#SECBsB

Hey there guys,

I've been running behind this past week with papers, tests and all the general student crap. Quick run down, Kentucky is on FIRE. After sweeping South Carolina the real question is whether or not they can keep this up. They can't finish the season undefeated...right? We'll see.

While last weekend I entered into with a near lazy mindset, this weekend is a complete 180. Top Ten match-up between Florida and South Carolina, where the winner could very well have a leg up on the race in the SEC East. Arkansas looks to receive their first test of the season when they travel to Starkville against an underrated Mississippi State team. Ole Miss and Alabama look to rebound from disappointing starts to conference play, while Auburn looks to knock off it's second ranked opponent in as many weekends.




#1 Florida (20-1; 3-0) @ #8 South Carolina (16-5; 0-3)
Thursday: Hudson Randall (3-0, 3.45 ERA) vs. Michael Roth (2-0, 1.26 ERA) *SOUTH CAROLINA WON 9-3*
Friday: Brian Johnson (3-0, 3.16 ERA) vs. Matt Price (2-1, 3.71 ERA)
Saturday: Jonathan Crawford (2-1, 4.43 ERA) vs. Colby Holmes (3-0, 1.88 ERA)
Preview: This is one of the most hyped match-ups in all of college baseball. However, I'm not sure how much hype I can really build into this. South Carolina is coming off being swept by Kentucky and then a mid-week loss to Wofford. The team is talented, they still maintain the No. 2 ERA in the SEC. However, SC has not been swept since a 2009 road series at Florida. How are they going to handle this? Can they rebound in a big series? I know it's REALLY early in the season, but if South Carolina loses this series I have a hard time seeing them competing for the East. On the other side of the diamond, the Gators roll into this game on an 18-game winning streak, outscoring opponents 131 to 46 in that time frame (7.3 rpg to 2.6 rpg). Honestly, Florida has continued to impress me throughout this streak so I'm going to call for them to win the series.
Not anywhere close game-by-game predictions: Fri: Florida 5-4, Sat: Florida 6-4, Sun: Florida 5-4

#17 Ole Miss (15-6; 1-2) @ Alabama (8-13; 0-3)
Friday: Bobby Wahl (4-0, 1.55 ERA) vs. Charlie Sullivan (2-2, 3.07 ERA)
Saturday: R.J. Hively (3-1, 1.88 ERA) vs. Justin Kamplain (1-1, 2.53 ERA)
Sunday: Mike Mayers (2-2, 3.34 ERA) vs. Jon Keller (0-0, 3.36 ERA)
Preview: I'll just say it plain and simple. Alabama is battling with Vanderbilt to be the worst team in the SEC. Ole Miss' opening weekend in the conference was just as disappointing as Auburn. Both teams are experiencing disappointment at this point in the season and need some wins. As a pessimistic Ole Miss fan my gut immediately thinks we'll get swept by Alabama this weekend. After all the Rebs struggled to finish against Auburn, losing the series, and then got demolished by Southern Miss in the mid-week game. But Alabama IS that bad. I'll take the Rebs to take the series.
Not anywhere close game-by-game predictions: Fri: Miss 8-0, Sat: Miss 8-0, Sun: Miss 8-1

#3 Arkansas (20-2; 3-0) @ Mississippi State (15-7; 1-2)
Friday: D.J. Baxendale (5-0, 2.30 ERA) vs. Chris Stratton (4-0, 2.12 ERA)
Saturday: Ryne Stanek (5-0, 1.52 ERA) vs. Nick Routt (1-2, 4.05 ERA)
Sunday: Randall Fant (1-1, 4.82 ERA) vs. Kendall Graveman (2-0, 2.30 ERA)
Preview: The Friday night pitching match-up is one of the best in the country. I will be monitoring this one pretty closely. Stratton was DOMINANT @ LSU last weekend and Baxendale has been one of the best pitchers in the country. These teams are pretty even at the plate and on the mound, but I would give Arkansas a slight advantage in the bullpen. Call me crazy, but I'm going to take Mississippi State in this series. I can't stress enough how dominant Stratton was last weekend, and if he can do that again tonight they should take the opener, and I've got my money AGAINST Randall Fant on Sunday.
Not anywhere close game-by-game predictions: Fri: MSU 3-2, Sat: Ark 4-3, Sun: MSU 4-3

#11 LSU (17-4; 2-1) @ Auburn (13-8;  2-1)
Friday: Kevin Gausman (4-0, 1.25 ERA) vs. Derek Varnadore (1-2, 4.94 ERA)
Saturday: Ryan Eades (4-1, 1.95 ERA) vs. Wil Kendall (3-0, 1.69 ERA)
Sunday: Aaron Nola (3-1, 3.12 ERA) vs. Daniel Kroger (1-1, 2.05 ERA)
Preview: I'm actually looking forward to this series. Auburn was impressive in their series win over Ole Miss this past weekend. They hit the ball well, as they always do, but their young pitching was very impressive, and key, in taking the series. LSU, picked up a solid series win over Mississippi State this past weekend, but I still think they're a bit overrated. I like for Auburn, behind the bats of Ryan Tella and Creede Simpson to make a series out this.
Not anywhere close game-by-game predictions: Fri: LSU 5-4, Sat: Auburn 4-3, Sun: Auburn 5-3

#18 Georgia (16-6; 2-1) @ Vanderbilt (7-14; 0-3)
Friday: Alex Wood (3-1, 2.27 ERA) vs. Kevin Ziomek (2-2, 4.23 ERA)
Saturday: Michael Palazzone (0-2, 3.68 ERA) vs. Tyler Beede (0-3, 7.71 ERA)
Sunday: Pete Nagel (0-0, 2.91 ERA) vs. TBA
Preview: If Vanderbilt is going to turn around their season it has to be now. Georgia is a talented team that has a lot of holes. Of the top three ERAs in the SEC the Dogs still allow opponents to hit .235 and are middle of the pack in K:BB ratio. When facing decent pitching the Dogs have been shutout twice this season and never seem to put together consistent solid offensive performances. Again, the talent is there. Look no further than Alex Wood and Michael Palazzone on the mound and Curt Powell and Kyle Farmer at the plate. Their vulnerability is going to give Vanderbilt a chance, but I don't know if there is any saving this 'Dores team. If Georgia sweeps them, like I project, then I'm going to call it now: Vandy won't make the SEC playoffs.
Not anywhere close game-by-game predictions:  Fri: UGA 5-4, Sat: UGA 7-4, Sun: UGA 6-4

#16 Kentucky (22-0; 3-0) @ Tennessee (12-8; 1-2)
Friday: Taylor Rogers (4-0, 4.03 ERA) vs. Zack Godley (3-1, 3.41 ERA)
Saturday: Jerad Grundy (3-0, 2.73 ERA) vs. T.J. Thornton (0-0, 6.75 ERA)
Sunday: Corey Littrell (2-0, 2.45 ERA) vs. Nick Williams (2-2, 2.05 ERA)
Preview: If Kentucky can keep this absolutely incredible streak they are on, this won't be much of a series. Expect Cameron Flynn, Zac Zellers, Luke Maile and A.J. Reed are four of the best hitters in the entire SEC, and help to make Kentucky the best hitting team in the SEC. Tennessee, well they aren't really good at anything. Look for Kentucky to leave this series still without a loss.
Not anywhere closer game-by-game predictions: Fri: Kentucky 7-2, Sat: Kentucky 9-1, Sun: 6-1