FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas was picked to win the Southeastern Conference Western Division on Thursday in a poll of league coaches.
The Razorbacks were a considerable favorite in the division, receiving 90 points in the balloting. Texas A&M was picked second in the West with 72 points and Ole Miss third with 62.
Defending national champion Florida was picked to win the overall conference championship with 12 of 14 first-place votes. Arkansas and Texas A&M each received one first-place vote in the league champion poll. Coaches are not permitted to vote for their teams, but ballots are not made public.
Arkansas, ranked No. 6 in the preseason USA Today Coaches' Poll, plays at No. 1 Florida on March 23-25.
It is the first time since 2013 that Arkansas has topped the preseason divisional poll. The Razorbacks have not won a division title since 2011.
Arkansas catcher Grant Koch was voted to the preseason All-SEC first team by the coaches, and three players - shortstop Jax Biggers, outfielder Dominic Fletcher and pitcher Blaine Knight - were voted to the second team.
The Razorbacks, who finished 45-17 overall last season, are scheduled to open the 2018 season next Friday at 3 p.m. with the first game in a three-game series against Bucknell at Baum Stadium.
2018 SEC Baseball Coaches' Preseason Poll
Eastern Division
Florida - 91
Kentucky - 74
Vanderbilt - 72
South Carolina - 50
Georgia - 41
Missouri - 32
Tennessee - 25
Western Division
Arkansas - 90
Texas A&M - 72
Ole Miss - 62
LSU - 59
Mississippi State - 44
Auburn - 38
Alabama - 20
SEC Champion
Florida (12), Arkansas (1), Texas A&M (1)
2018 SEC Baseball Coaches' Preseason All-SEC Team
First Team
C: Grant Koch, Arkansas
1B: Julian Infante, Vanderbilt
2B: Cobie Vance, Alabama
SS: Braden Shewmake, Texas A&M
3B: Jonathan India, Florida
OF: Antoine Duplantis, LSU
OF: Tristan Pompey, Kentucky
OF: Jake Mangum, Mississippi State
DH/UTL: Michael Curry, Georgia
SP: Brady Singer, Florida
SP: Casey Mize, Auburn
RP: Michael Byrne, Florida
Second Team
C: JJ Schwarz, Florida
1B: Kameron Misner, Missouri
2B: Luke Becker, Kentucky
SS: Jax Biggers, Arkansas
3B: George Janca, Texas A&M
OF: Dominic Fletcher, Arkansas
OF: Zach Watson, LSU
OF: Carlos Cortes, South Carolina
DH/UTL: JJ Schwarz, Florida
SP: Sean Hjelle, Kentucky
SP: Blaine Knight, Arkansas
RP: Dallas Woolfolk, Ole Miss