Vanderbilt's the preseason No. 1, but faces a challenging schedule, which includes five weekends of games against ranked teams, and 21 games against teams expected to make an NCAA regional.

Each team's 2018 record (conference in parenthesis), RPI and BoydsWorld ISIR appears below. Preseason national rankings per D1 Baseball and Baseball America, followed by the USA Today coaches' poll, are listed, as well as conference forecasts, in the same order with the conference coaches' vote listed third.

Any publication ranking a team also predicts it to make a regional.

Each weekend is listed in order of what, in my opinion, constitutes the most challenging matchup for Vanderbilt.

2018: 49-21 (20-10), 3/5, finished tied for third at College World Series

2019 forecast: 6/4/3 nationally, 2/2/2 in SEC East

Coach Kevin O'Sullivan and the Gators have been a handful for VU. Corbin is 11-19 (.367) against the Gators in O'Sullivan's tenure, though 14-22 (.389) if you include the Southeastern Conference Tournament.

The Gators always have pitching and return four arms who threw at least 50 innings in 'The starters, RPH Jack Leftwich (81.1 IP, 84 K/26 BB, 4.47 ERA) and RHP Tommy Mace (62.2, 45/12), both sophomores, and junior Tyler Dyson (50.1, 51/28, 4.16) are potential high-round MLB draft picks.

The bullpen, led by LHP Jordan Butler (52.2, 60/26, 4.10) and RHP Hunter McMullen (22.2, 17/14, 4.76), lacks experience but has talent, and UF knows how to develop pitching.

Florida lost several lineup mainstays, but has a couple of boppers in RF Wil Dalton (.262/.338/.542, 19 HR, 60 RBI), DH Nelson Maldonado (.273/.359/.413, 9 HR) and OF Austin Langworthy (.290/404/.403) as well as sophomore SS Brady McConnell (.136/.136/.273), a highly-regarded draft prospect whose 2018 season was wrecked by injury.

2018: 48-21 (18-12), 1/3, national runner-up

2019 forecast: 16/18/12 nationally, 4/5/3 in SEC West

After finishing national runner-up in 2018, Arkansas is poised for another great year.

A pair of D1 Baseball first-team All-Americans--SS Casey Martin (.345/.418/.556, 13 HR), CF and RF Heston Kjerstad (.332/.419/.553, 14 HR, 58 RBI)--headline the lineup. Add OF Dominic Fletcher (.288/.338/.468, 10 HR), who has plenty of ceiling above his current production, and the Razorbacks should be a scary offense.

The pitching staff lost plenty. RHP Isaiah Campbell (69.2, 75/29, 4.26) returns. The bullpen lacks proven arms, but LHP Matt Cronin (48.1, 59/14, 3.54), a preseason first team D1 All-American, is back.

Arkansas has missed the NCAA Tournament just once in Dave Van Horn's tenure--which started in 2003--and has made five College World Series appearances with him.

Van Horn owns a 19-18 edge against Corbin in the regular season, though Corbin leads 22-19 overall.

2018: 43-23 (15-15), 9/9, lost in Gainesville Super Regional

2019 forecast: 22/17/20 nationally, 5/4/4 in SEC West

Auburn returns a lot of pieces from a team that whipped the Commodores in a three-game series last season by a 29-6 composite score.

On offense, All-American SS Will Holland (.313/.406/.530, 12 HR) leads a lineup that also includes major power threats Edouard Julien (.275/.409/.556, 17 HR) and Steven Williams (.291/.409/.488, 12 HR).

The Tigers lost top overall MLB pick Casey Mize, but get back a trio of talented right-handers, including All-American candidate Tanner Burns (86.2, 77/37, 3.01), plus bullpen arm Cody Greenhill (56.2, 55/19, 2.30) and Davis Daniel (66.2, 70/32, 4.76). The bullpen is the biggest question; Auburn also has LHP Elliott Anderson (29.2, 32/15, 3.64) but will otherwise rely on new freshmen and JUCO arms.

Until last season, Corbin had dominated Auburn. He's still 25-11 (.694) overall, with an additional SEC Tournament loss.

2018: 39-21 (18-12), 10/8, finished second in Athens Regional

2019 forecast: 9/15/13, 3/3/3 in SEC East

UGA surprised everyone by earning a national seed last year, but shouldn't sneak up on anyone this time.

Georgia returns a ton of talented arms, including eight who threw at least 20 innings in '18. Starters Emerson Hancock (77.2, 75/34, 5.10), Tony Locey (54.2, 60/30, 4.28) and highly-touted freshman Cole Wilcox lead the rotation. The bullpen is especially deep and experienced; it induces Zac Kristofak (3.83, 58/22, 3.83), Aaron Schunk (3.00, 31.5, 3.00), Will Proctor (26, 26/13, 2.42), Ryan Webb (54, 48/28, 4.50) and C.J. Smith (36.1, 27/13, 2.48).

