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Georgia Wes Johnson’s head coach (Photo by David J. Griffin / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
THE NCAA tournament support was announced on Monday afternoon, and unlike the past years, this year’s support has almost no surprises.
Baseball America Properly projected 63 of the 64 teams Selected, with the Lone Miss Being Kentucky, our first team. Xavier, who appeared in our final projection of the support, did not make the ground.
With the official support now in hand, we have identified six regional which seem particularly vulnerable to early chaos when the tournament game begins on Friday May 30.
N ° 7 Georgia
Regional opponents: Duke, Oklahoma State, Binghamton
Foley Field is one of the most notable launch pads in sport, especially in the right field, where even the exit speeds of the 90s at the right corner can leave the courtyard. Georgia relied on this identity, entering the playoffs as the best team of house blows in the country. But to survive his own region, he will have to remove a trio of teams that can himself do a lot of damage.
Duke ranks n ° 14 nationally in the circuits and brings a pair of pestle of brine of Pull-Happy in AJ Gracia And Jake Hyde. Oklahoma state, tied in the 39th row of the circuits, counters with Nolan Schubarta left -handed hitter with a legitimate power of 70 grades and one of the The most dangerous bats in this year’s project From the point of view of pure power. Even Binghamton, the fourth seeded, although clearly the oppressed, ranks in the top 80 at the national level in long balls and could embark on action.
However, what none of the three best teams of this POD brings is really the elite pitch – only Oklahoma State ranks in the top 50 at the time at the time. Georgia is always looming like a good bet to reach the consecutive super regional, but this grouping looks like a barrel of powder. If the wind blows, expect fireworks to Athens, which means more variance and unpredictability.
N ° 8 State of Oregon
Regional opponents: TCU, USC, Saint Mary’s
The Oregon State was the most surprising team to win a national seeded among the first eight, because it accumulated a 6-10 file against the tournament opponents and a calendar force which was classified only 42nd at the national level during its first year as an independent. The way we see it, the beavers slipped to the upper line and raised the eyebrows in the process.
Their reward? An exceptionally difficult draw. TCU, which was on the sidelines of the affirmation of the host itself, is looming as a major threat. The horns greeted went 14-11 against the teams on the ground and are anchored by Tommy LapourA flame thrower that assumed a real role of battle horse at the top of the rotation. TCU also finished the week of the conference tournament classified n ° 19 at the national level at the time, which was designed among the participants of the regional.
The USC and Saint Mary do not bring the same firepower. The Trojan horses drink towards the finish line with a file of 2-6 in their last eight games, while Saint Mary enters as four traditional seeds. But Oregon State cannot afford to look beyond anyone – in particular a TCU team that has its arms and resumes to make things uncomfortable in Corvalis.
N ° 9 Florida State
Regional opponents: Northeast, state of Mississippi, Bethune-Cookman
We were at the top of Florida State all year round at Baseball America – and for a good reason. The seminoles were an element of our Eight for Omaha projections And boast of a list built for the success of the playoffs. Jamie Arnold titles of a deep pitching staff eligible for the project, while Alex Lodis– a legitimate Candidate for the national player of the year– and recruit outside competition Myles Bailey anchors a powerful power.
But this region requires serious attention, especially because of the northeast. The Huskies have just finished one of the best seasons in the middle of the Major of recent memory, winning the titles of the regular CAA season and the tournament on the way to a record of 48-9. They lead a sequence of 27 consecutive victories in Tallahassee and enter as national chief in the era, giving them a real chance of cooling any offense with which they are confronted.
The state of the Mississippi also arrives with a momentum. Bulldogs Separate with head coach Chris Lemonis in May, then joined the Justin inter-time Parker to finish with 15 seconds of victories and a place in the NCAA field. They are tested in combat and play their best baseball when it matters most.
Florida State remains the favorite, and rightly so. But to come together with a large adult and a booming dry team make it one of the most intriguing regional championships in the tranche. An upheaval would not be a total surprise here.
No. 13 Coastal Carolina
Regional opponents: Florida, Caroline de l’Est, Fairfield
Coastal Carolina enters the playoffs with one of the deepest and most reliable rotations in the country and a legitimate shot to match its total victories in 2016, when it shocked sport by winning everything. Jacob Morrison (1.90 era, 0.87 whip), Cam Flukey (3.16 era) and Riley Eikhoff (3.19 era) Tite of staff who was the backbone of Coastal’s success, each recording in 70 sleeves with a remarkable consistency.
The greatest concern of the Chanticers is on the other side of the ball. Their team ops .854 and .154 ISO are both outside the 70th centile nationwide, and this lack of offensive could be expensive in a ruthless regional region.
Florida, the two -seed nightmare, nobody wanted to see, looms in this group. The Gators have reached Omaha in consecutive years, especially last season as one of the last teams – and has a built list to return the Switch Come Tournament. Add in eastern Caroline led by Cliff GodwinWho brought the pirates back to four super regional, and the challenge becomes even clearer.
With Fairfield probably playing the role of the formality with a four -headed series, this region will probably take place through the arms of Coastal and the pedigree of its two dangerous challengers. Any host who attracted Florida was required to land on this list, and in Conway, the road will not be easy, especially since Coastal went 3-4 against the top 30 of RPI teams this year.
N ° 14 Tennessee
Regional opponents: Wake Forest, Cincinnati, Miami (Oh)
This does not require a deep dive. Tennessee has the talent to reach Omaha again. Volunteers boast of one of the country’s most electric rotations and a range capable of exceeding almost anyone in the field.
But they are cold, and that counts. The Tennessee has abandoned six of its last seven series to close the regular season, raising real questions about its momentum and its preparation for play in playoffs. A 7-5 victory against Texas in the SEC Tournament offered a glimmer of encouragement, but it was immediately followed by a 10-0 defeat in the race rule against the national seed n ° 1 Vanderbilt.
Wake Forest is the obvious threat here. The demonic deacons were not as dominant as they were a year ago, but they remain dangerous, especially on the mound. Cincinnati and Miami (OH) complete the terrain as a more traditional Endroids, but no longer a breeze, especially the bearcates, who made an impressive 11-5 race to lock a place in the playoffs.
Tennessee always feels as a legitimate competitor of Omaha. But he will have to return the switch quickly. Currently, the trend line is difficult to ignore.
N ° 16 Southern Miss
Regional opponents: Alabama, Miami, Columbia
Of all the teams that landed on the host line, Southern Miss could be the most surprising. The Golden Eagles finished as a finalist in a solar belt with two BIDs and enter the tournament with the lowest RPI (19) and the force of annex (67) of any host.
They also drew one of the most ruthless championships on the tranche. Alabama, the best RPI team (n ° 13) to miss a host offer, provides 20 quadrant victories 1 and 2 – realizing only 13 to Southern Miss – and leaves the dry with 41 victories in total and a list of 16 victories. The crimson tide is more tested, deeper and built to do damage with the Hautocytane pitch and bats like Star Artstop Justin LeBron.
Miami is also dangerous, especially after a solid second half of the advance in the field, but Alabama is the reason why Southern Miss Lands Lands on this upset surveillance list. This is a difficult draw for a team that can already play slightly above its measurements.
