SEC Baseball Power Rankings: The final stretch is now (2024)

Photo by Grayson Belanger/Auburn Tigers

Record:25-25

Last week:No. 14

Auburn baseball finally found something to really smile about at the end of the weekend. The Tigers were able to win their first SEC series of the year over the Missouri Tigers after dropping game one and ending their conference tournament hopes. This was assisted in game three by a three-run home run in the 7th inning off the bat of Chris Stanfield to help preserve a big Auburn lead that would prove crucial in the end.

The Tigers now get set to close out their season against their rivals in the Alabama Crimson Tide, a series that will be at home in Plainsman Park. The Auburn bats will have to figure out a way to keep up with a typically hot Alabama offense in order to stay in this series early and hope to come out on top.

Nathan Papes/Springfield News-Leader / USA TODAY NETWORK

Record:22-30

Last week:No. 13

The Missouri Tigers are now in do-or-die mode after a series loss to Auburn last weekend. The Tigers from Columbia had hopes early after making a comeback to win game one late, but things changed quickly after the boys from the Plains played well enough to win games two and three.

Missouri now has to sweep its series this weekend and hope LSU gets swept as well in order to make the SEC Tournament next week. Its wins will have to come on the road against Mississippi State, where victories are hard to come by. The Tigers will have to fight hard to even hope of having a ticket into Hoover.

[Cyndi Chambers/ Gainesville Sun] 2024

Record:26-25

Last week:No. 12

Florida is trying to bounce back after a rough series loss last weekend. The Gators dropped two games two Kentucky over the course of the weekend, two in which they could have just as easily pulled out. Both defeats came in extra innings in Gainesville, where Florida needed to build some much needed momentum heading into the SEC Tournament.

Now, the Gators get set to take on Georgia in a series that will prove to be as tough as any they have faced thus far. Florida must take down a Bulldog offense that is hot and on a huge win streak in order to try and win a big rivalry series for the program.

For more Florida baseball news, visitGators Wire.

Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News / USA TODAY NETWORK

Record:33-20

Last week:No. 9

The LSU Tigers are continuing to fight for their lives in the ending part of this season. The Tigers lost two out of three to Alabama last weekend, putting themselves in even more danger of possibly not making the SEC Tournament. LSU now needs to just win one game in its series this weekend in order to be safe and on its way to Hoover.

That win will have to come against an Ole Miss team who is beginning to get hot as of late. The Tigers will have to shut down the likes of Andrew Furniss and Jackson Ross, amongst others, in order to make the most of its defensive outings and get their offense up to the plate to damage in this three-game set.

For more LSU baseball coverage, check outLSU Tigers Wire.

Bruce Newman/Special to the Clarion Ledger / USA TODAY NETWORK

Record:27-25

Last week:No. 11

The Ole Miss Rebels are beginning to find their stride here in the ending of the regular season. Mike Bianco’s squad is fresh off of a series win against Texas A&M and looking for more before the postseason. The Rebels took two of three, but have since lost two straight games coming into this final series.

That series will be against the LSU Tigers in Baton Rouge. Ole Miss must not let the crowd get into this one and try to produce the big plays that will keep the Tigers down. For a team that is on the rise, it does not want to have a stroke of bad luck right before the postseason.

Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News / USA TODAY NETWORK

Record:32-19

Last week:No. 10

The Alabama Crimson Tide are sitting pretty after a solid showing in last weekend’s series. The Tide defeated the LSU Tigers in two of the three contests to win the series at home in Tuscaloosa. They continue to try and build some strong momentum as they head into their first postseason under Rob Vaughn.

Alabama will now try to steal one last series in the regular season, this one at the hands of archrival Auburn. The Crimson Tide make the trip to the Plains in an attempt to continue their good vibes going into the postseason. With the strong bats that they have, even a decent performance could be enough to take this rivalry contest on the road.

For more Alabama baseball news, visitRoll Tide Wire.

Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK

Record:34-18

Last week:No. 8

Vanderbilt is trying to bounce back one last time after losing yet another SEC series last week. The Commodores dropped games one and two to the Tennessee Volunteers before winning the finale to snap an eight-game losing streak in conference play. They will look to change that as they end the regular season this weekend.

That will be no easy task, though, as Vanderbilt will have to try and take down a hot Kentucky team that is battling for the top seed in Hoover for the SEC Tournament. Add this onto it being on the road, and this Commodore squad knows they will need to step it up in all facets of the game in order to pull this one out late.

