2018 BASEBALL POLLS

[A_R_K_A_N_S_A_S]

WE WILL HAVE ONE RUNNING THREAD FOR ALL OF THE POLLS, like we have done the last few last years.  Anyone can contribute to the thread as the polls come out each week. Wisco Pig sort of adopted the thread last year and did a great job and made sure it was updated each week. Hoping he does the same this year.

Here is a link to last years (2017 Polls Thread).
http://www.hogville.net/yabbse/index.php?topic=627199.0


2018 PRESEASON POLLS: As of 1/27/18

College Baseball Central: 2nd
https://collegebaseballcentral.com/college-baseball-central-2018-preseason-top-25/16980/

Collegiate Baseball: 3rd
http://baseballnews.com/collegiate-baseball-div-poll-12-19-17/

Baseball America: 4th
https://www.baseballamerica.com/college/preseason-college-baseball-rankings-top-25-2018/#tKPSRcxl5sP6k1DV.97

D1 Baseball: 4th
https://d1baseball.com/rankings/2018-d1baseball-preseason-top-25/

USA Today Coaches poll: 6th
http://sportspolls.usatoday.com/ncaa/baseball/polls/coaches-poll/

Perfect Game: 6th
https://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=14784

NCBWA: Not released yet


Warren Nolan: 2017 Final Rankings
RPI: #12
SOS: #25
Link to 2017:  http://warrennolan.com/baseball/2017/rpi-live
Link to Hogs FINAL 2017:   http://warrennolan.com/baseball/2017/schedule/Arkansas
Link to SEC FINAL 2017:   http://warrennolan.com/baseball/2017/conference/SEC

Boyds World
RPI:

[Wisco Pig]

Sure thing, A_R_K_A_N_S_A_S, happy to help. 

You can also feel free to delete the thread I created yesterday ("Hogs 6th in USA Today / Preseason poll summary"), as yours supersedes it.

WPS.

[A_R_K_A_N_S_A_S]

Sure thing, A_R_K_A_N_S_A_S, happy to help. 

You can also feel free to delete the thread I created yesterday ("Hogs 6th in USA Today / Preseason poll summary"), as yours supersedes it.

WPS.

No need to delete it. Thanks for what you do.

[Wisco Pig]

The final major preseason poll has been posted. The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) poll has the Hogs ranked #6.

http://www.sportswriters.net/ncbwa/news/2018/poll180206.html

Rankings of the Hogs' opponents and other SEC teams:
1. Florida
3. Texas Tech
8. Kentucky
9. Texas A&M
11. LSU
15. Vanderbilt
16. Mississippi
17. Mississippi State
21. Texas
30. Arizona
32. South Carolina

[Wisco Pig]

2018 Week 1 polls  (Feb. 19)

Most Week 1 polls have been released.  USA Today did not post a poll today, as far as I can tell.  In the Top 10, there were few changes between the preseason polls and today's rankings, although Arkansas did move up from 6th to 4th in today's NCBWA poll.

College Baseball Central: 2nd
https://collegebaseballcentral.com/college-baseball-central-top-25-2-19-2018/17230/

Collegiate Baseball: 3rd
http://baseballnews.com/collegiate-baseball-div-1-poll-2-19-18/

Baseball America: 4th
https://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2018-college-baseball-rankings-top-25-feb-19/#OuRfVjtYsWbIxRPW.97

D1 Baseball: 4th
https://d1baseball.com/rankings/d1baseball-top-25-rankings-feb-19/

NCBWA: 4th; Hogs were 6th in preseason poll
https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/baseball/d1/ncbwa

Perfect Game: 6th
https://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=14915

USA Today coaches: 6th in preseason poll

RPI (Warren Nolan & Boyd's World): Too early in the season to consider

[Wisco Pig]

Here is how the Hogs' opponents this season currently fare in the following seven rankings:  USA Today coaches, NCBWA, Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball (CB), D1 Baseball, Perfect Game, and College Baseball Central (CBC).

