SEC Baseball Power Rankings: South Carolina, Mississippi State rise as postseason nears
As the regular season nears its end and the postseason approaches, the SEC is beginning to separate itself into tiers. Each weekend remains pivotal for teams battling to improve their postseason resumes, whether they are on the bubble or in the hosting race. Heading into the third to last week of the regular season, our SEC baseball power rankings have been updated.
Of the seven SEC series this past weekend, just one finished in a sweep. The other six all finished 2-1, with three of those six coming down to a rubber game in the series finale.
On Monday, we released our latest Field of 64 projections with a look towards how the NCAA Tournament might shake out. Ten teams from the SEC made the field, with six hosting a regional as a top 16 seed.
Here is a look at how our SEC baseball power rankings take shape this week. There’s not a ton of movement, but the order does look different in the top half.
1. Texas A&M
Weekly Record: 3-1
Overall Record: 38-6 (15-6 in SEC)
Previous: No. 1
Upcoming Week: vs. Tarleton (TUE), at LSU (FRI-SUN)
Texas A&M continues its reign atop all of the rankings. The Aggies’ last week began with a 13-11 midweek victory over Houston, before playing host to Georgia over the weekend. Texas A&M won the opener 5-2 before a doubleheader followed the next day to determine the series. In blowout fashion, the Aggies won the opener 19-9 to clinch the series before falling 5-4 in the weekend finale.
2. Arkansas
Weekly Record: 3-1
Overall Record: 37-7 (16-5)
Previous: No. 2
Upcoming Week: vs. Missouri State (TUE, WED), at Kentucky (FRI-SUN)
Arkansas has just kept taking care of business after dropping to No. 2 in our SEC power rankings, and that didn’t change this week. The Razorbacks’ week started by picking up an 11-1 midweek win over Arkansas Pine-Bluff. They then hosted Florida, and won the series by winning the first two games 2-1 and 6-5. Florida was able to take the finale 9-5 to avoid the sweep, but it was still a strong week for Arkansas.
3. Tennessee
Weekly Record: 4-0
Overall Record: 37-7 (15-6)
Previous: No. 3
Upcoming Week: vs. Lipscomb (TUE), at Florida (THU-SAT)
Tennessee is right there at the top of the SEC, and they are actually the only SEC team that went undefeated this week. The Vols went 4-0, starting with a 12-4 win over Western Carolina before sweeping Missouri over the weekend. The sweep came through a 10-1 victory in the opener, followed by a pair of 3-2 wins to finish the weekend.
4. Kentucky
Weekly Record: 1-2
Overall Record: 33-9 (16-5)
Previous: No. 4
Upcoming Week: vs. Arkansas (FRI-SUN)
Kentucky lost this past weekend’s series at South Carolina, but the Wildcats don’t fall in this week’s SEC power rankings due to their overall body of work. The series was a tight one for the first two days, with South Carolina winning the opener 6-5 and Kentucky evening it up with a 15-13 win. In the rubber game, Kentucky was run-ruled 10-0 to lose the series. This weekend’s series, at home, against Arkansas gives Kentucky a chance to make a serious statement to bounce back from consecutive series losses.
5. South Carolina
Weekly Record: 2-1
Overall Record: 29-14 (11-10)
Previous: No. 6 (+1)
Upcoming Week: vs. East Tennessee State (WED), at Missouri (FRI-SUN)
South Carolina made a loud statement by beating Kentucky over the weekend. The Gamecocks are firmly in the hosting discussion now. While they didn’t move up in this week’s power rankings, South Carolina is right there and just behind the top four in the league. If the Gamecocks take care of business this week, which they should, they’ll likely find themsevles in the top four next week.
6. Mississippi State
Weekly Record: 3-1
Overall Record: 29-15 (12-9)
Previous: No. 7 (+1)
Upcoming Week: vs. Ole Miss (WED), vs. Alabama (FRI-SUN)
Mississippi State keeps creeping up in our SEC power rankings, and the Bulldogs have now moved themselves into the discussion to host in the postseason as well. After winning 6-4 at Memphis last week in a midweek game, Mississippi State fell 4-0 in the opener at Vanderbilt. They bounced back, though, taking the final two games 7-4 and 8-7 to win the series and move up in the rankings.
7. Vanderbilt
Weekly Record: 2-2
Overall Record: 31-13 (11-10)
Previous: No. 5 (-2)
Upcoming Week: vs. Tennessee Tech (TUE), at Georgia (FRI-SUN)
Vanderbilt beat UT-Martin 5-4 in a midweek battle last week, and then hosted Mississippi State over the weekend. After winning the opener 4-0, the Commodores were unable to get the second win needed to take the series, falling 7-4 and 8-7. Picking between Vanderbilt and Georgia was a toss-up for the final spot in the top half of this week’s power rankings, but this weekend’s matchup between the two teams will say plenty.
SEC Baseball Power Rankings: 8-14
8. Georgia
9. Alabama
10. Florida
11. LSU
12. Ole Miss
13. Missouri
14. Auburn
As mentioned above, Georgia was heavily considered to crack the top half of this week’s power rankings. The Bulldogs are 31-12 and 10-11 in the SEC, and projected to host in our latest Field of 64. They’ll have their chance to move up in next week’s SEC power rankings when they host Vanderbilt this weekend. Alabama is right there in that mix as well, sitting at 28-16 overall but 9-12 in the SEC. The Crimson Tide won a series at Ole Miss over the weekend.
Florida continues to be an interesting team this season. The Gators picked up a 13-3 midweek victory over Stetson before dropping the series at Arkansas. While Florida has struggled at times this year, they have only been swept once in SEC play which has them at 9-12 in league play.
Below Florida, we have our bottom four in the SEC. LSU and Ole Miss both currently sit at 7-14 in SEC play, with the Tigers 28-17 overall and the Rebels 23-20. Both would currently make the SEC Tournament, though not by much.
Missouri is currently 19-26 overall, but 6-15 in SEC play. If the season ended today, the Tigers would be on the outside looking in for the SEC Tournament. Auburn would also be on the outside looking in, and they’ll need a miracle to change that. Sitting at 21-22 but 3-18 in SEC play, Auburn pretty much has to win their next two weekends against Ole Miss and Missouri, and that still might not be enough.