Feb. 19, 2010

Texas is Coaches' Choice for National Title 

Texas is the favorite to win the 2010 national championship, in voting by Division I head coaches.

There were 160 responses of the 301 NCAA Division I schools. The Longhorns, under head coach Augie Garrido (right), received 48 votes as national champ and 152 votes to reach Omaha. Texas is the consensus No. 1 in the national preseason polls and is on top of the CBI Composite Preseason Poll.

LSU was second with 33 votes as national champ and 138 to reach the College World Series.

Others projected to reach Omaha include Cal State Fullerton (15, 132), Virginia (16, 97), Rice (4, 88), North Carolina (8, 84), Florida (7, 82) and Arizona State (4, 60). Numbers in parentheses represent national championship votes and votes to reach the College World Series.

Just missing the top eight were Florida State (4, 56) and UC Irvine (0, 53).

There were votes for 52 different schools to reach the College World Series and 18 different teams to capture the title.

Last season, the coaches correctly picked five of the eight College World Series participants. In 2009, the coaches favored North Carolina to win the championship, followed by LSU. Other picks to reach Omaha included Cal State Fullerton, Rice, Texas, Arizona State, Texas A&M and Miami (Fla.).

Thanks to all the coaches who participated in our survey.

(photo courtesy of Texas Media Relations Office)