SEC Baseball Tournament 2010: Schedule and Predictions

Day One of the SEC Baseball Championship kicks off today. Here's what to watch for in each match-up.

Game 1: #7 Alabama 7, #2 Auburn 1

Game 2: #6 Ole Miss 3 , #3 South Carolina 0

Game 3: #8 LSU vs. #1 Florida

Game 4: #5 Vanderbilt vs. #4 Arkansas

#8 LSU, 36-20 (14-16)

Key Players: C Micah Gibbs (.408 avg., 53 RBI), DH/OF Matt Gaudet (18 HR, 63 RBI)

The defending National Champions from 2009, the Tigers are always a tough out in the summer months.

After a disappointing season which included a losing record in conference, the Tigers will look to return to the winning ways of the past, starting with their opening round game against top-seeded Florida.

#8 LSU, 36-20 (14-16)

Key Players: C Micah Gibbs (.408 avg., 53 RBI), DH/OF Matt Gaudet (18 HR, 63 RBI)

The defending National Champions from 2009, the Tigers are always a tough out in the summer months.

After a disappointing season which included a losing record in conference, the Tigers will look to return to the winning ways of the past, starting with their opening round game against top-seeded Florida.

#7 Alabama, 34-21 (15-15)

Key Players: P Jimmy Nelson (7-2, 4.05 ERA, 81 K), INF Clay Jones (15 HR, 56 RBI)

The Crimson Tide upset second-seeded Auburn 7-1 Wednesday morning and will await the winner of Ole Miss-South Carolina later in the day.

The Tide's victory today, though an upset, is not surprising given the nature of the SEC. All but two of the conference's teams finished the regular season above .500.

#6 Ole Miss, 36-20 (16-14)

Key Players: OF Matt Smith (.347, 12 HR, 51 RBI), P Drew Pomeranz (7-2, 2.39 ERA

Pomeranz powered the Rebels to a 3-0 victory against South Carolina Wednesday, and Ole Miss will continue to rely on him throughout the SEC tournament.

Opposing batters have hit just .186 against him this season, many of them becoming part of the junior's sizeable strikeout tally, which has reached a league-leading 127.

#5 Vanderbilt, 40-15 (16-12)

Key Players: INF Jason Esposito (9 HR, 54 RBIs, 28 SBs), P Jack Armstrong (7-2, 3.93 ERA)

The Commodores take on Arkansas in Wednesday's nightcap, only a few days after they dropped the rubber of their season series to the Razorbacks 7-5.

Vanderbilt will look to get even tonight and advance to take on the winner of LSU-Florida.

#4 Arkansas, 40-16 (18-12)

Key Players: INF Zack Cox (.432, 8 HR, 47 RBI), OF Brett Eibner (18 HR, 61 RBI)

To advance through the SEC tournament, the Razorbacks will rely on Cox, the SEC's top hitter, to set the table and Eibner, one of the league's top sluggers, to drive in runs.

#3 South Carolina, 43-13 (21-9)

Key Players: OF Jackie Bradley, Jr. (.364, 9 HR, 43 RBI), P Blake Cooper (10-1, 3.08 ERA)

The Gamecocks have lost three of their last four games, including this afternoon's 3-0 loss to Ole Miss.

With second-seeded Auburn looming in an elimination game, South Carolina will have to regroup quickly to stay alive in the tournament.

#2 Auburn, 39-17 (20-10)

Key Players: Hunter Morris (20 HR, 67 RBI), Brian Fletcher (20 HR, 70 RBI)

Despite boasting the SEC's two leading home run hitters, the Tigers could muster only one run in Wednesday's loss to Alabama.

Morris and Fletcher went a combined 1-8 in the loss and will need to have better success if the Tigers are to beat South Carolina in Thursday's elimination game.

#1 Florida, 40-13 (22-8)

Key Players: OF Matt den Dekker (11 HR, 40 RBI, 21 SB) P Alex Panteliodis (8-2, 3.32 ERA)

Den Dekker does it all for the Gators, hitting for power, average, and stealing more than 20 bases this season. If the Gators are to advance, den Dekker and slugger Austin Maddox (17 HR, 64 RBI) will have to put up big numbers at the plate.