The time has come and the field is set, so we give you our preview and prediction for the 2019 NCAA Baseball Tournament and College World Series.
We’ll start with the left side of the NCAA Tournament bracket and then the left. And then I’ll give you my predictions for the 2019 College World Series.
Regionals:
Los Angeles – UCLA, Baylor, LMU, Omaha
Preview – The number one overall seed gets a tough test in their regional with Baylor coming to town. The Bears were a top 10 team to start the season, but some regression and injuries led to a slow start. But they kicked it into the gear to end the season with Davis Wendzel (.377, 8 HR, 39 RBI) and Cole Haring (.333, 10 HR, 41 RBI) leading the way on offense. Catcher Shea Langeliers (.304, 7 HR, 31 RBI) is about to be a first-round draft pick. Look for them to give UCLA a battle this weekend, but that pitching staff for the Bruins is deep.
The pick: UCLA
Corvallis – Oregon St., Creighton, Michigan, Cincinnati
Preview – No offense to the teams in this regional, but this seems like a cakewalk of a regional for Oregon State. Michigan is a team that had a lot of hype coming into the season, but needed a run in the Big Ten Tournament to even make the postseason. I know the Beavers haven’t been playing like the Beavers lately, but I would be surprised if they didn’t come out on top in this one.
The pick: Oregon State
Oklahoma City – Oklahoma State, UConn, Nebraska, Harvard
Preview – I really like this group of teams has UConn and Nebraska have played solid baseball this year and could give Oklahoma State a tough time. However, after getting swept by Texas Tech, Oklahoma State has been one of the hottest teams in the country leading to a Big 12 Tournament title. I think they’ll hit just enough to outlast this regional.
The pick: Oklahoma State
Lubbock – Texas Tech, Dallas Baptist, Florida, Army
Preview – Another really solid regional with three teams who has a legitimate chance to win it. Obviously, Texas Tech is the team to beat with Cameron Warren (.361, 14 HR, 67 RBI) and Josh Jung (.332, 11 HR, 53 RBI) leading a potent offensive attack. But Florida’s talented pitching could shut down a lineup on any given day. And DBU has proven all year it can hang with the big boys with wins over Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, and TCU (x2).
The pick: Texas Tech
Fayetteville – Arkansas, Cal, TCU, CCSU
Preview – I’m excited for this regional if only to see Andrew Vaughn on a national stage. I don’t get to see him play much, and I’m excited to see the soon-to-be first-round pick in action. But I don’t see any way Arkansas doesn’t advance in this regional at home.
The pick: Arkansas
Oxford – Ole Miss, Illinois, Clemson, Jacksonville State
Preview – Ole Miss made a run in the SEC Baseball Tournament to the finals that vaulted into a host spot. Will Ethridge (2.94, 82.2 IP, 68 K) and Doug Nikhazy (3.17, 76.2 IP, 69 K) have really come along in the Ole Miss pitching staff to support their strong offense. Illinois has a trio of good pitchers themselves in Andy Fisher (2.57, 94.2 IP, 89 K), Ty Weber (2.97, 75.2 IP, 45 K), and closer Garrett Acton (2.23, 32.1 IP, 33 K, 19 SV). And then, of course, you can’t sleep on Clemson with Grayson Byrd and Logan Davidson pacing the lineup with 15 home runs each.
The pick: Illinois
Baton Rouge – LSU, Arizona State, Southern Miss, Stony Brook
Preview – If you love offense, this is the regional to watch this weekend. LSU has played better down the stretch, but the Tigers are beatable; although it will be tough in The Box. Every team in this regional has a staff ERA over four — USM has the best team ERA at 4.10. But they all hit .271 or higher as an offense. Spencer Torkelson (.348, 21 HR, 60 RBI) and Hunter Bishop (.347, 22 HR, 61 RBI) are ready to put on a show this weekend.
The pick: Arizona State
Athens – Georgia, Florida Atlantic, Florida State, Mercer
Preview – You have to respect a name like Florida State, especially in Mike Martin’s last season, but I would be shocked if Georgia doesn’t sweep this regional. With Emerson Hancock (1.56, 86.1 IP, 94 K) and Tony Locey (2.68, 84 IP, 90 K) atop the Bulldog starting rotation, runs will be hard to come by for their oppoenents.