The Bulldogs lost a lot of power, but have a great infield, which includes C Mason Meadows (.289/.387/.421), 2B L.J. Talley (276/.365/453), SS Cam Shepherd (.244.357/.385) and Schunk (.299/.340/.411) at third. Shepherd fielded .980, with Talley (.972) and Meadows (.998) also excelling.

Corbin's had terrific success against Georgia, winning at a .674 clip in regular-season play and .692 overall. UGA hasn't taken a series from Vanderbilt since 2008.

2018 results: 43-23 (13-17), 18/15, finished third in Austin Regional

2019 forecast: -/-/RV-30 nationally, 6/6/5 in SEC West

The Aggies return six regulars who started over half the team's games in 2018, headlined by SS Braden Shewmake (.327/395/.453), a 2019 MLB first-round candidate, as well as OF Logan Foster (314/.404/.520) and INF/OF Allonte Wingate (.304/.413/339).

The staff is headlined by LHP John Doxaxis (93.1, 92/29, 2.70), a preseason second-team All-American by D1 Baseball. LHP Asa Lacey (39.1, 48/17, 2.75) and LHP Chandler Jozwiak (42, 44/17, 4.50) are the Aggies' other two top returning arms.

Baseball America pegs the Aggies to make the NCAAs as a No. 2 regional seed, while D1 named the Aggies as the best team it omitted from its preseason rankings.

Corbin is just 4-5 against the Aggies in the regular season, and 7-9 overall. A&M beat Vanderbilt in its only series in College Station by a 2-1 count in 2017.

VIRGINIA

2018: 29-25 (12-18), 83/90, no postseason

2019 forecast: no votes nationally, 5/3/t-2 in ACC Coastal

The Cavaliers' horrible 2018 can be at least somewhat explained by injuries to their two best hitters, Jake McCarthy (39th overall in last year's draft), CF Cameron Simmons (.354/.432/.563, 9 HR in 213 ABs in '17) and this year's presumed Friday starter, RHP Noah Murdock (13.1, 13/4, 5.40), a 2017 Freshman All-ACC pick.

The Cavs don't return much power, but have plenty of quality experience, including SS Tanner Morris (.298/.397/.374), IF Nate Eikhoff (.290/.386/.394), C Cameron Comer (.261/.389/.406) and RF Alex Tappen (.262/.321/.390), who came off a terrific summer.

UVA also has a number of excellent bullpen arms, including LHP Andrew Abbott (51, 78/16, 3.18), RHP Evan Sperling (29.2, 43/13, 3.64) and LHP Riley Wilson (19.1, 27/18, 3.26)

BA forecasts the Cavaliers as a No. 3 regional seed.

Corbin has faced UVA three times, beating UVA once to win the 2004 Charlottesville Regional, taking two of three against the Cavaliers in the 2014 College World Series final, then losing two of three in the 2015 CWS finals rematch.

CAL STATE FULLERTON

2018: 36-25 (18-6 Big West), 44/32, lost in Fullerton Super Regional

2019 forecast: 25/NR/24 nationally, 1/2/1 in Big West

The Titans offense, which hit all of 14 home runs last season, isn't much to look at on paper, but experts believe it'll be improved. Most of the lineup returns, including 2B Hank LoForte (.339/.397/.445), CF Mitchell Berryhill (.295/.384/.362), 1B Jake Pavletich (.282/.355/.332), C Daniel Cope (.286/.356/.409) and 3B Brett Borgogno (.246/.299/.316).

LHP Timmy Josten (26, 22/5, 4.15) projects as the No. 2 starter according to D1 Baseball, so that's who the 'Dores will likely see. The bullpen doesn't look like much on paper, but the Titans always have pitching talent and this year is supposed to more of the same. RHP Dillon Brown (29, 24/11, 4.97) looks like the top returning arm there.

BA projects Fullerton as a two-seed in an NCAA regional.

Vanderbilt is 1-0 all-time against Fullerton, that being the memorable 2015 College World Series game that Vandy's Jeren Kendall won with a walk-off home run.

TCU

2018: 33-23 (10-13 Big 12), 57/44, no postseason

2019 forecast: 19/NR /17 nationally, 4/4/3 in Big 12

After four straight College World Series appearances, TCU missed the postseason entirely last year. That shouldn't be the case this season.

