Updated SEC baseball power rankings after week five action; Missouri and Vanderbilt rise, Tennessee and Ole Miss fall
SEC conference opening weekend brought some interesting results as teams like Tennessee and Ole Miss were swept.
The SEC is going to be a ten-week gauntlet for all involved, so every given weekend, we will at least have a few upsets.
Let's look at our six SEC baseball power rankings.
14. Mississippi State Bulldogs
Record: 13-8 (0-3 SEC)
Last Week's Rank: 14
Week Five Recap: Mississippi State had a rough start to SEC play, getting swept by Kentucky. Everyone thought the Bulldogs would have a bounce-back season after a bad season last year, and it doesn't look like that is going to happen. Mississippi State will host Vandy this week, so at least they will have an opportunity to prove people wrong this week.
Week Six Opponents: Midweek: Tue Arkansas State. Weekend Series: #4 Vanderbilt
13. Auburn Tigers
Record: 13-6-1 (0-3 SEC)
Last Week's Rank: 11
Week Five Recap: Auburn had a rough week. They won their midweek game over Georgia Tech, then went to Arkansas and got swept by the Hogs. This team is in desperate need of Joseph Gonzalez, but it looks like he might still be a ways away from a return. If the Tigers get healthy, they can be dangerous, but this team could struggle until they get a few pieces back.
Week Six Opponents: Midweek: Tue South Alabama. Weekend Series: Georgia
12. Georgia Bulldogs
Record: 13-7 (0-3 SEC)
Last Week's Rank: 10
Week Five Recap: Georgia got swept at home by the South Carolina Gamecocks in their first series of conference play. They only scored seven runs all weekend and allowed 29 runs. Georgia returned some good bats, so it is a bit curious why they didn't score a ton. This team could have a rough start to SEC play, especially if they lose their upcoming series at Auburn.
Week Six Opponents: Midweek: Tue Georgia State. Weekend Series: @Auburn
11. Alabama Crimson Tide
Record: 17-4 (1-2 SEC)
Last Week's Rank: 9
Week Five Recap: Alabama lost their series at Florida, which was expected as this is one of the best teams in the nation at their ballpark. We will learn more about this ball club as they host a hot Kentucky team this weekend. If they win this series, the Tide could be the real deal; if not, they might be more middle of the pack than we expected going into the season.
Week Six Opponents: Midweek: Tue UAB. Weekend Series: #23 Kentucky
10. Kentucky Wildcats (23)
Record: 18-2 (3-0 SEC)
Last Week's Rank: 13
Week Five Recap: Kentucky just will not cool down. They took down Indiana in a midweek game, then swept Mississippi State. Early in the year, we thought this Wildcat ball club had a good pitching staff but not enough offense to keep up in the SEC. Boy, was that not the case this weekend. Kentucky looks like the real deal early on in the season.
Week Six Opponents: Midweek: Tue EKU. Weekend Series: @Alabama
9. Tennessee Volunteers (2)
Record: 15-6 (0-3 SEC)
Last Week's Rank: 2
Week Five Recap: Tennessee had a dreadful week. They headed to Missouri to take on the Tigers and got swept in a series many expected them to sweep. This shows you how deep the SEC is this year. I still believe in Tennessee and its pitching staff, but it did not have a good showing this weekend. They will get a chance for redemption as they host Texas A&M.
Week Six Opponents: Midweek: Tue Western Carolina. Weekend Series: #21 Texas A&M
8. Missouri Tigers (22)
Record: 16-3 (3-0 SEC)
Last Week's Rank: 12
Week Five Recap: Missouri had a really impressive week sweeping the Tennessee Volunteers. The Tigers had a good weekend to open up the season but then quieted down after not playing many quality opponents. This Missouri ball club is the real deal and will have the chance to prove that again as they head to South Carolina.
Week Six Opponents: Midweek: Kansas. Weekend Series: @ #11 South Carolina
7. Ole Miss Rebels (13)
Record: 14-6 (0-3 SEC)
Last Week's Rank: 3
Week Five Recap: Ole Miss had a really rough week as they went 0-4 with a midweek loss and a sweep by Vandy. The Rebels were considered one of the best teams in the land heading into the week, but these horrible few games have jeopardized that status. Luckily they play Florida this weekend and will get a chance to redeem themselves in front of their home crowd.
Week Six Opponents: Midweek: Tue @ AR-Pine Bluff. Weekend Series: #3 Florida
6. Texas A&M Aggies (21)
Record: 14-6 (1-2)
Last Week's Rank: 8
Week Five Recap: The Aggies won their midweek game and then were able to salvage a game three victory over LSU in their weekend series. I believe this is a very talented ball club, but they have not been given any favors in the schedule as they head to Tennessee this week. A series win at Rocky Top would prove that the Aggies belong.
Week Six Opponents: Midweek: Tue Rice. Weekend Series: @ #11 Tennessee
5. South Carolina Gamecocks (11)
Record: 20-1 (3-0 SEC)
Last Week's Rank: 7
Week Five Recap: South Carolina looks like the real deal after sweeping their Georgia Bulldogs on the road. The Gamecocks have the perfect mix of offense and defense that can win you a championship. They hit for a ton of power and I expect them to make a statement this weekend as they host a hot Missouri team.
Week Six Opponents: Midweek: Tue @Charlotte. Weekend Series: #22 Missouri
4. Arkansas Razorbacks (5)
Record: 18-2 (3-0 SEC)
Last Week's Rank: 5
Week Five Recap: Arkansas went 5-0 on the weekend, sweeping their midweek series against UNLV and their SEC opening series over Auburn. The Hogs looked dominant on offense and defense against Auburn, holding them to only five runs the whole weekend and scoring 21. They head to Baton Rogue to play the best team in the land in what's going to be a clash of titans. Have your popcorn ready for this one.
Week Six Opponents: Midweek: Tue SEMO. Weekend Series: @ #1 LSU
3. Florida Gators (3)
Record: 18-4 (3-0 SEC)
Last Week's Rank: 4
Week Five Recap: Florida had a great week winning the series over a quality Alabama team. They will get a good test this week as they play four road games, with one being rival Florida State, then heading to Oxford to take on Ole Miss. If the Gators go 4-0 or 3-1 this week, they will prove that they deserve their status as the #3 team in the land.
Week Six Opponents: Midweek Tue @Florida State. Weekend Series: @ #13 Ole Miss
2. Vanderbilt Commodores (4)
Record: 16-5 (3-0 SEC)
Last Week's Rank: 6
Week Five Recap: Vanderbilt had an incredible week sweeping Ole Miss. The Commodores held Ole Miss to four runs the whole weekend and scored 27. This team has played a tough schedule, so they have a few more losses than many would have expected at this time but don't be mistaken; this team is elite. I believe they will sweep Mississippis State this weekend and begin SEC play 6-0.
Week Six Opponents: Midweek: Tue Lipscomb. Weekend Series: @ Mississippi State
1. LSU Tigers (1)
Record: 18-2 (2-1 SEC)
Last Week's Rank: 1
Week Five Recap: LSU won their series on the road at Texas A&M. Winning a series on the road against a top 15 team is impressive, so don't fall into the trap of "oh well, they lost a game." LSU is the best baseball team in the nation, and I expect them to prove that with a series win over Arkansas this weekend. Boy, is this one going to be a lot of fun.
Week Six Opponents: Midweek: Tue Central Arkansas. Weekend Series: #5 Arkansas
It's another week of good matchups in the SEC, so sit back and enjoy the action.
If you want to take a look at last week's SEC baseball power rankings, click here.
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