What To Watch For This Weekend In College Baseball (5/20)
Image credit: TCU's Phillip Sikes (Photo courtesy of TCU)
Top 25 Schedule
| Rank | Team | Opponents (Fri., Sat., Sun.) | TV |
| 1 | Arkansas | (8) Florida (Thurs.-Sat.) | SEC Network (Thurs., Fri.), SEC Network+ (Sat.) |
| 2 | Vanderbilt | Kentucky (Thurs.-Sat.) | SEC Network+ |
| 3 | Notre Dame | at Virginia Tech (Thurs.-Sat.) | ACC Network Extra |
| 4 | Texas | West Virginia (Thurs.-Sat.) | Longhorn Network |
| 5 | Tennessee | at (21) South Carolina (Thurs.-Sat.) | SEC Network+ (Thurs., Fri.), SEC Network (Sat.) |
| 6 | Mississippi State | at Alabama (Thurs.-Sat.) | SEC Network+ |
| 7 | Texas Tech | Kansas (Thurs.-Sat.) | ESPN+ |
| 8 | Florida | at (1) Arkansas (Thurs.-Sat.) | SEC Network (Thurs., Fri.), SEC Network+ (Sat.) |
| 9 | Arizona | at Oregon State | Pac-12 Network |
| 10 | East Carolina | at South Florida (Thurs.-Sat.) | ESPN+ |
| 11 | Mississippi | at Georgia (Thurs.-Sat.) | SEC Network+ |
| 12 | Florida State | at (24) North Carolina State (Thurs.-Sat.) | ACC Network Extra |
| 13 | Oregon | (17) Stanford | Pac-12 Network |
| 14 | Texas Christian | at Kansas State (Thurs.-Sat.) | ESPN+ |
| 15 | Louisiana Tech | (20) Old Dominion (Thurs.-Fri.) | CUSA.TV |
| 16 | Charlotte | UNC Wilmington (Thurs.-Sat.) | CUSA.TV |
| 17 | Stanford | at (13) Oregon | Pac-12 Network |
| 18 | UC Irvine | at Cal State Bakersfield | ESPN+ |
| 19 | Louisville | Miami (Thurs.-Sat.) | ACC Network |
| 20 | Old Dominion | at (15) Louisiana Tech (Thurs.-Fri.) | CUSA.TV |
| 21 | South Carolina | (5) Tennessee | SEC Network+ (Thurs., Fri.), SEC Network (Sat.) |
| 22 | Southern Mississippi | Idle | |
| 23 | Michigan | Maryland | Big Ten Network (Fri., Sat.), Big Ten Network+ (Sun.) |
| 24 | North Carolina State | (12) Florida State (Thurs.-Sat.) | ACC Network Extra |
| 25 | Gonzaga | San Francisco | WCC Network |
(8) Florida at (1) Arkansas
Another week, another ranked opponent for Arkansas (39-10, 19-8). Of its 14 regular-season weekends, half have been against teams ranked in the Top 25. It’s no surprise that the Razorbacks’ schedule rates as the strongest in the nation and their success in those games—they’re 14-4—is a big part of why they’ve been ranked No. 1 for 12 straight weeks. On the line this weekend for Arkansas is a chance to win its first regular-season SEC title since 2004. After last weekend winning a series at Tennessee, its magic number stands at 2 over Tennessee and Vanderbilt. Florida (35-16, 17-10) doesn’t have as much on the line this weekend, but even a single win would solidify its place as a regional host.
West Virginia at (4) Texas | (14) Texas Christian at Kansas State
The Big 12 title comes down to these two series. TCU (35-14, 16-5) holds a one-game edge on Texas (38-12, 15-6) in the standings, but the Longhorns hold the tiebreaker after winning the series in Fort Worth two weekends ago. Texas must better TCU’s result this weekend by at least one win to claim its second title in three seasons. Anything less would deliver the Horned Frogs their first conference title since 2017. TCU has lost back-to-back series and now must go on the road to K-State (29-20, 8-13), which already this season has a home series win against Texas Tech. Texas is coming off a bye and has a home series against West Virginia (22-23, 7-14), which this season is just 5-11 in true road games. This is the most competitive conference race to be decided this weekend and likely will come down to Saturday’s finale.
(5) Tennessee at (21) South Carolina
South Carolina (32-18, 15-12) last weekend responded to its inclusion on the selection committee’s shortlist of potential NCAA Tournament hosts by bolstering its resume with a road sweep of Kentucky. The Gamecocks still have work to do to secure a home regional, but last weekend was an important first step. Now, South Carolina faces a crucial series against Tennessee (40-13, 18-9). A series win would likely ensure it hosted, but it won’t be easy. The Volunteers have been one of the most consistent teams in the country, losing just two series all season—against Arkansas and Vanderbilt. Tennessee still has a chance to win the SEC regular-season title, which it hasn’t done since 1995, but it would need help from rival Florida in its series at Arkansas.
(9) Arizona at Oregon State | (17) Stanford at (13) Oregon
The Pac-12 title is going to come down to the season’s final weekend, but this is a crucial series. Arizona (36-13, 19-8) and Oregon (34-11, 17-7) are neck and neck at the top of the standings, with Stanford (29-12, 13-8) slightly off the pace. The Wildcats complete their conference slate this weekend at Oregon State (32-18, 14-10), while the Ducks and Cardinal still have another weekend of Pac-12 play following their showdown in Eugene. Arizona this weekend is trying to post its best score before heading to the clubhouse. Oregon is looking to position itself to nip the title on the final weekend, while Stanford is trying to hang in the race. Arizona and Oregon are secure as regional hosts and could both earn top-eight national seeds. Stanford is on the hosting shortlist and needs a strong finish to make the final cut. Oregon State might be further off the pace at the top of the conference, but it will have the opportunity to cut into that deficit over the final two weekends and ranks No. 21 in RPI. While it can’t host a regional, it could make a case with a strong finish to be a No. 1 seed on the road in a regional.
(12) Florida State at (24) North Carolina State
While neither Florida State (28-19, 19-14) nor NC State (26-14, 17-13) are this weekend playing for anything more than seeding in the ACC tournament, this still figures to be an entertaining series. The Wolfpack have won 10 of their last 11 games after sweeping Pittsburgh last weekend. That torrid stretch has helped them climb out of an early season hole to now sit comfortably in position to make the NCAA Tournament. Florida State isn’t as hot as NC State, but it isn’t far off and has won five straight series over the last month. Outside of Notre Dame, which has already wrapped up the ACC title, these might be the two best teams in the conference.
Comments are closed.