Rich Poythress (.411, 20 HR, 67 RBI) and the Georgia Bulldogs visit Ole Miss this weekend. (ESPN Photo)
SEC conference play rolls on this weekend with some pivotal matchups that will impact a tight SEC West race. Arkansas currently sits on top of the West, with a half game lead on LSU and Ole Miss and a one and a half game lead on Alabama. Georgia leads Florida in the SEC East by three games. The big matchup of the weekend will take place when the Georgia Bulldogs travel to Oxford to take on Ole Miss. The Rebels enter the weekend on a three game winning streak, the longest current winning streak in the conference. South Carolina travels to Florida in an Eastern Division clash. The Gators, who are 10-8 in league play, currently sit one game ahead of the Gamecocks in the division. The Auburn Tigers travel to LSU to take on the Tigers, who are looking to get back on track after suffering a home series loss to Tennessee last weekend. Arkansas, the SEC West leader, travels to Tennessee to take on the Volunteers. The Vols have been playing solid baseball as of late, winning seven of their last ten games. The Alabama Crimson Tide find themselves just one and a half games off the SEC West lead and will host the struggling Kentucky Wildcats, who have lost seven of their last ten games. Vanderbilt has an opportunity to improve on their 7-10 SEC mark and get back into the NCAA post-season discussion when they host the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
Below are the current game times with probable pitching matchups:
GEORGIA (32-9, 13-5 SEC) at OLE MISS (30-11, 11-7 SEC)
FRIDAY (6:30 p.m CT): Sr. RHP Trevor Holder (6-2, 3.88 ERA) at So. LHP Drew Pomeranz (4-1, 3.59 ERA)
SATURDAY (4:00 p.m. CT): Jr. LHP Alex McRee (4-0, 2.19 ERA) at Jr. RHP Phillip Irwin (5-3, 3.57 ERA)
SUNDAY (1:30 p.m. CT): So. RHP Justin Grimm (2-1, 4.12 ERA) at Sr. RHP Scott Bittle (4-2, 2.33 ERA)
Brian’s Prediction: Georgia takes 2 of 3
Colin’s Prediction: Georgia takes 2 of 3
SOUTH CAROLINA (27-15, 9-9 SEC) at FLORIDA (28-14, 10-8 SEC)
FRIDAY (6:30 p.m. ET): So. RHP Sam Dyson (6-2, 4.87 ERA) at Fr. RHP Anthony DeScalfani (4-1, 2.75 ERA) or Sr. LHP Stephen Locke (2-0, 3.24 ERA)
SATURDAY (4:00 p.m. ET): Fr. LHP Nolan Belcher (2-2, 4.25 ERA) at Fr. RHP Anthony DeScalfani (4-1, 2.75 ERA) or Sr. LHP Stephen Locke (2-0, 3.24 ERA)
SUNDAY (1:00 p.m. ET): Jr. RHP Blake Cooper (5-3, 4.73 ERA) at TBA
Brian’s Prediction: Florida takes 2 of 3
Colin’s Prediction: Florida takes 2 of 3
AUBURN (25-16, 8-10 SEC) at LSU (30-12, 11-7 SEC)
FRIDAY (7:00 p.m. CT): Fr. RHP Jon Luke Jacobs (3-2, 5.79 ERA) at So. RHP Anthony Ranuado (4-2, 2.83 ERA)
SATURDAY (3:00 p.m. CT): So. LHP Grant Dayton (2-4, 4.81 ERA) at St. RHP Louis Coleman (8-2, 2.54 ERA)
SUNDAY (1:00 p.m. CT): TBA at So. RHP Austin Ross (4-5, 4.62 ERA)
Brian’s Prediction: LSU takes 2 of 3
Colin’s Prediction: LSU takes 2 of 3
ARKANSAS (27-11, 11-6 SEC) at TENNESSEE (19-23, 5-13 SEC)
FRIDAY (7:00 p.m. ET): Jr. LHP Dallas Keuchel (5-1, 4.45 ERA) at Sr. RHP Ty’Relle Harris (4-2, 5.66 ERA)
SATURDAY (4:00 p.m. ET): So. RHP Brett Eibner (4-2, 2.60 ERA) at Jr. LHP Nick Hernandez (2-4, 5.53 ERA)
SUNDAY (1:00 p.m. ET): TBA at TBA
Brian’s Prediction: Arkansas sweeps
Colin’s Prediction: Arkansas takes 2 of 3
KENTUCKY (21-19, 6-12 SEC) at ALABAMA (27-14, 10-8 SEC)
FRIDAY (6:30 p.m. CT): Jr. LHP James Paxton (4-2, 5.58 ERA) at Sr. RHP Austin Hyatt (6-1, 3.24 ERA)
SATURDAY (4:00 p.m. CT): Sr. LHP Chris Rusin (4-3, 4.28 ERA) at Jr. LHP Del Howell (5-1, 3.79 ERA)
SUNDAY (2:00 p.m. CT): Fr. RHP Alex Meyer (1-2, 5.08 ERA) at Jr. RHP Adam Scott (1-1, 4.61 ERA)
Brian’s Prediction: Alabama takes 2 of 3
Colin’s Prediction: Alabama takes 2 of 3
MISSISSIPPI STATE (21-21, 6-12 SEC) at VANDERBILT (24-17, 7-10 SEC)
FRIDAY (6:00 p.m. CT): So. LHP Forrest Moore (2-0, 4.28 ERA) at Jr. LHP Mike Minor (3-3, 3.15 ERA)
SATURDAY (1:00 p.m. CT): Fr. LHP Nick Routt (4-2, 3.06 ERA) at So. RHP Caleb Cotham (5-4, 4.91 ERA)
SUNDAY (1:00 p.m. CT): So. LHP Tyler Whitney (2-3, 4.29 ERA) at Jr. RHP Drew Hayes (3-2, 4.44 ERA)
Brian’s Prediction: Vanderbilt sweeps
Colin’s Prediction: Vanderbilt takes 2 of 3
