Alabama could put the NCAA selection committee in a precarious position on whether to take the Tide, Auburn -- or both -- if the pair finish two games apart in the final SEC West standings.

Alabama played itself back into the NCAA conversation with two of their last three wins coming Auburn and at Tennessee. The Tide (15-8, 5-7 in the SEC West) have a tough final four games, beginning with Wednesday's date at Mississippi State, and then Ole Miss Saturday. Bama finishes the regular season home against South Carolina and at LSU next week. Alabama should be able to win two of the four.

	Alabama's Erwin Dudley (35) scored 18 points in a win over Tennessee.

Auburn (17-7, 7-5), meanwhile, finishes with at LSU and Florida this week and then Arkansas and at Mississippi State next week.

Let's say the Tigers finish .500, a game ahead of Alabama in the SEC West. Both could go to the NCAA Tournament, depending on what happens in the SEC tournament. But if a choice has to be made between Alabama and Auburn, the committee would have a tough call.

Granted, the selection committee doesn't just compare teams within their own conference. But this rivalry could become even more intense if this scenario plays out and Auburn gets the bid while Alabama stays home.

Why? Check the schedules.

Auburn played four games against teams rated 201 or below and five against teams from 101 to 200. That means nine of its 17 wins came against teams that aren't even in the top 100. The only top 25 win in the RPI came against Alabama (25 in the RPI).

Auburn (rated 32) has two more top 25 chances against Florida (No. 8) and Mississippi State (No. 21). Auburn is 1-4 against the top 25, 1-5 against the top 50, 8-7 against the top 100. Alabama played two games against 201 and below, four against 101 to 200. The Tide is 3-4 against the top 25; 5-5 against the top 50; and 9-8 against the top 100.

We know the RPI is only one tool of many the committee uses to select its 34 at-large teams. But using a subjective method of choosing teams, whom would you pick?

That's why this week is so important for Alabama and Auburn to set themselves up for possible bids to be earned the following week.

"It's going to be very interesting," Alabama coach Mark Gottfried said. "We were told loud and clear two years ago to go out and schedule up to get into the tournament after we didn't get in. We did that.

"We played at Utah, Xavier at home, Providence at home, St. Bonaventure at home, against Ohio State in Springfield (Mass.) and against Oklahoma in New York. We got the message loud and clear."

The NCAA selection committee isn't ruling out putting a team in with a sub-.500 conference record. The SEC and the Big 12 are the two conferences where an exception could be made because of the strength of the schedule.

Some committee members are against even budging on the rule, while others don't put as much stock in the conference record.

"It would be painful if we put ourselves in a position to get in and we don't," Gottfried said.

Alabama's mini turnaround can be attributed to freshman Kennedy Winston finally feeling like he belongs on the court. The Tide were expecting him to be one of their top three scoring options with point guard Mo Williams and last season's SEC player of the year Erwin Dudley. But Winston was ineligible for the first dozen games and has been slow to get into the offense.

	"	It would be painful if we put ourselves in a position to get in and we don't. "
		— Alabama coach Mark Gottfried

Winston scored 15 in the win over Auburn and then did the intangibles with eight boards and six assists in the win at Tennessee. Senior forward Kenny Walker was a non factor in playing just five minutes because of foul trouble. That meant Winston played more inside against the Vols.

"We just inserted him into the lineup in January and it was hard to figure out how to use him,'' Gottfried said. "We're moving him inside more where he's effective. We started out playing him just on the perimeter.''

Gottfried went with a quicker lineup, starting Antoine Pettway next to Williams, using Winston as his versatile swing player that can go inside and out the way he used Rod Grizzard last season. It worked for two of three games last week (not against Georgia at home). If the Tide can split the next four then they've at least put themselves in position for a bid. Go 3-1 and the berth should be locked up for a team that was once No. 1 in the AP poll, No. 3 in the coaches poll.

Here's what's at stake for a few others this week who have two critical road games, unlike Auburn and Alabama who at least get one home game this week:

If Oklahoma wins two road games (Missouri and Texas A&M) then the Sooners stay on track for a piece of the Big 12 title.

If Connecticut wins two road games (Notre Dame and Pittsburgh) then the Huskies should lock up a bye in the Big East tournament as well as a berth in the Dance.

If Creighton wins two road games (Southwest Missouri State and Southern Illinois) then the Bluejays will get a bid as well as the Valley title.

If Arizona wins two road games (Cal and Stanford) then the Wildcats will win the Pac-10 title and be assured of a No. 1 seed in the West.

If Boston College wins two road games (St. John's and Miami) then the Eagles will be in position to earn a bid with two home games to finish the regular season next week.

If Penn wins two road games (Brown and Yale) then the Ivy League title will likely rest in Philadelphia yet again.

Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com.