The pace picks up in college baseball this weekend with most teams starting conference play. We’ll start to see a lot of separation from teams in bigger conferences as they weed each other.
Let’s take a look at the best series around the country this weekend:
- Kentucky at Arkansas: Fri., 7:30 (SECN); Sat., 3 (SECN+); Sun., 2 (SECN+)
A series that features two top 10 teams and a pitching matchup that features Blaine Knight against Sean Hjelle will certainly get the top spot for series to watch. I’ve honestly gone back-and-forth a while now trying to figure out who the second best team in the SEC is between the Hogs and Wildcats. We’ll get our answer this weekend. I can’t wait to see these two College World Series contenders go at it in Fayetteville.
- Texas A&M at Auburn: Fri., 7 (SECN+); Sat., 2 (SECN+); Sun., 1 (SECN+)
The number one series on this list is obviously there to see two great teams, but the rest of these are series to watch to find out which team is great. Auburn got off to a surprisingly great start this year, while Texas A&M has been as advertised. We’ll see if the Tigers can justify their start against mediocre competition by taking down a top 10 team at home. For the Aggies, we know they’re a great team – even though I still don’t know how they were held scoreless for 17 innings against UT-Arlington – but you want to see them get off to a good start on the road in the SEC.
- NC State at Clemson: Fri., 6:30 (ACCNE); Sat., 4 (ACCNE); Sun., 1 (ACCNE)
Clemson started the season a little off the radar, but have risen to one of the best teams in the country. I started NC State a little higher than most, but they’ve done nothing but win. This weekend is really a chance for NC State to go on the road and prove they are a top team by picking up a few wins. Much like Texas A&M above, Clemson has a chance to put themselves on top of the conference.
4. Maryland at East Carolina: Fri., 6:30 (Pirates All-Access); Sat., 4 (PAA); Sun., 1 (PAA)
OK, so this might not be the fifth best series to watch over the weekend, but I had to throw in a sneaky-good series. I picked Maryland to finish first in the Big Ten and had them pretty high in my rankings to start the season. While they have some good wins, they’ve also lost some head-scratchers and certainly disappointed to this point. East Carolina started outside the rankings and jump in with a big series win over North Carolina, which doesn’t look as impressive now. Still, the Pirates are a good team and can prove it again this weekend against a strong Maryland team. As for the Terps, this is a chance to make myself, and others, a believer again.
Other series to watch:
Oregon State at Cal
Minnesota at TCU
Vanderbilt at Mississippi State
Kansas at Texas
