College Baseball's Time to Shine!

This weekend we will be seeing the end of the college basketball season sadly, but as I wrote about way back in February don’t worry as college baseball is always an electric substitute to get you through the next couple of months.

Yes, I know we are jumping into 3 PGA majors, NBA & NHL playoffs, as well as the MLB season too over the next two months. You see, this is more for the college heads those who just love the extra juice in the games that college brings.

With college baseball, still a pretty unknown sport, you get all the electricity you can handle and then some more. What’s so perfect too, is you are jumping in already at a point in the season where wins are at a premium! Conference play is in full swing, and the boys are jockeying for a spot in the conference & national tournaments.

Also, to give you the scoop on the national tournament: it’s 64 teams, 16 regionals of 4 teams each, playing double elimination until one is left. Then come the "Super Regionals," with the 16 teams facing off in 8 best-of-3 series. That gets us to the College World Series of 8 teams, who are split into two 4-team pods playing double elimination again until we get two teams in a best-of-3 championship. IT IS WONDERFUL, trust me.

When I tell you this sport is so underrated, I feel like I’m still underselling it somehow.

So, back in my first college baseball blog previewing the season, I gave you 3 teams you wanna watch if you’re new, and also because sometimes the Power 4 schools don’t have squads. As the Final Four concludes, let’s do a check-in to see if those 3 are still bandwagon-worthy for those on the outside lookin’ in at college baseball.

#24 Arizona State (20-9, 7-2 — 2nd in the Big 12)

Talk about a turnaround season for the once-historic program, as they hold over 20 College World Series appearances and 5 national championships. In the latest projection, they’re even slated to host a regional! As I said at the beginning of the season, the squad loves to mash, hitting .312 as a team. The Sun Devils are led by potential 1st-round pick OF Brandon Compton but also have many other MLB prospects, including Friday night ace Ben Jacobs.

A tough stretch lays ahead for ASU, including a weekend set with in-state rival Arizona. It’s time to tune in to the boys in the desert.

#4 Clemson (27-5, 6-3 — 2nd in ACC)

Clemson has been everything predicted this season and more... somehow. These dudes have been having a year. Now, Clemson has historically been a top contender each year, but the coveted national championship has always found a way to elude them. Could this be their year?

Cam Cannarella, a top MLB prospect, is hoping to bring the Tigers to the promised land. They are currently in the running for a Super Regional host for a second straight season, but of course, there is still so much baseball to be played.

#17 Dallas Baptist (19-9, 4-2 — T-1st in C-USA)

The Patriots are continuing to hang around in the regional host talk. Also, a little inside info: C-USA is a much better conference than it gets credit for and usually a multi-bid league! Another squad that is just going to mash it around hitting .311 as a team they will fill up the stat sheets for you. Grant Jay is leading the way with a .374 average and 12 HRs, putting himself into All-American talk. If you love the mid-major, Dallas Baptist is the team you want to root for.

They’ve had so much regular season success, but have still yet to get to the CWS. Let’s get them there this year with the fanfare the Patriots deserve!

Look I agree we are all going to be locked into the Masters, NBA, and NHL playoffs...but if you are itching for college sports, and the spring games aren’t cutting it, get in on college baseball.

There are so many other fun teams if you’ve got something against these 3 squads. It’s time we begin to give college baseball its flowers. Let’s spread the word and tune in!

Bet of the Day: VIBES!

04-04

Dallas Baptist ML

Clemson ML

Arizona State ML

Odds: +309