2019 SEC baseball season preview: Top teams, players, predictions

Omaha, NE - JUNE 27: A general view of a baseball on the field prior to game two of the College World Series Championship Series between the Oregon State Beavers and the Arkansas Razorbacks on June 27, 2018 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images) /

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CLEMSON, SC – JUNE 03: Vanderbilt and Clemson played against one another in the NCAA 2018 Division I Baseball Championship regional match up on June 3, 2018 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium in Clemson, S.C. Ethan Paul (10) of Vanderbilt throws the ball to first base. (Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

The Favorites

Despite the fact the conference is completely loaded, there are two teams which stand out as the favorites. The Vanderbilt Commodores and the LSU Tigers will be the teams to beat in the East and West and are the likely teams to win the SEC Conference Championship.

Vanderbilt has annually been one of the top recruiters in the country, and they have a wealth of talent to work with as a result. The Commodores were a little disappointing during the 2018 regular season posting just a 16-14 record in SEC play, but the team found its stride in the postseason and played its way into a Super Regional.

Most of the lineup returns from the 2018 Super Regional squad. As a result, expect the Commodores to rebound from an average offensive season in 2018. Stephen Scott and Pat DeMarco should provide a potent punch in the middle of their lineup.

LSU also had a somewhat disappointing season in 2018, but the premier college baseball program shouldn’t disappoint in 2019. The team has taken a departure the last few seasons from bashers up and down the lineup in favor of teams that get on base and keep the opposing teams and pitcher uncomfortable. Expect more of the same with a little more pop in this year’s lineup.