It's an early start on the SEC Network as the guys try to win the rubber game of the series.
For many reasons this is a key game. But perhaps the reason it's the most key game so far is the implications is has for winning the SEC this year.
I may be wrong (and often am) but I think the SEC title this year comes down to one of four teams -- Vandy, Georgia, LSU, Mississippi State.
So far:
Georgia beat LSU 2-1
LSU beat Mississippi State 2-1
Left to play:
Vandy-Georgia (currently 1-1)
Georgia goes to Mississippi State
Don't play:
Vandy doesn't play LSU
Vandy doesn't play Mississippi State
If you play out the rest of each team's SEC slate you'll likely come up with:
Georgia 19-10 (lose @ Miss St)
Vandy 18-11 (win all remaining series)
LSU 19-11 (lose @ Arkansas)
MSU 19-11 (lose @ A&M)
So, if Vandy loses they'll be 2 games behind Georgia and 1 game behind both Miss State and LSU. It's hard enough to overtake one team, much less three. So a loss today may very well doom Vandy's chances to win or share the regular season SEC title.
Of course it's always dangerous to say "this is how things should work out" because upsets occur all the time in the SEC. LSU does have to beat Auburn and Ole Miss, but they're both at home. Vandy does have to beat Arkansas and Auburn , but they're both at home. Georgia does have to beat Auburn away. State does have to go to both Arkansas and Ole Miss.
If Georgia wins today they'll have the tie-breaker over both us and LSU. LSU already has the tie-breaker over Mississippi. Today's winner gets the tie-breaker over the other.
So the gist of all of this is that a win today goes a long, long, long, long way to setting Vandy up to win the SEC. A loss makes that much, much, much, much more difficult (though still possible, of course.)
A win also does wonders for our RPI and national ranking and helping secure a National Seed and definitely impacts hosting a regional as well.
Therefore, at present, today's game is THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE OF THE SEASON.
There will likely be others as we go forward.
For many reasons this is a key game. But perhaps the reason it's the most key game so far is the implications is has for winning the SEC this year.
I may be wrong (and often am) but I think the SEC title this year comes down to one of four teams -- Vandy, Georgia, LSU, Mississippi State.
So far:
Georgia beat LSU 2-1
LSU beat Mississippi State 2-1
Left to play:
Vandy-Georgia (currently 1-1)
Georgia goes to Mississippi State
Don't play:
Vandy doesn't play LSU
Vandy doesn't play Mississippi State
If you play out the rest of each team's SEC slate you'll likely come up with:
Georgia 19-10 (lose @ Miss St)
Vandy 18-11 (win all remaining series)
LSU 19-11 (lose @ Arkansas)
MSU 19-11 (lose @ A&M)
So, if Vandy loses they'll be 2 games behind Georgia and 1 game behind both Miss State and LSU. It's hard enough to overtake one team, much less three. So a loss today may very well doom Vandy's chances to win or share the regular season SEC title.
Of course it's always dangerous to say "this is how things should work out" because upsets occur all the time in the SEC. LSU does have to beat Auburn and Ole Miss, but they're both at home. Vandy does have to beat Arkansas and Auburn , but they're both at home. Georgia does have to beat Auburn away. State does have to go to both Arkansas and Ole Miss.
If Georgia wins today they'll have the tie-breaker over both us and LSU. LSU already has the tie-breaker over Mississippi. Today's winner gets the tie-breaker over the other.
So the gist of all of this is that a win today goes a long, long, long, long way to setting Vandy up to win the SEC. A loss makes that much, much, much, much more difficult (though still possible, of course.)
A win also does wonders for our RPI and national ranking and helping secure a National Seed and definitely impacts hosting a regional as well.
Therefore, at present, today's game is THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE OF THE SEASON.
There will likely be others as we go forward.
