June 15, 2012

College World Series Capsules

College World Series Schedule

College World Series Notes

CWS First-time Appearances

NCAA Interactive Bracket

CBI College World Series Picks

By Phil Stanton and Sean Ryan

CollegeBaseballInsider.com Co-Founders

We’ve whittled the field from 64 to 16 to the Elite Eight. The CBI staff makes its picks for the 2012 College World Series.

Sean

We have a mini-SEC tournament on one side of the bracket, with Kent State an honorary member of the conference this week. And two Pac-12 teams are joined by traditional power Florida State and darling Stony Brook. With the way the tournament has gone, you can pick two teams out of a hat and call them the finalists. Imagine some of the championship matchups: Florida vs. Florida State; Stony Brook vs. Kent State; South Carolina vs. UCLA (a rematch from two years ago). Could FSU become the first ACC team since 1955 to win it all???

I’ve said since the beginning of the tournament that the winner of Texas A&M (my preseason pick) and UCLA in the Super Regional round would be my pick to win it all. I’ll go with the Bruins to emerge from a scrappy bracket that will play close game after close game. In the SEC-Omaha division, the winner of the first game between Florida and South Carolina will be in a great position. The Gators have the most talent. But the Gamecocks aren’t ready to give in. A slight lean goes to South Carolina over Florida.

UCLA remains my pick to take it all, edging the Gamecocks in three tight games.

Phil

I agree with Sean that there are many intriguing possibilities for the championship series. None would shock me this year. A few would be surprises, but after Fresno State won it all in 2008, anything is possible in Omaha.

I think Florida and UCLA will emerge as the championship series participants. I hate going with the two favorites after the way the tournament has gone, but I believe they are the most balanced teams. Both have experience in Omaha and experience winning their brackets, which will help as the CWS progresses.

My overall pick is the Gators to edge the Bruins in a close three-game series.

(photo courtesy of UCLA Media Relations Office)