NCAA Tournament predicitions

The NCAA Baseball Tournament gets underway today with 32 games going across the country. This will be the first time since 2006 I will not be attending any NCAA Baseball postseason games. But at the same time, I am going to attempt to predict the field anyway.

Charlottesville Regional – I think the clear winner here is Virginia. They are the No. 1 National seed and maybe the favorite to win the whole thing.

Los Angeles Regional – UCLA is the host as the top seed, but they are a little shaky with a 33-22 record. Fresno State has played the role of Cinderella before winning the national title as a four seed in the regioanal. They enter here as a No. 2, but in the end, UCLA wins.

Super Regional – South Carolina beats UCLA

Fort Worth Regional – Good field where TCU is the favorite. Oklahoma and Dallas Baptist will push the Horned Frogs, but I think TCU ends up winning it. The

Houston Regional – There was talk two weeks ago that Rice might not host a Regional. Not only are they at home this week, but they are the No. 8 national seed. I think Rice might be a little shaky, but they managed to draw the worst 2-seed in the field, 29-26 Baylor. Rice moves on to host a Super Regional.

Super Regional – TCU and Rice. I might just have to get down there for that one, oh wait, the Braves are in town and I have tickets to Rock of Ages on Saturday. Oh well, TCU has the pitching to get back to Omaha.

Tallahassee Regional – FSU is the No. 5 national seed and has a pretty good regional. UCF and Alabama are the No. 2 and 3 seeds, and neither even finished above .500 in its own conference. Florida State wins this one.

College Station Regional – Texas A&M is the host and one of the best teams in the Big 12. But their non-conference record at Olsen Field late in the year wasn’t great (4-4). I think Arizona will take a game from the Aggies, but Texas A&M historically doesn’t drop a first-round series at home and I don’t think it happens this year either.

Super Regional – Texas A&M will travel to Tallahassee and I think the Seminoles punch a ticket to Omaha.

Clemson Regional – This field is loaded. Three of the four teams have 41 wins on the season and Sacred Heart is no slouch at 34-21. Clemson was the team I rooted for in Omaha last year, but I think they fall at home. People dogged the Big East for getting three teams in, but I see UConn getting through.

Columbia Regional – The Gamecocks will begin their defense of a national title at home. NC State was one of the last teams in the field and Stetson is the No. 2 in this group. Just can’t see the title holders falling here.

Super Regional – Uconn heads to Columbia and the Gamecocks get back to Omaha.

Gainesville Regional – Florida and Miami make this an interesting regional, with the Gators playing at home. It is the ESPNU Regional so we will get to see it play out. Gators swept a three-game series earlier this year in Gainesville. Don’t expect a different result.

Atlanta Regional – Georgia Tech is at home but Southern Miss is not going to be an easy out. The Golden Eagles will pull off the upset here to advance.

Super Regional – Southern Miss heads to Gainesville and the Gators will take it in two.

Tempe Regional – A 42-win Charlotte team with a win over North Carolina this year is an intriguing upset pick as a three-seed. But a near cross-country trip may be too much for the 49ers.   It may push to the if necessary game, but this is the first big upset of the tournament with Charlotte.

Austin Regional – Texas is the No. 7 national seed, but gets a regional with two other 40-plus win teams. Texas State is the No. 2 seed and the setting is familiar for them. Depending on how the pitching stacks up, they could give the Horns a run, but in the end it will be Texas.

Super Regional – Charlotte at Texas. No upset here. Horns go back to Omaha after an absence last season.

Nashville Regional – Vanderbilt is one of the top teams in the country and have the No. 6 national seed. Troy is the No. 3 in that regional and poses a bigger threat than No. 2 Oklahoma State. But Vandy wins and moves on.

Corvallis Regional – Oregon State is the host and the former national champs have been good in the post season. But they draw a good Creighton as the No. 2 seed. I see the Jays pulling the upset and advance to the Super Regional.

Super Regional – Creighton continues a strong run and will upset Vandy to play in front of the home folks in the new TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha.

Fullerton Regional – The other ESPNU series shouldn’t be much of a problem for the hosts. Stanford may make some noise, but Cal State Fullerton will advance.

Chapel Hill Regional – FIU returns to the postseason, but without the fanfare of the Garrett Whittles hitting streak like last year. North Carolina shouldn't have much problem getting out of this.

Super Regional – Fullerton has to cross the country to take on North Carolina. I think this one goes three, but look for Carolina to advance to Omaha.

College World Series teams

1. Virginia

2. TCU

3. FSU

4. South Carolina

5. Florida

6. Texas

7. Creighton

8. North Carolina

Championship Series  - Virginia has the best pitcher in the country in Danny Hultzen and will pull the rare feat of winning the national title as the No. 1 seed.