Updated SEC baseball power rankings after opening weekend action, LSU remains No. 1
The first weekend of college baseball brought a ton of excitement, and there was some outstanding game all around the country.
Some SEC teams surprised some people, like Missouri going 2-1 on the weekend with wins over Texas and TCU.
Tennessee didn't have an impressive opening weekend, losing to Arizona and GCU.
Auburn had two impressive wins over Indiana on Friday and Saturday but could not complete the sweep on Sunday. This Tigers team will have a great season behind the arm of Joseph Gonzalez and the bats of Ike Irish, Bobby Peirce, and Justin Kirby.
Let's take a look at our SEC power rankings after the first weekend of the series.
14. Kentucky Wildcats
Record: 2-1
Week One Recap: Kentucky was the only SEC team to play a true road series as they headed to North Carolina to take on Elon. The Wildcats lost the Friday game but won the next two to take the series. The pitching was great for Kentucky as they only gave up three runs, but the offense must be better to compete in the SEC.
Week Two Opponents: Midweek: Evansville. Weekend Series: Wright State
13. Mississippi State Bulldogs
Record: 2-1
Week One Recap: Mississippi State won the series over VMI but dropped the Saturday game after blowing a massive lead. VMI scored 19 runs on the Bulldogs over the weekend, which is not something the coaching staff loves to see. We will better understand this ball club after their three-game set with Arizona State coming up this weekend.
Week Two Opponents: Midweek: Tue UL Monroe, Wed UL Monroe. Weekend Series: Arizona State
12. Georgia Bulldogs
Record: 2-1
Week One Recap: Georgia won the series against Jacksonville State, but this is a team that SEC teams should sweep. But in baseball, losing games you should not is very common. The Bulldogs are going to be okay and will be a middle-of-the-pack SEC team.
Week Two Opponents: No Midweek. Weekend Series: Four game set against Princeton
11. Missouri Tigers
Record: 2-1
Week One Recap: Missouri was the surprise team of the weekend in the SEC as they went 2-1 with wins over #15TCU and Texas. Their loss was to #9 Oklahoma State. The pitching could have been better, but they were able to win two close-ball games. This team could shock some people this year in SEC play.
Week Two Opponents: No Midweek. Weekend Series: Four game set @FIU
10. Auburn Tigers
Record: 2-1
Week One Recap: Auburn had a good opening weekend, winning the series over Indiana. The Tigers scored 16 runs but also surrendered 16 runs. Auburn got blown out in the third game of the series as the bats didn't show up, and they got to an early 4-0 hole in the first inning. Once the pitching staff is fully figured out, this will be a great baseball team.
Week Two Opponents: Midweek: North Alabama. Weekend Series: @USC
9. South Carolina Gamecocks (23)
Record: 3-0
Week One Recap: South Carolina swept UMass Lowell after an offensive explosion where the Gamecocks scored 49 runs in three games. The pitching was great as well as the staff only allowed five runs to cross. This South Carolina team could be an offensive juggernaut.
Week Two Opponents: Midweek: Tue Winthrop, Wed Queens. Weekend Series: Penn
8. Alabama Crimson Tide (20)
Record: 3-0
Week One Recap: The opening series could not have gone better for the Crimson Tide. They swept the Richmond Spiders scoring 39 runs and only giving up five. This Alabama team will surprise some people in SEC play this season.
Week Two Opponents: Midweek: Tue Tennessee Tech, Wed UT Martin. Weekend Series @Pepperdine
7. Vanderbilt Commodores (10)
Record: 2-1
Week One Recap: The Commodores went 2-1 over the weekend with wins over #9 Oklahoma State and Texas and a loss to #15 TCU. These are three great opponents, so leaving 2-1 has to make the Dores happy heading back to Music City. Pitching could be a question mark for Vandy, as they gave up 22 runs over the weekend.
Week Two Opponents: Midweek: Tue Central Arkansas, Wed UAB. Weekend Series: #17 UCLA
6. Arkansas Razorbacks (9)
Record: 2-1
Week One Recap: The Hogs had an interesting weekend as they won a close game over Texas 3-2. They then got blown out by #15 TCU 6-18. Then in the weekend finale blew out #9 Oklahoma State 18-1. It was a weird weekend for the Hogs, but they left with two quality wins.
Week Two Opponents: Midweek: Grambling. Weekend Series: Eastern Illinois
5. Florida Gators (7)
Record: 3-0
Week One Recap: Florida opened their season with a three-game set with Charleston Southern. The Gators swept the series scoring 37 runs and only surrendering five. This is going to be a tough to beat Gator ball club in 2023.
Week Two Opponents: Midweek Tue @USF, Wed USF. Weekend Series: Cincinnati
4. Texas A&M Aggies (5)
Record: 3-0
Week One Recap: The Aggies opened their season with a sweep of Seattle University. The bats were quiet in the first two games, although they won both games but exploded for 14 runs in the series finale. The pitching was great all weekend. This Aggie team is going to be scary all season.
Week Two Opponents: Midweek: Lamar University. Weekend Series: Portland
3. Ole Miss Rebels (4)
Record: 3-0
Week One Recap: The Rebels opened their season against Delaware and swept the series. Ole Miss had the bat's hot early, scoring double digits in all three games. This team will have a chance to repeat as National Champions.
Week Two Opponents: Midweek: Arkansas State. Weekend Series: Maryland
2. Tennessee Volunteers (3)
Record: 2-1
Week One Recap: Tennessee went 1-2 in their opening weekend with losses to Arizona and GCU and a win over UC San Diego. The pitching was great for the Vols; the issue was the bats didn't show up. I expect this team to be just fine after a rough opening weekend.
Week Two Opponents: Midweek: Tue Alabama A&M, Wed Alabama A&M. Weekend Series: Dayton
1. LSU Tigers (1)
Record: 3-0
Week One Recap: LSU opened up their season with a series against Western Michigan that they swept. The Bayou Bengals scored 24 runs and only allowed five from their opponent. Paul Skenes was impressive in his first start and will be one of the best pitchers in the SEC this season.
Week Two Opponents: Midweek: Southern University. Weekend Series (Round Rock Classic) Kansas State, Iowa, Sam Houston State
The only movement in the rankings was LSU over, taking Tennessee and Missouri leap-frogging over Mississippi State and Georgia.
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