SEC coaches pick USC behind Florida

South Carolina is picked to finish second behind Florida in the SEC baseball 2012 season, as voted by the league’s 12 baseball coaches in the 21st annual preseason SEC poll.

The Gators return seven position starters and nine pitchers from its 2011 squad which claimed a share of the SEC Championship and advanced to the College World Series finals versus South Carolina.

In the Western Division, Arkansas was the favorite with 64 of a possible 66 points.

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. Each coach also voted for one team as an overall conference champion.

The 2012 SEC regular season begins Friday, with conference play set to begin Friday, March 16. The SEC Tournament will be played at Regions Park in Hoover, Ala., May 22-27.

Eastern Division
Team	Pts.	'11 SEC Rec/Finish
1) Florida	66	22-8 / T-1st
2) S. Carolina	56	22-8 / T-1st
3) Georgia	42	16-14 / 4th
4) Vanderbilt	40	22-8/T-1st
5) Kentucky	25	8-22 / 5th
6) Tennessee	18	7-23 / 6th


Western Division
Team	Pts.	'11 SEC Rec/Finish
1) Arkansas	64	15-15 / 1st
2) LSU	58	13-17 / T-5th
3) Alabama	38	14-16 / T-2nd
4) Ole Miss	34	13-17 / T-5th
5) Miss. State	33	14-16 / T-2nd
6) Auburn	20	14-16 / T-2nd

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