The Road to Omaha

[Seadragon76]

A few things to add here:

-If you have ESPNU, you can watch the games in the Gainesville and Fullerton Regionals this weekend (which means it might be some late nights in the Billy B household since Illinois play the late game tonight at Cal State Fullerton). If you're lucky enough to have ESPN3, then you can also watch the games in the Fort Worth and Corvallis Regionals.

-Alcorn State, UALR and New Mexico are the only teams to enter with losing records.

-The first two teams mentioned (Alcorn State and UALR) are also making their tourny debuts along with Belmont.

[DaRadniz29]

Just found my sheet I made last week while sitting at Panera Bread trying to work, but ended up People watching while making this list of predictions.

Advancing to the Super Regionals Prediction:

East Carolina

UC Irvine

TCU

Rice

Alabama

Wright State

Coastal Carolina

South Carolina

Florida

Southern Miss

Arkansas

Texas

Vanderbilt

Georgia

Stanford

North Carolina

Not too shabby so far, after day one, most of my picks to advance ended up on the winning end Friday.

[Seadragon76]

That may explain why you had, of all teams, Wright State advancing on in your picks, man.

For the most part, the high seeds have won except in Atlanta where Austin Peay shocked Georgia Tech and in Los Angeles, where both UCLA and Fresno State lost (and to add salt to the wound, Fresno State got eliminated by UCLA today).

[Cola]

#2 seed in Tempe? I guess winning the toughest division in College Baseball, having a higher RPI, higher SOS means jack squat anymore.

Oh well, payback is coming, hopefully your crooked umpires are gone in Tempe.

2nd toughest. The East was definitely more competitive this year and I wouldn't even call it close.

However, Arkansas hasn't shown they deserved to host after losing the opener to Charlotte and squeaking by New Mexico State.

[DarkJourney]

Dallas Baptist. They're one those really good under the radar programs.

[Seadragon76]

Dallas Baptist. They're one those really good under the radar programs.

Agreed. DBU's win over TCU last night wasn't nothing new as the Patriots have beaten the Horned Frogs twice already this season. Thanks to that win, DBU has a chance to reach the Super Regional as well.

Also, massive props to Kent State for stunning Texas (as in National #7 seed Texas) on their home field last night.

[FiddySicks]

That may explain why you had, of all teams, Wright State advancing on in your picks, man.

For the most part, the high seeds have won except in Atlanta where Austin Peay shocked Georgia Tech and in Los Angeles, where both UCLA and Fresno State lost (and to add salt to the wound, Fresno State got eliminated by UCLA today).

UCLA lost to USF (San Francisco) of all teams as well. I for one am pulling for USF more than I've ever pulled for any college baseball team. One of my friends I grew up with is on the team and having the Dons make it to Omaha would increase his draft chances tremendously.

[dfwabel]

Dallas Baptist. They're one those really good under the radar programs.

Agreed. DBU's win over TCU last night wasn't nothing new as the Patriots have beaten the Horned Frogs twice already this season. Thanks to that win, DBU has a chance to reach the Super Regional as well.

Also, massive props to Kent State for stunning Texas (as in National #7 seed Texas) on their home field last night.

They have been good to very good for the last decade from the transition from NAIA. Since they are an independent, getting an at-large bid is harder than normal. They get lesser teams to come to them, but basically barnstorm on the road.

[HedleyLamarr]

That may explain why you had, of all teams, Wright State advancing on in your picks, man.

For the most part, the high seeds have won except in Atlanta where Austin Peay shocked Georgia Tech and in Los Angeles, where both UCLA and Fresno State lost (and to add salt to the wound, Fresno State got eliminated by UCLA today).

UCLA lost to USF (San Francisco) of all teams as well. I for one am pulling for USF more than I've ever pulled for any college baseball team. One of my friends I grew up with is on the team and having the Dons make it to Omaha would increase his draft chances tremendously.

Doesn't the draft take place before the College World Series begins?

[Kevin W.]

