Did this last week and figured I’d follow up on it. The picture is just as muddy after this past weekend. Last week, Bama, Texas A&M, Georgia, and Auburn were all projected on or near the bubble. After the weekend, that really didn’t change, and I think Kentucky might be a weekend away from getting added to this discussion.
From this past weekend, Georgia lost the series at Ole Miss, which most thought was a spot for UGA to win a series and continue to solidify themselves in the postseason race. Bama got swept at LSU. aTm got swept at Arkansas. Auburn won the series at South Carolina. The current standings, RPI, and remaining schedules are:
Alabama (21) 9-12: Vandy, at aTm, Ole Miss
Texas A&M (43) 9-12: Florida, Bama, at Miss St
Auburn (34) 9-12: LSU, at Ole Miss, Mizzou
UGA (23) 8-13: Tenn, at Mizzou, LSU
Bama’s RPI is in good enough shape that getting to 13 SEC wins should get them in the field, assuming they are high enough in the SEC pecking order. But their path to four wins is a bit tough. They’re without the three starters that started games for them at the start of April. I think their series at Texas A&M might be an elimination series for one of those two teams.
Texas A&M has an RPI problem. Even with 14 SEC wins, they need to get their RPI into the 30s to feel good about their postseason hopes. But they get a big opportunity with Florida coming to them this weekend. aTm is struggling on the mound, kinda like Auburn, and they’ll need to figure that out against Florida. IMO aTm needs to go 5-4 over their final three series, and that series against Bama is going to have a serious impact on things going into that final week of SEC play.
Auburn really helped themselves with the series win at SCarolina. Another really tough task is coming this week, but a win would keep Auburn on track. A series win would really lighten the load moving forward.
UGA has a tough road and is a game behind the others ahead of them on the bubble. They’re playing maybe the hottest team in the league this weekend in Tennessee, who is 6-0 in their last 6 league games, and they finish the season against LSU. Their RPI is currently in a position to get them in with 13 wins, but if they’re the 10th or 11th team in the league standings and have 13 wins, their RPI might not matter. And getting to 14 wins is going to be tough with what they have left.
As we saw this past weekend, crazy stuff happens when teams start getting desperate or focused on getting to the postseason. Also, getting teams like Ole Miss or Mizzou right now might not be the greatest timing if they’re still playing for a chance to get to Hoover. Ole Miss and Mizzou play each other this weekend, and one of them could get really close to being eliminated from Hoover this weekend.
Right now, I like Auburn’s path and Texas A&M’s path, mainly because I think they win the series over Bama. Bama’s pitching situation, which might now be worse than Auburn’s, is really hindering them. And UGA having both Tenn and LSU makes me think their hill is too high to climb.
From this past weekend, Georgia lost the series at Ole Miss, which most thought was a spot for UGA to win a series and continue to solidify themselves in the postseason race. Bama got swept at LSU. aTm got swept at Arkansas. Auburn won the series at South Carolina. The current standings, RPI, and remaining schedules are:
Alabama (21) 9-12: Vandy, at aTm, Ole Miss
Texas A&M (43) 9-12: Florida, Bama, at Miss St
Auburn (34) 9-12: LSU, at Ole Miss, Mizzou
UGA (23) 8-13: Tenn, at Mizzou, LSU
Bama’s RPI is in good enough shape that getting to 13 SEC wins should get them in the field, assuming they are high enough in the SEC pecking order. But their path to four wins is a bit tough. They’re without the three starters that started games for them at the start of April. I think their series at Texas A&M might be an elimination series for one of those two teams.
Texas A&M has an RPI problem. Even with 14 SEC wins, they need to get their RPI into the 30s to feel good about their postseason hopes. But they get a big opportunity with Florida coming to them this weekend. aTm is struggling on the mound, kinda like Auburn, and they’ll need to figure that out against Florida. IMO aTm needs to go 5-4 over their final three series, and that series against Bama is going to have a serious impact on things going into that final week of SEC play.
Auburn really helped themselves with the series win at SCarolina. Another really tough task is coming this week, but a win would keep Auburn on track. A series win would really lighten the load moving forward.
UGA has a tough road and is a game behind the others ahead of them on the bubble. They’re playing maybe the hottest team in the league this weekend in Tennessee, who is 6-0 in their last 6 league games, and they finish the season against LSU. Their RPI is currently in a position to get them in with 13 wins, but if they’re the 10th or 11th team in the league standings and have 13 wins, their RPI might not matter. And getting to 14 wins is going to be tough with what they have left.
As we saw this past weekend, crazy stuff happens when teams start getting desperate or focused on getting to the postseason. Also, getting teams like Ole Miss or Mizzou right now might not be the greatest timing if they’re still playing for a chance to get to Hoover. Ole Miss and Mizzou play each other this weekend, and one of them could get really close to being eliminated from Hoover this weekend.
Right now, I like Auburn’s path and Texas A&M’s path, mainly because I think they win the series over Bama. Bama’s pitching situation, which might now be worse than Auburn’s, is really hindering them. And UGA having both Tenn and LSU makes me think their hill is too high to climb.
