National outlet has head-scratching NCAA tournament projection for Tennessee Vols after big SEC tournament win over Alabama

The Tennessee Vols did on Wednesday what they've done relatively well lately - hit the ball solidly away from Lindsey Nelson Stadium.  And they did it in a crucial spot. 

Tennessee slugged a whopping 20 hits and plated 15 runs in a 15-10 win over Alabama in the second round of the 2025 SEC baseball tournament in Hoover, Alabama.  

That win was big because a number of outlets had Alabama on the host line for the NCAA tournament while having Tennessee on the road as a 2 seed.  The Vols are now 3-1 against Bama, and the teams are virtually even in the latest RPI, with Bama 11 and Tennessee 12.  

Well, that wasn't enough for one major outlet - Baseball America - who put out their latest NCAA tournament projections on Thursday morning, and they have the Vols not just as a 2 seed, but as a 2 seed in the bracket of the 10th overall seed Florida State Seminoles. 

Huh? 

In case you weren't aware, the 16th seed gets the highest 2, the 15th, the next highest 2, and so on.  That would leave the Vols way down among the twos in the pecking order.  Behind Alabama - the two in the 15 region - behind Florida (who Tennessee swept in March) - the two in the 16 region - and behind schools like UC-Irvine (RPI 24) and Northeastern (RPI 26). 

That makes less than zero sense, particularly with Tennessee's RPI.  Putting them as the tournament's 23rd overall seeded team is something the numbers don't line up with. 

Despite the nonsensical ranking, the Vols have a shot on Thursday at making everyone who doesn't list them as a host team look silly, as Tennessee will face off against the #1 team in the country in the Texas Longhorns.  Tony Vitello managed to save rotation ace Liam Doyle for Thursday, so the Vols will have their best chance at getting a resume boosting win at the most crucial time, with Selection Monday just four days away. 

It appears, from some expert opinions, that they'll need it.