– Nick Bushart

Week five in the Southeastern Conference saw three dominant teams rise to the top, and the NCAA selected a new no. 1 in their top-25 rankings. Texas A&M showed what they were made of sweeping then ranked-6 Vanderbilt, while Kentucky and Tennessee put in sweeps.

The surprise of the weekend was Alabama taking 2-of-3 from then number 1 ranked Arkansas. Ole Miss, South Carolina and Georgia all won series 2-1, as Florida and Mississippi State continue to decline.

Week 6 brings three top-25 matchups that will be must watch series. Newly top ranked Texas A&M Aggies travel to Tuscaloosa to take on 18-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide, while the No. 3 ranked Kentucky Wildcats welcome fellow SEC East opponent No. 4 Tennessee Volunteers. The No. 2-ranked Crimson Tide look to get back on track as they travel to Columbia, SC to take on the 20th ranked Gamecocks.

Must Watch Matchups

No. 4 Tennessee Volunteers (31-6, 10-5) at No. 3 Kentucky Wildcats (31-5, 14-1)
Prediction: Wildcats take the 2-1 Series Victory over the Vols

To say the Wildcats are hot is an understatement, as Kentucky holds an SEC best 14-1 record. In five conference series the Wildcats have swept four including top-25 matchups against Georgia, Ole Miss and Alabama. Tennessee enters on a 7-game winning streak with back-to-back SEC sweeps of Auburn and LSU.

This series dates back to 1909, as the Vols hold a 182-155 advantage over the Wildcats. In the last 10 games the Vols have won 6-of-10. However, the Wildcats have the advantage at home with a 80-73 record in Lexington.

This series will be a duel of the Vols hitters and the Wildcat pitching staff. 7 of the Vols starting lineup are hitting above .300 on the season. Tennessee also boasts in 5 hitters with 10 or more homeruns, led by Blake Burke who is hitting .422 with 13 homers and 36 RBIs. The Wildcats have two top pitchers in Dominic Niman and Mason Morore, who each have 7 wins on the season.

Trey Pooser has rounded out the rotation for the Wildcats the last four SEC weekend, and he has struggled at times. The Vols have a chance to steal the first game from the Wildcats with how hot their bats are.

No. 1 Texas A&M Aggies (33-4, 11-4) at No. 18 Alabama Crimson Tide (24-13, 6-9)
Prediction: Aggies win the series 2-1 over the Crimson Tide

In the second top-25 matchup the Aggies enter Tuscaloosa, AL as the best team in college baseball. Against Vanderbilt Texas A&M scored 36 runs, while only allowing the Commodores to 6 runs during the weekend. The Crimson Tide pulled off an improbable feet last weekend taking down the Razorbacks in extras on Saturday and then shutting out the hogs on Sunday. However, Alabama’s momentum was thwarted as they dropped a midweek matchup to UAB 5-2.

The three-headed monster of Braden Montgomery, Jackson Appel and Hayden Schott have led the Aggies in conference play, each of which are hitting over .327 from the plate. The Crimson Tide also have three hitters who are soaring at the plate in Ian Pertutz, Kade Snell and Gage Miller. On the season Miller is hitting .414 with 15 bombs and 43 RBIs.

Texas A&M has played three road series this season, dropping at least one game in all three. The Crimson Tide fans will be out and loud. The Crimson Tide should take one in front of their home crowd.

Good Games on the Slate

No. 2 Arkansas Razorbacks (32-5, 12-3) at No. 20 South Carolina Gamecocks (26-11, 8-7)
Prediction: Razorbacks sweep Gamecocks

Quite frankly this series will be wrong place at the wrong time for South Carolina. The Razorbacks enter the weekend after dropping their first SEC series to the Alabama Crimson Tide. The Gamecocks spent last weekend in Gainesville taking 2-of-3 from the Gators on the road .

Arkansas leads the all-time series 45-35 heading into this weekend’s series. The Gamecocks are 17-16 against the Razorbacks in Columbia. In the last meeting in Columbia the Razorbacks won the series 2-1.

No. 13 Vanderbilt Commodores (27-10, 8-7) at Florida Gators (19-17, 7-8)
Prediction: Commodores win the series 2-1 over the Gators

The Commodores look to bounce back after being swept by Texas A&M, while the Gators attempt to stop the bleeding after losing 5-of-6 SEC games.

Florida leads the all-time series at 147-79-1. The Gators are 7-3 against the Dores in the last 10 meetings including 5-1 over the previous six. Florida has won six of the last eight series overall. However, this series sees Florida continue to slide, even though they take one from Vandy.

Ole Miss Rebels (20-16, 5-10) at Georgia Bulldogs (27-9, 7-8)
Prediction: Rebels win the series 2-1 over the Bulldogs

THE REBS ARE BACK. The issue all season with Ole Miss is the passion did not seem to be there, even though there is clearly talent on the roster. After a heated rivalry weekend, which saw an ejection from Coach Mike Bianco the Rebs continue their turn around in Athens. Georgia took care of business last weekend, only dropping one in extras to Missouri.

This will be the 91st meeting between the two opponents and the Rebels hold a 49-41 lead in the all-time series. The two SEC foes last squared off in the 2023 season at Swayze Field where Ole Miss walked away with the 2-1 series win over Georgia, and this season the Rebels will do it again taking 2-of-3 in Athens.

Snooze Fests

LSU Tigers (23-15, 3-12) at Missouri Tigers (17-21, 5-10)
Prediction: Missouri takes series 2-1 over LSU

This game against two of the worst teams in the conference will be no a very fun watch. The battle of the Tigers will go to the home team, as Missouri should be able to take out spiraling LSU.

Auburn Tigers (19-17, 2-13) at Mississippi State Bulldogs (23-14, 7-8)
Prediction: Mississippi State Sweeps Auburn

Mississippi State dropped the rivalry series to Ole Miss last weekend and get to get back on track at home. Auburn enters the series with the worst record in the SEC boasting in only two conference victories. Mississippi State will use this to get back on track sweeping the Tigers and looking to get that much closer to postseason play.

SEC Current Standings

SEC East
Kentucky Wildcats (31-5, 14-1)
Tennessee Volunteers (31-6, 10-5)
Vanderbilt Commodores (27-10, 8-7)
South Carolina Gamecocks (26-11, 8-7)
Florida Gators (19-17, 7-8)
Georgia Bulldogs (27-9, 7-8)
Missouri Tigers (17-21, 5-10)

SEC West
Arkansas Razorbacks (32-5, 12-3)
Texas A&M Aggies (33-4, 11-4)
Mississippi State Bulldogs (23-14, 7-8)
Alabama Crimson Tide (24-13, 6-9)
Ole Miss Rebels (20-16, 5-10)
LSU Tigers (23-15, 3-12)
Auburn Tigers (19-17, 2-13)