Dallas Keuchel and the Arkansas Razorbacks host LSU with first place in the SEC West potentially on the line. (NWA News Photo)
The road to the SEC championship will be well traveled this weekend with key series in both the Eastern and Western divisions. The LSU Tigers, leaders by a half game in the SEC West, travel to Fayetteville to take on the Arkansas Razorbacks in a series that has more than just SEC title implications. Both teams are in the hunt for national seeds in the upcoming NCAA Tournament, and a series victory could be the difference in home field advantage on the road to Omaha. Georgia leads Florida by a single game in the SEC East standings, and the two teams will do battle in Athens this weekend. South Carolina, currently 9-12 in SEC play, hosts Vanderbilt in a must-win series for the Gamecocks. Alabama takes its 12-9 league record on the road to Starksville to take on the struggling Mississippi State Bulldogs. Tennessee makes the trek to Kentucky to take on the Wildcats, who desperately need a series sweep to have any hopes of getting back into NCAA Tournament at-large consideration. Ole Miss, currently one game out of first in the SEC West, will continue their run for a conference championship when they visit Auburn to take on the Tigers.
LSU (34-12, 14-7 SEC) at ARKANSAS (30-12, 13-7 SEC)
FRIDAY (6:30 p.m. CT): So. RHP Anthony Ranaudo (5-2, 2.89 ERA) at Jr. LHP Dallas Keuchel (6-1, 4.30 ERA)
SATURDAY (2:00 p.m. CT): Sr. RHP Louis Coleman (8-2, 3.07 ERA) at So. RHP Brett Eibner (4-2, 3.23 ERA)
SUNDAY (1:00 p.m. CT): So. RHP Austin Ross (4-5, 4.92 ERA) at Jr. RHP T.J. Forrest (2-3, 4.74 ERA)
Brian’s Prediction: Arkansas takes 2 of 3
Colin’s Prediction: Arkansas takes 2 of 3
FLORIDA (31-14, 13-8 SEC) at GEORGIA (33-12, 14-7 SEC)
FRIDAY (7:00 p.m. ET): Sr. LHP Stephen Locke (3-0, 2.97 ERA) at Sr. RHP Trevor Holder (7-2, 3.79 ERA)
SATURDAY (1:00 p.m. ET): Fr. RHP Anthony DeScalfani (4-1, 3.02 ERA at Jr. LHP Alex McRee (4-0, 3.07 ERA)
SUNDAY (2:00 p.m. ET): TBA at So. RHP Justin Grimm (2-3, 4.42 ERA)
Brian’s Prediction: Georgia sweeps
Colin’s Prediction: Georgia takes 2 of 3
VANDERBILT (27-17, 10-10 SEC) at SOUTH CAROLINA (27-18, 9-12 SEC)
FRIDAY (7:00 p.m. ET): Jr. LHP Mike Minor (4-3, 3.33 ERA) at So. RHP Sam Dyson (6-3, 5.04 ERA)
SATURDAY (7:00 p.m. ET): Jr. RHP Drew Hayes (4-2, 4.22 ERA) at Fr. LHP Nolan Belcher (2-3, 4.17 ERA)
SUNDAY (1:30 p.m. ET): TBA at TBA
Brian’s Prediction: Vanderbilt takes 2 of 3
Colin’s Prediction: South Carolina takes 2 of 3
ALABAMA (30-15, 12-9 SEC) at MISSISSIPPI STATE (21-24, 6-15 SEC)
FRIDAY (6:30 p.m. CT): Sr. RHP Austin Hyatt (6-1, 3.45 ERA) at TBA
SATURDAY (6:30 p.m. CT): Jr. LHP Del Howell (5-2, 4.79 ERA) at Fr. LHP Nick Routt (4-3, 3.41 ERA)
SUNDAY (1:30 p.m. CT): Jr. RHP Adam Scott (2-1, 4.08 ERA) at So. LHP Tyler Whitney (2-4, 5.02 ERA)
Brian’s Prediction: Alabama takes 2 of 3
Colin’s Prediction: Alabama takes 2 of 3
TENNESSEE (20-25, 6-15 SEC) at KENTUCKY (22-22, 7-14 SEC)
FRIDAY (6:30 p.m. ET): Jr. LHP Nick Hernandez (2-4, 5.26 ERA) at Jr. LHP James Paxton (4-2, 5.53 ERA)
SATURDAY (4:00 p.m. ET): TBA at Sr. LHP Chris Rusin (5-3, 3.73 ERA)
SUNDAY (1:00 p.m. ET): TBA at TBA
Brian’s Prediction: Kentucky takes 2 of 3
Colin’s Prediction: Kentucky sweeps
OLE MISS (33-13, 13-8 SEC) at AUBURN (27-19, 8-13 SEC)
FRIDAY (6:00 p.m. CT): So. LHP Drew Pomeranz (4-2, 3.49 ERA) at Fr. RHP Jon Luke Jacobs (3-3, 5.75 ERA)
SATURDAY (6:00 p.m. CT): Jr. RHP Phillip Irwin (5-3, 4.01 ERA) at So. LHP Grant Dayton (2-4, 5.06 ERA)
SUNDAY (1:00 p.m. CT): Sr. RHP Scott Bittle (5-2, 2.17 ERA) at Fr. RHP Dexter Price (3-1, 5.40 ERA)
Brian’s Prediction: Ole Miss takes 2 of 3
Colin’s Prediction: Ole Miss takes 2 of 3
