SEC Baseball Power Rankings: Georgia leads the way, LSU falls

I debated putting Kentucky ahead of LSU, but the Wildcats lost a series to LSU earlier this year and I don't think either team has changed much since that series was played. Plus, Kentucky just lost a series to a down South Carolina team.

13. LSU

LSU has lost nine straight SEC games. The Tigers' last SEC win was on April 5 at Tennessee. LSU began the year ranked No. 2 in the polls, hoping to defend its national title, but nothing has gone to plan. Star outfielder Jake Brown is out for the year. So is starting pitcher Cooper Moore. And the injury news grew worse last week when Friday starter Casan Evans was scratched moments before first pitch.

12. Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt has eight wins vs top 25 teams and this lineup is good enough to do some damage. The Commodores' .825 OPS in conference play is No. 4 in the SEC. Vandy's batting average on the year is near .300. However, the pitching staff owns the worst ERA in the league.

11. Arkansas

Arkansas began the year with College World Series hopes, and a postseason run isn't out of the question, but this season has been a letdown. Arkansas is 12th in the SEC in batting average and 11th in slugging, while the pitching staff has fallen short of expectations, too. The resume includes a sweep of Alabama, but the Razorbacks have more often than not lost series vs quality competition.

10. Oklahoma

Oklahoma took a series from Texas A&M earlier this year, an impressive mark on the resume, but the Sooners haven't sustained that momentum into conference play. Oklahoma's lineup is a mixed bag -- a .267 batting average is respectable, but with only 22 home runs on the year, the Sooners power numbers are near the bottom of the SEC. Still, with seven wins vs. top 25 teams, the ceiling is high.

9. Alabama

Alabama's pitching staff has posted a 4.91 ERA in SEC play, ranking No. 5 in the conference. Alabama was swept by Kentucky in the first SEC series of the year but has been above .500 in conference play since then, which includes sweeps over Auburn and Florida. Alabama has a chance to move up on this list, but the Crimson Tide needs to find consistency.

8. Tennessee

Despite a 10-11 record in conference play, I think Tennessee is deserving of a top 10 spot on this list. Tennessee's pitching staff is top 10 in the SEC in ERA and the lineup owns a top 10 OPS. The defense leads the conference in fielding percentage, too. Tennessee has lost a few weird and wacky games -- this team is better than the record suggests.

7. Ole Miss

The Rebels' 5.12 ERA in league play ranks No. 5 in the SEC. Ole Miss has a handful of arms it trusts in big moments, which should give this team confidence as it enters the postseason. A .415 slugging should raise some questions about the potential of the lineup, but Ole Miss has enough resume wins to offer hope for a run in June.

6. Florida

This Florida team has been tough to figure out. When Florida is on, the Gators are one of the best teams in college baseball. But Kevin O'Sullivan's team has had a few baffling losses, too. The Florida pitching staff is enough to warrant a top-six rating. The lineup does a good job of putting the ball in play, even if the Gators don't wow with the power numbers.

5. Mississippi State

Mississippi State may just be the hottest team in the SEC. The Bulldogs have bounced back from a midseason lull to rip off an eight-game win streak. Last time out, Mississippi State completed a sweep of LSU. Mississippi State is 8-3 on the road, which signals confidence in this team's ability to travel come the postseason. At the plate, the Bulldogs' .853 conference OPS is No. 3 in the SEC and MSU's pitching staff leads the conference in strikeouts.

4. Auburn

Auburn has 10 wins vs. top-25 teams, and the pitching staff is one of the best in the SEC. The Tigers' staff ERA leads the SEC, an element that plays well in May and June. Auburn returned a lot from last year's team and now feels like it has the experience to make a deep postseason run. The slugging isn't elite, but Auburn gets on-base at a decent clip.

3. Texas

The Longhorns are No. 3 in the SEC with a 13-7 conference record and third in our power rankings. Texas's pitching staff is elite. Dylan Volantis is a top-notch starter, and Sam Cozart has been the league's top reliever. Texas has everything it needs to make a run at the College World Series title come June.

2. Texas A&M

The Aggies have found their groove over the last month. There were questions about this team early on in conference play, but Texas A&M has done its best to put those concerns to bed. The lineup is elite -- when the Aggies are swinging the bats, they can go toe-to-toe with anyone in the country. They have a series win over Texas under their belt and earned a series win at Florida over the weekend.

1. Georgia

Wes Johnson's Georgia team was run-ruled by Georgia Tech in a midweek contest last week, but that was just a blip on what's been an impressive run for the Bulldogs. Georgia's lineup is arguably the best in the SEC, leading the conference in most key categories. The pitching staff has had bouts of inconsistency, but the high K rate gives UGA's staff high upside in June.

This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: SEC Baseball Power Rankings: Georgia leads the way, LSU falls