SEC Baseball Power Poll: Week 9 Edition

Last week's SEC action left the voters with a bit of indecision as to the number one team in the conference as three teams snagged first-place votes, and no team managed to put together an average below 2.00.  As has been the case all season, teams 4-10 fall in all sorts of orders on each ballot, and the bottom four teams in the conference look to be pretty well established with Missouri almost pulling off winning all of the last place votes.

Without anymore delay, here are the results of the Week 9 Edition of the SEC Powerpoll:

1. South Carolina (Three First Place Votes) (Average: 2.25)

Previous: 1

Highest Vote: 1

Lowest Vote: 5

Overall Record: 28-8, 8-7

Last Week: 1-0 vs. Furman, 1-2 vs. Florida

Thoughts on the Gamecocks:

-I guess that loss to lowly Furman was a harbinger of things to come versus the Gators.

-The Gamecocks aren't bad, but they also aren't as good as they were expected to be.--Brandon Larrabee

2. Alabama (Two First Place Votes) (Average: 3.00)

Previous: 4

Highest Vote: 1

Lowest Vote: 5

Overall Record: 25-11, 10-5

Last Week: 0-1 vs. UAB, 2-1 vs. Auburn

Thoughts on the Crimson Tide:

-Alabama pitching and defense continues to shine. The teams best offensive player, first baseman Austen Smith, suffered a wrist injury when he was hit by a pitch in Saturdays game, he received a MRI and CT scan today and the team is waiting on results. It would be a huge blow to the team to lose him for any length of time. Freshmen Thomas Burrows continues to be outstanding, allowing only one run in 15 appearances. He has four wins and five saves.

-Yeah, I gave Alabama a first-place vote. They're the only consistently good team in the conference. Everyone else is a roller-coaster.--Brandon Larrabee

3. Florida (Three First Place Votes) (Average: 3.38)

Previous: 5

Highest Vote: 1

Lowest Vote: 9

Overall Record: 24-13, 9-6

Last Week: 1-0 at Florida State, 2-1 at South Carolina

Thoughts on the Gators:

-Land of the blind, one-eyed man, etc.--Brandon Larrabee

T-4. Ole Miss (Average: 4.63)

Previous: 7

Highest Vote: 3

Lowest Vote: 7

Overall Record: 29-9, 9-6

Last Week: 1-0 at Memphis, 1-0 vs. Murray State, 2-1 at Mississippi State

Thoughts on the Rebels:

Getting swept by Alabama might be too much to overcome in the SEC West, but the Rebels are very good this year.--Brandon Larrabee

T-4. LSU (Average: 4.63)

Previous: 6

Highest Vote: 2

Lowest Vote: 7

Overall Record: 28-9-1, 8-6-1

Last Week: 1-0 vs. Lamar, 2-1 vs. Arkansas

Thoughts on the Tigers:

Still the kind of team that could make a late run at the division and Omaha.--Brandon Larrabee

6. Vanderbilt (Average: 4.88)

Previous: T-2

Highest Vote: 2

Lowest Vote: 8

Overall Record: 28-10, 7-8

Last Week: 1-0 vs. Indiana State, 1-2 vs. Texas A&M

Thoughts on the Commodores:

-Kentucky wasn't the only team that lost an embarrassing home series this past weekend, Vandy lost two of three to Texas A&M.

-Um, guys? You there?--Brandon Larrabee

7. Kentucky (Average: 6.75)

Previous: T-2

Highest Vote: 3

Lowest Vote: 11

Overall Record: 24-13, 7-8

Last Week: 0-1 vs. Morehead State, 1-2 vs. Missouri

Thoughts on the Wildcats:

-If this team could pitch, they would be leading the SEC East by about five games right now.--Brandon Larrabee

-It was a really embarrassing weekend for them because they lost their weekend series at home to Missouri.

-Dropping a midweek game to Morehead St. and then losing a weekend series at home to Mizzou is a fine way to lower you standing.

8. Mississippi State (Average: 8.00)

Previous: T-8

Highest Vote: 6

Lowest Vote: 9

Overall Record: 23-15, 7-8

Last Week: 1-0 vs. Southern Mississippi (at Trustmark Park), 1-2 vs. Ole Miss

Thoughts on the Bulldogs:

-The Dawgs are just plain BAD right now. They look uninspired and play worse. The offense might struggle to score runs against high school pitching. John Cohen has some serious decisions ahead of him, particularly with the lineup.

-Stupor Bulldog Weekend.--Brandon Larrabee

9. Tennessee (Average: 9.38)

Previous: T-8

Highest Vote: 5

Lowest Vote: 12

Overall Record: 23-11, 6-9

Last Week: 1-0 at Tennessee Tech, 1-2 at Georgia

Thoughts on the Volunteers:

-Now might be a good time to cancel those reservations in Omaha.--Brandon Larrabee

10. Arkansas (Average: 9.88)

Previous: 10

Highest Vote: 7

Lowest Vote: 13

Overall Record: 23-15, 7-8

Last Week: 1-1 vs. UNLV, 1-2 at LSU

Thoughts on the Razorbacks:

-They finally realized that one of the objectives of baseball is hitting the ball. Baby steps.--Brandon Larrabee

11. Texas A&M (Average:10.75)

Previous: 11

Highest Vote: 8

Lowest Vote: 12

Overall Record: 22-15, 7-8

Last Week: 1-0 vs. Prairie View, 2-1 at Vanderbilt

Thoughts on the Aggies:

-They're probably going to need some help to get to Hoover. But Auburn and Missouri might just be willing to provide some.--Brandon Larrabee

-Big series win in Nashville makes you wonder where they've been.

12. Georgia (Average: 11.00)

Previous: 13

Highest Vote: 9

Lowest Vote: 13

Overall Record: 21-15-1, 7-7-1

Last Week: 1-0 at Clemson, 2-1 vs. Tennessee

Thoughts on the Bulldogs:

-Scott Stricklin is a shaman.--Brandon Larrabee

13. Auburn (Average: 12.75)

Previous: 12

Highest Vote: 11

Lowest Vote: 14

Overall Record: 21-17, 6-9

Last Week: 1-0 vs. Troy, 1-2 at Alabama

Thoughts on the Tigers:

-Football season is less than five months away.--Brandon Larrabee

14. Missouri (Average: 13.75)

Previous: 14

Highest Vote: 13

Lowest Vote: 14

Overall Record: 17-18, 6-9

Last Week: 1-0 vs. Missouri State, 2-1 at Kentucky

Thoughts on the Tigers:

-The other other Tigers are actually starting to look like a competent baseball team.--Brandon Larrabee