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SWAC, SEC and C-USA Preseason Baseball Predictions

There might still be a nip in the air, but this weekend will feel like spring to some in the state. Starting Friday, Feb. 17, college baseball makes its return, even if the weather is still a bit cold.

Last season three teams from our state reached the 2016 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament. Hopefully, that success will carry over to this season, and more teams will reach the postseason.

Division I conferences have begun to release their preseason projected order of finish and preseason all-conference teams. All three Division I conferences with teams from out of state have made their preseason picks.

In the SEC last year, Mississippi State shocked the conference, as it won the SEC West, the SEC regular season championship and earned one of the eight national seeds. MSU won its Regional but runner-up University of Arizona ended up defeating the team in the Super Regional.

The University of Mississippi reached the postseason out of the SEC but lost its first two games in its regional, which got the team bounced from the tournament.

League coaches don’t believe the Bulldogs will repeat their performance from last season. http://www.secsports.com/article/18653130/uf-lsu-picked-win-2017-sec-baseball-title">MSU was picked to finish fourth in the SEC and picked as the seventh best team in the SEC.

The Rebels are http://www.secsports.com/article/18653130/uf-lsu-picked-win-2017-sec-baseball-title">picked ahead of MSU to finish third in the SEC West and sixth in the conference. Last season UM finished fourth in the SEC West behind MSU, Texas A&M University and Louisiana State University.

MSU placed http://www.secsports.com/article/18653130/uf-lsu-picked-win-2017-sec-baseball-title">two players on the preseason All-SEC teams with outfielders Jake Mangum on the first team and Brent Rooker on the second team. The Rebels placed http://www.secsports.com/article/18653130/uf-lsu-picked-win-2017-sec-baseball-title">two players on the second-team All-SEC, second baseman Tate Blackman and third baseman Colby Bortles.

The Bulldogs begin the season Friday, Feb. 17, at home against Texas Tech University. UM starts its 2017 season at home against East Carolina University on Friday, Feb. 17.

The University of Southern Mississippi finished in third place in the regular-season standings in Conference USA last season. USM won the C-USA Tournament, which got the conference automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament, but the Golden Eagles lost in the Regional.

Coaches gave http://conferenceusa.com/news/2017/1/25/BB_0125175319.aspx?path=mgolf">Southern Miss three first-place votes. But overall, the team was predicted to finish third in the conference. The Golden Eagles http://conferenceusa.com/news/2017/1/25/BB_0125175319.aspx?path=mgolf">place three players on the preseason All-Conference team with pitcher Kirk McCarty and infielders Dylan Burdeaux and Taylor Braley earning the honors.

USM will start the 2017 season at home on Friday, Feb. 17, against Northeastern University.

Jackson State University finished second in the SWAC East with Alcorn State University in third place, and Mississippi Valley State University finished last in 2016. All three teams failed to reach the postseason when they didn’t win the SWAC Tournament and were in a one-bid league.

The Tigers are http://www.swac.org/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=27400&ATCLID=211438464">picked to finish second in the SWAC East and tied for second overall in the conference. http://www.swac.org/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=27400&ATCLID=211438464">ASU is picked to finish third in the East and sixth overall. http://www.swac.org/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=27400&ATCLID=211438464">MVSU was selected to finish last in the East and the SWAC.

http://www.swac.org/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=27400&ATCLID=211438464">JSU placed three players on the first-team All SWAC with pitcher Miguel Yrigoyen, shortstop Cornelius Copeland and outfielder C.J. Newson. The Tigers had three players on the second team in first baseman Jesus Santana, outfielder Bryce Brown and designated hitter Sam Campbell.

http://www.swac.org/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=27400&ATCLID=211438464">The Braves placed two players on the second team with second baseman Wallace Rois and pitcher Conrado Skepple earning the honors. The Delta Devils didn’t place any players on either the first or second team.

Alcorn State opens the season in the MLB Urban Youth Academy Invitational in New Orleans, La., against Grambling State on Friday, Feb. 17. Mississippi Valley State starts the season on the road on Friday, Feb. 17, at North Dakota State University. Jackson State begins the season on Saturday, Feb. 18, at home against Morehead State University.

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