Arkansas takes its perfect 3-0 record to Auburn this weekend.
The SEC enters the second weekend of conference play this Friday. In somewhat of a surprise start to conference play, the West division flat out dominated the East division. Alabama, in taking two of three from top-ranked Georgia, and Arkansas, sweeping Florida at home, were particularly impressive last weekend. This weekend will have Arkansas take its perfect 3-0 conference record on the road to challenge 2-1 Auburn. Alabama and Ole Miss both find themselves with 2-1 SEC records and will do battle in Oxford, Mississippi. LSU, who took two of three from Kentucky last weekend, will travel to South Carolina, a team that needs a series victory after a 1-2 SEC start. Mississippi State takes their 2-1 mark on the road to Georgia, who saw their top ranking slip away after a 1-2 weekend at Alabama. Vanderbilt and Kentucky both started SEC play with 1-2 series losses and will face off in Lexington this weekend. Florida will host Tennessee in what could be a pivotal weekend for both clubs after Florida was swept on opening weekend and Tennessee lost two of three.
Here are the weekend’s projected pitching match-ups along with scheduled starting times:
ARKANSAS (13-4, 3-0 SEC) at AUBURN (15-5, 2-1 SEC)
FRIDAY (4:00 p.m. CT): Dallas Keuchel (LHP, 2-0, 3.24 ERA) at Grant Dayton (LHP, 2-1, 2.45 ERA)
SATURDAY (3:00 p.m. CT): T.J. Forrest (RHP, 1-1, 3.50 ERA) at Jon Luke Jacobs (RHP, 2-0, 4.43 ERA)
SUNDAY (1:00 p.m. CT): Drew Smyly (LHP, 1-0, 1.83 ERA) at Paul Burnside (RHP, 0-1, 5.50 ERA)
Brian’s Prediction: Arkansas sweeps Auburn
Colin’s Prediction: Arkansas takes 2 of 3
ALABAMA (14-5, 2-1 SEC) at OLE MISS (13-4, 2-1 SEC)
FRIDAY (6:30 p.m. CT): Austin Hyatt (RHP, 4-0, 2.00 ERA) at Drew Pomeranz (LHP, 1-0, 3.27 ERA)
SATURDAY (1:30 p.m. CT): Adam Morgan (LHP, 3-0, 3.33 ERA) at Phillip Irwin (RHP, 3-0, 1.59 ERA)
SUNDAY (1:30 p.m. CT): TBA at Brett Bukvich (LHP, 3-0, 0.90 ERA)
Brian’s Prediction: Alabama takes 2 of 3
Colin’s Prediction: Ole Miss takes 2 of 3
LSU (15-4, 2-1 SEC) at SOUTH CAROLINA (13-4, 1-2 SEC)
FRIDAY (7:00 p.m. ET): Anthony Ranaudo (RHP, 2-0, 1.85 ERA) at Sam Dyson (RHP, 2-1, 3.18 ERA)
SATURDAY (4:00 p.m. ET): Austin Ross (RHP, 2-2, 2.74 ERA) at Adam Westmoreland (LHP, 2-0, 3.38 ERA)
SUNDAY (1:30 p.m. ET): TBA at Nolan Belcher (LHP, 0-1, 7.43 ERA)
Brian’s Prediction: South Carolina takes 2 of 3
Colin’s Prediction: LSU takes 2 of 3
MISSISSIPPI STATE (13-6, 2-1 SEC) at GEORGIA (16-2, 1-2 SEC)
FRIDAY (7:00 p.m. ET): Tyler Whitney (LHP, 2-0, 1.12 ERA) at Trevor Holder (RHP, 3-1, 2.01 ERA)
SATURDAY (3:00 p.m. ET): Nick Routt (LHP, 2-0, 1.90 ERA) at Alex McRee (LHP, 2-0, 0.77 ERA)
SUNDAY (2:00 p.m. ET): TBA at Justin Grimm (RHP, 1-1, 5.49 ERA)
Brian’s Prediction: Georgia takes 2 of 3
Colin’s Prediction: Mississippi State takes 2 of 3
VANDERBILT (13-6, 1-2 SEC) at KENTUCKY (13-4, 1-2 SEC)
FRIDAY (6:30 p.m. ET): Mike Minor (LHP, 1-1, 3.65 ERA) at James Paxton (LHP, 3-0, 3.86 ERA)
SATURDAY (1:00 p.m. ET): Caleb Cotham (RHP, 3-1, 2.77 ERA) at Chris Rusin (LHP, 3-1, 3.33 ERA)
SUNDAY (1:00 p.m. ET): Nick Christiani (RHP, 2-0, 5.31 ERA) at Alex Meyer (RHP, 1-1, 5.06 ERA)
Brian’s Prediction: Kentucky takes 2 of 3
Colin’s Prediction: Vanderbilt takes 2 of 3
TENNESSEE (9-9, 1-2 SEC) at FLORIDA (11-7, 0-3 SEC)
FRIDAY (6:30 p.m. ET): Nick Hernandez (LHP, 1-1, 4.50 ERA) at Jeff Barfield (RHP, 2-0, 0.55 ERA)
SATURDAY (4:00 p.m. ET): Stephen McCray (RHP, 3-0, 2.84 ERA) at Nick Maronde (LHP, 1-1, 2.14 ERA)
SUNDAY (12:30 p.m. ET): TBA at Patrick Keating (RHP, 2-3, 4.37 ERA)
Brian’s Prediction: Tennessee takes 2 of 3
Colin’s Prediction: Florida takes 2 of 3
