Alabama cornerback Deion Belue, shown here Saturday tackling Tennessee receiver Jason Croom, is one of several Crimson Tide players who are glad to have an open date this week.BCS STANDINGS1. Alabama2. Oregon3. Florida State4. Ohio State5. Stanford6. Baylor7. Miami8. Clemson9. Missouri10. Oklahoma
For the first time in its storied football history, Alabama has defeated three consecutive Southeastern Conference opponents by 35 or more points.
That momentum will be placed on hold this week as the Crimson Tide have their second open date of the season. Their first break came before the anticipated Sept. 14 trip to Texas A&M, and this hiatus will precede a Nov. 9 visit from LSU.
“It’s much-needed for us,” Alabama cornerback Deion Belue said after Saturday’s 45-10 defeat of Tennessee. “In the SEC, you bang hard every week, so you need time for your body to rest up. We’ve got LSU, so we know they’re going to come in and bang some more.”
The Crimson Tide will carry an 8-0 overall record and a 5-0 SEC mark into their matchup with LSU, and they will likely be the No. 1 team in the BCS rankings. Alabama sat atop Sunday night’s second installment of the BCS standings, with Oregon the new No. 2 and Florida State dropping to No. 3.