Alabama and Auburn Week 9 Review
Alabama won its most important series of the season over Auburn, as the Crimson Tide swept the Tigers on The Plains last weekend. The Crimson Tide had been struggling entering the series and Auburn had been playing as well as any team in the conference, but the Tigers couldn’t overcome large deficits to defeat their rival. Alabama improved to 29-24 overall and 11-16 in league play, while Auburn dropped to 33-20 overall and 12-15 in the SEC. The Tide hosts Vanderbilt this weekend, while the Tigers travel to Gainesville to take on Florida.
SEC baseball rankings
1. LSU (44-8, 19-7)
2. Texas A&M (42-9, 17-9)
3. Florida (38-14, 17-10)
4. Vanderbilt (37-16, 18-9)
5. Arkansas (31-19, 15-11)
6. Missouri (28-24, 14-13)
7. Auburn (33-20, 12-15)
8. Ole Miss (29-24, 14-13)
9. Kentucky (28-24, 12-14)
10. South Carolina (31-22, 12-15)
11. Alabama (29-24, 11-16)
12. Mississippi State (24-27, 8-19)
13. Georgia (25-26, 9-17)
14. Tennessee (21-25, 8-18)
Week 10 Previews and Predictions
LSU at South Carolina. LSU is the best team in college baseball right now and are entering postseason play as the team to beat. The Gamecocks have had an up-and-down season but are still a dangerous team.Series Prediction: LSU 2, South Carolina 1.
Auburn at Florida. The Tigers were swept by Alabama but did receive some promising news. Pitcher Keegan Thompson will likely make his return from a shoulder injury this weekend against the Gators, and that should help Auburn’s pitching rotation tremendously. Florida has a chance to win the SEC East if they win this series and Alabama upsets Vanderbilt. Series Prediction: Florida 2, Auburn 1.
Vanderbilt at Alabama. After winning a huge series last weekend over Auburn, the Crimson Tide welcomes one of the best teams in all of college baseball to Tuscaloosa this weekend. The Commodores have a chance to repeat as national champions, and if Alabama can steal a game, or even the series, it would be monumental for the program. Series Prediction: Vanderbilt 2, Alabama 1.
Texas A&M at Ole Miss. The Rebels picked up a much-needed sweep over rival Mississippi State last weekend and are playing better than they have all season. Both teams are likely NCAA Tournament teams, so this series serves as a tune-up for the postseason. Series Prediction: Texas A&M 2, Ole Miss 1.
Mississippi State at Tennessee. The winner of this series has a decent chance of making the SEC Tournament, while the lo-ser is mostly certainly out. High stakes for both teams, and each can make up for lackluster seasons with a strong finish. Series Prediction: Mississippi State 2, Tennessee 1.
Arkansas at Georgia. The Bulldogs need this se-ries much more than the Razorbacks. If Georgia is swept, it will miss the SEC Tournament. If the Bulldogs lose the series 2-1, they have a chance of making the tournament, but it would depend upon the outcome of the Mississippi State/Tennessee series. If the ‘Dawgs win this series, they will make the tournament. Not much is at stake for Arkansas other than seeding for the tournament. Series Prediction: Georgia 2, Arkansas 1.
Kentucky at Missouri. Both the Tigers and the Wildcats are tournament teams, so not much is at stake in this series except for SEC tournament seeding. Series Prediction: Missouri 2, Kentucky 1.