SEC Championship Bracket Revealed; Begins With Georgia Equestrian Facing South Carolina
A rider reacts after SC Equestrian won the 2014 SEC Championship.
SC Athletics Image
NCEA RANKINGS – 3/7/17
Team Record
1. Auburn 8-3
2. Oklahoma State 8-2
3. Baylor 10-4
4. Texas A&M 8-4
5. Georgia 9-4
6. Fresno State 7-6
7. South Carolina 6-6
8. SMU 6-5
9. TCU 5-8
10. New Mexico State 5-6
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The 2017 SEC Equestrian Championship bracket was revealed on Tuesday, with South Carolina slated to face rival Georgia in the semifinal round. The Gamecocks and Bulldogs will tangle at 1:30 p.m. CT on Friday, March 24, at the Auburn University Horse Center in Auburn, Ala.
The other semifinal features second-seeded Auburn and third-seeded Texas A&M, and it begins at 9 a.m. CT on March 24. The winners of the two semifinals will meet for the SEC Championship title on Saturday, March 25 at 1:30 p.m. CT, with the semifinal losers squaring of in a consolation match at 9 a.m. CT.
“We are eager for the postseason to arrive and excited for another opportunity to face off with Georgia in an important meet,” head coach Boo Major said. “We have such great respect for Coach Boenig and the entire Georgia program, and our two teams always seem to bring out the best in each other. We expect to create another memorable competition on March 24, and hopefully advance to the finals the next day.”
South Carolina (6-6, 1-5 SEC) won the first two SEC Championships, in 2013 and 2014. The Gamecocks are 5-3 all-time in the SEC Championship, including a 2-0 mark against Georgia. Head coach Boo Major’s club defeated the Bulldogs in the 2013 semifinals, 10-7, and the 2014 finals, a 10-10 tiebreaker win.
Carolina defeated Georgia at One Wood Farm this season, 9-8, on Oct. 9, 2016. The Bulldogs returned the favor, 14-5, on Feb. 3, 2017.
This season’s SEC Championship features four of the top seven ranked programs in the latest NCEA national poll. Auburn is ranked No. 1, with Texas A&M No. 4, Georgia No. 5 and the Gamecocks No. 7.
