SEC Baseball Power Rankings: Top four gets shaken up after upset-filled weekend

Every game is important this time of the year in college baseball, and the SEC saw that firsthand this past weekend. Our top two ranked teams in last week’s SEC baseball power rankings lost series over the weekend, leading to changes in this week’s edition.

With Texas A&M and Arkansas both falling, a new No. 1 has emerged this week. Both Kentucky and Tennessee were considered, but the Wildcats get the nod as they continue to impress so far this season.

The SEC continues to be a great baseball conference, with ten teams making the cut in this week’s Field of 64 projections. Six of those ten teams are hosting a regional as of today, with others in the mix.

Here is how our SEC power rankings take shape after a wild week. Just two weekends remain until the regular season ends and attention turns toward Hoover.

1. Kentucky

Weekly Record: 2-1
Overall Record: 35-10 (18-6 in SEC)
Previous: No. 4 (+3)
Upcoming Week: at Florida (FRI-SUN)

With two weeks left in the regular season, Kentucky sits atop the SEC standings with an 18-6 league record. The Wildcats are 35-10 overall, and just won a huge series against Arkansas this past weekend. They fell in the series opener 10-3, but rebounded with 11-3 and 7-4 victories in the final two games to clinch the series and shake up the rankings.

2. Tennessee

Weekly Record: 2-2
Overall Record: 39-9 (17-7)
Previous: No. 3 (+1)
Upcoming Week: vs. Queens (TUE), at Vanderbilt (FRI-SUN)

Tennessee was heavily considered for the top spot in this week’s SEC power rankings, but Kentucky got the nod. That was partly due to Tennessee’s 2-2 week, despite winning a series over the weekend. The Vols fell 9-6 in a midweek contest against Lipscomb before heading to Gainesville. Against Florida, Tennessee split a doubleheader to open the weekend, winning 6-2 and losing 4-3. They won in blowout fashion to clinch the series in the finale, winning 16-3.

3. Texas A&M

Weekly Record: 2-2
Overall Record: 40-8 (16-8)
Previous: No. 1 (-2)
Upcoming Week: vs. Rice (TUE), at Ole Miss (FRI-SUN)

For the first time in a long time, Texas A&M struggled a bit over the weekend. After picking up a 10-6 midweek victory over Tarleton, the Aggies went to Baton Rouge and lost the first two games of their weekend series at LSU. Both defeats came in 6-4 games. Looking to avoid the sweep on Sunday in the finale, Texas A&M did so and with a dominating 14-4 victory. The Aggies fall two spots in this week’s SEC power rankings, though they are still firmly one of the league’s best teams.

4. Arkansas

Weekly Record: 3-2
Overall Record: 40-9 (17-7)
Previous: No. 2 (-2)
Upcoming Week: vs. Mississippi State (FRI-SUN)

Arkansas started its week with a pair of midweek victories over Missouri State, winning 12-7 and 8-5. They then hit the road for a trip to Lexington, but couldn’t come away with the series victory. The Razorbacks won the series opener 10-3, but then fell 11-3 the following game to even the series. In the rubber game, Kentucky won 7-4 to hand Arkansas a series loss.

5. South Carolina

Weekly Record: 3-1
Overall Record: 32-15 (13-11)
Previous: No. 5
Upcoming Week: at Winthrop (TUE), vs. Georgia (THU-SAT)

South Carolina had a 3-1 week last week, starting with a 15-2 midweek win over East Tennessee State. The Gamecocks then hit the road for a series at Missouri and came away with the series victory. After winning the opener 10-2, South Carolina actually fell in the second game 8-3. That set up a rubber game on Sunday, which South Carolina won 9-4 to win the series and avoid a drop in this week’s SEC power rankings. This weekend against Georgia is a massive one for the hosting race.

6. Mississippi State

Weekly Record: 3-1
Overall Record: 32-16 (14-10)
Previous: No. 6
Upcoming Week: at Arkansas (FRI-SUN)

Mississippi State has been playing great as of late, and they are firmly in the hosting picture. Last week certainly helped their case, as they won a midweek battle against Ole Miss before taking on Alabama over the weekend. The Bulldogs won the first two games, winning the opener 13-3 in a seven inning run-rule and taking Game 2 8-1. Alabama won the finale 10-5, but it was still an impressive series win for Mississippi State. They have the opportunity to make a loud statement this weekend at Arkansas.

7. Georgia

Weekly Record: 4-0
Overall Record: 35-12 (13-11)
Previous: No. 8 (+1)
Upcoming Week: at South Carolina (THU-SAT)

Georgia is red-hot, and they are undoubtedly in the hosting picture as a potential top eight seed. The Bulldogs are coming off a 4-0 week that started with a 9-3 win at Kennesaw State and ended with a statement sweep against Vanderbilt. Georgia won the first two games via the run-rule, winning 10-0 in seven innings in the opener and 14-4 in eight innings in the second game. They also took the finale 11-7, putting a strong stamp on a great week.

SEC Baseball Power Rankings: 8-14

8. Vanderbilt (-1)
9. Alabama
10. LSU (+1)
11. Florida (-1)
12. Ole Miss
13. Missouri
14. Auburn

It was not a good week for Vanderbilt. The Commodores needed extra innings to beat Tennessee Tech in a midweek game, and then got swept against Georgia. That was enough to move Vanderbilt out of the top half of this week’s SEC power rankings. Just behind them is Alabama, who stays put at No. 9 after losing two out of three against Mississippi State.

LSU is on the move and cracks the top ten this week. The Tigers made a statement by taking two out of three against Texas A&M, and also won 26-2 in a midweek game against Grambling State. They finish just ahead of Florida, who drops a spot after a 2-2 week that included a series loss against Tennessee. Florida is just one game over .500 at 24-23.

The bottom three remains the same this week. Ole Miss fell against Mississippi State in a midweek matchup, but then took two out of three at Auburn over the weekend. Missouri took a game from South Carolina, but lost the series to fall to 21-28 overall on the year. Auburn’s struggles continued in the series against Ole Miss, and the Tigers now sit at just 4-20 in SEC play.