became the first head coach in league history to win his first 10 postseason games. The Cavs overcame a 3-1 deficit in the NBA Finals to dethrone the Golden State Warriors.Lue became the fourth-youngest head coach to win an NBA title and the third to win a championship after taking over a team mid-season, joining Pat Riley (2006 and 1982) and Paul Westhead (1980).Lue joined the Cavs as an associate head coach in June 2014. Before he was with Cleveland, Lue coached on Doc Rivers staff with the Los Angeles Clippers and Boston Celtics.The 39-year-old Lue played 11 seasons in the NBA, with 554 career games. He played on title teams with the Lakers in 2000 and 2001. ' ' '
