In 2006 and 2007, Oregon State and North Carolina met in the College Worlds Series final, neither team has since made the final and two will begin Bracket 1 before Mississippi State and Washington play Saturday.
World Series Odds
Oregon State +170
North Carolina +650
Mississippi State +850
Washington +1,200
About the Beavers
At this point of the season you get nothing but the best of college baseball.
This side of the College World Series bracket plays host to the No. 4 overall pick, Oregon State shortstop Nick Madrigal. The Beavers also have the No. 20 pick Trevor Larnach.
OSU’s draft picks don’t end there as infielder Cadyn Grenier (No. 37 overall, Baltimore), Steven Kawn (No. 163, Cleveland), pitcher Drew Rasmussen (No. 185, Milwaukee) and third baseman Mike Gretler (No. 294, Pittsburgh).
Oregon State also holds the best team ERA left in the tournament at 3.45 and the best team batting average at .317.
The Beavers are the favorites in this bracket and for good reason.
About the Tar Heels
North Carolina had a tough test in the Super Regional against a good pitching team out of Stetson and the Tar Heels’ hitters smacked the Hatters for 14 runs in the two game sweep.
Right fielder Cody Roberts (No. 325, Baltimore) went 3-for-8 in the Super Regional with five RBIs and a home run.
If North Carolina can get a good start out of Cooper Criswell (No. 391, LA Angels) in Game 1 against Oregon State, the Tar Heels could be the team to knockout the Beavers.
About the Bulldogs
The Mississippi State ace Konnor Pilkington (No. 81, Chi White Sox) hasn’t had a great tournament as he’s thrown 8 1/3 innings with a 7.78 ERA.
Pilkington will need to have a good start against Washington if the Bulldogs are to make a run for the final.
Mississippi State’s offense has been fantastic, scoring 10 runs four times this tournament and two other games of nine and eight runs.
If the Bulldogs can keep the offense churning out hits while the pitching finds its mark, Mississippi State will be making a push for the national title.
About the Huskies
Washington is the underdog of the College World Series as the only team not ranked coming. The Huskies were the No. 3 seed in the Coastal Carolina Region and then had to travel to Cal State Fullerton for the Super Regional.
Washington’s leader infielder A.J. Graffanino (No. 232, Atlanta) as he went 5-for-11 with three RBIs.
The Huskies got great start from Joe DeMers (No. 323, Oakland) in the Super Regional final as he went 8 2/3, pair that with some hot hitting against a Mississippi State that has struggled on the mound this tournament and Washington could make run.
Prediction
Top to bottom, nobody in this bracket on paper looks to matchup well with Oregon State.
The Beavers have the best pitching staff and best lineup in the entire tournament and look to see them make their first trip to the final since 2007.
