What's Saban's record at UA when facing teams that had a bye week prior to playing us? It seems like more than 40% of our games fall into this category.
The data follows.
Excluding bowl games and "some season openers." Bold indicates BOTH Alabama and the opponent had a bye the previous week.
2007
Arkansas, W
Fla St, L
LSU, L
MSU, L
Auburn, L
2008
Tulane, W (given that we played Clemson the week before, it most certainly does count)
Arkansas, W
Ole Miss, W
Ark St, W
MSU, W
Auburn, W
2009
FIU, W (given we played Va Tech)
Tennessee, W
MSU, W
Auburn, W
2010
South Carolina, L
Ole Miss, W
Tennessee, W
LSU, L
MSU, W
Ga St, W
Auburn, L
2011
Vandy, W
Ole Miss, W
LSU, L
2012
LSU, W
W Carolina, W
2013
Ole Miss, W
Ga St, W
LSU, W
Auburn, L
2014
Arkansas, W
LSU, W
2015
ULM, W
ATM, W
LSU, W
2016
ATM, W
LSU, W
2017
Ole Miss, W
LSU, W
Interesting data
Alabama is 31-9 under Nick Saban in games where the opponent has a bye week. Four of those nine losses came in 2007 and three more in 2010.
Alabama is currently on a nine-game winning streak against opponents with an off week.
The teams that most commonly get an off week against Alabama:
LSU (3-6)
Ole Miss (0-5)
Miss St (1-3)
LSU has not beaten Alabama without the benefit of an off week since 2006.....the year before Saban arrived.
Auburn has beaten Alabama three times since Saban arrived. Two of those three times were games where Auburn had an off week while Alabama didn't. (2017 was the first time since 2006 that Auburn beat Alabama without the benefit of an off week).
Alabama is 7-3 in games where both they and the opponent have a bye week preceding the contest. All three losses are to LSU.