SEC Baseball Power Rankings: Vandy owns, while LSU, Arkansas, Florida right behind
At the halfway point of the SEC baseball season, one thing is clear.
This league is good.
Surprise, right? A real shock? Obviously the SEC is good. But this good? Five teams have a legitimate chance at a national championship. Another five should make the NCAA Tournament, which means another five have a shot at the title. The league might have 11 teams in the postseason come summertime.
For now, the fight is at the top. Vanderbilt holds a two-game lead for the overall No. 1 seed, ahead of Arkansas, the SEC West leaders and Florida, second in the East.
But does that mean the Commodores are clearly the top of the league? Let’s compare the teams against each other
1. Vanderbilt
Feb 19, 2023; Arlington, TX, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores head coach Tim Corbin watches batters during the eighth inning in a 12-2 win against the Texas Longhorns at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Dustin Safranek-USA TODAY Sports
With just two SEC losses at the halfway mark and a 10-3 mark against teams that were ranked when they played, Vandy is dynamite.
2. Florida
Florida’s utility Wyatt Langford (36) with a run off Josh RiveraÕs (24) sac fly in the bottom of the third inning against against Georgia, Friday, April 14, 2023, at Condron Family Baseball Park in Gainesville, Florida. The Gators lost Game 1 of the weekend series to the Bulldogs 13-11. [Cyndi Chambers/ Gainesville Sun] 2023
Gator Baseball April 14 2023 Condron Family Ballpark Georgia Bulldogs
The Gators just keep on chugging, having won two-of-three in four of the five series in the first half. Consistent, for sure.
3. Arkansas
Feb 17, 2023; Arlington, TX, USA; Arkansas infielder John Bolton (9) hits an rbi-single against Texas in the seventh inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports
Ask Arkansas fans which series meant the most to them this season and it would have been Tennessee. A sweep carries a massive emotional resonance for the fan base, if not, necessarily the team.
4. LSU
#3 Dylan Crews makes a catch in centerfield as The LSU Tigers take on Central Connecticut State at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge, La. Sunday, March 5, 2023.
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The standings aren’t exactly duplicated in the power rankings. But LSU’s postponement against South Carolina could sting in the grand scheme. For now, no biggie.
5. South Carolina
During the offseason, the USC coaching staff spoke to several MLB teams to stay “a step ahead, not a step behind, on what the latest ideas are,” as baseball coach Mark Kingston put it.
South Carolina Oklahoma State Ncaa Super Regional Baseball
During the offseason, the USC coaching staff spoke to several MLB teams to stay a step ahead, not a step behind, on what the latest ideas are, as baseball coach Mark Kingston put it.
Same deal as LSU. South Carolina could be even more hurt, even, because the Gamecocks play in the East.
6. Kentucky
May 28, 2022; Hoover, AL, USA; Kentucky outfielder Nolan McCarthy (19) makes a diving catch for an out a sinking line drive hit by a Tennessee batter in the SEC Tournament at the Hoover Met in Hoover, Ala., Saturday. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-The Tuscaloosa News
Sports Sec Baseball Tournament Kentucky Vs Tennessee
The first real drop of significance. Kentucky is a likely No. 2, perhaps a No. 3 seed for the NCAA Tournament. But the five above the Wildcats are all seeking hosting gigs.
7. Tennessee
Tennessee head baseball coach Tony Vitello is seen in the dugout during Tennessee baseball’s opener at Lindsey Nelson Stadium, Friday, Feb. 18 2022.
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Don’t look now, but the Vols are 3-7 in their last 10 games. Tennessee is just 5-10 in SEC play. No one expected a repeat of last year’s regular season, but after being swept at Arkansas, the worries are legit.
7. Texas A&M
Jun 21, 2022; Omaha, NE, USA; Texas A&M head coach Jim Schlossnagle (22) celebrates the win over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Charles Schwab Field. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports
Texas A&M is right there. Sure, the Aggies are sub-.500 in league play, but they’ve won three series. It’s just that sweep to the team just ahead, that doesn’t look so great right now.
9. Alabama
Alabama head coach Brad Bohannon and Alabama base runner Jim Jarvis (10) talk as Jarvis stands on third as the Crimson Tide and the Auburn Tigers faced off in game two of the weekend series Saturday at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
Baseball Alabama Vs Auburn Game 2
Alabama baseball: decent. Solid. Fair. Above-average. The Crimson Tide will make the postseason, but alongside Texas A&M, they’re the A-1 “eh, sure, why not” team of the SEC.
10. Mississippi State
Mississippi State Rob Hammons, left, and Mark Blake wait for MSU’s 2021 Baseball National Championship ceremony at the Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium on Friday, July 2, 2021.
Msu Parade And Ceremony16
Mississippi State baseball! Out of the cellar! The weekend’s series win over Ole Miss had to have felt good, even if the Bulldogs have just five wins through 15.
11. Auburn
Jun 21, 2022; Omaha, NE, USA; Auburn Tigers center fielder Kason Howell (5) bows his head after losing to the Arkansas Razorbacks at Charles Schwab Field. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports
Auburn, Ole Miss, Texas A&M and Arkansas all represented the SEC in the College World Series last year. Only one of them, right now, is guaranteed to even make the NCAA Tournament. It ain’t the Tigers.
12. Missouri
Missouri pitcher Carter Rustad during an NCAA college baseball game on Saturday, April 16, 2022 in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
Smells like another season with twice as many league losses as wins for the Tigers, who haven’t made the postseason in more than a decade now.
13. Georgia
Georgia coach Scott Stricklin yells at the umpire after calling back a run because the ball hit the first base umpire during an NCAA baseball game between Florida and Georgia in Athens, Ga., on Apr. 1, 2022. Georgia won 6-1.
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Remember when Georgia won 21 SEC games last year? No, really, do you? Because that feels like forever ago.
14. Ole Miss
Jun 26, 2022; Omaha, NE, USA; Ole Miss Head Coach Mike Bianco sits in the dugout just before the first inning against the Oklahoma Sooners at Charles Schwab Field. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-USA TODAY Sports
Hey, at the end of the day, only one team can be defending national champions.