The list is ordered by schedule date. Arkansas has 30 of 56 regular-season games scheduled against teams included in at least one of the seven rankings. The Hogs play one-third of their games (19) against teams listed in all seven rankings. Obviously, things can change quickly—Mississippi State coach Andy Cannizaro is out of a job this morning, and Texas Tech just lost its ace starting pitcher, Steven Gingery, for the season with a torn UCL muscle in his elbow, so the Red Raiders might not be a Top 5 team much longer.

Arizona, tomorrow in San Diego:        #26 in NCBWA, #27 in CB, #29 in USA Today
Texas, 3/13-14 at Baum:                   #19 average ranking (ranked in all 7)
Kentucky, 3/16-18 at Baum:                #8 average ranking (ranked in all 7)
Florida, 3/23-25 in Gainesville:            #1 in all 7 rankings
Ole Miss, 3/29-31 in Oxford:              #16 average ranking (ranked in all 7)
Auburn, 4/6-8 at Baum:                    #26 in CB
South Carolina, 4/12-14 at Baum:      #21 in CB, #26 in USA Today
Missouri State, 4/17 at Baum:            #23 in CB
Mississippi State, 4/20-22, Starkville: #15 in USA Today, #20 in CBC, #21 in D1, #25 in NCBWA
Texas Tech, 4/24-25 at Baum:             #4 average ranking (ranked in all 7)
LSU, 5/4-6 in Baton Rouge:               #18 average ranking (ranked in all 7)
Texas A&M, 5/11-13 at Baum:           #13 average ranking (ranked in all 7)

[A_R_K_A_N_S_A_S]

Good stuff Wisco.

[philiphog]

ARKANSAS/Wisco, how would you rank the polls from most to least respected? Thank you both for posting these.

[Wisco Pig]

ARKANSAS/Wisco, how would you rank the polls from most to least respected? Thank you both for posting these.

I share the regular posters' general skepticism toward polls, but always enjoy looking at them.  They're candy.  I'd cluster Baseball America, D1 Baseball, and Perfect Game at the top, and if they have to be ranked:

1.   D1 Baseball
2.   Baseball America
3.   Perfect Game

The next tier, in my opinion, is:
4.   USA Today coaches poll
5.   National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA)
6.   Collegiate Baseball/Baseball News

Finally, the College Baseball Central rankings seem to be the work of one man.  I see no evidence it's a poll.
7.   College Baseball Central

[DaultonH]

Finally, the College Baseball Central rankings seem to be the work of one man.  I see no evidence it's a poll.

Then why is it the one used in the game threads?

[philiphog]

I share the regular posters' general skepticism toward polls, but always enjoy looking at them.  They're candy.  I'd cluster Baseball America, D1 Baseball, and Perfect Game at the top, and if they have to be ranked:

1.   D1 Baseball
2.   Baseball America
3.   Perfect Game

The next tier, in my opinion, is:
4.   USA Today coaches poll
5.   National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA)
6.   Collegiate Baseball/Baseball News

Finally, the College Baseball Central rankings seem to be the work of one man.  I see no evidence it's a poll.
7.   College Baseball Central

Thanks Wisco!

[HogFansReunited]

I share the regular posters' general skepticism toward polls, but always enjoy looking at them.  They're candy.  I'd cluster Baseball America, D1 Baseball, and Perfect Game at the top, and if they have to be ranked:

1.   D1 Baseball
2.   Baseball America
3.   Perfect Game

The next tier, in my opinion, is:
4.   USA Today coaches poll
5.   National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA)
6.   Collegiate Baseball/Baseball News

Finally, the College Baseball Central rankings seem to be the work of one man.  I see no evidence it's a poll.
7.   College Baseball Central

Completely agree. The top 3 are pretty much the only thing I pay attention too. The College Baseball Central poll is basicly just one guys opinion and I have debated him a couple of times. Granted he knows his baseball but that poll is just his opinion alone.

[Wisco Pig]

Then why is it the one used in the game threads?

It was the ranking used last weekend, although I don't think it has been in previous years.  I will leave the question to A_R_K_A_N_S_A_S  and/or Razorbacks#1, who do a fine job of constructing the game threads.

philiphog:  You're welcome.

[HogFansReunited]

Then why is it the one used in the game threads?

I am guessing we are just using the highest ranking.

[DaultonH]

Dont get me wrong. The game threads are great. Was just confused what poll we were using.

