TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Forget about downplaying the game's magnitude. Alabama's Brodie Croyle is embracing the buildup, the hype and the high stakes.

Just another game?

The Crimson Tide quarterback knows today's visit by No. 5 LSU is way more than that. It's a matchup of two teams sporting Southeastern Conference and national title aspirations and hoping to convince the pollsters they're worthy of both.

"It comes down to this game," Croyle said, "winner take all."

It sure does have that winner-take-all feel even if that's not really the case. More like winner take hope.

The fourth-ranked Crimson Tide (9-0, 6-0) has edged up to third in the BCS standings, hoping to narrow the considerable separation from Southern California and Texas and secure its NCAA-leading 28th 10-win season. Even with a win, though, Alabama needs either to beat No. 15 Auburn next week or for the Tigers to lose at Georgia tonight to lock up the SEC West.

LSU (7-1, 4-1) is four spots further back in the BCS standings but could grab control of the West with a victory entering its final two league games.

"I never looked at us as being out of it," LSU defensive end Melvin Oliver said. "Every week something strange happens. There's a lot of football in front of us."

LSU has not played in a regular-season game featuring two top-five teams since 1959. This is the first time two top-five teams have squared off at Bryant-Denny Stadium; while Alabama often was in the top five, it played most of its big games in Birmingham's Legion Field until recent years.

Both teams have already had a taste of big games this season. LSU is 3-1 against ranked teams. Alabama is 2-0 and has held No. 12 Florida and then-No. 17 Tennessee to a field goal apiece at Bryant-Denny.

The Tigers have won four of the past five meetings with Alabama and are actually slight favorites to keep that streak going.

One big reason for that: Alabama's offense has produced only one touchdown in its last three SEC games, and is now without center JB Closner (broken leg).

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That leaves Croyle as the lone senior starter on the offense, other than new center Taylor Britt — who's never started a college game. The senior QB is not exactly shying away from the pressure to get the offense jump-started.

"I'll take it all. Put it on my shoulders," he said. "I've been in the big games and everybody's looking at me to make the big play. That's exactly what I'm planning on doing Saturday.

"When you're a competitor, you want the ball in your hands on the biggest stage in college football, and here it is," he said.

Bad news for Croyle & Co.: LSU has been nearly as stingy as the Tide recently with an eight-quarter streak without allowing a TD and a No. 6 ranking in scoring defense.

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