#1 UGA
The clear favorites to clinch the tournament, the 39-15 Dawgs are currently favored at -185 on Fanduel to emerge victorious in the regional tournament. Georgia has showcased prowess at the plate throughout the season, boasting a collective batting line of .302/.435/.599, resulting in a team OPS of 1.034. Their offensive prowess ranks among the best in the nation, with their batting average sitting at 32nd among all NCAA teams, and within the top five for both OBP and SLG.
Leading the charge is Charlie Condon (.443/.558/1.043, 35 HRs, and 75 RBIs), arguably one of the nation’s top players. The Dawgs’ success hinges on their potent offense. However, pitching has been a concern for the team all season, with a team ERA of 5.65 (107th nationally) and a WHIP of 1.51 (87th). To make a deep playoff run, they’ll need pitchers like Leighton Finley (5-1, 4.18 ERA) to step up and complement their strong offense.
#2 UNC Wilmington
The UNC Wilmington Seahawks, the second seed in the Athens Regional, are currently priced at +350 to win the tournament, giving them a slight edge over Georgia Tech. With a record of 39-19, the Seahawks enter the tournament on a four-game winning streak, including a victory in their conference championship. They face Georgia Tech on May 31 at 7 p.m. UNC Wilmington relies on power hitting, with a combined slash line of .281/.387/.462, resulting in a .849 OPS.
Their offensive strategy centers around the home run, having hit 84 homers (61st nationally) to tally 418 runs (76th). Tanner Thac (.328/.409/.714, 27 HRs, 74 RBIs) leads the charge at the plate. Pitching is a strong suit for the Seahawks, with a team ERA of 4.50 (24th) and a WHIP of 1.45 (49th). They will lean on pitchers like RJ Sales (10-3, 3.70 ERA) and Zane Taylor (5-0, 3.74 ERA) to navigate through the tournament successfully.
#3 Georgia Tech
As the #3 seed in the Athens Regional, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets enter the tournament with +370 odds to win. Despite a 31-23 record, the Yellow Jackets have stumbled recently, with a 1-4 record in their last five games, including early exits in the ACC tournament. They aim to rebound against UNC Wilmington in their regional opener.
Similar to their in-state rivals, the Georgia Bulldogs, Georgia Tech boasts a formidable offense, posting a .311/.425/.525 line, ranking within the top 25 nationally in all three categories, with a top 10 OBP. Freshman standout Drew Burress (.379/.508/.801, 23 HRs, 65 RBIs) leads the offensive charge. However, pitching remains a weakness for Georgia Tech, with a team ERA of 6.65 (201st nationally). They heavily rely on their offense to outscore opponents, adopting a strategy akin to a high-powered football offense with a weak defense.
#4 Army
With six wins in their last eight games, including a four-game win streak to secure the Patriot League Championship, the Army Black Knights enter the Athens Regional with a 31-21 record and substantial +2900 odds to win. As the underdogs of the regional, Army aims to defy expectations. Offensively, Army’s .274/.396/.450 line isn’t remarkable. They rank 186th in runs scored and outside the top 250 in hits, with walks being their best offensive statistic.
However, pitching is where the Black Knights shine, boasting a combined 4.28 ERA (17th nationally) and a 1.42 WHIP (within the top 35 teams). Ace pitcher Justin Lehman (5-3, 2.53 ERA) leads their pitching arsenal. Their path to success lies in pitching duels and low-scoring games, which could pose a challenge to teams relying heavily on offense like Georgia Tech and UNC Wilmington.
