LSU vs. Alabama: 5 Teams That Benefit from the Crimson Tide's Loss

With LSU's 9-6 win over Alabama Saturday night, the Tigers maintained their unbeaten record and now sit alone atop the SEC West standings.

The Crimson Tide dropped to fourth in the coaches poll this week, and teams behind them have to be licking their chops at an opportunity to jump them in the BCS rankings.

It serves a team well to lose early, but is it too late for the Tide to pick itself back up?

The Tide are now 8-1, and here are five teams that benefited from Alabama's loss.

LSU

The biggest benefactor from Alabama's loss has to be LSU.

The Tigers now sit alone in the SEC West and are a four wins away from a BCS National Championship appearance.

Even if LSU loses once, as long as it is not to a one-loss Arkansas, the Tigers will win the tie breaker to get into the SEC Championship Game.

LSU did itself a huge favor by grinding out that overtime win in Tuscaloosa.

Arkansas

Arkansas had lost to Alabama earlier in the season, and the Razorbacks have kept their one-loss record since.

A big win over No. 9 South Carolina Saturday means that Arkansas could force a three-way tie in the SEC West by beating LSU in the final regular season game.

Mind you, if the Tide had come away with the victory on Saturday, there would be no possibility for a three-way tie in the division.

The Razorbacks' SEC Championship hopes are still alive, but it will take a courageous effort to go into Baton Rouge and exit with a victory.

Oklahoma State

This is what Oklahoma State had been waiting for.

With the Cowboys ranked solely behind LSU and Alabama, all they had to do was wait until Saturday because one of those two teams had to lose.

As a result, the Pokes are in the driver's seat to claim one of the two BCS National Championship Game berths.

For Mike Gundy and Oklahoma State, the strategy is simple: Win out and they are in.

That makes the Bedlam game against Oklahoma that much more interesting.

Circle Dec. 3 on your calendar, folks.

Stanford

Much like Oklahoma State, Stanford has been waiting in the wings for teams ahead of them to lose.

Before the weekend, LSU, Alabama and Oklahoma State were all ranked ahead of the Cardinal. Stanford needed at least two teams to lose while it kept a perfect record in order to punch a ticket to New Orleans for Jan. 9.

Alabama's loss takes away half of the necessary requirements.

Even if the Cardinal wins out, it still needs help. An undefeated Stanford will not jump an undefeated Oklahoma State or LSU.

The dream for Andrew Luck and Stanford is still alive, but destiny is fully in the hands of others.

Oklahoma

Despite Oklahoma's shocking loss to Texas Tech three weekends ago, the Sooners are still in a position to climb in the BCS polls.

If Oklahoma can win out, it will claim the Big 12 Championship based on head-to-head record against Oklahoma State.

But in order to make it to New Orleans, Stanford would likely have to lose to Oregon this coming Saturday to make room for the Sooners atop the rankings.

It is all a chain game now, as winning out does not necessarily mean a trip to the Superdome.