NCAA Baseball Tournament Preview Pt. 2
- CoachDay
- May 29
- 6 min read
Okay, we are now onto Part 2 of the Tournament Preview, and of course, it’s on the eve of first pitch. Tomorrow we have 32 college baseball games to tune into! If you haven’t seen Part 1, make sure to check out those first 8 regionals...but now let’s look into the next 8.
Los Angeles Regional – #15 UCLA (42-16)
Players to Watch
Hitter: UCLA – Roch Cholowsky – .369, 23 HR, 69 RBI
Pitcher: UC Irvine – Trevor Hansen – 9-2, 3.24 ERA
🕓 4 PM ET | 📺 ESPN+
FSU Bulldogs
AVG: .304
ERA: 5.21
UCLA Bruins
AVG: .291
ERA: 4.54
Overview: The Bruins feel like they have a big advantage here. Fresno’s team average is a little scary, if they get hot, we’ve got upset watch. But UCLA has the talent tier advantage.
Best Bet: Over
🕘 9 PM ET | 📺 ESPNU
ASU Sun Devils
AVG: .318
ERA: 5.21
UC Irvine Anteaters
AVG: .301
ERA: 4.90
Overview: This might be one of the best Day 1 matchups. Both teams have the ability to win this regional... or go 0-2. Sun Devils are limping in; Irvine lost the conference title game. Also...Devils vs. Eaters is an all-time nickname showdown.
Best Bet: OVER
Dark Horse: Arizona State – The Sun Devils can mash! If the pitching shows up, this regional better watch out.
Prediction: UC Irvine beats Arizona State to advance
Oxford Regional – #10 Ole Miss (40-19)
Players to Watch
Hitter: Georgia Tech – Drew Burress – .339, 18 HR, 61 RBI
Pitcher: WKU – Cal Higgins – 1.99 ERA, 6 SV, 47 SO
🕓 4 PM ET | 📺 ESPN+
WKU Hilltoppers
AVG: .315
ERA: 3.35
GT Yellow Jackets
AVG: .315
ERA: 4.70
Overview: One team’s trying to prove they belong, the other wants to prove they deserved to host. Like the LA Regional, this matchup is really solid on paper. Both can hit and have solid staffs. Look for GT to try and wear down WKU
.Best Bet: GT Team Runs Under
🕗 8 PM ET | 📺 ESPN+
MSU Racers
AVG: .301
ERA: 4.63
Ole Miss Rebels
AVG: .282
ERA: 4.47
Overview: The Rebels made a big run in the SEC tourney to earn hosting rights. Their reward? A very underrated Racers squad. They’ll need to be on their game immediately to avoid a stunner.
Best Bet: Murray State to Cover
Dark Horse: Western Kentucky – The Hilltoppers love the edge. Great combo of pitching and hitting. Could shock some people.
Prediction: Georgia Tech over Ole Miss to advance
Athens Regional – #7 Georgia (42-15)
Players to Watch
Hitter: Georgia – Robbie Burnett – .318, 20 HR, 66 RBI
Pitcher: Oklahoma State – Harrison Bodendorf – 10-1, 2.77 ERA
🕛 12 PM ET | 📺 SEC Network
BU Bearcats
AVG: .294
ERA: 6.46
UGA Bulldogs
AVG: .286
ERA: 4.83
Overview: The Dawgs better come to eat. Binghamton’s ERA is way too high to feel confident in an upset. Yes, anything can happen, but... yikes.
Best Bet: Georgia Total Runs OVER
🕕 6 PM ET | 📺 ESPNU
OSU Cowboys
AVG: .254
ERA: 4.33
Duke Blue Devils
AVG: .289
ERA: 4.91
Overview: Much to many's dismay, the Cowboys snuck in. That usually means one of two things: two-and-done... or a regional win. I think the bats won’t hold up.
Best Bet: UNDER
Dark Horse: Duke – Battle-tested from the ACC, and they’ve got enough to hang in. But they’ll need to be sharp to take out UGA.
Prediction: Georgia beats Duke to advance
Baton Rouge Regional – #6 LSU (43-14)
Players to Watch
Hitter: Dallas Baptist – Nathan Humphreys – .360, 17 HR, 66 RBI, 19 SB
Pitcher: LSU – Kade Anderson – 8-1, 3.54 ERA
🕒 3 PM ET | 📺 SEC Network
Little Rock Trojans
AVG: .274
ERA: 5.51
LSU Tigers
AVG: .301
ERA: 3.72
Overview: LSU likely won’t throw their ace, but even so, hard to see anything but a win at The Box. Nothing against the Trojans... just a tough assignment.
Best Bet: LSU Cover
🕢 7:30 PM ET | 📺 ESPN+
RIU Rams
AVG: .309
ERA: 6.20
DBU Patriots
AVG: .304
ERA: 4.97
Overview: I’m fully biased here, been on DBU all year. Rams can hit, though. Patriots need to come ready or they’ll be fighting for survival quick.
