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Aside from a big LSU series win, not much else went as planned in the SEC last weekend. Vanderbilt dropped a home series that could have sealed up a national seed when Florida's two-out rally sank them in the ninth inning of their rubber match. Auburn fell into the SEC Tournament danger zone thanks to a sweep at the hands of arch rival Alabama. Kentucky failed to capitalize on Missouri's six straight league losses by dropping two of three to often-woeful Georgia.
That led to a shakeup in the middle of the rankings. While LSU held serve and Tennessee began to furnish their residence in the league basement, the SEC's 7-13 spots all shifted as teams make their final push towards the conference tournament. Six teams will vie for the final four tickets to Hoover, AL to play for the league crown. Alabama and Georgia are currently on the outside looking in, but another weekend of upsets could extend their seasons by at least one week.
Here's how the SEC shook out with only three games remaining in league play:
| Record | |||||
| Rank | LW | Team | Overall | SEC | Analysis |
| Working Towards National Seeds | |||||
| 1 | 1 | LSU | 44-8 | 19-7 | Simply put, they're a behemoth. I still think they lack enough pitching depth for that to be a plus for them, but their lineup has literally no holes in it. Also, their defense is the best in the league. Crap. -AVU |
| 2 | 3 | Vanderbilt | 37-16 | 18-9 | Losing the rubber match in extras to Florida (especially how we lost it) is not helping us get a National Seed. However, we have locked up a Regional Host spot, and with a sweep of Bama and a strong showing in Hoover, a National Seed (top 8) is not out of the question. We're still the most talented non-LSU team in the nation. -AVU |
| 3 | 4 | Florida | 38-14 | 17-10 | Proved their mettle with a come-from-behind series victory in Nashville. A national seed is now in play. - CD |
| 4 | 2 | Texas A&M | 42-9 | 17-9 | They're good, certainly, but I still think they've overachieved this year. Their pitching staff is good, not great. Their offense is good, not great. They're good, certainly, but there's not a lot that intimidates you about this team. -AVU |
| Second Tier in the SEC Still Means the Chance to Host Regional | |||||
| 5 | 5 | Arkansas | 31-19 | 15-11 | Still a solid all-around team. Could get hot. Could also flame out go 2 and Cue in Hoover and the NCAA tournament. -AVU |
| A Totally Volatile Grab Bag of Teams | |||||
| 6 | 6 | Missouri | 28-24 | 14-13 | These guys were 14-7 two weeks ago. - CD They're impossibly boring to watch, but they do have a solid pitching staff (well, better than solid, really) and a Ryan Howard with two functioning achilles tendons. They'll make the tourney, but likely as a #2. -AVU |
| 7 | 10 | Ole Miss | 29-24 | 14-13 | The Ackbars are still pretty good, but nothing like they were last year. Will have to have a strong showing in Hoover to make the postseason. Have the looks of a "last team out" team. -AVU |
| 8 | 9 | South Carolina | 31-22 | 12-15 | Somehow, I see them sweeping their way into postseason contention. Too talented to be this snakebit all year. -AVU |
| 9 | 7 | Kentucky | 28-23 | 12-14 | Can still make a push, and they have the best CF in baseball. However, I have been saying this all year... -AVU |
| 10 | 8 | Auburn | 33-20 | 12-15 |
This space reserved for Jenn's tears after Auburn was swept by 'Bama this weekend. - CD I like riding in my truck... -AVU |
| 11 | 12 | Alabama | 29-24 | 11-16 | Bama's reward for sweeping Auburn is a chance to host a pissed-off Vandy team. Hoover is in range, but it certainly won't be easy. - CD |
| The Season's Juuuuust About Over. |
|||||
| 12 | 13 | Georgia | 25-26 | 9-17 | Still very meh. -AVU |
| 13 | 11 | Mississippi State | 24-27 | 8-19 | Done. -AVU |
| 14 | 14 | Tennessee | 21-25 | 8-18 | Dave Serrano locked down his third losing season in four years at Tennessee. Let's hope the Vols keep him. - CD |