FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas was predicted to finish second in the SEC Western Division, closely behind defending national champion LSU as the division and SEC's overall champion, according to a vote by the conference's coaches Wednesday.

LSU received five of a possible 11 votes to repeat as the overall champion in the SEC, followed by Florida with four votes and Arkansas with three.

“We have tremendous depth in the SEC and I think the coaches’ votes prove that,” Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn said in a statement. “If you look at the preseason top 25 rankings, there are five or six (SEC) teams represented in all of them. Regardless of rankings, every conference opponent is tough and teams sitting at the bottom of these preseason polls are just as good as the teams at the top.”

Arkansas last won the overall regular season SEC title in 2004. The Razorbacks have won three Western Division titles, most recently in 2007.

The Razorbacks finished fourth in the SEC West last season. LSU picked up 63 points in the coaches' votes Wednesday to win the SEC West, followed closely by Arkansas with 59.

All 12 of the conference's head coaches voted in the 19th annual poll. 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.

Arkansas opens the season Friday at Baum Stadium against Ball State. First pitch is set for 3:05 p.m.