Best Bet: OVER
Dark Horse: Dallas Baptist – They’re getting healthy at the right time. If they hit, they won’t fear the moment.
Prediction: Dallas Baptist beats LSU to advance
Clemson Regional – #11 Clemson (44-16)
Players to Watch
Hitter: Clemson – Cam Cannarella – .339, 3 HR, 45 RBI
Pitcher: WVU – Griffin Kirn – 5-2, 3.32 ERA
🕛 12 PM ET | 📺 ESPNU
KU Wildcats
AVG: .268
ERA: 4.57
WVU Mountaineers
AVG: .298
ERA: 4.28
Overview: A team many feel shouldn’t be in vs. a team that thinks it should be hosting. WVU is better, question is, do they prove it?
Best Bet: WVU Spread
🕕 6 PM ET | 📺 ACC Network
Upstate Spartans
AVG: .319
ERA: 5.40
CU Tigers
AVG: .279
ERA: 4.95
Overview: I’ve been on Clemson all year, but this one is tricky. USC Upstate can really hit. Clemson better not look ahead.
Best Bet: Upstate Cover
Dark Horse: WVU – Big 12 regular-season champs. Got bounced early and got forgotten. Could be a perfect recipe for an upset run.
Prediction: WVU beats Clemson to advance
Knoxville Regional – #14 Tennessee (43-15)
Players to Watch
Hitter: Wake Forest – Marek Houston – .351, 12 HR, 58 RBI
Pitcher: Tennessee – Liam Doyle – 9-3, 3.04 ERA, 142 SO
🕐 1 PM ET | 📺 ESPN+
Cincy Bearcats
AVG: .284
ERA: 5.44
WF Demon Deacons
AVG: .308
ERA: 4.76
Overview: Wake has the draft prospects, but Cincy runs like crazy: 128 SBs. Wake needs to keep them off the basepaths or it could get messy.
Best Bet: Over
🕕 6 PM ET | 📺 ESPN+
Redhawks
AVG: .299
ERA: 6.34
Volunteers
AVG: .308
ERA: 3.81
Overview: Ohhhhhh this one could get ugly. Under the lights in Knoxville? That ERA is asking for trouble.
Best Bet: Tennessee Cover
Dark Horse: Wake Forest – If it clicks, they’re a team no one wants to face.
Prediction: Tennessee beats Wake Forest to advance
Chapel Hill Regional – #5 North Carolina (42-12)
Players to Watch
Hitter: UNC – Gavin Gallaher – .288, 14 HR, 55 RBI
Pitcher: OU – Dylan Crooks – 1.86 ERA, 14 SV
🕛 12 PM ET | 📺 ACC Network
Holy Cross Crusaders
AVG: .285
ERA: 5.95
UNC Tar Heels
AVG: .286
ERA: 3.42
Overview: Tough ask for the Crusaders. Tar Heels are rolling and becoming a sneaky Omaha pick.
Best Bet: Holy Cross Under Runs
🕔 5 PM ET | 📺 ESPN+
NU Cornhuskers
AVG: .278
ERA: 4.98
OU Sooners
AVG: .274
ERA: 4.44
Overview: This screams Nebraska upset. They’re on fire, feeling themselves. Go with the hot hand.
Best Bet: Nebraska ML
Dark Horse: Nebraska – Playing loose, free, and full of belief. Could ride it to a regional win.
Prediction: North Carolina beats Nebraska to advance
Fayetteville Regional – #3 Arkansas (43-13)
Players to Watch
Hitter: Arkansas - Wehiwa Aloy - .353, 18HR, 58RBI
Pitcher: Creighton - Garrett Langrell - 13SV, 2.77ERA
🕒 3 PM ET | 📺 ESPN+
NDSU Bison
AVG: .255
ERA: 6.05
Ark Razorbacks
AVG: .313
ERA: 4.06
Overview: If you’ve seen TikTok clips hyping NDSU... yeah, no. Razorbacks should roll.
Best Bet: Arkansas Cover
🕗 8 PM ET | 📺 ESPN+
Creighton Blue Jays
AVG: .285
ERA: 4.00
Kansas Jayhawks
AVG: .290
ERA: 5.00
Overview: This is a great game, don’t let the basketball schools fool you. Creighton has a great bullpen and can swing it.
Best Bet: Creighton ML
Dark Horse: Creighton – Big East champs. Solid bullpen, sneaky solid hitters who can get it going. Watch out.
Prediction: Arkansas beats Creighton to advance
Whew... 2 parts but we did it!
A nice little intro for those who know nothing about college baseball, which is totally fine. Don’t let yourself miss out on what’s about to be 4 days of off-the-rails sports. College baseball players are a unique brand of chaos...elite aura included. Sit back, tune in, and enjoy it.
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