LF Josh Watson (.305/.437/.495, 8 HR) is the top returning hitter, with C Zach Humphreys (.225/.369/.264) being perhaps the top bat among returning starters. TCU is expected to have five JUCO transfers in its lineup,

There's better news on the mound, where TCU returns the players who threw 389 of the team's 503 innings from a squad that had a 3.45 ERA. D1 projects Northern Iowa Area CC lefty Brandon Williams as the third starter. The bullpen has slew of quality arms, with RHP Jake Essler (41.2, 58/5, 3.24) as the best returnee on paper.

BA predicts the Horned Frogs as a No. 2 regional seed.

Corbin is 3-1 against TCU, with one of those wins coming in last year's regular season, and two in the 2015 College World Series.

2018: 37-26 (17-13), 28/31, lost in Fayetteville Super Regional

2019 forecast: -/-/RV t-50 nationally, 4/4/4 SEC East

Carolina's lineup was a headache to contain at Hawkins Field last season. The Gamecocks lost most of their best, but return OF T.J. Hopkins (.345/.448/.496), who missed about a third of last season to injury, as well as veterans in C Chris Cullen (.190/.286/.293) and utility man Jacob Olson (.234/.290/.472, 12 HR). Also watch out for IF/OF Noah Campbell (.270/372/.380), whom BA selected as a second-team preseason All-American.

The Gamecocks didn't pitch exceptionally well (4.41 ERA) but have a number of quality arms back, including Sawyer Bridges (33.1, 25/9, 1.35), T.J. Shook (27, 27/15, 2.33), Parker Coyne (22.2, 26/13, 3.18), John Gilreath (40, 44/18, 4.28), Ridge Chapman (38.1, 36/244, 4.93) and Carmen Mlodzinski (45.2, 43/21, 5.52), the latter of whom may start on Fridays.

BA predicts Carolina to be a three-seed in a regional.

Corbin is 21-26 (.447) against the Gamecocks in the regular season, and 27-29 (.482) overall.

2018 results: 29-27 (12-18), 76/70, no postseason

2019 forecast: No rankings or votes nationally, 6/5/5 SEC East

Coach Tony Vitello did a nice job in his 2018 debut season, and returns the bulk of a club that lacked top-end SEC talent, but scrapped and clawed to a dozen SEC wins.

The Vols return six starters in the field, paced by SS Andre Lipcius (.315/.399/.473) and C/INF Nico Mascia (.287.439/.487), who emerged last season. Also watch for OF/INF Jay Charleston (.285/.362/.364), who was 21-26 on stolen base attempts.

Tennessee has the seeds for a quality rotation between righties Zach Lingenfelter (55, 71/38, 3.93) and Garrett Stallings (78.2, 37/8, 4.58) and LHP Garrett Crochet (63.2, 62/26, 5.51). Righties Sean Hunley (75, 53/18, 2.64), a freshman All-American last year, and Will Neely (83.2, 52/21, 4.09) also bring lots of starting experience. Right-handed reliever Chase Wallace (28.1, 16/20, 2.86) is the brother of Vanderbilt quarterback Deuce Wallace.

Corbin has a 30-17 (.638) regular-season mark against Tennessee and is 32-18 overall, but hasn't swept the Vols since 2013. Tennessee has one two of the last five series and tied a two-game series in 2016.

2018 finish: 34-22 (13-17), 31/26, no postseason

2019 forecast: -/-/RV t-50 nationally, 5/6/6 SEC East

Kentucky sustained heavy losses from a team that was in the top 10 early in the season, before fading in its final regular-season series in Nashville, where it was swept by the Commodores.

UK's lineup was particularly decimated, as 1B T.J. Collett (.304/.413/576, 10 HR) is the only returnee who produced significantly last season.

The Wildcats' altitude will be determined by their pitching. D1 Baseball said LHP Zack Thompson (31, 42/20, 4.94) "... if he's consistent, could be the best pitcher in college baseball." However, consistency and health have been issues. The Wildcats have some other promising arms, with RHP Jimmy Ramsey (36.1, 42/16, 5.94) probably the best of the remaining bunch.

Corbin is 31-17 (.616) against the Wildcats.

2018 finish: 27-29 (8-22), 82/68, no postseason

2019 forecast: No rankings or votes nationally, 7/7/7 SEC West

After three coaches in three years from 2015-17, Alabama finally has some stability with the return of Brad Bohanan this season. The Crimson Tide lose a slew of returnees from last year, which may be good or bad: 'Bama won three of its last 18 SEC games last year, though they all came against SEC West foes that each made a regional.

There are some capable returning bats, including outfielders Joe Breaux (.247/.420/.385) and Keith Holcolmbe (.290/.372/.386)and C Sam Praytor (.279/.397/.381). However, there's not a ton of returning power as the returning roster combined for nine home runs.

