Coaches Pick USC to Finish Second in SEC East

Columbia, SC (WLTX) - The coaches in the SEC think South Carolina won't even be the best team in its own division this year in baseball.

Well, at least according to a poll. 

The SEC released its preseason coaches' poll Monday, and the Gamecocks are picked to finish second in the Eastern Division behind Florida--the same Florida that USC defeated to win last year's College World Series.

Florida got 66 points compared to USC's 56. Georgia was next, followed by Vanderbilt, Kentucky, and Tennessee.

In the West, Arkansas is the top pick, followed by LSU, Alabama, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, and Auburn.

Points were compiled on a 6-5-4-3-2-1 basis for each division.  Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.

For what it's worth, the coaches only predicted the Gamecocks would finish third in the East last season.

USC begins their quest for a third consecutive College World Series title February 17th as host a three-game series against VMI.