The_Coach

First Choice: Vanderbilt Commodores

Yes, Vanderbilt is the boring choice, but the Commodores are just so good, it’s hard to make sense of not picking them to win the whole damn thing. Pitchers Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter together give Vanderbilt a one-two punch on the hill that’s as good as there is and maybe has been in recent college baseball memory. It’s the Commodores’ show to lose in Omaha.

Second Choice: Virginia Cavaliers

Photo by Andy Mead/ISI Photos/Getty Images

Virginia so far has been the cardiac kids of the college baseball post-season, battling off elimination opportunities in both the Regional and Super Regional to punch their ticket to Omaha. A formidable pitching staff, anchored by ace hurler Andrew Abbott, an All-ACC First Team selection, could carry them as they’re currently playing their best baseball of the season. It’s their bats that need to be sure to stay consistent.

John

First Choice: Vanderbilt Commodores

George Walker IV / Tennessean.com via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Coach said it first, but it’s hard to argue against the Commodores this year. You need deep pitching to win the College World Series, and Vandy has that covered. They’ve got an excellent group of fielders headlined by shortstop Carter Young, and while their scoring is not “best in the nation” level, its still very good. Vanderbilt has to be the odds on favorite here.

Second Choice: Tennessee Volunteers

If it’s not going to be Vanderbilt, I think the team that wins is going to be a team that can take advantage of how thinly stretched pitching units can get as the CWS wears on. Tennessee seems to me to be the team most poised to get some big hits in Omaha. The Vols have 5 hitters with double digit home run totals, and 8 members of their batting order have over 100 total bases. Against the nation’s top pitchers, they’ll run into some trouble. but it’s a long week and eventually those bats are going to start finding some success.

Who Are You Rooting For?

John: North Carolina State

I cannot bring myself to root for any SEC schools or non Oregon State Pac-12 members, so that takes care of a good chunk of the bracket right away. NC State pulled off a huge upset in Superregionals, knocking out an Arkansas team that looked like the best in the country, and getting three runs on Kevin Kopps, who had given up only 6 runs all season before playing the Wolf Pack. It will be very fun seeing what this team can do against some of the other big names in Omaha.

The_Coach: Texas Longhorns

This is a bit of an odd field to find a true underdog in or a team that doesn’t have some great stories behind it, but Texas is the team I’ll be rooting for because I love their pitching. The country’s best team ERA with a dominant 2.89 average could help them make a run. Usually, I’m not a fan of the big name schools, but why not? Hook ‘em. Horns up. Whatever they say these days.