TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The Southeastern Conferences two stingiest defenses will take the field in the league championship game.Thats no coincidence.No. 1 Alabama has kept its end zone off-limits for more than a month and been practically impenetrable to running backs. No. 15 Florida has only given up a few more points per game and flummoxed opposing quarterbacks.With defenses like that, it doesnt matter so much that neither team so far has a 1,000-yard rusher and their passing games have been statistically middle-of-the-pack. Both defenses feature highly rated NFL prospects like the Tides Jonathan Allen and the Gators Jalen Tabor.Its kind of like a minor league NFL game, Florida quarterback Austin Appleby said. Theres going to be first-rounders and NFL players all over the field. This is what its all about in the SEC.The Tide hasnt allowed a touchdown in 13-plus quarters, dating all the way back to October 22 against Texas A&M.A star-studded group led by defensive end Allen, linebacker Reuben Foster and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick leads the nation in limiting scoring (11.4 points per game), rushing (68.7 yards) and total defense (246.8 yards). Alabamas numbers in all three categories are significantly better than last seasons national championship team.Its certainly the most opportunistic defense nationally, having allowed 12 touchdowns and scored nine .I feel like were the best, but we have to go out there and prove it every week, Allen said. We have the mentality we have to go out there and suffocate and dominate the offense we go against.Its worked well so far.Allen and Foster are two of five finalists for the Bronco Nagurski Trophy given to the nations top defensive player. Allen has even drawn some buzz as a Heisman Trophy contender with two defensive touchdowns and seven sacks.Linebacker Shaun Dion Hamiltons response when asked which Tide defender hed nominate for such an award: The defense.I would take all 11 guys because, I mean, when all 11 guys do their job and get a win thats what matters the most, Hamilton said.Floridas defense has been afflicted with injuries to key players, including defensive linemen Bryan Cox Jr. and Jordan Sherit, safety Marcus Maye and linebackers Alex Anzalone and Jarrad Davis -- all expected to miss the game.Led by cornerbacks Tabor and Quincy Wilson, the Gators still rank among the nations best in pass defense (third), scoring (fifth) and total yards allowed (sixth).Floridas defense has remained formidable but the injuries have taken a toll, including in last weekends 31-13 loss to Florida State. At their best, the Gators allowed 43 rushing yards to South Carolina, 149 total yards to Kentucky and a paltry 53 total yards against North Texas. They also held LSU, which Alabama shut out, to 10 points.An Alabama offense led by quarterback Jalen Hurts, tailback Damien Harris and wide receiver ArDarius Stewart poses a bigger challenge.Tide tight end O.J. Howard remembered the challenge of facing Florida in last seasons SEC championship, which Alabama won 29-15.The same offense went on to score 38 points against Michigan in the playoff semifinals and 45 in the title game against Clemson. Howard called the Gators fast, explosive, very productive.Those guys are the best defense we played last year overall, honestly, he said. I think theyve got a couple of guys banged up this season, but that defense is one of the best defenses we will face since LSU.The Tigers held Alabama to season-lows of 10 points and 323 yards.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 Saucony Shoes Outlet . The No. 1-ranked Nadal tweaked his back warming up for the Australian Open final, which he lost almost four weeks ago in a major upset against Stanislas Wawrinka. His first stop after the layoff is the clay in Rio as he tests the back and tries to stay healthy for the French Open in three months. Saucony Shoes Online Australia .com) - The Montreal Canadiens will try to halt their longest losing streak of the season when they host the struggling New York Islanders in tonights clash at the Bell Centre. http://www.cheapsauconyaustralia.com/ . Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night. Saucony Shoes Factory Outlet . There are surprises among the Vezina candidates, but most of the others are standard top-tier performers, even if the two Hart Trophy runners-ups have never been quite as good as they have been through the first half of the season. Cheap Saucony Shoes Australia . As he recorded his 23rd and 24th points of the evening, a segment of the sellout Air Canada Centre crowd expressed their appreciation for the Raptors point guard with a smattering of MVP chants. Duke coach Joanne P. McCallie is trying to treat Thursdays game against Elon like any other. That might not be so easy, because McCallies daughter, Maddie, plays for the Phoenix.Ive always known the game was on the schedule, but it always seemed so far off. Well, now its here, the coach said.Elons a great school. Elons a little mini Duke, she added. We pay them money and that helps their program, so it made sense. I felt it was the right thing.But the rarity of coaching against her daughter, a reserve guard at Elon, wasnt lost on McCallie.Its a good story, she said. I feel honored for my family. I also have two nieces who play Division I basketball.Maddie McCallie is just excited for the chance to play at No. 21 Duke in its famous home building, Cameron Indoor Stadium.Its going to be a great atmosphere and a lot of fun to play in Cameron, Maddie McCallie said. Its a little weird seeing my mom right there on the sideline, but overall its another game.As much as the McCallies downplayed their mother-daughter matchup, it is definitely unusual. Cal State Bakersfield coach Greg McCall has gone against his daughter, Erica, twice over the last two seasons when his team played Stanford.Although college players often play for their coaching parents, McCallie was happy her daughter chose Elon after transferring from Miami, Ohio, a few years ago.Im really proud of her and shes at the right place for her, McCallie said. I think its unique. One thing it speaks to, as much as Id like Maddie on my team and she could have been, its really important to let your kids do their own thing. It would be fun; I didnt think it was something that would help her develop. A lot of parents dont know how to step away, and try to over-coach their kids. The best thing you can do is love them and step away and let other people coach them.Elon is only about 45 minutes from Duke, so McCallie has gone to see her daughter play a few times this year. Because the teams are scheduled to face each other, she had Maddie ask Elon coach Charlotte Smith for permission to attend.Maddie had both her parents in the stands on Sunday. Hours after Duke upset No. 3 South Carolina, they were cheering on Elon against North Carolina.They have five seniors this year and are a terrific team, McCallie said. We talk often, but mostly not about basketball.dddddddddddd. Its mostly about family. Shes really proud of her team. She was a starter last year and comes off the bench now. Im really proud of her.While mother and daughter both know where they will be on Thursday, a big question will be where Joanne McCallies husband, John, sits and who he supports.I have a feeling that my dad will support me, Maddie McCallie said, laughing. Both ways are kind of weird to think about and both ways are kind of exciting. My dad will probably be supporting the Elon team and be sitting behind our bench.John McCallie, an economics professor at North Carolina, said its going to be a very tough choice.I havent decided on what to wear or where to sit yet, he said in a phone interview Monday. Definitely going to have both colors on.As far as which team hell be rooting for, that one was easy.Im definitely pulling for a Duke win, he said. After all, we just got ranked and would like to keep that. It is going to be exciting, though. Im really proud of Maddie and what shes done forging her own path.Nicholls State coach DoBee Plaisance knows what the McCallies will be going through. She faced her daughter, Theresa, in 2010 when she was a freshman at LSU. The game was billed as a mother-daughter matchup, and the coach got LSU to take the hour-long trip to Thibodaux, Louisiana.Six years later, Coach Plaisance still gets emotional talking about it.I remember the game like it was yesterday, she said. It was for me a very emotional, passionate struggle. There was a struggle from the onset. Scheduling the game, I didnt want to do it. It was emotional for me for a while. Did I do right for the team? Did I show both teams respect?Her daughter had eight points, five rebounds and three assists in the 88-35 victory by LSU. The Nicholls State coach has a framed photo of a postgame hug with her daughter in her office, a constant reminder of a special day.The look on my face was a relief that it was over with, said DoBee Plaisance, a court coach for McCallie at USA Basketball in 2006. I hope Joanne has the same relief when her game is done.---Follow Doug on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/dougfeinberg ' ' '