To compare the Southeastern Conference Divisional and overall races to the recently run Kentucky Derby, everything is coming down the stretch. There are just two SEC weekends remaining for each team, and each pitch will count.
Overall SEC (and Western Division) race
LSU still maintains control of its destiny, getting a key pitching performance from Nate Bumstead to salvage the third game of its three-game series with Mississippi State.
The No. 6 Tigers (16-7-1 SEC) now hold a one-and-a-half game lead over Auburn (15-9) and a two-game lead over State (14-9). The next two series will determine whether LSU will win its 13th SEC overall championship.
LSU will have to survive hosting Auburn next weekend and a trip to Arkansas the following weekend if it is to claim the regular season title.
Auburn took two-of-three from Florida to close the gap with LSU. The War Eagles will finish their schedule with a trip to Alex Box Stadium before hosting Ole Miss to close out its SEC schedule.
State may have the most favorable schedule. The Bulldogs will go on the road to face lowly Georgia before hosting Bama in the final series of the year.
The overall race appears to be an all-West race. Ole Miss, Alabama and Arkansas round out the West standings. All still are alive for the overall race as are South Carolina and Florida, although their chances are not as good.
Ole Miss dropped two of three to Arkansas this weekend. The Rebels and Razorbacks each are 13-11 in the conference. Ole Miss will host both Florida and Auburn while Arkansas will host Tennessee and LSU.
Alabama did not help themselves by dropping two of three to Tennessee. Bama (13-11) finishes with a home series against SEC East leading South Carolina and a road series at State. Certainly it will be an uphill climb for the Crimson Tide.
SEC Eastern Division race
This race is quickly turning into a Florida vs. South Carolina battle.
South Carolina sits atop the division at 13-11, following a sweep of Kentucky. The Gamecocks do not have that difficult of a schedule, playing Bama in Tuscaloosa before hosting Georgia to close the season.
Florida dropped an important series to Auburn, winning just once during the weekend. The Gators currently stand at 11-12-1 in the conference. However, Florida’s schedule is not as challenging as some. The Gators go to Ole Miss before hosting cellar-dwellar Kentucky to close out the season.
Vanderbilt is 10-14 after being swept by Georgia this weekend, putting a dent in its chances. The Commodores sit three games back with two weekends to play.
Tennessee is tied with Vandy for third place in the division.