Anthony Combs is the author of the Kentucky blog, House of Blue. Be sure to check it out!

I originally had decided to do the “Best Case/Worst Case” post as just one big post. Then I peeked down at the bottom of the page and noticed that I was almost 2000 words in and was only about down to Kentucky. Luckily, Tennessee and Vanderbilt don’t take up a whole lot of room on either side of the coin, but it would be the worst case scenario for me if I produced a 5000 word blog post because someone’s head would eventually explode and it would be partially my fault. So, without any further buildup and I give you the “Best Case/Worst Case Scenarios” for the SEC West (with a guarantee that I will not accuse of Cam Newton or his father of any wrong doing whatsoever):

Auburn 10-0, 6-0:

The Tigers are in the driver’s seat and are certainly the only hope if the SEC wants to win its fifth straight BCS crown. Gene Chizik and company are going to close out the season with a tough stretch as they play host to a strong Georgia team this weekend and close the season at Alabama in the Iron Bowl. The bye week will give them ample time to recover from any bumps or bruises before they travel to Tuscaloosa, but it will also give the media an extra week to find allegations against Cam Newton.

Best Case Scenario: Well, obviously, that would be the National Championship Game. The best thing that can happen is to take Cecil Newton’s phone away from him so he can’t confirm nor deny any allegations and just let the kids play football. The NCAA isn’t going to make any decisions or statements right now and by the time they do, the season will be long over. So Auburn just needs to stay on the same road they have been on all year. Just beat the team in front of you and go to Atlanta. If you win in Atlanta, you play in the BCS Championship game.

Worst Case Scenario: What if Oregon had to play teams like Georgia and Alabama the last two weeks of the season and then had to play South Carolina or Florida in a conference championship game? Heck, what if Oregon had to play any two of those teams during their regular season? I can tell you what; they wouldn’t be going to the title game. As good of a season as Auburn has had, it would all be for none if they lose thelast two games and miss the SEC Championship and a shot at the National Title. Finishing 10-2 and going to the Capital One Bowl would not only be the worst case scenario, it would be the most disappointing finish to a season ever.

LSU 8-1, 5-1:

Les Miles’ team has found a way to win all year long. I have watched as they played some ugly football and won, but in college football, you just get paid for wins. Style doesn’t matter (just ask Oregon and all those ridiculous uniforms). Louisiana Monroe and Ole Miss will both make visits to Death Valley before the Tigers “geaux” on the road to finish the season against Arkansas.

Best Case Scenario: LSU should easily win the first two games but will have to have their A-game against Arkansas. They need a little help to get where they want to go, but if Auburn somehow loses their last two, LSU ends up in the SEC Championship Game and a win their sparks the popular debate “Should a 1 loss SEC team get a shot at the BCS Championship?” I think so. Even in what some consider a down year for the SEC, this is still the SEC. LSU has had to beat Florida, Alabama, Mississippi State, Tennessee and everyone else that has been in there way and they have done it. They also beat North Carolina to open the season so they have the goods, they just need a little help. (Even if Auburn wins out, LSU will end up in a BCS game, which isn’t a bad second option)

Worst Case Scenario: Dropping the home game to Ole Miss and then getting beat on by Arkansas would be put the Bayou Bengals at 9-3 to end the season. It would keep them out of the BCS picture and likely send them to a Capital One-Cotton-Outback level bowl game.

Alabama 7-2, 4-2:

The Crimson Tide probably feel victim to looking ahead this past weekend. Not taking anything away from LSU, but Alabama has never thought they wouldn’t beat Auburn in the Iron Bowl and win the SEC Championship and then go on to win their second straight BCS Championship. I know this because I talk to a lot of Alabama fans. I have connections. But when they woke up Sunday morning, they had to look in the mirror and realize that it was over. They still get to host Mississippi State, Georgia State and Auburn at home so there should be some good tailgating and the opportunity for Nick Saban to shatter the dreams of a few more SEC Teams.

