East: Florida, Kentucky
Apparently, nobody wants to win the SEC East. Florida has a slight lead over Kentucky, who they have already beaten, but that loss to Arkansas over the weekend was a bit stunning. The Gators have a couple of tough challenges remaining. They get South Carolina coming up, and that is no shoe in win. Florida then gets LSU on the road, and will wrap up against Florida State. There is no clear path here, and projecting Florida as the SEC East winner just is not possible here.
Kentucky can help Florida win by being who they are, a middling program. Mark Stoops has held this thing together with smoke and mirrors all season long, but the Wildcats are down to their final conference game of the season this week, as they take on Tennessee. If UK can win this game, and then hold on for two Florida losses, which could happen, Kentucky steals the SEC East and plays for their first SEC championship in the modern era of college football. Kentucky wraps up their final two games against Austin Peay and Louisville.
West: Alabama, Auburn, Texas A&M, LSU
Alabama is dominating the field, and having already beaten Texas A&M and LSU, the Tide is focusing on winning out, and that includes a finale with Auburn in the Iron Bowl. Alabama will play Mississippi State this week, and I do not foresee them tripping against the Bulldogs like Texas A&M did last weekend. They then take on FCS member Chattanooga, and will wrap against Auburn.
Auburn has knocked off LSU, but fell to Texas A&M. They are still doing some looking over their shoulder in that regard. That being said, A&M was their only loss, so a win against Alabama in the season finale, barring that they take out Georgia in Athens this weekend first, and Auburn would win the West. Auburn's only other remaining game is a meaningless FCS tilt against Alabama A&M.
Texas A&M and LSU are strictly on the fringe at this point, both having lost to Alabama. Alabama will not likely lose enough to see both sneak back in, but mathematically, they just have not been removed without tiebreakers yet. THat will likely change after this week.
Bowl Eligibility: Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, Auburn, Texas A&M, Arkansas
Bowl Ineligible: Missouri
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