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What thinking went into our preseason NCAA postseason projections? Rogers breaks down several interesting scenarios that could play out as the season progresses as it relates to the postseason. His analysis can be found on the PG College Premium Forum.
It's never too early to start looking ahead to the Road to Omaha, where eight teams eventually will meet in downtown Omaha at sparkling new T.D. Ameritrade Park for the College World Series.
Three of the top four national seeds -- Florida, UCLA and TCU -- are anything but strangers to the setting in Omaha.
Florida reached the CWS last season, but had a quick trip after playing uncharacteristic baseball on the way to an 0-2 record. TCU and UCLA had more dramatic trips, as the Horned Frogs reached the bracket title game against the Bruins, while the Bruins went on to lose to South Carolina in the national title series.
All three teams are expected to return to Omaha in June.
Other national seeds in our preseason projections include TCU, Texas, Florida State, Cal State Fullerton and Oklahoma.
The conference regional host site breakdown shouldn't come as a surprise. The SEC, Pac-10 and ACC each have three host sites, the Big 12 has two host sites, and the Mountain West, Conference USA, Big East, Big West and Big South each have one site.
Though 64 teams made our first projections of the season, several others were on the cusp, including Louisiana-Lafayette, Georgia Southern, Southeastern Louisiana, Kentucky and Pepperdine.
Perfect Game's Preseason NCAA Projections
|
Gainesville Regional
1. Florida* (1)
4. Bethune-Cookman*
2. Florida International*
3. Washington State |
Myrtle Beach Regional
1. Coastal Carolina*
4. Charlotte*
2. North Carolina
3. Elon |
Los Angeles Regional
1. UCLA* (2)
4. Stony Brook*
2. St. John's
3. San Diego*
|
Norwich Regional
1. Connecticut*
4. Central Conn. State*
2. Arizona
3. Oklahoma State
|
Nashville Regional
1. Vanderbilt (3)
4. Jacksonville St.*
2. Georgia Tech
3. Kansas State
|
Charlottesville Regional
1. Virginia
4. James Madison*
2. Louisville
3. Liberty
|
Fort Worth Regional
1. TCU* (4)
4. Canisius*
2. Texas A&M
3. Texas State*
|
Houston Regional
1. Rice*
4. Southern*
2. Baylor
3. Oregon State
|
Austin Regional
1. Texas* (5)
4. Army*
2. LSU
3. UC Riverside
|
Eugene Regional
1. Oregon
4. BYU
2. Mississippi
3. Fresno State*
|
Tallahassee Regional
1. Florida State* (6)
4. Florida Gulf Coast*
2. Auburn
3. Florida Atlantic
|
Columbia Regional
1. South Carolina
4. Wright State*
2. College of Charleston*
3. East Carolina
|
Fullerton Regional
1. Cal St. Fullerton* (7)
4. Kent State*
2. California
3. Hawaii
|
Stanford Regional
1. Stanford
4. Minnesota*
2. Arkansas
3. UC Irvine
|
Norman Regional
1. Oklahoma (8)
4. Oral Roberts*
2. Miami (Fla.)
3. Wichita State*
|
Clemson Regional
1. Clemson
4. Dartmouth*
2. Southern Mississippi
3. Alabama
|
Automatic Bids (30)
Automatic bids noted by * in projections table
America East: Stony Brook
Atlantic 10: Charlotte
Atlantic Coast: Florida State
Atlantic Sun: Florida Gulf Coast
Big Ten: Minnesota
Big 12: Texas
Big East: Connecticut
Big South: Coastal Carolina
Big West: Cal State Fullerton
Colonial: James Madison
Conference USA: Rice
Horizon: Wright State
Ivy League: Dartmouth
Metro Atlantic: Canisius
Mid-American: Kent State
Mid-Eastern Athletic: Bethune-Cookman
Missouri Valley: Wichita State
Mountain West: TCU
Northeast: Central Connecticut State
Ohio Valley: Jacksonville State
Pacific 10: UCLA
Patriot: Army
SEC: Florida
Southern: College of Charleston
Southland: Texas State
Southwestern Athletic: Southern
Summit: Oral Roberts
Sun Belt: Florida International
West Coast: San Diego
Western Athletic: Fresno State
Kendall Rogers is the managing editor of college baseball for Perfect Game USA and has covered the sport for over 10 seasons. He can be reached at kendall@perfectgame.org