A breakdown of the Southeastern Conference basketball race

Todd Golden has the Gators in the SEC driver's seat (Photo by Chris Spears)

With six games remaining in the regular season, Florida is in the driver’s seat for its first Southeastern Conference championship since 2014. The SEC awards its conference championship to the team that wins the regular season. For NCAA Tournament purposes, the winner of the SEC Tournament gets the automatic berth.

The Gators have a 1-game lead over Arkansas and a 2-game lead over Vanderbilt, Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky, all of whom have four SEC losses. Arkansas could basically eliminate Alabama tonight but if Bama wins, Arkansas will join the pack two games behind the Gators.

1. FLORIDA 19-6, 10-2 SEC: South Carolina; at Ole Miss; at Texas; Arkansas; Mississippi State; at Kentucky

Gators should be 12-2 after this weekend. Win two of the last four and it secures at least a piece of the title.  

2. Arkansas 19-6, 9-3 SEC: at Alabama; Missouri; Texas A&M; at FLORIDA; Texas; at Missouri

The Hogs have the challenge of playing at Alabama, at Florida and at Missouri. To match Florida they’ll have to go 5-1 the rest of the way, which is unlikely.

3. Vanderbilt 21-4, 8-4 SEC: at Missouri; Tennessee; Georgia; at Kentucky; at Ole Miss; at Tennessee

Four roadies in the last six. A 10-8 or 11-7 is about as good as it will get for the Commodores.

3. Alabama 18-7, 8-4 SEC: Arkansas; at LSU; Mississippi State; at Tennessee; at Georgia; Auburn

Alabama has to go 6-0 the rest of the way for a piece of the title, but that’s only if Florida loses two more games.

3. Tennessee 18-7, 8-4 SEC: Oklahoma; at Vanderbilt; at Missouri; Alabama; at South Carolina; Vanderbilt

Circle the game with Alabama. Either the Vols or Tide will be eliminated.

3. Kentucky 17-8, 8-4 SEC: Georgia; at Auburn; at South Carolina; Vanderbilt; at Texas A&M; FLORIDA

The Wildcats have to go 6-0 and hope the Gators have one other loss when they arrive for Senior Day at Rupp.

7. Missouri 17-8, 7-5 SEC: Vanderbilt; at Arkansas; Tennessee; at Mississippi State; at Oklahoma; Arkansas

The Tigers are shooting for the double bye. That’s a longshot. They need four SEC wins to make sure they make the NCAA.

7. Texas A&M 17-8, 7-5 SEC: Ole Miss; at Oklahoma; at Arkansas; Texas; Kentucky; at LSU

The Aggies are a longshot for the double bye but they’ll make the NCAA with two more wins.

7. Texas 16-9, 7-5 SEC: LSU; at Georgia; FLORIDA; at Texas A&M; at Arkansas; Oklahoma

The Longhorns are playing very well right now. Getting to 11 or 12 SEC wins is a possibility, which will get them solidly into the NCAA.

10. Georgia 17-8, 5-7 SEC: at Kentucky; Texas; at Vanderbilt; South Carolina; Alabama; at Mississippi State

The Poodles need three wins, otherwise they’re a favorite to host a first round game in the NIT.

10. Auburn 14-11, 5-7 SEC: at Mississippi State; Kentucky; at Oklahoma; Ole Miss; LSU; at Alabama

There are four wins on that schedule. Given the toughness of Auburn’s non-conference schedule, 9-9 in the SEC makes them an NCAA lock.

12. Mississippi State 12-13, 4-8 SEC: Auburn, at South Carolina; at Alabama; Missouri; at FLORIDA; Georgia

The Bulldogs need four wins to ensure they won’t have a losing record. Chris Jans is being mentioned as a potential successor at Kansas State.

13. Oklahoma 12-13, 3-9 SEC: at Tennessee; Texas A&M; Auburn; at LSU; Missouri; at Texas

The only way the Sooners get into the NCAA is to win the SEC Tournament. Right now their goal is to save Porter Moser’s job.

13. Ole Miss 11-14, 3-9 SEC: at Texas A&M; FLORIDA; LSU; at Auburn; Vanderbilt; South Carolina

A lot of folks think Chris Beard is looking for a new place to coach. He’s making $5 million. Good luck finding a job that will pay that much.

15. LSU 14-11, 2-10 SEC: at Texas; Alabama; at Ole Miss; Oklahoma; at Auburn; Texas A&M

Matt McMahon’s seat is scorching hot. If he can find three wins in the last six games he can make the NIT and that may save his job.

16. South Carolina 11-14, 2-10 SEC: at FLORIDA; Mississippi State; Kentucky; at Georgia; Tennessee; at Ole Miss

The clock is ticking on the Lamont Paris era at South Carolina. The faithful see the women’s program winning championships and ask why is it the men will suffer through their third losing season in the last four.