CWS Opening Round Preview

College World Series Opening Round Preview

　

Back to Omaha! Here’s my preview of the opening round match ups, and I guess I will throw my picks for the first round in there also. And if you’re lucky I will throw a National Title pick in as well.

　

Stony Brook vs. UCLA

My Coral Gables regional pick has made me proud in this tournament. They put on their gasoline drawers and walked through the “hell” of Baton Rouge even after losing an incredible first game. UCLA comes into Omaha after taking out a powerful TCU team in two games. What its going to come down to here is whether Stony Brook can have a good game at the plate versus Trevor Bauer. I think they are capable of doing that as I’m going to take yet another risk on the Seawolves.

Pick: Stony Brook

Arizona vs. Florida State

Frank Martin seeks his first National Title for the Seminoles. They really hammered a great Stanford team, which many had going all the way to winning the championship. They go against an Arizona team that stopped the run of St. John’s in Tuscon this past weekend. They will have to pitch their way past the as of late heavy hitting Seminoles, and I just don’t see it happening.

Pick: Florida State

Arkansas vs. Kent State

The Golden Flashes stunned the Gary, Indiana Regional, and they now have a chance at making some noise in Omaha. They go against an Arkansas team that kept digging to find a way to Omaha by beating the nationally seeded Baylor Bears. Arkansas pitching is deep, and I think they have the ability to pitch past the Golden Flashes in the first round.

Pick: Arkansas

South Carolina vs. Florida

The Saturday prime-time match-up features a grudge match from the SEC tournament. These teams have met four times this season with the Gators taking 3 of the 4, including a series win in Columbia. The tides have changed for the Gamecocks, who have come to find their identity late in the season. The Gamecocks come into this contest with an NCAA record 21 straight post season wins. Florida may be the biggest threat to this streak yet, as the Gators are the top national seed in this year’s tournament. I’m going to go ahead and say that I think this will be the best of the four opening round games. I’m not being biased with my pick, rather I think the Gamecocks have some kind of run in them.

Pick: South Carolina in the best game of the opening round

　

So there you have my CWS Opening Round picks. Shoot me an email at JCGriffin13@yahoo.com and make sure you’re following me on twitter @griffaldo.