Everybody shuffles their open dates regularly trying to schedule 7 home games. It's become almost impossible to schedule them strategically.
If I remember correctly, Bama has had the short end of the stick the last 2 or 3 years in regards to opponents having open dates right before Bama played them.
hopefully that's all this week's game will be. No one hurt, and plenty of reps for the second and third teams.
Saban's teams at LSU didn't do very well in the games following a bye week. Unless that old dog has learned a new trick, it may still be an Achilles heel.