The SEC race heats up this weekend with another big series in Athens, Georgia. The Georgia Bulldogs took the lead in the SEC race after an impressive sweep of Kentucky last weekend. This weekend they welcome the Arkansas Razorbacks into town, with the Hogs trailing the Bulldogs in the SEC race by only a half game. Florida sits in second place in the SEC East behind Georgia and will have a stiff home challenge in Ole Miss, who sports the same 9-6 conference record as the Gators. Vanderbilt, who posted a two game sweep over Arkansas last weekend, looks to improve on their 7-7 SEC record when the Alabama Crimson Tide visit Nashville. LSU is currently one game behind Georgia for the SEC lead and a half game behind Arkansas in the SEC West standings, and the Tigers host a struggling Tennessee team in Baton Rouge. Auburn will visit South Carolina to take on the Gamecocks, with both teams currently sitting at 7-8 in league play. Kentucky looks to get back on track after being swept by Georgia last weekend as they travel to Mississippi State to take on the Bulldogs.
Here are this weekend’s game times and probable pitching matchups:
ARKANSAS (25-9, 10-4 SEC) at GEORGIA (29-7, 11-4 SEC)
FRIDAY (7:00 p.m. ET): LHP Dallas Keuchel (5-1, 4.53 ERA) at RHP Trevor Holder (6-2, 3.86 ERA)
SATURDAY (1:00 p.m. ET): RHP T.J. Forrest (2-3, 5.02 ERA) at LHP Alex McRee (4-0, 2.30 ERA)
SUNDAY (2:00 p.m. ET): TBA at RHP Justin Grimm (2-1, 4.61 ERA)
Brian’s Prediction: Georgia takes 2 of 3
Colin’s Prediction: Arkansas takes 2 of 3
OLE MISS (26-10, 9-6 SEC) at FLORIDA (25-12, 9-6 SEC)
FRIDAY (6:30 p.m. ET): LHP Drew Pomeranz (3-1, 4.01 ERA) at RHP Jeff Barfield (2-0, 2.78 ERA)
SATURDAY (4:00 p.m. ET): RHP Phillip Irwin (5-2, 3.44 ERA) at LHP Stephen Locke (1-0, 2.60 ERA)
SUNDAY (12:30 p.m. ET): RHP Scott Bittle (3-2, 1.93 ERA) at TBA
Brian’s Prediction: Florida takes 2 of 3
Colin’s Prediction: Ole Miss takes 2 of 3
ALABAMA (24-13, 7- SEC) at VANDERBILT (23-13, 7-7 SEC)
FRIDAY (6:00 p.m. CT): RHP Austin Hyatt (5-1, 3.09 ERA) at LHP Mike Minor (3-3, 3.02 ERA)
SATURDAY (3:00 p.m. CT): LHP Del Howell (4-1, 4.03 ERA) at RHP Caleb Cotham (5-3, 4.09 ERA)
SUNDAY (1:00 p.m. CT): RHP Adam Scott (1-1, 4.70 ERA) at TBA
Brian’s Prediction: Alabama takes 2 of 3
Colin’s Prediction: Vanderbilt takes 2 of 3
TENNESSEE (17-21, 3-12 SEC) at LSU (27-10, 10-5 SEC)
FRIDAY (7:00 p.m. CT): RHP Aaron Tullo (2-4, 4.89 ERA) at RHP Anthony Ranaudo (3-2, 2.68 ERA)
SATURDAY (1:00 p.m. CT): LHP Nick Hernandez (2-4, 5.29 ERA) at RHP Louis Coleman (8-1, 2.38 ERA)
SUNDAY (1:00 p.m. CT): TBA at RHP Austin Ross (4-4, 3.86 ERA)
Brian’s Prediction: LSU sweeps
Colin’s Prediction: LSU sweeps
AUBURN (24-13, 7-8 SEC) at SOUTH CAROLINA (24-13, 7-8 SEC)
FRIDAY (7:00 p.m. ET): LHP Grant Dayton (2-3, 4.24 ERA) at RHP Sam Dyson (5-2, 5.21 ERA)
SATURDAY (4:00 p.m. ET): RHP Jon Luke Jacobs (3-2, 6.00 ERA) at LHP Nolan Belcher (2-1, 3.73 ERA)
SUNDAY (1:30 p.m. ET): TBA at RHP Blake Cooper (4-3, 4.57 ERA)
Brian’s Prediction: South Carolina takes 2 of 3
KENTUCKY (19-16, 4-11 SEC) at MISSISSIPPI STATE (19-18, 5-10 SEC)
FRIDAY (6:30 p.m. CT): LHP James Paxton (4-2, 6.07 ERA) at LHP Tyler Whitney (2-3, 4.25 ERA)
SATURDAY (1:00 p.m. CT): LHP Chris Rusin (4-3, 4.53 ERA) at LHP Nick Routt (4-2, 3.07 ERA)
SUNDAY (1:30 p.m. CT): RHP Alex Meyer (1-2, 4.69 ERA) at TBA
Brian’s Prediction: Kentucky takes 2 of 3
Colin’s Prediction: Mississippi State takes 2 of 3
