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College  | Story  | 3/22/2024

Week 6 Preview Pick 'Em

Craig Cozart      Vincent Cervino     
Photo: Cam Leiter (Florida State Athletics)
No. 1 Arkansas at No. 17 Auburn
The Razorbacks (17-2) handled their ascension to the top spot in the country just fine as they only allowed one run all weekend in their sweep of Mizzou. Their staff leads the nation with a 2.35 ERA, hits allowed per 9 with 5.77 and strike outs per 9 with 13.6 so far. Offensively, Peyton Stovall is healthy and leading the charge at the top of the lineup again, so they are ready to take off. The Tigers (14-6) on the other hand, are coming off a weekend where they were convincingly swept on the road at Vanderbilt. After three games in SEC play, they are hitting under .250 and carrying an ERA north of 11.00, so they need to turn the tide quickly. Arkansas is playing like the distinctly best team in the country right now and that should continue this weekend.

Cozy’s Pick: Arkansas



The Razorbacks look like the most complete team in the nation right now and that largely stems from their outstanding pitching staff. They can strike you out in any inning with any arm and are largely preventing runs at a very impressive rate. Auburn can hang, especially at home, but I expect Arkansas to continue looking like the No. 1 team in the country.

Vin's Pick: Arkansas


No. 8 Florida State at No. 4 Clemson
The Seminoles (19-0) are the lone unbeaten club in the nation and other than Arkansas look like the most well-rounded team in the country. They are 2nd in the country in team batting average at .356, with Cam Smith 8th in the nation individually with a .476 average. The weekend rotation of Cam Leiter, Jamie Arnold and Conner Whittaker are a combined (12-0) on the year as the staff carries an ERA of 2.79, good for 2nd nationally. The Tigers (19-2) showed their resolve by going on the road and take their first ACC series at Duke. Blake Wright leads the team in almost every major offensive category, and they average over 8 runs per game. The bullpen was a strength last weekend and the pitching is rounding into shape. This series could go a long way in deciding the ACC Atlantic Division title and the Seminoles look unstoppable right now.

Cozy’s Pick: Florida State

The Noles remain the lone undefeated team in Division I baseball as they head to South Carolina to take on the Tigers. This will be a two-day, three-game series with a double header on Saturday and I think the difference will be Florida State’s excellent starting pitching. Cam Leiter and Jaime Arnold both look like first rounders and I expect strong starts from both.

Vin's Pick: Florida State


No. 6 Florida at No. 5 LSU
The Gators (12-8) continue to be a mystery in midweek action, falling to (3-4) with their loss to Jacksonville on Tuesday. However, they did win a huge SEC series at home last weekend, giving Texas A&M their first two losses of the season. Jac Caglianone has not been a mystery, he has been exceptional, leading the team with a .414 batting average and a 1.77 ERA in his four starts on the mound. The Tigers (18-4) lost their first SEC series on the road last weekend to upstart Mississippi State. Luke Holman has been scintillating with his 4-1 record and 0.63 ERA as he leads a rotation that is settling in nicely. The offense is still performing well below Baton Rouge standards with only 3 batters hitting over .300 but the signs are there. You never know what to expect from Florida and it’s hard to bet against LSU on their home turf, so I think the Tigers get it done.

Cozy’s Pick: LSU

On the other corner of the sunshine state, Florida already has eight losses on the year but remain a highly ranked team after downing previously undefeated Texas A&M last week. This looks like a matchup between LSU’s strong starting pitching and Florida’s offensive capabilities. This has big series-of-the-weekend potential and look for the stars to be shining including Florida’s Jac Caglianone as he makes a run for the first overall pick.

Vin's Pick: Florida


Ole Miss at No. 12 Tennessee
The Rebels (16-6) after starting the season at a concerning (2-4) they have won 14 of their last 16 and are one of the hottest teams in the nation. Transfer Andrew Fischer is starting to do damage in the middle of the lineup, slugging .789 with 9 HR and 25 RBI. They have been solid on the mound and make opponents earn every base. The Volunteers (19-3) lost a hard-fought series at Alabama to open SEC play but are 4th in the nation in team ERA at 3.10 and 11th in strikeout-to-walk ratio. With Billy Amick setting the pace, offensively they are 2nd in the nation in home runs with (55) and 3rd in runs scored at (226). Ole Miss is playing well and will make this a close series but Tennessee at home has been special.

Cozy’s Pick: Tennessee

The Vols have enjoyed a resurgence in the Vitello-era and although they dropped last week’s conference opener, they have been a different team in this era at home. They return to Lindsey Nelson stadium against an Ole Miss team that has started out hot but I like the Vols to show that they’re a top ten team with a series win at home.

Vin's Pick: Tennessee


UConn at Rutgers
The Huskies (8-11) have spent most of the season on the road playing 18 of their 19 away from home. Offensively things have been an incredible struggle as they are batting .235 and are only scoring a little more than 4 runs per game. Brady Afthim is the real deal at the back end of the bullpen, having made 7 appearances with 2 saves and has yet to surrender an earned run. The Scarlett Knights (15-6) have played at times like a super-regional team this season and are 7th in the nation with a .338 team batting average. They average almost 10 runs per game and pressure opponents on the base paths with 44 stolen bases. The bullpen has showed quality and depth, and Rutgers should start off Big 10 play with a series victory.

Cozy’s Pick: Rutgers

The Huskies have had a really tough schedule thus far and are below .500 as they head to New Jersey to take on the 15-6 Scarlet Knights. Rutgers is a program on the upswing and look like they’re a real contender for the Big Ten. Josh Kuroda-Grauer has been playing like a star thus far and look for him to have a big weekend as Rutgers should handle UConn.

Vin's Pick: Rutgers


USC at UCLA
The Trojans (7-13) are playing .500 in the first two weeks of Pac-12 play and it has been a real struggle with the bats. They are batting .235 as a club and have only managed to hit 10 home runs so far. On the mound, they don’t have a starter with an ERA south of 6.00 and the bullpen is still searching the for the right mix. The Bruins (7-11) have been a surprise with their struggles but unless they get some length out of their starter’s things may not change. The biggest concern is that they are only fielding .957 as a team and are averaging giving up over 9 freebies per game. Duce Gourson has been a solid producer with the stick and if he gets some support this weekend, UCLA should win the weekend.

Cozy’s Pick: UCLA

Both the Trojans and the Bruins have fallen short of lofty preseason expectations thus far but there’s every reason to believe that the winner of this series will have a leg up in the momentum department the rest of the way. Both teams have struggled offensively but the matchup is surprisingly close and I like the Trojans in a close matchup.

Vin's Pick: USC
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