Arizona just tied it 2-2 against Texas A&M.

[Kevin W.]

Matt Chaffee got called for four balks in the top of the ninth and balked in two runs, but Arizona held on to win 7-4. Whew.

[FiddySicks]

That may explain why you had, of all teams, Wright State advancing on in your picks, man.

For the most part, the high seeds have won except in Atlanta where Austin Peay shocked Georgia Tech and in Los Angeles, where both UCLA and Fresno State lost (and to add salt to the wound, Fresno State got eliminated by UCLA today).

UCLA lost to USF (San Francisco) of all teams as well. I for one am pulling for USF more than I've ever pulled for any college baseball team. One of my friends I grew up with is on the team and having the Dons make it to Omaha would increase his draft chances tremendously.

Doesn't the draft take place before the College World Series begins?

I just realized that it does, so that point is kinda moot. But he was drafted last year by the Angels but didn't get much of an offer. At least getting to Omaha would help him get some more exposure and hopefully get a more substantial offer. Too bad the Dons lost tonight

[crashcarson15]

Matt Chaffee got called for four balks in the top of the ninth and balked in two runs, but Arizona held on to win 7-4. Whew.

WTF... how the hell do you balk FOUR TIMES?!?

[Gary]

ASU advances to the Super Regional after defeating Arkansas 13-4

[HedleyLamarr]

Matt Chaffee got called for four balks in the top of the ninth and balked in two runs, but Arizona held on to win 7-4. Whew.

WTF... how the hell do you balk FOUR TIMES?!?

Easily...he's a student at Arizona. They aren't too bright there.

All you have to do to earn a degree is drive through campus with your window rolled down....

[Kevin W.]

Matt Chaffee got called for four balks in the top of the ninth and balked in two runs, but Arizona held on to win 7-4. Whew.

WTF... how the hell do you balk FOUR TIMES?!?

Extremely inconsistent footing. Coach Lopez agreed that all four were balks and I expect that he'll be working hard to correct that tomorrow, if he goes in at all, since it's looking like Kurt Heyer will be our go-to reliever.

[Seadragon76]

Super Regional matchups, BTW...

-UC Irvine vs. (1)Virginia

-Baylor/Cal winner vs. Oral Roberts/Dallas Baptist winner

-Clemson/UConn winner vs. (4)South Carolina

-Texas A&M/Arizona winner vs. (5)Florida State

-Stanford vs. (3)North Carolina

-Oregon State vs. (6)Vanderbilt

-Mississippi State vs. (2)Florida

-Arizona State vs. (7)Texas

(As a note, South Carolina/Stetson and Florida State/Alabama were both suspended last night and will conclude today. If the scores hold up, both the Gamecocks and Seminoles would advance. The other games are tonight.)

[vicfurth]

Matt Chaffee got called for four balks in the top of the ninth and balked in two runs, but Arizona held on to win 7-4. Whew.

For everyone's sake, I really hope the Aggies win. Can't take anymore blatant Arizona homerism for now.

I'm paying close attention to the Fort Worth region actually. Know people who played for both ORU and DBU. Should be a fun one tonight.

[Bmac]

Nice to see we are going to have a suprise team this year with both number one seeds out. Either Baylor, Cal, ORU, or DBU are going, neat. Isn't Cal cutting baseball soon? What if they make the CWS?

[Billy B]

Unfortunately, the only Illinois game I could watch was their loss to Stanford last night. They were really in trouble with pitching with that being their 4th game in 3 days, so it wasn't too surprising to see Stanford hit the ball so well. I'm happy with how how well they did though, especially knocking out Cal State Fullerton*. But the two wins they got were two more than I had expected.

*Fullerton was unlucky to be playing in that game against Illinois yesterday. They were down 1-0 to Stanford when somebody hit a ball to left field with two outs and a man on second. The Stanford left fielder clearly trapped the ball, but it's called a catch to end the inning when the tying run would have scored. Stanford ended up holding on to win 1-0.