The rotation is led by pitch-to-contact RHP Sam Finnerty (87, 29/14, 4.45) and Brock Love (8.1, 10/4, 0.00), who in his last healthy season of 2016, struck out 33 and walked eight in 30 IP, posting a 3.30 ERA. RHP Will Freeman (73, 92/15, 3.19 at Jones County JUCO). Alabama returns five other arms who logged at least 29 2/3 innings a year ago, all who posted ERAs between 3.60 and 5.31.

This series is in Tuscaloosa, where Alabama was 22-13 last season. Corbin is 16-16-1 against the Crimson Tide in the regular season, and 1-0 against 'Bama in the SEC Tournament.

2018 finish: 31-24 (17-11), 109/71, no postseason

2019 forecast: No rankings or votes nationally, 2/3/2 West Coast Conference

Coach Rich Hirtensteiner enters Year Four in charge at Pepperdine. The Waves were the 2018 WCC champs, though they fell in the conference tournament and didn't make the NCAAs.

Pepperdine returns seven position players who started at least 33 times in '18. INF/OF Brandt Belk (.318/.361/.418), INF Duncan McKinnon (.300/.389/.433) and OF Cory Willis (.291/.353/.437) are the most productive returning bats.

As for pitchers, Pepperdine returns the players who started all but one game last season. That includes senior RHP Jonathan Pendergrast (87, 67/18, 2.69), the reigning WCC Pitcher of the Year, as well as right-handed starters Cooper Chandler (70, 44/28, 3.99) and Christian Stoutland (70.1, 50/26, 4.35). The Waves also have a pair of formidable bullpen right-handers in Will Jensen (48.1, 33/8, 0.74) and Michael Mahony (21.1, 36/11, 1.69).

Vanderbilt and Pepperdine have never met.

2018 finish: 34-22 (12-18), 47/40

2019 forecast: No rankings or votes nationally, 7/7/7 SEC East

Had CF Kameron Misner (.360/.497/.576) stayed healthy, Missouri might have made a run at an NCAA Tournament bid. Misner's power/speed combo has him forecast as the No. 11 prospect for the coming draft, according to MLB Pipeline. However, the Tigers lost arguably four of their top six hitters.

Losses were also heavy on the pitching side. LHP T.J. Sikkema is one of the league's best, and should be the Friday starter, and LHP Tyler LaPlante (59, 56/17, 2.75) should make the rotation. Beyond that, Jordan Gubelman (22.1, 30/8, 4.03) threw more innings than any other returnee.

The NCAA recently placed the Tigers on probation for 2019, but The Daily Missourian reports that athletic director Jim Sterk is appealing, and expects to win the appeal.

Corbin won his first 14 against Missouri, before winning the 2017 series, 2-1, then losing 2-1 in Columbia last season.

2018 finish: 22-30 (9-12), 123/139, no postseason

2019 forecast: No rankings or votes nationally, 6/6/6 in Missouri Valley Conference

Former Purdue assistant Steve Holm is in his first year as ISU's new head coach. The Redbirds return two-thirds of the lineup (minus SS Owen Miller, a third-round pick), and almost the entire pitching staff, from a team that had a Pythagorean expectation of 25-27

Junior OF John Rave (.347/.402/.571) earned second-team All-MVC honors last year, and a strong showing the Cape may have vaulted him into the top five rounds of the 2019 MLB Draft. C Tyson Hays (.247/.468/.416) should have a bigger role after just 77 at-bats last year.

ISU brings back its weekend rotation of RHP Brady Huffman (73.1, 57/28, 5.03), LHP Matt Walker (62.1, 57/41, 5.49) and RHP and potential draft prospect Brent Headrick (71.2, 59/29, 6.40), who combined to five up 37 home runs. Nine other pitchers logged at least 10 innings last season, and seven return.

Vandy last played ISU in 2015, sweeping the Redbirds in a three-game set by a combined 35-14.

2018 finish: 21-31 (10-14), 185/218, no postseason

2019 forecast: No rankings or votes nationally, 8/11/9 in Atlantic 10

Dayton got much better as 2018 progressed, winning 12 of its final 18 under first-year coach Jayson King. The Flyers lost their best hitter (Brandon Smith) but return eight of the 10 hitters who accumulated 119 at-bats or more last season, the best on paper being sophomore OF Mitchell Garrity (.267/.396/.403).

The Flyers also return pitchers who started 29 of their 52 games last season. Unfortunately, Dayton also had a 6.39 staff ERA. The headliners is sophomore LHP Aaron Ernst (57.1, 42/23, 5.02), whom D1 considers the A-10's second-best draft prospect for 2020. Freshman RHP Bryce Hellgeth, projected as the team's closer, was D1's pick as A-10 Freshman of the Year.

Vanderbilt has never faced Dayton.