[Cyndi Chambers/ Gainesville Sun] 2024

Record:33-18

Last week:No. 6

South Carolina is dropping a spot this week after what was a rough series against the Georgia Bulldogs. The Gameco*cks were swept at home by a team that is as hot as ever, giving up over 10 runs in each the contest. While the offense was able to produce five or more runs in each game, it was not nearly enough to overcome what the pitching gave up.

Now, South Carolina has to bounce back against a tough Tennessee team in Knoxville. The Gameco*ck pitching must stay stable and fierce in order to shut down these Volunteer bats. If they are unable to, things could get ugly quickly.

Barbara Gauntt/Clarion Ledger / USA TODAY NETWORK

Record:34-18

Last week:No. 7

The Bulldogs of Mississippi State were not able to pull out a series win last weekend despite some close games. They dropped two of three to the Arkansas Razorbacks on the road, where each one of the games were decided by three runs or less. While it was ultimately defeat, it gives them hope that they can turn things around this weekend.

Mississippi State takes on Missouri in the last series of the regular season, one that it should be able to win. With the Tigers fighting for a spot in the conference tournament, expect these games to possibly be close, but for the Bulldogs to use their defense to shut them down and go home victors.

Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News / USA TODAY NETWORK

Record:42-10

Last week:No. 4

Texas A&M is attempting to bounce back after a down weekend and fight back hard. The Aggies dropped a series to the Ole Miss Rebels last weekend, not showing their best performance on the field. The team has been struggling under their standards down the stretch, and they need to turn things around for the postseason.

Texas A&M needs to do that against Arkansas this weekend. With this series being at home, it is the opportune time to make some moves and make some big plays at the same time. A series win could save its top-four seeding and earning itself a bye, which is all too important in the conference tournament.

For more Texas A&M news, visitAggies Wire.

[Cyndi Chambers/ Gainesville Sun] 2023

Record: 38-12

Last week:No. 5

The Bulldogs are still as hot as ever, having won eight consecutive games coming into this weekend. Georgia performed a road sweep of South Carolina last week, scoring over 10 runs in each of the three games to pose its dominance and move it closer to a possible bye in the SEC Tournament.

The Bulldogs can earn it with a good performance against Florida this weekend. With this being a rivalry matchup, Georgia will have to stay playing as good as it has, staying true to its game philosophy throughout the series. Doing that can be awarded with a big series win.

For more Georgia athletics news, visitUGA Wire.

[Cyndi Chambers/ Gainesville Sun] 2024

Record:37-11

Last week:No. 3

The Kentucky Wildcats are in prime position to possibly take the No. 1 seed in the SEC Tournament next week. After a series win against Florida, the Wildcats sit at the top of the East division and look to keep that position with a series win this weekend.

That must come against a Vanderbilt team that is struggling as of late. The Kentucky offense must continue to fight as it has all season to pull out the crucial wins it needs. Should it dig into a Commodore pitching staff that it continues to struggle, it should have a fair chance at success in this series.

VisitUK Wildcats Wirefor more news on the Kentucky Wildcats.

Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News / USA TODAY NETWORK

Record:42-10

Last week:No. 2

The Arkansas Razorbacks are sitting nicely within the top four teams of the SEC after winning two out of three over the Mississippi State Bulldogs last weekend. The Razorbacks are well on their way to earning a bye in the conference tournament, something that has proved beneficial over the years to any team that has earned it.

Now, they look to build up more momentum on the road at Texas A&M. In a tough series, a victory can prove to be all a team needs to feel good about its chances in the postseason. With Hagen Smith performing as he has all season, a nice game one performance should set Arkansas up for success.

For more Arkansas baseball news, visitRazorbacks Wire.

Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

Record:43-10

Last week:No. 1

The Tennessee Volunteers enter this weekend after a solid series win over Vanderbilt last weekend. The Volunteers won the first two contests before dropping the third, but still sit in great position to hold a bye in the SEC Tournament next week. The offense is playing well and the momentum continues to build.

This can come in crucially with a series against South Carolina this weekend. Should Tennessee come out on top, it can go into Hoover with a solid feeling about where it is at and what it is capable as it tries to make a run back to Omaha this year.

VisitVols Wirefor more news on Tennessee baseball.