College Baseball: Three SEC Teams Ranked in Baseball America’s Top Five
By Ryan Wright
The dramatic and ever changing weekly landscape in college baseball, as depicted by Baseball America, was no different at the end of all weekend series on Sunday April 15.
For controversy or the fun of it, any team that loses a weekend series is sure to be punished by the voters at Baseball America.
Because Arizona lost to then No. 17 UCLA, the Wildcats dropped from No. 4 to No. 13 after losing their weekend series to the Bruins 1-2.
The Arkansas Razorbacks lost a tightly contested weekend series to No. 3 Kentucky two games to one by a total of two runs and somehow managed to plummet six spots to No. 17. Collegiate Baseball ranks the Hogs No. 16 after going 1-3 last week.
Stanford lost a home series to then No. 16 Oregon but finished the week 3-2, regardless Baseball America voted the Cardinal No. 13 in this week’s poll, a drop from their previous ranking of No. 6.
Florida moved up two spots to No. 5 after beating Tennessee in their SEC East weekend showdown. Even though the Gators have won three single-game mid-week series against No. 1 Florida State and play in a tougher baseball conference, Florida finds themselves behind their in-state rival in the polls.
The Gators have 13 wins against top 25 teams compared to FSU’s two wins. Florida has one more loss than the Seminoles, but only two losses against unranked teams versus four for the No. 1 team in the nation.
For college baseball fans left wondering why Baseball America seemingly overacts like a petulant child come Tuesday of each week during college baseball season… join the club. Perhaps drawing team names out of a hat for teams would make more sense? At least those interested in the why and how rankings are derived would understand.
Baseball America has made losing a home weekend series a deadly sin for college baseball teams, regardless of the final score or who said team is playing.
Collegiate Baseball’s Top 30 Poll resonates with more common sense than their counterpart. Their top five consists of No. 1 LSU, No. 2 Kentucky, No. 3 Baylor, No. 4 Florida, and No. 5 FSU.
Miami dropped out of the top 10 from No. 6 to No. 12 after losing their weekend series to Virginia Tech 2-1. Miami has a chance to regain their top 10 status with an upcoming weekend series on the road against FSU.
Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball seem content with their top 25 or top 30 teams as no teams were dropped from either poll.
Baseball America’s Top 10:
No. 1 Florida State
No. 2 Texas A&M
No. 3 Kentucky
No. 4 LSU
No. 5 Florida
No. 6 Baylor
No. 7 Rice
No. 8 Oregon
No. 9 South Carolina
No. 10 North Carolina