I'm not even sure where to begin with this bumbling group in the 4-12 spots of the SEC. The bubble tier of SEC teams just continues to screw up, and one gets the feeling that none of them is that terribly interested in going to the tournament this year. Ole Miss, Mississippi State, and Florida - man, you guys have had so many opportunities, get it together!! So yes, my declaration that Florida was in the "Big Four" was premanure. They haven't arrived there, yet. Certainly a win over #3 Kentucky would go a long way towards clinching a dance ticket. Ditto with Mississippi State, and their game against Tennessee - right on the heels of a nasty loss to a surging Auburn team.
With Kentucky, Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, and Tennessee all locked into their seeds (and three of those in the NCAA Tournament), this weekend comes down to jockeying for position among the little guys. Can anybody playing on Thursday get a draw that will lead them into the "win-and-you're-in" game on Sunday? Can State and Florida get a marquee win or two to round out their dance sheet?
| CBS Sportsline* RPI | Rank | SOS | 1wk-trend | 3wk-trend |
| Alabama | 103 | 45 | +2 | -5 |
| Arkansas | 137 | 38 | -2 | -23 |
| Auburn | 133 | 62 | +10 | +10 |
| Florida | 52 | 36 | -7 | +4 |
| Georgia | 96 | 8 | +5 | +6 |
| Kentucky | 4 | 39 | -1 | +2 |
| LSU | 222 | 83 | -7 | -2 |
| Mississippi State | 61 | 113 | -3 | +11 |
| Ole Miss | 57 | 69 | +5 | -18 |
| South Carolina | 96 | 16 | -23 | -32 |
| Tennessee | 16 | 23 | +4 | +6 |
| Vanderbilt | 12 | 22 | +3 | -1 |
|
More rankings after the jump ... |
||||
| Pomeroy | Rank | SOS | 1wk-trend | 3wk-trend |
| Alabama | 65 | 54 | +3 | +5 |
| Arkansas | 100 | 84 | -2 | -7 |
| Auburn | 91 | 74 | +9 | +17 |
| Florida | 49 | 66 | -3 | -1 |
| Georgia | 82 | 12 | -2 | +6 |
| Kentucky | 8 | 60 | -1 | -1 |
| LSU | 184 | 59 | +1 | +24 |
| Mississippi State | 43 | 90 | +1 | -4 |
| Ole Miss | 50 | 67 | +2 | -10 |
| South Carolina | 92 | 34 | -9 | -14 |
| Tennessee | 30 | 46 | +2 | -2 |
| Vanderbilt | 25 | 23 | +4 | -5 |
| Sagarin | Rank | SOS | Predictor | 1wk-trend | 3wk-trend |
| Alabama | 76 | 51 | 66 | +6 | +6 |
| Arkansas | 113 | 68 | 106 | +2 | -7 |
| Auburn | 108 | 73 | 96 | +13 | +15 |
| Florida | 42 | 46 | 49 | -7 | +1 |
| Georgia | 83 | 10 | 88 | +4 | +12 |
| Kentucky | 4 | 63 | 8 | 0 | +2 |
| LSU | 186 | 64 | 175 | -5 | +11 |
| Mississippi State | 52 | 87 | 42 | -3 | +4 |
| Ole Miss | 44 | 74 | 41 | +4 | -8 |
| South Carolina | 82 | 19 | 84 | -8 | -13 |
| Tennessee | 24 | 47 | 24 | -2 | -8 |
| Vanderbilt | 17 | 35 | 23 | +2 | -2 |
| Basketball State | Rank | 1wk-trend | 3wk-trend |
| Alabama | 105 | +1 | 0 |
| Arkansas | 146 | -17 | -23 |
| Auburn | 131 | +17 | +28 |
| Florida | 64 | -10 | +1 |
| Georgia | 99 | -3 | -1 |
| Kentucky | 4 | -1 | +2 |
| LSU | 215 | -5 | +5 |
| Mississippi State | 48 | +1 | +7 |
| Ole Miss | 57 | +4 | -8 |
| South Carolina | 117 | -22 | -38 |
| Tennessee | 23 | +1 | -5 |
| Vanderbilt | 11 | +2 | +1 |