[DeCori Green Eggs and Birmingham]

D1Baseball is a clear number 1 in my book. They hired the top people from the other sites a few years ago (most notably Kendall Rogers from Perfect Game and Aaron Fort from Baseball America). These two guys do their poll and they know more about college baseball than most.

[A_R_K_A_N_S_A_S]

Yes, for the last several years we have used the highest ranking. Never know who it is going to be.

Would could use the same poll as the SEC, but then we sometimes run into a problem of having a lower ranking than what some of the other top polls rank us. You may see on TV on local news that we are ranked #4 and on here we are ranked #6. We have gone back and forth over the years.

[Wisco Pig]

2018 Week 2 rankings  (Feb. 26)

The Week 2 rankings have been released.  The Hogs' two losses in California last weekend didn't drop them too many slots in most rankings; the Collegiate Baseball poll is a notable exception, and the Hogs fell five spots in the NCBWA poll.

D1 Baseball: 5th (4th last week)
https://d1baseball.com/rankings/d1baseball-top-25-feb-26/

Baseball America: 6th (4th last week)
https://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2018-college-baseball-rankings-top-25-feb-26/#umQL5A1Hoh4vOfhe.97

Perfect Game: 9th (6th last week)
https://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=14936

NCBWA: 9th (4th last week)
https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/baseball/d1/ncbwa

Collegiate Baseball: 15th (3rd last week)
http://baseballnews.com/collegiate-baseball-div-1-poll-2-26-18/

College Baseball Central: 3rd (2nd last week)
https://collegebaseballcentral.com/college-baseball-central-top-25-2-26-2018/17290/

USA Today coaches: 6th in preseason poll

RPI (Warren Nolan & Boyd's World): Too early in the season to consider

[jry04]

Weird, posters said there was no way we stay in the top 10 after this weekend.

[ricepig]

Weird, posters said there was no way we stay in the top 10 after this weekend.

We aren't, it's fakenews.

[kennymayne]

Weird, posters said there was no way we stay in the top 10 after this weekend.

Its as if we have posters on here who overreact to the slightest bump in the road.

[SPAL]

We had a couple who said we would but most logical posters said we would easily stay in the top 10.

[TebowHater]

We had a couple who said we would but most logical posters said we would easily stay in the top 10.

I'm here, I said we would fall! Glad we did not.

I have followed baseball for 18+ years, but I was very wrong on this one.

I have seen us fall in the past quite quickly - more quickly than, say, an LSU would. I did not have as much faith that these pollsters would take the time to truly know what our team is composed of. They clearly have, and like us, believe in the potential we have in that clubhouse.

[BroyledNutts]

I'm unsure why Collegiate Baseball dropped us quite that far, but ok ...

[hawg1221]

I know it's early, but they've got to get better on defense.

[Wisco Pig]

2018 Week 3 rankings  (March 5)

The Week 3 rankings have been released.  In most cases the Razorbacks kept their ranking from last week, except for NCBWA, where they slipped one spot.  Also, USA Today released its first regular-season poll today, and the Hogs are #7 (as opposed to #6 in the preseason poll).  The Hogs were 4-1 on the week, including two wins over an outmanned Dayton squad and a series victory over USC, which of course featured the dramatic comeback win Sunday.

D1 Baseball: 5th (same as last week)
https://d1baseball.com/rankings/d1baseball-top-25-rankings-march-5/

Baseball America: 6th (same as last week)
https://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2018-college-baseball-rankings-top-25-march-5/

Perfect Game: 9th (same as last week)
https://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=14962

USA Today coaches: 7th (6th in preseason poll)
http://sportspolls.usatoday.com/ncaa/baseball/polls/coaches-poll/

NCBWA: 10th (9th last week)
https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/baseball/d1/ncbwa

Collegiate Baseball: 15th (same as last week)
http://baseballnews.com/collegiate-baseball-div-1-poll-3-5-18/

College Baseball Central: 3rd (same as last week)
https://collegebaseballcentral.com/college-baseball-central-top-25-3-5-2018/17361/

RPI (Warren Nolan & Boyd's World): Still too early in the season to consider

[booogaga]

It is baseball. You will never go undefeated. I think we did pretty well. We just need to get our bats to contribute on a more consistent basis. When we play good competition our offense is a little tamed down. We will be in every game this season with our pitching but will need to be more consistent offensively.

