The Southeastern Conference baseball coaches picked LSU to finish second in the Western Division behind Arkansas in their 21st annual preseason poll released Monday.
The 12 league coaches picked Florida to win the Eastern Division and capture its third consecutive conference championship.
Arkansas received 64 of a possible 66 points. LSU came in second with 58 points and Alabama third with 38.
Florida received all 66 points in the Eastern Division. South Carolina, the two-time defending National Champions, was second with 56, and Georgia finished third with 42.
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.
LSU begins the season against Air Force at 7 p.m. Friday in Alex Box Stadium. Conference plays begins March 16.
The SEC Tournament will be played at Regions Park in Hoover, Ala., May 22-27.
Here is the coaches poll.
Eastern Division
Ranking Team Points 2011 SEC record/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
Ranking Team Points 2011 SEC record/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
SEC Champion: Florida
