Mississippi State's Dan Mullen said two months ago that whoever wins the SEC West is "the best in the country." The coach looks like a prophet.

LSU, Alabama and Arkansas are holding down the top three spots in the national rankings and BCS standings.

The national picture and the West race look awfully similar going into the final weekend before the SEC championship game against No. 13 Georgia. The Tigers and Razorbacks meet in Baton Rouge Friday, then the Crimson Tide visits Auburn.

The eventual national champion could conceivably fail to win its own league, or even its division, as the SEC seeks its sixth-straight national title and third in a row for the West.

Tennessee has played all three. Volunteers defensive tackle Malik Jackson says "they're all 1-1-1."