[Wisco Pig]

Have updated reply #25 above to include a link to the regular season's first USA Today coaches poll, which ranks Arkansas 7th.   The Hogs were #6 in the preseason poll.

[jbell96]

https://d1baseball.com/rankings/d1baseball-top-25-rankings-march-12/

Hogs stay at #5 in the D1 poll, with Stanford and UK jumping us, and Texas Tech and FSU dropping below. I'd normally complain about UK jumping us, but we can knock their butts back down below us after this weekend.

[Wisco Pig]

2018 Week 4 rankings  (March 12)

The Week 4 rankings have been posted.  The Razorbacks moved from 6th to 7th in the Baseball America poll and maintained their rankings in the D1 Baseball and Perfect Game polls.  They moved up a spot in the NCBWA poll, dropped three slots in the USA Today rankings, and are getting no love at all in the Collegiate Baseball poll.  The Hogs were 2-1 last week, winning their weekend series with Kent State.

D1 Baseball: 5th (same as last week)
https://d1baseball.com/rankings/d1baseball-top-25-rankings-march-12/

Baseball America: 7th (6th last week)
https://www.baseballamerica.com/rankings/college-baseball-top-25/

Perfect Game: 9th (same as last week)
https://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=14995

NCBWA: 9th (10th last week)
http://www.sportswriters.net/ncbwa/news/2018/poll180312.html

USA Today coaches: 10th (7th last week)
http://sportspolls.usatoday.com/ncaa/baseball/polls/coaches-poll/

Collegiate Baseball: 18th (15th last week)
http://baseballnews.com/collegiate-baseball-div-1-poll-3-12-18/

College Baseball Central: 3rd (same as last week)
https://collegebaseballcentral.com/college-baseball-central-top-25-3-12-2018/17400/

RPI (NCAA.com and Warren Nolan): 32
https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/baseball/d1/rpi

[Wisco Pig]

The Razorbacks' current rankings are shown in the post above.  Conference play begins this weekend, so this post summarizes the current national rankings of the Hogs' first four SEC opponents: Kentucky, Florida, Ole Miss, and Auburn.  We've got a great month of baseball ahead.  In the table headings, D1 equals the D1 Baseball ranking, BA is Baseball America, and PG is Perfect Game.

Opp.				Dates					D1				BA				PG				RPI
UK				3/16-18					4				4				3				30
@FLA				3/23-25					2				2				1				65
@MS				3/29-31					8				11				6				10
AUB				4/06-08					15				13				14				3

[philiphog]

IMHO, this team has at least top 10 talent, maybe even top 5, but they are playing more like a 12-15 ranked team. Not sure why we aren't clicking right now, but I hope we figure it out soon. I do like that we are more aggressive stealing bases and that we are at least trying to bunt - even though we don't seem to know how to. The next two weeks will give us a very good idea of exactly where we are and what work we have left. This team is fun to watch, but also very frustrating to watch.

[navyhog24]

IMHO, this team has at least top 10 talent, maybe even top 5, but they are playing more like a 12-15 ranked team. Not sure why we aren't clicking right now, but I hope we figure it out soon. I do like that we are more aggressive stealing bases and that we are at least trying to bunt - even though we don't seem to know how to. The next two weeks will give us a very good idea of exactly where we are and what work we have left. This team is fun to watch, but also very frustrating to watch.

Its surprising that Dominic Fletcher has struggled so much. I really hope he can turn it around. Blaine Knight seems to struggle at times locating his curve and slider. I really wish Turney could have a chance at DH. I know we have Bonfield, but I wish DVH would give Turney some at bats.

[Wisco Pig]

2018 Week 5 rankings  (March 19)
The Week 5 rankings have been posted, and they're all good for the Hogs, as expected.
Arkansas took two from Texas last week and then beat down Kentucky on Friday and Saturday.

