Until someone knocks them off, Florida is the best team in the nation as the defending College Baseball World Series champions. But Arkansas, Texas Tech and Texas will do their best to knock off the champions.
World Series Odds
Florida +350
Arkansas +500
Texas +700
Texas Tech +1,000
About the Gators
The first thing to know about Florida is that the Gators are the defending College Baseball World Series champs and while they slumped a bit to end the regular season and in the SEC tournament, they seemed to have straightened up for the tournament.
Florida got great starts in the Super Regional including Brady Singer (No. 18 overall, Kansas City) going toe-to-toe with the No. 1 overall pick Casey Mize and getting the better of Mize and Auburn. Jackson Kowar (N0. 33, Kansas City) also had a good start against the Tigers in the Game 2 loss.
Third baseman Jonathan India (No. 5, Cincinnati) went 2-for-9 with a solo home run in the Super Regional and if he can up his average a bit, the Gators will find themselves in the hunt for back-to-back titles.
About the Razorbacks
Arkansas crushed South Carolina in the Super Regional to the tune of 28 runs including a spectacular series from second baseman Carson Shaddy (No. 311, Washington) as he went 5-for-10 with nine RBIs, two home runs and five runs scored.
The Razorbacks also have a solid ace leading from the mound in Blaine Knight (No. 87, Baltimore) and could set the tone for the bracket with a solid start and a hot offense rolling into the College World Series.
The Diamond Hogs are rolling into the College World Series and will be in the hunt for a spot in the final.
About the Red Raiders
Texas Tech hasn’t had a single pitcher go at least six innings in the tournament thus far, but that’s not needed typically when you score six-plus runs in five of the six games played.
The Red Raiders have slugged their way to the College World Series while Ryan Shetter (No. 262, Atlanta) has been strong out of the bullpen to help the pitching staff.
Texas Tech is in interesting team and it can get some good pitching this weekend it won’t be a quick for the Red Raiders.
About the Longhorns
Texas got all it could handle against Tennessee Tech in the Super Regional, but in that Super Regional second baseman Kody Clemens (No. 79, Detroit), son of Roger Clemens, went off at the plate going 5-for-8 with three home runs and four RBIs.
The Longhorns have had solid pitching all tournament long and that’s key when it comes to making long tournament runs.
That pitching keeps up, Texas stays alive.
Prediction
Arkansas comes in as one of the hottest teams in the College World Series at 7-2 in its last nine games.
The bats are rolling and look for the Diamond Hogs to roll into the final.
