After NC State beat the Georgia Bulldogs on June 10, eight teams clinched spots in Omaha for this year’s College World Series. Two conferences dominate the field, with four teams each from the SEC (Florida, Texas A&M, Kentucky, Tennessee) and the ACC (NC State, Virginia, North Carolina, Florida State).
Seven of these teams began the season ranked in the Top 25, led by top-seeded Tennessee. Florida is the only unranked team remaining. Some of the top talent in Omaha will be a part of the upcoming MLB Draft. Among the standout players to watch are Florida’s two-way star Jac Caglianone, Texas A&M outfielder Jace LaViolette, and UNC outfielder Vance Honeycutt, all expected to be top picks.
While Tennessee is favored to win the national championship, let’s analyze each bracket to see how each team might perform.
Bracket 1 Projections
- North Carolina
- Virginia
- Tennessee
- Florida State
While it’s always tempting to favor the top seed, that does not always guarantee them as the best choice. In this bracket, expect a lot of offense, as all four teams feature elite bats and power hitters. Tennessee is the favorite, boasting an offense that has performed at an exceptional level this year. Despite needing a third game to secure their spot in Omaha, they delivered a standout performance when it counted.
Photo Cred: Sports Illustrated
However, the remaining three teams will ensure that the Vols do not have an easy path to the next round. North Carolina and Virginia will meet in the first round, a rematch of their regular-season showdown where UVA won two out of three against the Tar Heels. The Cavaliers are arguably the hotter team entering the matchup, having secured impressive wins in the Regionals and Super Regionals. However, UNC has shown resilience, with three late-game victories in their last five outings.
Do not underestimate Florida State either. The Seminoles have been piping hot, scoring a total of 24 runs in three Regional games and 34 in two Super Regional games! FSU enters Omaha on a five-game winning streak with no playoff losses so far. Florida State pitchers allowed only 20 total runs across these five games, with 12 of those coming in the Supers, showcasing their dominance on the mound.
Photo Cred: ClutchPoints
Winner: Tennessee Volunteers
Runner-up: North Carolina Tarheels
Bracket 2 Projections
- North Carolina State
- Florida
- Kentucky
- Texas A&M
As for the second bracket, I do not see a clear-cut winner. The highest seed in the bracket is Kentucky, which comes into the CWS as the second-ranked team in the country. While the Wildcats have not had an easy route like Tennessee, it will be challenging for them to win with ease. UK’s key has been a balance of pitching and offense. Their pitching staff has given up two runs or more only twice. At the same time, their offense averages almost seven runs a game. They hope to make their first trip to Omaha one to remember.
After falling in the 2020 CWS due to positive COVID-19 tests, NC State is back and ready to make up for that. As the No. 12 team in the country, they reached Omaha on the strength of their outstanding offense, featuring some of the hottest bats in the nation. Infielders Alec Makarewicz and Garrett Pennington, along with catcher Jacob Cozart, boast batting averages over .300, 18+ HRs, OPSes of 1.000 or higher, and 54+ RBIs!
Photo Cred: YouTube
Two Teams With Top Performers
Not to be outdone, Texas A&M has arguably one of the best hitters (LaViolette) and pitchers (Ryan Prager) in the country. Sadly, they are not at full strength due to outfielder Braden Montgomery being ruled out for the season. He sustained an ankle injury in their first Super Regional game against Oregon. Despite this setback, Texas A&M will certainly push forward and compete without Montgomery.
The team generating the most buzz heading into Omaha is the Florida Gators. As the lone unranked team in the College World Series, they pulled off two upset wins against Oklahoma State in the Stillwater Regional Final. After avenging their earlier loss to OSU, UF swept No. 3 Clemson in the Supers as well. Everyone knows Florida has the talent to be here, especially when they are led by Caglianone, widely regarded as the most talented player in the country. These underdogs rely on their high-power offense to produce significant runs, a strategy that has proven effective so far.
Photo Cred: Sporting News
Winner: Kentucky
Runner-up: NC State Wolfpack
Championship
While I have faith in the Volunteers’ offense, I don’t see any team getting past this UK squad. With their blend of hitting and pitching depth, I expect the Kentucky Wildcats will be the most consistent team in Omaha. This overall performance could lead them to their first national championship in school history!
Champions: Kentucky Wildcats
How Many Do I Have Right So Far?
Eight CWS games have been completed, with four (and a maximum of two more) remaining before the finals. I’m not surprised that Tennessee has won both their games from Bracket 1. However, I was wrong in the second bracket. NC State has been eliminated and Texas A&M has two wins instead. The Wildcats and the Florida Gators contributed to the Wolfpack’s elimination. Meanwhile, the Aggies defeated both Florida and Kentucky, setting up an elimination game later today. UNC and FSU knocked UVA from the tournament as well, and they will also face each other later today. No. 1 Tennessee and No. 3 Texas A&M currently hold significant advantages. Can any of today’s competitors play spoiler, though? Stay tuned for what should be very competitive elimination games at 2:00 P.M. and 7:00 PM ET!
Photo Cred: YouTube- NCAA Championships
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