Optimism covers Dixie like the dew every spring.

Well, except perhaps in Tuscaloosa, where Nick Saban reminded us last week that he’s not real pleased with anything he sees.

With that in mind, we take a look at whether we’re buying or selling one hot topic for each SEC West team in 2016.

RELATED: Buy or sell SEC East hot topic in 2016

Alabama

Statement: Alabama will make the College Football Playoff this season.

Buy/sell: Sell.

Why? Let’s start with this: Getting back to the Final Four is difficult; only Alabama did it last year. Oregon, Ohio State and Florida State failed in their bid.

Not surprisingly, those three teams changed quarterbacks last season. Alabama did, too, but Alabama also had another wipeout defense and a 6-3, 242-pound security blanket in Derrick Henry.

In 2016, Alabama again will have a new, unproven quarterback, but it no longer will have Henry or several stars from the 2015 defense.

Nobody reloads like Alabama, so winning the West would hardly count as a surprise. But given what it’s replacing and the difficulty of its schedule — at Ole Miss, at Tennessee, at LSU — the Tide seems more vulnerable than in any season since Saban started collecting titles in 2009.

Arkansas

Statement: Arkansas will finish last in the SEC West in scoring.

Buy/sell: Buy.

Why? In 2013, Bret Bielema’s first season, Arkansas averaged 20.7 points per game. The total jumped to 31.9 in 2014 and 35.9 last season.

Last season, eight SEC teams failed to average 28 points per game; Texas A&M and Auburn were the only two West teams to do so, and both offenses will be better.

Given all that Arkansas lost — not only quarterback Brandon Allen but also 1,500-yard rusher Alex Collins, 2014 leading rusher Jonathan Williams, three offensive linemen, etc., — it’s difficult to envision this overhauled unit scoring four touchdowns a game.

Mississippi State, which must replace Dak Prescott, is a logical contender to be the division’s lowest scorer, but Dan Mullen almost always overachieves on offense.

Auburn

Statement: Auburn will be looking for a new coach after the 2016 season.

Buy/sell: Buy.

Why? The Tigers’ schedule is brutal. They open against Clemson and also face a dangerous Texas A&M team and possible title-contender LSU in the first month.

The games are at home — which is preferable, unless losses mount and the home crowd turns nasty.

It’s not difficult to envision a 1-3 or 2-2 start, with conference road games at Ole Miss, Georgia and Alabama still looming.

LSU

Statement: LSU will win the national championship … or Les Miles’ stay in Baton Rouge is over.

Buy/sell: Buy.

Why? Miles and the Tigers might not ever have a better chance to regain control of the SEC than this season. Almost everything tilts in the Tigers’ favor, relative to Alabama.

LSU returns every key part, including Heisman favorite Leonard Fournette.

LSU’s top juniors decided to return, unlike most of Alabama’s and Ole Miss’.

LSU gets Alabama and Ole Miss in Baton Rouge.

All of those advantages become disadvantages in 2017, when LSU likely will have to replace more than a dozen starters and go back on the road.

If LSU can’t get it done in 2016, it will be time to get a coach who can.

Mississippi State

Statement: The Bulldogs will finish 7-6 in Year 1 After Dak.

Buy/sell: Sell.

Why? Dan Mullen has had one losing season in Starkville, his first, when he went 5-7.

But he’s had two 7-6 seasons, and each time he had to win a bowl game to avoid 6-7.

Keep in mind, the Bulldogs regressed slightly last year even though Prescott played near-perfect football (29 touchdowns to just 5 interceptions).

The schedule will provide an opportunity for seven or more wins. Crossover games against South Carolina and Kentucky make it the SEC’s friendliest combo.

Traveling to BYU will be formidable, but that’s offset by facing South Alabama, UMass and FCS Samford, which went a combined 14-21 last season.

Ultimately, home games against Auburn and Arkansas will determine which side of .500 the Bulldogs land.

Ole Miss

Statement: Chad Kelly will break Tim Couch’s single-season SEC record for passing yards.

Buy/sell: Buy.

Why? The number to hit is 4,275, Couch’s total in 1998.

Kelly threw for 4,042 yards last season, and he didn’t even attempt the most passes in the league.

He almost assuredly will this year, however.

Yes, he lost his top target, but there’s no shortage of helping hands. There’s returning talent (Quincy Adeboyejo, Damore’ea Stringfellow), emerging talent (DaMarkus Lodge, Van Jefferson) and incoming talent if necessary (A.J. Brown, DeKaylin Metcalf, Tre Nixon).

Texas A&M

Statement: The Aggies will lead the SEC in scoring in 2016.

Buy/sell: Buy.

Why? Much like LSU, the Aggies return just about every key weapon they need on offense.

True, Tra Carson is gone, but the Aggies don’t rely on running backs. They finished next-to-last in the SEC West in rushing in 2015, 12th in the SEC in 2014 and 10th in 2013 — and that included Johnny Manziel’s team-high 759 yards. They led the league in 2012, but Manziel was their leading rusher and accounted for nearly 45 percent of their 3,147 yards.

Jake Hubenak proved in the bowl game, without the benefit of regular season reps, that the system generates passing stats. Noel Mazzone’s influence and Trevor Knight’s mobility will only add to that.

Texas A&M’s returning receivers/tight ends rival anybody in the country, let alone the SEC. They have size, speed, play-making ability and depth.

Sumlin averaged 44 points each of his first two seasons. Granted, that was with Manziel. Knight isn’t Manziel, but he’s a good fit for a system that could push toward 40 points per game again in 2016.