Best Case Scenario: Hey, they are the defending champions and a national championship shirt still looks really good for at least five years. That could just be a silver lining. The Tide can introduce Mississippi State to some reality this weekend and kickstart their downslide before pounding Georgia State. Then, it’s the Iron Bowl, and how much fun would it be to ruin Auburn’s perfect season. Even better for Alabama would be if Georgia beats the Tigers this week and let’s the Tide keep the Tiger’s from traveling to Atlanta for the SEC Championship game. Oh, and a good shot at the Capital One or Cotton Bowl.

Worst Case Scenario: Mississippi State and Auburn both have team good enough to beat Alabama, but the worst case scenario happened when LSU nailed the coffin shut on Alabama’s season last weekend. If the Tide drop two of the last three, they would fall to 8-4 and be looking at a trip to the Outback or Gator Bowl.

Arkansas 7-2, 4-2:

Arkansas has the kind of offense that will put then in any game. They have a tendency to let teams put up a lot of points on them as well. Bobby Petrino is a winner and has helped swing the balance of power from the East to the West in the SEC and his Razorbacks will close out the season in style with UTEP at home, going to Mississippi State and hosting LSU to end the season.

Best Case Scenario: It wouldn’t be a stretch to see the Razorbacks win all three of these games. The way they move the ball and score, they can beat anybody. If the defense can catch their breath and get a few stops, 10-2 would see then playing in the Cotton Bowl.

Worst Case Scenario: I still remember how creepy Bobby Petrino’s hiring at Arkansas was. The way he left notes for his team in Atlanta and the way he and some of the boosters cried Pig Sooie. I watched it on ESPN and just thought to myself that I knew I would see it again. Probably not this year because there aren’t many upgrades available, so I don’t expect Arkansas to be on the hunt this year. However, Mississippi State is looking to prove they are for real and LSU is trying to fight its way into a BCS game. If the Hogs finish 8-2, they will probably Chick-Fil-a or Outback Bowl.

Mississippi State 7-2, 3-2:

Outside of a complete shutdown of Florida, the Bulldogs haven’t exactly beaten a who’s who of college football. Regardless, Dan Mullen has changed the mentality and left the people of Starkville hungry for more cowbell! They have gotten to the prove it part of their schedule that will see them travel to Alabama, host Arkansas and close out the season at Ole Miss.

Best Case Scenario: There is no better time to pull off an upset than when a team has nothing to play for and that is exactly what could happen when the Bulldogs take on the Crimson Tide this weekend. If Mullen and company can take that one, they could easily hang a 10-2 record and find themselves playing in the Cotton or Capital One bowl.

Worst Case Scenario: As easily as they could win out, they could lose out. They are in uncharted territory with this year’s success and who knows how they will handle it. One would hope that the Bulldogs don’t just settle for a little taste of winning and would strive for more. But if they do drop the last three, it will be Liberty or Music City Bowl.

Ole Miss 4-5, 1-4:

This season has been a miserable one in Oxford. They brought in a quarterback with a suspect past and had to fight for his eligibility. They lost to Jacksonville State. They lost to Vanderbilt. They got a new mascot and it wasn’t Admiral Akbar. Jesse James cheated on Sandra Bullock (but that was probably because she cheated on him with Tim McGraw). You get the picture. But the tailgating has been great and that’s all that really matters. Sadly, they only have one more chance to party on the Grove as they close out the season with trips to Tennessee and LSU before they host Mississippi State to finally put this horrible season to bed.

Best Case Scenario: As bad as it has been, they could still make it to a bowl game. All it takes is two out of three and let’s face it, UT and Mississippi State both offer that chance. If Ole Miss doesn’t get to six wins, the SEC will probably have to give up one of its bowl bids which would cost them quite a bit of money, so it wouldn’t surprise me to see some weird flags flying if the Rebels have a chance to win those games. 6-6 would certainly send Ole Miss to the Birmingham Bowl and that would be a complete turnaround from losing to Jacksonville State three months ago.

Worst Case Scenario: At this point, I don’t know what would be a worse loss, Jacksonville State or Tennessee. That doesn’t really matter. When you come in with high expectations and you open your season with a loss to a D2 school, you don’t have a whole lot to look forward too. But they have the Grove and the only thing that could ruin that is the weather on Thanksgiving weekend. It they lose, so be it, but at least give them a nice day to party.