The pick: Georgia
Nashville – Vanderbilt, Indiana State, McNeese, Ohio State
Preview – I hate to be mean here, but unless Vandy just absolutely lays an egg, I don’t see that powerful offense losing to any of these teams. Indians State has been a great story this season though.
The pick – Vanderbilt
Morgantown – West Virginia, Texas A&M, Duke, Fordham
Preview – This should be a really fun regional with three teams who could advance. Teh top two teams are pretty much identical as they rely on their starting pitching. West Virginia is led on the mound by soon-to-be first-round pick Alek Manoah (1.85, 102.1 IP, 135 K). Nick Snyder, Kade Strowed, and closer Sam Kessler back him up. The Aggies have two dominant starters in John Doxakis (1.84, 97.2 IP, 106 K) and Asa Lacy (2.20, 81.2 IP, 123 K). Chris Weber has come on lately and been a big part of the rotation. And Duke can do a little bit of both and could pull off an upset or two in this regional.
The pick: Texas A&M
Greenville – East Carolina, NC State, Campbell, Quinnipiac
Preview – East Carolina was one of my favorite teams coming into the season and a team I thought could reach Omaha. They started a little slow, but ended the season looking like the team we all thought they could be. They have an embarrassment of riches on offense with Alec Burleson (.370, 9 HR, 54 RBI), Bryant Packard (.349, 50 R), and Spencer Brickhouse (.331, 12 HR, 51 RBI). But they get it done on the mound as well with Jake Agnos (2.00, 90 IP, 131 K) and Jake Kuchmaner (2.83, 82.2 IP, 73 K). NC State started the season on fire and could make things interesting, but they really struggled down the stretch.
The pick: East Carolina
Louisville – Louisville, Indiana, Illinois State, UIC
Preview – Even with a 43-15 overall record, Louisville has somehow not met expectations this season. The potential is there for them to make a run to Omaha with Reid Detmers (2.80, 93.1 IP, 145 K) leading the rotation and Tyler Fitzgerald (.327, 53 R, 7 HR, 60 RBI, 15 SB) leading the lineup. I’ve been high on Indiana all year and really like them so I mean this as no disrespect, but if Louisivlle plays to their potential, this is a cake walk.
The pick: Louisville
Starkville – Mississippi State, Miami, Central Michigan, Southern
Preview – Miami is starting to show signs of being Miami again with a torrid second half of the season. But I still don’t think they’re ready for the big stage. This regional should be a breeze for Mississippi State at home.
The pick: Mississippi State
Stanford – Stanford, UCSB, Fresno State, Sacramento State
Preview – This regional is wide open as UCSB was on the verge of hosting before losing a series to end the season against Cal Poly. And Fresno State is a very balanced team in terms of offense and pitching. Right now they’re probably the three seed I like the most to advance. Stanford has brought the thunder this year with 75 home runs and three guys with double-digit home runs (Will Matthiessen – 10; Andrew Daschbach – 16; Brandon Wulff – 17). Erik Miller (2.91, 74.1 IP, 85 K) and Brendan Beck (3.68, 78.1, 73 K) leads the pitching staff. But look for an upset in this one.
The pick: Fresno State
Chapel Hill – North Carolina, Tennessee, Liberty, UNCW
Preview – This might be the most competitive regional top-to-bottom as UNCW is a very good four-seed. They made it the championship game of the Greenville Regional last year. Liberty had a great season with 42 wins, and they came out of the loser’s bracket to win the ASUN Tournament. They were a bubble team even without winning their conference tournament. Liberty was also 7-3 against ACC teams this year, including a win over the Tar Heels. And Tennessee has a great pitching staff that can shut down any offense. But this is still a regional that the red-hot Tar Heels should win.
The pick: North Carolina
Atlanta – Georgia Tech, Auburn, Coastal Carolina, Florida A&M
Preview – Earlier this season it looked like Coastal Carolina could have been hosting this regional. But they struggled in the middle and finished hot down the stretch to make the NCAA Tournament. Nobody wants to play them right now. Auburn has two starters in Tanner Burns and Jack Owen who can beat anybody. But Georgia Tech has really hit its stride lately and will be a hard team to beat.
The pick: Auburn
Super Regionals Predictions
UCLA-Oregon State
Oklahoma State-Texas Tech
Arkansas-Illinois
Arizona State-Georgia
Vanderbilt-Texas A&M
East Carolina-Louisville
Mississippi State-Fresno State
North Carolina-Auburn
College World Series Prediction
Vanderbilt over Arkansas