D1 Baseball:  4th  (5th last week)
https://d1baseball.com/rankings/d1baseball-top-25-rankings-march-19/

Baseball America:  4th  (7th last week)
https://www.baseballamerica.com/rankings/college-baseball-top-25/

Perfect Game:  3rd  (9th last week)
https://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=15011

USA Today coaches: 4th (10th last week)
http://sportspolls.usatoday.com/ncaa/baseball/polls/coaches-poll/

NCBWA:  4th  (9th last week)
https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/baseball/d1/ncbwa

Collegiate Baseball:  7th  (18th last week)
http://baseballnews.com/collegiate-baseball-div-1-poll-3-19-18/

College Baseball Central:  3rd  (same as last week)
https://collegebaseballcentral.com/college-baseball-central-top-25-3-19-2018/17449/

RPI (NCAA.com and Warren Nolan):  11   (32 last Monday morning)
https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/baseball/d1/rpi

[Wisco Pig]

Six SEC schools in Baseball America's Top 10.

Six.

Yes, it's nuts. 

2 Florida      (The Hogs and Gators play this weekend)
4 Arkansas
6 Auburn     (The Hogs host Auburn April 6-8)
7 Ole Miss   (Arkansas goes to Oxford next weekend)
8 Kentucky  (Heh, heh)
9 Vanderbilt

[MAGA45]

Yes, it's nuts. 

2 Florida      (The Hogs and Gators play this weekend)
4 Arkansas
6 Auburn     (The Hogs host Auburn April 6-8)
7 Ole Miss   (Arkansas goes to Oxford next weekend)
8 Kentucky  (Heh, heh)
9 Vanderbilt

Sheeesh.  Our SOS should be at #1 after the next few weekends.

[SquidBilly]

Big series this weekend.  I really think the Hogs and Gators will swap places in the polls if we can win the series in Gainesville.

[jbell96]

I have no issue with us only moving up one spot. Oregon State & UF both won their series, and Stanford, who is 14-2, is off. They've been very impressive this year so dropping them after the start they've had wouldn't be fair.

[cityhog]

Yes, it's nuts. 

2 Florida      (The Hogs and Gators play this weekend)
4 Arkansas
6 Auburn     (The Hogs host Auburn April 6-8)
7 Ole Miss   (Arkansas goes to Oxford next weekend)
8 Kentucky  (Heh, heh)
9 Vanderbilt

wait. where's LSU?

l.o.l.

[hamsam]

wait. where's LSU?

l.o.l.

They'll be there when it matters...

[cityhog]

They'll be there when it matters...

maybe just this one year...just once...

[HighcountryHog]

wait. where's LSU?

l.o.l.

They'll probably start firing on all cylinders the week we travel there.  Hogs need to shake off that curse. 

[hawg1221]

Sheeesh.  Our SOS should be at #1 after the next few weekends.

You would definitely think so. We play Florida, Olé Miss, and Auburn in the next few weeks. That would be 4 top 10 teams in 4-5 weeks.

[Wisco Pig]

This week's rankings are posted at reply #33 above. 
In the latest USA Today poll, Arkansas is 4th (up from 10th).
The last poll to post today was NCBWA.  The Hogs are 4th in that poll, too (up from 9th).

[rljjr]

You would definitely think so. We play Florida, Olé Miss, and Auburn in the next few weeks. That would be 4 top 10 teams in 4-5 weeks.

I would hope we could take 6 out of those 9 games. Obviously I want to win them all, but baseball is a fickle mistress.

[ricepig]

I would hope we could take 6 out of those 9 games. Obviously I want to win them all, but baseball is a fickle mistress.

If we go 20-10 in the SEC, I would be beyond happy. It's too tough to expect more than that.

[SPAL]

6 of the next 9 SEC games would be borderline erotic.  It'll be tough to get two at Florida and Mize is in a ridiculous zone at Auburn. But, I didn't see this onslaught against Kentucky.

If I know baseball, we will struggle at the plate against Florida. I expect more 4-3/3-2 type games.

[woodhog14]

Six SEC schools in Baseball America's Top 10.

Six.

6 SEC teams in the Top 10 for D1 Baseball as well.

[BroyledNutts]

They'll probably start firing on all cylinders the week we travel there.  Hogs need to shake off that curse. 

KILL. THE. POSSUM.

[HogFansReunited]

KILL. THE. POSSUM.

Please never mention that damn rodant again.