Conference play is starting up in college softball. Here are my favorites and sleepers in the SEC, ACC, Big Ten and Big 12.
SEC
Let’s start with the SEC, where No. 1 Tennessee is the favorite. The Vols are undefeated to start the season and pretty dominant start.
T6 | clean turn 🧼
— Tennessee Softball (@Vol_Softball)
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lady vols 1, bruins 0
But then you have Texas and Oklahoma which many, including myself, would argue are favorites as well. All three teams are national title contenders,
If I have to pick one favorite, I am going Tennessee. OU has the offense, Texas has the experience, but what I have seen so far from the Vols' pitching staff and offense combined, they are hard to stop.
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Now for sleepers — I wouldn’t consider Florida, Bama, Georgia or Arkansas sleepers.
So I am going with South Carolina. The Gamecocks were so close to making the WCWS last year, and have played tough competition to start the year. I like their offensive weapons in Quincee Lilio, Karley Shelton and Arianna Rodi.
ACC
Now let’s move on to the ACC. The top two favorites are Florida State and Virginia Tech heading into conference play. My favorite is FSU — led by the bat of Jaysoni Beachum and Jazzy Francik in the circle.
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There are lots of sleeper picks in the ACC, but i'm not going to consider teams like Stanford, Virginia or Duke sleepers.
So I am going with UNC. The Heels are off to a hot start to the year but lacked in strength of schedule, and therefore haven’t cracked the rankings. But they are led by Emily LeGette offensively who already has smashed double-digit homers while hitting close to .600. I am excited to see what they do in ACC play.
Big Ten
The top two favorites in the Big Ten are UCLA and Nebraska. The Bruins are a perennial power and we are in the last season of the iconic duo of Megan Grant and Jordan Woolery. They could absolutely win a national title.
But my favorite pick is the Huskers. Because speaking of final years, it is Jordy Frahm’s last go around. She affects both sides of the ball and she has help in the circle and in the lineup.
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My sleeper pick in the Big Ten to watch out for, not including Oregon nor Washington, is Penn State. The Nittany Lions started off the year 16-4 but have played some tough competition, including No. 1 Tennessee. They are led by freshman star Allison Oneacre and Bridget Nemeth in the circle.
Big 12
And finally looking at the Big 12, Texas Tech is far and beyond the favorite with the makeup of a national championship caliber team, led by NiJaree Canady and an entire lineup full of All-Americans.
Looooooong gone!
— Texas Tech Softball (@TexasTechSB)
My sleeper pick in the Big 12, not including Oklahoma State and Arizona, is Arizona State. The Sun Devils started out 19-3 and lost by one run to Oklahoma but limited their offense. They have an experienced arm in the circle with Kenzie Brown plus some exciting pieces on offense.
