SEC baseball power rankings after Week 6: Florida, South Carolina on the rise
The second week of SEC baseball play brought more chaos. Already, three teams have both swept a series and been swept in a series. Ten of the league's 14 teams have between two and four SEC wins, and no team is either winless or undefeated.
Road series have proven especially tough. Eleven of the 14 SEC series so far have been won by the home team, and all five series sweeps so far have been at home.
While other ranking systems focus more on projecting teams into the future, power rankings are more about who's playing well now.
After six weeks of the season, here's how the league stacks up:
All records and stats as of games March 24
1. Arkansas
One of only three SEC teams to win a road series this season, Arkansas has passed the eye test with flying colors thanks to a pitching staff that is best in the conference. The wins so far have come against Missouri and Auburn, though, and things get tougher by hosting LSU this week.
Record: 19-3 (5-1 SEC)
Last week: 1
MORE ON ARKANSAS Winning streak ends, but Arkansas baseball claims weekend SEC series against Auburn
2. Florida
Florida has been one of the most impressive teams through two weeks of SEC play − but the Gators continue to pile up midweek losses, which could hurt their case to host a regional. Regardless, Florida earns the No. 2 spot by being one of only three teams in the SEC to win both their first two series.
Record: 14-9 (4-2)
Last week: 4
3. Texas A&M
One of only two teams in the SEC to be in the conference's top five in both scoring and runs allowed per game, the Aggies took a tough road series loss to Florida but bounced back at home against Mississippi State. Texas A&M hosts Auburn this week.
Record: 21-3 (3-3)
Last week: 6
4. Tennessee
What to make of the gap between Home Tennessee and Road Tennessee? The Vols fly high at home but haven't looked like the same squad away from Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Tennessee has the chance to improve its SEC-best scoring numbers by hosting Georgia.
Record: 21-4 (3-3)
Last week: 5
MORE ON TENNESSEE Tennessee baseball showed some toughness and a dangerous order in winning series vs Ole Miss
5. Mississippi State
The Bulldogs have looked much better in SEC play than in the nonconference and were largely competitive on the road at Texas A&M. Like Florida, though, midweek losses could come back to haunt Mississippi State.
Record: 17-8 (3-3)
Last week: 7
6. South Carolina
Against Vanderbilt, South Carolina finally looked like the squad we were expecting preseason, with a physical and powerful offense led by Ethan Petry. Like Tennessee, though, the Gamecocks haven't looked like the same team on the road.
Record: 19-5 (4-2)
Last week: 12
7. Vanderbilt
As good as Vanderbilt looked in sweeping Auburn last week, it looked bad in getting dominated by South Carolina on the road. It's been a Jekyll and Hyde act so far: Which version of this team is real? The Commodores have a chance to get right by hosting Missouri.
Record: 19-6 (3-3)
Last week: 2
MORE ON VANDERBILT What we learned as Vanderbilt baseball got swept by South Carolina
8. Alabama
Like Vanderbilt, Alabama looked excellent the first week in taking a series from Tennessee but equally bad last week in getting swept at Georgia. The Crimson Tide host South Carolina this week.
Record: 18-6 (2-4)
Last week: 3
9. LSU
LSU would be higher than this on talent, but it's hard to put the Tigers − who have lost their first two SEC series − near the top with how they're currently playing. It won't get easier as LSU travels to Arkansas.
Record: 19-6 (2-4)
Last week: 8
10. Kentucky
Kentucky is the third of three teams to win both SEC series so far, but the Wildcats' win at Missouri was thoroughly uninspiring. Still, the sweep of Georgia looks better now than when it happened.
Record: 20-4 (5-1)
Last week: 9
11. Georgia
Georgia is second in the SEC in runs scored and 12th in runs allowed per game. That's led to a series of inconsistent performances for the Bulldogs, who have now swept Alabama and been swept by Kentucky.
Record: 21-4 (3-3)
Last week: 13
12. Ole Miss
Ole Miss does have a home series win over South Carolina and took one game off Tennessee, but the Rebels are the only team besides Missouri to rank in the league's bottom five in both runs scored and allowed per game.
Record: 17-8 (3-3)
Last week: 11
MORE ON OLE MISS What we learned from Ole Miss baseball's series loss at Tennessee: Rebels have rotation issues
13. Auburn
It was a difficult schedule, but Auburn is tied for last in the league and needed a late-innings comeback to avoid its second-straight sweep. The Tigers are one of only three teams to lose an SEC home series so far.
Record: 15-8 (1-5)
Last week: 10
14. Missouri
Missouri ranks last in the SEC in just about every metric, including runs scored and allowed per game. The Tigers were competitive in their SEC series with Kentucky, but this could be a long season for Missouri.
Record: 10-14 (1-5)
Last week: 14
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: SEC baseball power rankings after Week 6
