College World Series in Omaha: It’s Time!
Now that we’ve got our full bracket for the College World Series, it’s time to dive into the final eight teams who will end their seasons in Omaha. We’ve mentioned how strong Wake Forest looks, but there are several other talented teams out to dethrone the Demon Deacons. Here are three storylines that might dominate in Nebraska.
Will SEC Superiority Hold Up?
On the diamond, the SEC’s every bit as dominant as it is in football. Out of the past 14 College World Series finals, eight have gone to the SEC and eight had an SEC runner-up. Only 2016 saw an SEC-free final, and the league has three entries in LSU, Florida and Tennessee. The Vols have the most depth, but Florida has tossed three playoff shutouts and LSU has strikeout leader Paul Skenes as its ace.
On paper, Florida has the easier path with no Wake Forest until the final. But the Gators do open with a hot Virginia team that piles up strikeouts and would love the shot at Wake they never got in the regular season.
Can the Party Crashers Keep the Run Going?
Oral Roberts became just the third No. 4 seed to make it to Omaha, and the Golden Eagles arrive as winners of 23 of their past 24 games. TCU also comes in hot, having won 19 of its past 21 games and barely getting scratched in postseason play. Both of these teams are here for a reason, and they open against each other. Whoever survives will have a reasonable shot against either Florida or Virginia.
How Will the Park Play?
With this many strong pitchers and a warm, sunny atmosphere without much wind, there’s a case to be made for pitchers having the edge at the College World Series in Omaha. That would favor the likes of Wake Forest, Tennessee and Virginia, all of whom rank in the top five for ERA. A power surge would favor LSU, Florida and Wake Forest (this is why the Deacons are No. 1), as all three regularly go deep. The conditions always make a difference in this sport.