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Emphasizing the prediction element in ‘predictor’, here’s how we project each team’s chances to win the league title heading into the season’s eighth weekend:
LSU (25 percent chance)
The SEC’s last remaining unbeaten knows what it has to do to play for a conference championship and more — win out.
FLORIDA (25 percent chance)
The task is simply for the Gators — beat Georgia in Jacksonville next weekend and a trip to Atlanta can be booked (as long as Florida isn’t upset by Vanderbilt or South Carolina).
ALABAMA (12 percent chance)
There may not be a hotter team in the country than the Crimson Tide right now, but they’ll need to avoid looking past Tennessee on Saturday for the game of the year in the SEC to mean something on Nov. 7.
OLE MISS (10 percent chance)
Outside of LSU, the Rebels are the SEC West’s only other team that controls its own destiny. Saturday’s game against Texas A&M is more or less a division title elimination game.
GEORGIA (10 percent chance)
The Bulldogs’ season hung in the balance against Mizzou, an ugly 9-6 win that kept Georgia’s goals within reach. After the Florida game (which is a must-win in the East for tiebreaker purposes), the Bulldogs would have to win at Auburn to lock up the division.
TEXAS A&M (10 percent chance)
One loss doesn’t end Texas A&M’s chances in the West, but another one in Oxford could. Saturday’s showdown at Ole Miss is one of the most important games in Kevin Sumlin’s tenure, another opportunity at proving his team can hang with nationally-ranked league competition.
KENTUCKY (2 percent chance)
The Wildcats squandered an opportunity last week against Auburn, a loss that snuffed out faint hopes of a division title run.
MISSISSIPPI ST. (2 percent chance)
Mississippi State’s lost to both ranked teams it has played this season, putting the Bulldogs at a 1-2 start in conference play. Two SEC losses at this junction is likely fatal, but winning out would create a logjam at the top.
TENNESSEE (2 percent chance)
The Vols would need to win at Alabama and hope for two losses from Florida to have a shot. Seems very unlikely.
ARKANSAS (2 percent chance)
There’s no question about it — this weekend’s game against Auburn is a must-win for Brett Bielema and the Razorbacks. Clinging to bowl hopes at 2-4 with several tough matchups remaining, Arkansas as a 6-point favorite must take care of business against the underachieving Tigers.
MIZZOU (0 percent chance)
Three losses in four SEC games in addition to an anemic offense doomed the Tigers this season. Receivers are inconsistent, the offensive line’s been a near disaster and a banged up Russell Hansbrough has put too much pressure on true freshman Drew Lock under center.
AUBURN (0 percent chance)
Probably the league’s most dangerous team down the stretch from an upset perspective, the Tigers will beat somebody they shouldn’t and a spoil a potential division front-runner’s season.
SOUTH CAROLINA (0 percent chance)
Can South Carolina avoid a dreadful 4-8 finish? With bowl hopes diminished, a season-salvaging win over a Top 5 Clemson team in the regular-season finale would satisfy Gamecock Nation.
VANDERBILT (0 percent chance)
The Commodores have a winnable game against Mizzou on Saturday, but if they don’t take care of business at home, Vanderbilt could be facing a 10-loss campaign.