Two weeks remain in the SEC regular season and two teams have distance to compete for the conference championship. That pair is Florida and Kentucky, who represent each other’s lone loss of the season and both rank in the VolleyMob and AVCA Top 10. It’s only fitting that race go down to the wire.
After the top two in the SEC, a myriad of teams fit in the three through eight slots as the conference may boast more NCAA Tournament bubble teams than any other league in the country. With that being said, these final two weeks of action will separate some from the bunch and potentially keep others from the postseason.
More analysis after the SEC table:
SEC Volleyball Standings (As of November 14, 2017):
| CONF | OVERALL | HOME | ROAD | NEUTRAL | STRK | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 14-1 | 22-1 | 13-1 | 7-0 | 2-0 | – |
| Kentucky | 13-1 | 22-3 | 11-1 | 8-2 | 3-0 | – |
| Missouri | 9-4 | 16-10 | 4-2 | 6-4 | 6-4 | – |
| LSU | 9-5 | 18-7 | 6-2 | 7-5 | 5-0 | – |
| Georgia | 8-6 | 18-9 | 10-4 | 6-3 | 2-2 | – |
| Arkansas | 8-7 | 18-9 | 9-2 | 6-5 | 3-2 | – |
| Auburn | 7-7 | 14-9 | 6-5 | 5-3 | 3-1 | – |
| Ole Miss | 7-8 | 16-12 | 11-6 | 4-5 | 1-1 | – |
| Alabama | 5-9 | 17-11 | 9-4 | 5-6 | 3-1 | – |
| South Carolina | 4-9 | 11-14 | 5-7 | 5-4 | 1-3 | – |
| Texas A&M | 4-10 | 7-14 | 5-7 | 1-7 | 1-0 | – |
| Tennessee | 4-11 | 11-13 | 8-4 | 2-8 | 1-1 | – |
| Mississippi State | 0-14 | 9-20 | 5-10 | 1-8 | 3-2 | – |
Battle for the SEC Title:
Florida (14-1 Conference Record)
The Gators continue to roll since their loss to Kentucky as they had another 2-0 week to sit atop the SEC standings. The big one was a win against Missouri, the team in third of the conference. They still have a road test with the Tigers to finish up the year, as that final day should be quite interesting for them and Kentucky. Beyond the SEC championship, both teams are contenders for a top four seed so will look to win out in that regard.
Remaining schedule:
- at Texas A&M (4-10)
- vs. Auburn (7-7)
- at Missouri (9-4)
Kentucky (13-1 Conference Record)
The Wildcats are technically in second at the moment in the SEC, but in the loss column they are equal. With two matches this week compared to one for Florida, they can come equal as their final four matches all come against middle of the pack to upper end SEC teams. Just like Florida, they’re playing for more than a conference title too as winning out keeps them alive for a top four seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Remaining schedule:
- vs. Georgia (8-6)
- vs. Ole Miss (7-8)
- at Arkansas (8-7)
- at Georgia (8-6)
Looking to Finish Strong: Missouri (9-4 Conference Record)
The Missouri Tigers are still mathematically alive to earn a split of the SEC title, but it would take winning out, Florida losing out and Kentucky losing all but one match. So more likely than not this regular season finish for Missouri is about the pride of finishing in the top three and more importantly locking in an NCAA Tournament bid. They currently rank 35 in the RPI, so if they can win three of their final four they should be good to go for the postseason.
Remaining schedule:
- at Mississippi State (0-14)
- vs. Arkansas (8-7)
- vs. Alabama (5-9)
- vs. #2 Florida (14-1)
LSU (9-5 Conference Record)
From a conference perspective, the Tigers can still shoot for usurping Missouri and earning a top three finish in the SEC. At the least, they will look to fend off the host of teams behind them for a top four placement. Nationally, LSU ranks 33rd in the latest RPI, which should give them a good starting point for their NCAA Tournament resume. The schedule sets up nicely to finish with their two toughest matches at home and none of the top three teams on the ledger. With that setup, LSU has a chance to win all four and give themselves an almost guarantee of making the postseason.
Remaining schedule:
- vs. Auburn (7-7)
- at Alabama (5-9)
- vs. Georgia (8-6)
- at Tennessee (4-11)
Trying Not to Get Their Bubble Burst:
Georgia (8-6 Conference Record)
Georgia will have a big hand in who wins the SEC as they get Kentucky twice. While that may be difficult for them to finish with a winning record when adding in a road trip to LSU, it’s an opportunity they need right now ranked 57 in the RPI. They may have to go 3-1 in order to burst onto the NCAA Tournament scene even with the tough road ahead.
Remaining schedule:
- at #7 Kentucky (13-1)
- at Tennessee (4-11)
- at LSU (9-5)
- vs. #7 Kentucky (13-1)
Arkansas (8-7 Conference Record)
The Razorbacks sit at 49 in the latest RPI – not quite ideal for the NCAA Tournament. They’ve got three great opportunities to either boost their case or burst their bubble, as going 2-1 in their final stretch might be enough to get the job done.
Remaining schedule:
- vs. Missouri (9-4)
- vs. #7 Kentucky (13-1)
- vs. Auburn (7-7)
Auburn (7-7 Conference Record)
In terms of RPI, Auburn is looking good at 37, but they need to wrap up conference play strongly if they want to secure an NCAA Tournament bid. Their final match of the year at Arkansas could end up being a bubble popper for the loser, but the Tigers could really use a win in Baton Rouge or Gainesville to pair with it.
Remaining schedule:
- at LSU (9-5)
- vs. Mississippi State (0-14)
- at #2 Florida (14-1)
- at Arkansas (8-7)
Alabama (5-9 Conference Record)
The conference record says otherwise, but Alabama still is on the bubble at 51 in the latest RPI. They have some chances ahead with LSU and Missouri as well as a top 60 RPI foe in Texas A&M. They need to win three if not all four to have a shot at the big dance as it starts at South Carolina this week.
Remaining schedule:
- at South Carolina (4-9)
- vs. LSU (9-5)
- at Missouri (9-4)
- vs. Texas A&M (4-10)
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