UCLA's Adrien Puget currently No. 20 on the ITA Rankings.
The regular season is starting to wind down as conference play wraps up in several conferences. The SEC, Big East, and Conference USA all conclude their regular season schedules this weekend with the ACC, Big 10, Big 12, West Coast, and several others concluding a week from now.
There are 4 Top 20 matches taking place on Friday with the featured one taking place in Waco as Baylor hosts Oklahoma in a match that will likely decide the Big 12 regular season champion. The other 3 top matches take place in the SEC as Texas A&M hosts Mississippi State, Florida hosts Kentucky, and Georgia hosts Auburn. If you can’t make it out to a match this weekend follow along at the provided live scoring links to see if an upset is in the cards.
Friday:
#33
Alabama at #10
Tennessee – 2pm est – Live Scoring/Video/Blog @ http://www.utsports.com/sports/m-tennis/spec-rel/041113aaa.html - Tennessee was upset by LSU last Sunday which snapped a 4 match winning streak though the Vols are still in good shape to get a bye into the Quarterfinals of the upcoming SEC Tournament. The Crimson Tide has dropped 5 in a row and will likely meet Arkansas in the play-in match on Wednesday. I think Becker O’Shaughnessey gives Alabama its best chance at grabbing a court but Tennessee should win this one going away. Prediction: Tennessee 6-1
#25
Clemson at #1
Virginia – 3pm est – Live Scoring @ http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-tennis/livestats.html - The Cavs just keep on winning while Clemson rebounded from a loss to Duke with a 6-1 win over North Carolina. No chance at an upset in this one though I think Austin Ansari has a shot at 6 to get CU on the board. Prediction: Virginia 6-1
#27
Florida State at #26
Wake Forest – 3pm est – Live Scoring @ http://www.wakeforestsports.com/livestats/m-tennis/xlive.htm - Wake has won 4 of its last 5 while FSU has split its last 4 conference matches. Both teams are jockeying for position in the conference and are looking to get into the top 5 to avoid having to play in the 1st round of the ACC Tournament in a few weeks. I like Dominic Cotrone at 1 for FSU but Wake has the edge on most of the other courts. This should be a good battle decided by a few 3rd sets. Prediction: Wake Forest 4-3
#5
Ohio State at #29
Illinois – 4pm est/3pm cst – Live Scoring @ http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-tennis/livestats.html - The last time these 2 met was a year ago in the final of the Big 10 tournament and it was Illinois pulling off one of the biggest stunners of recent years with a 4-3 win. I guarantee you that match will be a source of motivation for Ohio State and the Buckeyes will respond and take care of business in resounding fashion. Prediction: Ohio State 6-1
#31
Washington at #2
UCLA – 4:30pm est/1:30pm pst – Live Scoring @ http://www.uclabruins.com/livestats/tennis/xlive.htm - UCLA has won 10 straight while Washington was swept last weekend by Stanford and Cal. UCLA should roll in this one with Washington’s best shot at a court coming from Kyle McMorrow at 1. Prediction: UCLA 6-1
#43
Oregon at #4
USC – 4:30pm est/1:30pm pst – Live Scoring @ http://www.usctrojans.com/livestats/tennis/Scoreboard.html - USC has won 8 straight while Oregon is coming off a monumental win over Stanford which was the Ducks first ever win against the Cardinal. I think Oregon will keep it interesting on a few of the middle courts but USC will still get the W. Prediction: USC 5-2
#73
Utah at #16
Cal – 4:30pm est/1:30 pm pst – Live Video @ http://www.calbears.com/sports/m-tennis/live.html - Cal swept Washington and Oregon last weekend while Utah dropped a pair to USC and UCLA. I think Cal will take this one but the Utes will make it interesting. Prediction: Cal 5-2
#24
Michigan at #60
Nebraska – 5pm est/4pm cst – No Live Scoring – The Wolverines have won 4 straight and 7 of 8 and are firmly in 2nd place in the conference eyeing that April 21st showdown with Ohio State. Nebraska has dropped 5 of its last 7 and is trying to keep its overall record above .500. Michigan is too experienced to stub its toes in Lincoln and will come away with the win. Prediction: Michigan 6-1
#18
Auburn at #3
Georgia – 5pm est – Live Scoring/Video/Blog @ http://www.georgiadogs.com/sports/m-tennis/tennis-live-stats-m.html - Georgia has wrapped up the regular season title and the #1 seed in the SEC Tournament while Auburn has won 3 of its last 4 and is looking for its 1st win over a top 10 opponent. Georgia will run its winning streak to 9 with wins coming from Ben Wagland, Nathan Pasha, Hernus Pieters, and Marco Nunez. Prediction: Georgia 4-1
#13
Vanderbilt at #22
South Carolina – 5pm est – Live Scoring/Video @ http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sports/m-tennis/spec-rel/tennis-live.html - South Carolina came up just short twice last weekend against Ole Miss and Mississippi State while Vanderbilt pulled off an upset of Kentucky in its regular season home finale. A year ago Vanderbilt edged South Carolina 4-3 and I think this one will be a close one too. The Gamecocks are 4-1 at home in conference play while Vanderbilt is 2-2 on the road. I like Andrew Adams, Thiago Pinheiro, Harry Menzies, and Chip Cox for South Carolina while I like Ryan Lipman and Kris Yee for Vanderbilt. Upset Special: South Carolina 4-2
#8
Kentucky at #17
Florida – 5pm est – Live Scoring @ http://www.gatorzone.com/tennis/live/?sport=tennm&live_match=10952 – Both teams are still in contention for a bye into the Quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament next week and Florida needs a few more wins to improve its chances of hosting a NCAA Regional so there is a lot at stake in this one. I like Anthony Rossi, Grant Roberts, and Kevin Lai for Kentucky along with Bob van Overbeek for Florida. I’d give the slight edge at 2 to Florent Diep over Tom Jomby. Prediction: Kentucky 4-2
#12
Oklahoma at #15
Baylor – 7pm est/6pm cst – Live Scoring/Video/Blog @ http://www.baylorbears.com/sports/m-tennis/spec-rel/041113aaa.html - Baylor has won 5 straight while OU has won 4 in a row themselves. All 6 singles matchups are pretty even and could probably go either way depending on who is having a good day. I think the rowdy Waco faithful will make an impact in this one and I’m going to call for Baylor to pull the mild upset with wins at 1, 2, and 4 in addition to the doubles point. Prediction: Baylor 4-3
#11
Mississippi State at #14
Texas A&M – 7pm est/6pm cst – Live Scoring/Video @ http://www.aggieathletics.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=632702&SPID=93240&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=27300&ATCLID=205363580 – Mississippi State has won 3 straight while Texas A&M stopped a 4 match slide with a win over Alabama last Sunday. State won the first meeting 4-0 back in February at the National Indoors so they’ll try to replicate that result though over half of the singles matchups will be different this time around and it’ll be outdoors in College Station. Despite those changes I still like State in this one with wins coming at 1, 3, 5, and 6. Prediction: Mississippi State 4-2
St. Mary’s at #7
Pepperdine – 7pm est/4pm pst – Live Scoring @ http://www.pepperdinesports.com/livestats/m-tennis/xlive.htm - Pepperdine is coming off a 4-3 win over Stanford while St. Mary’s fell to San Francisco 4-3. The Gaels are 3-2 in conference so this is a must win to keep alive any hopes of a conference title. Prediction: Pepperdine 6-1
