Fansided

SEC baseball power rankings: Bulldogs own top 2 spots

By Justin Strawn

STARKVILLE, MS - SEPTEMBER 10: Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium on the campus of the Mississippi State Bulldogs before a game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Davis Wade Stadium on September 10, 2016 in Starkville, Mississippi. The Bulldogs defeated the Gamecocks 27-14. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
STARKVILLE, MS - SEPTEMBER 10: Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium on the campus of the Mississippi State Bulldogs before a game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Davis Wade Stadium on September 10, 2016 in Starkville, Mississippi. The Bulldogs defeated the Gamecocks 27-14. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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BATON ROUGE, LA – APRIL 13: Tennessee Volunteers pitcher Garrett Crochet (34) throws a pitch during a game between the LSU Tigers and the Tennessee Volunteers at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on April 13, 2018. (Photo by John Korduner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
BATON ROUGE, LA – APRIL 13: Tennessee Volunteers pitcher Garrett Crochet (34) throws a pitch during a game between the LSU Tigers and the Tennessee Volunteers at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on April 13, 2018. (Photo by John Korduner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

The Tennessee Volunteers were humbled in the SEC opener by getting swept by the Auburn Tigers. It led many to question whether the solid start the Vols got off to in non-conference play was fool’s gold. So to see the Volunteers bounce back and get a series win over the Gamecocks was impressive. Tennessee still has a lot to prove, mainly if they can score enough runs to match one of the best, if not the best, pitching staffs in the conference. If they can improve offensively, the Vols could put together a really nice season.

The LSU Tigers had an opportunity to prove they can beat a quality opponent when they took on the Georgia Bulldogs. Once again, they came up short. LSU has loads of talent and high preseason expectations. When they have played inferior teams, they have lived up to those expectations. But when the competition has stiffened up, the LSU Tigers have come out flat. They’ll get another opportunity this weekend when they travel to Starkville to take on the Bulldogs.

Auburn is taking a steeper drop than they probably should in the Power Rankings, but it has more to do with the teams going up in the rankings than it does Auburn’s performance. Losing a series to Mississippi State on the road is not a big of a cause for concern. What might be concerning is Auburn’s bullpen was considered the weak link on the team, and they proved it against the Bulldogs. Mississippi State teed off on just about every pitcher the Tigers threw out there, and it might be the Achilles’ heel for this team.