SEC Softball Bracketology

A frustrating weekend for those of us who follow Alabama Softball (I'll have more on that in an edition of "Inside the Tide" later this week). On the SEC front, four teams have a shot at the league title heading into the final weekend although the chances are slim for both LSU and Missouri.

The "bracketology" has been updated. You can see my projected SEC Tournament bracket - based on predictions for this weekend - below (just click the big red link).

Next Monday, we will have an NCAA bracketology and try to project the big bracket.

Feel free to share your thoughts on how you think things will shake out in the comments below.

**Predictions were made for all remaining SEC series and then applied to every team's current record to predict finish.

SEC Tournament Bracketology - April 29

Click on the link above for this week's projection based on predicted outcomes

Alabama

Current Record: 40-10, 12-9 SEC
Current SEC Standing: Tied for 5th (2nd in West)
Final Series: Home vs. Kentucky
Series Prediction: Alabama Sweep
Predicted SEC Finish: 15-9
NCAA Tournament Bid Outlook: Possible Top Eight National Seed (Host Regional & Supers)
Commentary: The curse of Tiger Park continued for Alabama this weekend (the Tide still hasn't won at the new stadium in Baton Rouge). Alabama needs to finish out the regular season strong and will get a team that has struggled with tough competition, especially on the road.

Arkansas

Current Record: 31-17, 9-10 SEC
Current SEC Standing: 8th (3rd in West)
Final Series: Home vs. Auburn
Series Prediction: Arkansas Sweep
Predicted SEC Finish: 12-10
NCAA Tournament Bid Outlook: In the Tournament, Likely 2 seed in Regional
Commentary: Arkansas continues to impress. It would have been fun to see the end of that series in Knoxville. If they sweep Auburn this weekend they should land the six seed for the tournament and a first round bye.

Auburn

Current Record: 30-20, 7-14 SEC
Current SEC Standing: Tied for 10th (Tied for 5th in West)
Final Series: On the road at Arkansas
Series Prediction: Arkansas Sweep
Predicted SEC Finish: 7-17
NCAA Tournament Bid Outlook: On the outside looking in
Commentary: Auburn has a slim chance to make the SEC Tournament if the Tigers can take the series from Arkansas in Fayetteville. That won't be easy.

Florida

Current Record: 47-6, 16-5 SEC
Current SEC Standing: 2nd (2nd in East)
Final Series: On the road at South Carolina
Series Prediction: Florida 2 out of 3
Predicted SEC Finish: 18-6
NCAA Tournament Bid Outlook: Probable Top Eight National Seed (Host Regional & Supers)
Commentary: If Florida can sweep South Carolina, they will likely win the SEC crown barring a Tennessee sweep at Mizzou. Unfortunately for the Gators, they do not have a great track record in the final weekend of the season when the pressure is on.

Georgia

Current Record: 35-18, 12-9 SEC
Current SEC Standing: Tied for 5th (4th in East)
Final Series: Home vs. LSU
Series Prediction: LSU 2 out of 3
Predicted SEC Finish: 13-11
NCAA Tournament Bid Outlook: In the Tournament, Likely 2 or 3 seed in Regional
Commentary: Nothing surprising this weekend from Georgia taking one from Florida. Can they take a series from LSU coming in on a huge high after sweeping Alabama?

Kentucky

Current Record: 36-16, 11-10 SEC
Current SEC Standing: 7th (5th in East)
Final Series: On the road at Alabama
Series Prediction: Alabama Sweep
Predicted SEC Finish: 11-13
NCAA Tournament Bid Outlook: Possible Top 16 National Seed (Host Regional)
Commentary: The last thing Kentucky wanted to see was Alabama get swept at LSU the week before they play the Tide. Could be a long weekend for the Wildcats who didn't play very well in two of the three games against Missouri.

LSU

Current Record: 40-11, 15-6 SEC
Current SEC Standing: 3rd (1st in West)
Final Series: On the road at Georgia
Series Prediction: LSU 2 out of 3
Predicted SEC Finish: 17-7
NCAA Tournament Bid Outlook: Probable Top Eight National Seed (Host Regional & Supers)
Commentary: Anyone who watched the series in Baton Rouge this weekend would probably tell you that Alabama gave hand-wrapped two games and they'd probably be right, but give LSU credit for taking advantage and sweeping Alabama. They'll clinch the outright SEC West title with one win against UGA (or an Alabama loss) and are technically still in the overall SEC race, but need a lot of help from Missouri and South Carolina paired with a sweep of Georgia.

Ole Miss

Current Record: 23-31, 3-21 SEC
Current SEC Standing: 13th (7th in West)
SEC Season Complete
NCAA Tournament Bid Outlook: OUT
Commentary: Give credit to Ole Miss for taking a game from Texas A&M. Three SEC wins is a lot better than two.

Mississippi State

Current Record: 31-19, 7-14 SEC
Current SEC Standing: Tied for 10th (Tied for 5th in West)
Final Series: On the road at Texas A&M
Series Prediction: Mississippi State 2 out of 3
Predicted SEC Finish: 9-15
NCAA Tournament Bid Outlook: In the Tournament, Likely 2 or 3 seed in Regional
Commentary: Mississippi State had one of the most disappointing weekends of the year. Any momentum they had from that Alabama series is long gone. Luckily for the Bulldogs, they get Texas A&M who is struggling even more than State right now.

Missouri

Current Record: 29-9, 13-7 SEC
Current SEC Standing: 4th (3rd in East)
Final Series: Home vs. Tennessee
Series Prediction: Tennessee 2 out of 3
Predicted SEC Finish: 14-9
NCAA Tournament Bid Outlook: Possible Top 16 National Seed (Host Regional)
Commentary: A whole lot on the line in Columbia this weekend when Mizzou host Tennessee.

South Carolina

Current Record: 30-20, 7-14 SEC
Current SEC Standing: Tied for 10th (6th in East)
Final Series: Home vs. Florida
Series Prediction: Florida 2 out of 3
Predicted SEC Finish: 8-16
NCAA Tournament Bid Outlook: In the Tournament, Likely 2 or 3 seed in Regional
Commentary: When is the last time South Carolina won back-to-back series in SEC play?! Doubt they make it three in a row, but don't be surprised to see the Gamecocks take a game from Florida with pressure on the Gators.

Tennessee

Current Record: 42-7, 15-4 SEC
Current SEC Standing: 1st (1st in East)
Final Series: On the road at Missouri
Series Prediction: Tennessee 2 out of 3
Predicted SEC Finish: 17-5
NCAA Tournament Bid Outlook: Probable Top 8 National Seed (Host Regional & Supers)
Commentary: Tennessee controls their own destiny heading to the last weekend. They'll still be rooting for the Gamecocks to give them some breathing room.

Texas A&M

Current Record: 37-13, 8-12 SEC
Current SEC Standing: 9th (4th in West)
Final Series: Home vs. Mississippi State
Series Prediction: Mississippi State 2 out of 3
Predicted SEC Finish: 9-14
NCAA Tournament Bid Outlook: In the Tournament, likely 2 or 3 seed in Regional
Commentary: The wheels have already come off for Texas A&M. The Aggies need a series victory over Mississippi State badly.