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2017 College World Series: Field of eight set for finals in Omaha

By Carly Regehr

Jun 13, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; General view of logo before the 2015 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 13, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; General view of logo before the 2015 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports /
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Five Division I conferences will be represented at the 2017 College World Series in Omaha.

Eight teams are headed to Omaha to compete for a chance to win bragging rights. Of those eight, seven of them will be well-rested due to the fact that Wake Forest didn’t leave Florida alone. In fact, the two teams would play two games in a span of an hour. At the end of the day, it’s No. 3 Florida that will advance to the field of eight after they washed out the hopes of Wake Forest in Game 3.

2017 College World Series Schedule (June 17, June 27-28)

No. 1 Oregon State vs. CS-Fullerton

No. 7 Louisville vs. Texas A&M

Oregon State, the No. 1 overall seed, has a tough assignment ahead of itself with Cal State-Fullerton. This matchup should be one to keep an eye on, since both programs are College World Series veterans. If the momentum of both K.J. Harrison and Jake Thompson continue, then Oregon State has a decent shot at winning it all.

Meanwhile, Texas A&M may have to cut their vacation in Omaha short. After all, the Aggies are facing the largest threat in Division I baseball, the Louisville Cardinals and Brendan McKay. Not only is McKay throwing at a level beyond his years, but he also has one of the best batting averages in Division I.

No. 4 Louisiana State vs. Florida State

No. 8 Texas Christian vs. No. 3 Florida

Since 1990, LSU has been christened the most as D-I baseball champions (six titles). On the other hand, their upcoming foe, Florida State, has yet to win a title (runner-up to Miami in 1999). One should expect that the charisma and skill of LSU SS Kramer Robertson will come in handy in this series. He will, however, have to hurdle over the obstacle that is the Florida State pitching roster.

Like Florida, who has J.J. Schwarz, TCU, too, can rely on its own catcher when they’re in a bind. Evan Skoug has been busy foraging for and stacking RBIs throughout the Regionals and Super Regionals. He, alone, can apply enough stress to opposing pitchers, like Florida’s Alex Faedo and Brady Singer (combined: 14-7, 237 SOs, 2.98 ERA).

Next: 15 NCAA Mascots That Deserve an Animated TV Series

Over the course of 30 years, the college baseball landscape has shifted from one coast to another. Along a span of 53 years (1947 to 1990), only seven D-I programs from the eastern U.S. have won a title (blame Southern Cal). Since 1990, though, 13 teams east of the Mississippi River have claimed a championship. If that’s any indication of the sport’s direction, then either LSU, Florida, Louisville or even Florida State will win this year’s College World Series.