College World Series Preview

To get to the College World Series, teams had to win at least five games across two weekends without any losses. Interestingly, three out of the eight teams qualifying for Omaha had to face off against Oregon eight times to clinch their spot.

However, that’s in the past now as a new double-elimination round kicks off on Friday at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha. Teams need to win to advance to the best-of-three Championship series.

The lower half of the bracket seems considerably tougher, featuring the top two seeds: Arkansas at No. 3 and LSU at No. 6. They will clash in their first game, while the upper half has only two seeded teams. Arizona and Murray State, both unseeded, had to fight hard in their super regionals to even get to Omaha, which speaks volumes about their capabilities.

This situation suggests that the so-called “best” teams might not necessarily dominate the finals after all. Let’s break down how each contender stacks up.

1. LSU

• Record: 48-15
• Batting Average: .300
• ERA: 3.80
• Winning Odds: +230
• Opening Game: vs. Arkansas (Saturday, 7pm, ESPN)

LSU made it to Omaha two years back, though only a handful of players remain from that championship squad. Notably, Jared Jones has stepped up with 20 home runs and 70 RBIs. Their pitching lineup, featuring Cade Anderson and Anthony Ayson, is considered one of the best in the country, and both are projected to go in the first round of the 2025 MLB draft.

This season, LSU has showcased a powerful offense, ranking high in home runs, walks, and doubles. Coupled with a strong bullpen, they appear well-equipped for a deep run in Omaha. Their coach, Jay Johnson, is among only two who have won a championship at the series level.

2. Arkansas

• Record: 48-13
• Batting Average: .313
• ERA: 3.91
• Winning Odds: +200
• Opening Game: vs. LSU (Saturday, 7pm, ESPN)

The Razorbacks hold the best batting average in the CWS and the third best ERA, presenting a well-balanced team for winning games. They’ve hit 124 home runs, with seven players contributing 13 or more homers.

Junior left-hander Zack Route has been pivotal, starting postseason games and guiding the pitching staff, which boasts a high strikeout average and the best fielding percentage among Omaha teams.

3. Oregon

• Record: 47-14-1
• Batting Average: .292
• ERA: 4.30
• Winning Odds: +650
• Opening Game: vs. Louisville (Friday, 7pm ET, ESPN)

This season, Oregon faced a challenging independent schedule after the Pac-12 disbanded, gaining valuable experience against NCAA tournament teams.

Gavin Turley, a junior outfielder, has made a notable impact, while his teammate Dachshund Whitney leads Division I freshmen in strikeouts. Coach Mitch Canham was part of OSU’s back-to-back national championship teams in 2006-07.

4. Coastal Carolina

• Record: 53-11
• Batting Average: .290
• ERA: 3.21
• Winning Odds: +650
• Opening Game: vs. Arizona (Friday, 2pm ET, ESPN)

Coastal Carolina comes to Omaha with the longest active winning streak—23 games, dating back to late April. They showed impressive skills by sweeping the Super Regional at Auburn.

The team has demonstrated strong offensive capabilities and their pitching staff is reliable, making them formidable contenders as well.

5. Arizona

• Record: 44-19
• Batting Average: .285
• ERA: 4.82
• Winning Odds: +1400
• Opening Game: vs. Coastal Carolina (Friday, 2pm ET, ESPN)

The Wildcats had to fight hard through their regional and super-regional matches to reach this point. Their previous appearance in the finals was in 2016.

Junior shortstop Mason White has proven to be a reliable player, consistently getting crucial hits. Additionally, junior closer Tony Pluta has been stellar, not allowing a run since April 1st.

6. UCLA

• Record: 47-16
• Batting Average: .298
• ERA: 4.41
• Winning Odds: +850
• Opening Game: vs. Murray (Saturday, 2pm, EST, ESPN)

UCLA boasts a top batter in Roch Cholowsky, whose .367 average and 23 home runs leading Omaha players catch attention. Their strong defense has allowed only 25 unearned runs across 63 games.

While their pitching stats may not stand out initially, they rose to the occasion during the Super Regional against a strong UTSA offense.

7. Louisville

• Record: 40-22
• Batting Average: .305
• ERA: 5.35
• Winning Odds: +1600
• Opening Game: vs. Oregon (Friday, 7pm ET, ESPN)

Louisville has a reputation for aggressive base running, leading the nation with 170 stolen bases. Senior Eddie Rose Jr. stands out with a .770 slugging percentage, the highest among Omaha participants.

The Cardinals have the weakest ERA in the CWS field, but their postseason pitchers have performed well, allowing only 12 runs across six games.

8. Murray

• Record: 43-15
• Batting Average: .307
• ERA: 5.21
• Winning Odds: +3500
• Opening Game: vs. UCLA (Saturday, 2pm, ESPN)

Murray is making its first-ever CWS appearance, overcoming challenges to get here. They have shown determination and consistency.

While their pitching might not be top-notch, junior Kellen Graham has played a crucial role in securing postseason wins.