Irving, TX – Alabama survived a scare from LSU on Saturday to further solidify its grasp atop the BCS standings.
The Crimson Tide's 21-17 escape in Death Valley makes the reigning national champions the odds-on favorite to advance to the title game for the third time in four years -- if they stay undefeated through the SEC Championship Game.
Alabama is again the top team in both human polls and finally won over the computers to hold a staggering 0.996 BCS average.
The coveted No. 2 spot in the standings is still a three-way battle between Kansas State, Oregon and Notre Dame. All three improved to 9-0 on Saturday, and Kansas State held off a charging Oregon to keep the second position.
The Ducks' convincing victory over nationally-ranked USC increased their average in the BCS computers and helped them jump over Notre Dame for the third position, just 0.015 points behind the Wildcats.
The Fighting Irish needed three overtimes to upend Pittsburgh, and the near- upset dropped their BCS average to 0.905.
The Crimson Tide face a ranked foe next week when they host Texas A&M, and Kansas State has a tough matchup at TCU. Oregon and Notre Dame also play road tilts at California and Boston College, respectively.
Ohio State is also undefeated at 10-0, but is banned from postseason play, while the only other unbeaten program, Louisville, is ninth in the BCS standings.
Georgia, Florida, LSU and South Carolina rank fifth through eighth, and Florida State rounds out the top-10.
The BCS poll is computed by averaging the percentage totals of the Harris Interactive poll, USA Today poll and computer rankings.
Since 1998, the top two teams in the poll following the conference title games squared off for the BCS Championship. In two years, a four-team playoff system goes into effect.
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